Here are some ideas individuals, organizations and municipal government can use to increase physical activity in their communities.

• Encourage active transportation (walking or biking) for short trips.
• Have the community participate in various fundraising walks such as the Terry Fox Run.
• Ask local employers to participate or make contributions.
• Develop indoor and outdoor walking paths. Convert local halls into walking areas.
• Develop and hand out maps of walking paths around your community. Measure the distance in halls and around the building so people can set goals for themselves.
• Offer incentives for distance parking.
• Start a running/walking club, biking club, in-line skaters club or dancing club.
• Place a physical activity board in areas of high walking traffic or business.
• 'Track' out a cross-country skiing route near your community. Help promote local trails nearby.
• Ensure environments and facilities are available and accessible to people with disabilities.
• Offer safe, attractive and accessible trails for bicycling, walking and wheelchair activity.
• Search out unused space and turn it into a group activity area.
• Use nearby parks and facilities for employee activity programs.
• Organize community golf tournaments at local golf courses.
• Offer secure bicycle racks to enable people to bike around the community.
• Display posters portraying people being physically active.
• Let people know where they find credible information on physical activity.
• Coordinate physical activity challenges to coincide with local and major sporting events.
• Keep active. For optimal health, aim for 30-60 minutes of moderate physical activity/exercise most, if not all, days of the week.
• Encourage winter activities; host an old fashioned skating party.
• Provide incentives like t-shirts and water bottles.
• Provide bulletin boards in high traffic areas for health information exchange and to allow people to write milestones they have achieved in health.
• Announce and publicize monthly health themes.
• Make people aware of where and when they can receive flu shots and check their blood pressure.
• Hold recognition activities for people making efforts in healthier lifestyles.
• Recognize a champion of wellness activities.
• Develop a brainstorming team to come up with ideas and help with wellness activities.
• Start meetings with a stretch and take a relaxation break in the middle.
• Conduct a wellness activity during meetings.
• Recognize birthdays or special events at meetings by providing healthy snacks.
• Vary meeting formats. Include surprises for good healthy ideas.
• Provide information on back care (e.g. correct way to lift, stretch and exercise for strength).
• Partner with other local communities or local businesses to sponsor an event.
• Create a wellness newsletter. Highlight healthy lifestyle success stories.
• Visit your local Heart and Stroke Society for free brochures.
• Apply for a variety of provincial and national grants to support your health promotion ideas.
• Promote active transportation. Make people aware of the various opportunities to run, walk, bike or roller blade to commute within your community.
• Endorse various challenges and activities that promote active transportation. An example is the Commuter Challenge, a weeklong friendly competition between Canadian cities to see who can reduce air pollution by using active modes of transportation.
• Develop and encourage active and safe routes to school.
• Promote and gain support for the use of local facilities such as outdoor skating rinks.