THE North Shore Keep Well Society, Karen Harmon and Charles Macgregor were each presented with a Healthy Community Hero Award by the Active North Shore Network at the recent Lonsdale Spring Celebration at Silver Harbour Centre.
This annual award program recognizes organizations and individuals that support one or more of the three pillars of healthy living, which are: active living; healthy eating; and living smoke-free on the North Shore, according to a written statement.
The North Shore Keep Well Society has supported all three pillars since 1986, helping to keep seniors out of hospitals and living healthier, independent lives. Currently, more than 300 seniors, aged 60 to 103, attend Keep Well sessions at seven North Shore sites to exercise, receive health services, learn about nutrition and community resources, and stay socially connected.
Currently governed by 12 board members, Keep Well is maintained by more than 160 volunteers, 40 of whom are retired health professionals.
Harmon has developed and run a weekly active living program for low-income, marginalized and homeless clients through the 2011-2012 Vancouver Coastal Health Active Living Grant Program for the past six months on Wednesdays from noon to 1 p.m. at Mickey McDougall Gym.
Harmon's success in leading this program has helped eliminate the barriers that exist for some vulnerable individuals in the community, previously preventing them from participating in recreation services and programming that promote health, fitness, and well-being.
Macgregor has been a driving force behind the growth of street soccer in North Vancouver over the past three years. He developed a street soccer network for the North Shore with help from North Vancouver Recreation Commission's Richard Gauntlett and Vancouver Coastal Health's Jo-Anne Burleigh. Macgregor has worked with municipal governments, Rotary and Lions clubs, and other community organizations to create awareness about the street soccer program.
He has hosted, with the support of his community partners, more than 12 tournaments with teams from all over the Lower Mainland, Vancouver Island, and the Interior.
The North Shore has become known for their quality street soccer tournaments and hosted the Western Canada Street Soccer Championships in April.
Applications are now being accepted for the 2013 Healthy Community Hero Award. Visit the Active North Shore website, www.activenorthshore.com, to find out how to nominate an individual, organization or company from the North Shore. Nominees must support at least one of the three pillars, as previously stated. The closing date for nominations is April 1, 2013.
For more information on the Active North Shore Network, a community-based health and wellness network, visit www.activenorthshore. com.
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Brockton's World Music Ensemble made its debut at the Cory Weeds Cellar Jazz Club May 29 in Vancouver.
The students had an opportunity to perform with the JazzThink Trio.
The school's World Music Program has once again been selected to represent Canada at the International Society for Music Education confer-ence in Thessaloniki, Greece in July.
Ensemble members will embark on a performance tour, which will involve performances at the conference in Thessaloniki and in several other towns and cities in Greece.
Info: www.worldmusicprogram.com.
Send details, along with your contact information, for our regular Noteworthy Neighbours section to emcphee@ nsnews.com.
