Three EMSB B.A.S.E. Daycares (Hampstead, St. Monica and Willingdon) will practice their fundamental movement skills with Champions for Life – a charitable organization that empowers children ages 4 to 8 years old to develop their physical literacy skills.

This physical activity opportunity is made possible courtesy of The Montreal Canadiens Children’s Foundation, which encourages physical activity and the adoption of a healthy lifestyle among underprivileged youth from 4 to 17 years old. Champions for Life received funding to deliver its program to low socio-economic schools located near BLEU BLANC BOUGE rinks. Hampstead, St. Monica and Willingdon B.A.S.E. Daycares are in close proximity to the BLEU BLANC BOUGE rink located at Parc de la Confédération (6262 Fielding Avenue).

Approximately 170 Pre-Kindergarten to Grade 2 students in the three daycares will participate in a 30-minute weekly physical activity session in the school gymnasium starting November 2022 for 20-consecutive weeks.

The Champions for Life leaders are university students enrolled in the Athletic Therapy program  at Concordia University or the Physical and Health Education program at McGill University. The leaders will work closely with the daycare educators to encourage the students to actively participate in the program to their fullest potential.

The weekly sessions include Champions’ Challenge Stations where the students practice balance poses, locomotion movements or object manipulation. They then play an organized game that incorporates the skill of the week. Each session ends with a Magic Minute where the students cool down, take deep breathes and pay attention to how they feel.

Each student will receive a Movement Map—an engaging tool to stimulate and involve them in their learning progress and keep track of the skills learned. Skill cards will also be handed out and are meant to be a resource for the students and parents. The parents can join in the fun by spending active time with their child, practicing the skills and trying the suggested activities on each of the cards.

Students will be empowered to move well and build the skills, confidence, and motivation to be active for a lifetime!