Our bodies need physical activity. Humans were designed to be on the move many hours of the day. However, today’s modern lifestyles and workplaces mean that we are moving less than ever. Becoming more physically active improves our overall health, builds strength, and makes us feel better.
At the Thunder Bay District Health Unit, our role is to improve the health of our communities by:
- Encouraging physical activity for all ages
- Helping plan our communities to emphasize active transportation
- Providing information and links to resources for the public, health professionals and others
What We Do
Active – for Life!
The TBDHU encourages everyone to stay active for life. We provide information and links to resources to show why it’s important and what we can do to develop and maintain a healthy, physically active lifestyle.
Physical activity helps us at every age:
- For kids, it helps our bodies grow and improves self-esteem, mental health, and even grades.
- For adults, it helps reduce the risk of chronic disease including diabetes and heart disease, and it gives us more energy.
- For older adults, it helps us reduce chances of illness and disability, and allows us to live independently for longer.
Find out more about staying Active for Life.
Active Transportation
Get Ready for the Active Commute Challenge – June 1–30!
Join workplaces across the City and District in the Active Commute Challenge (ACC) this June! Choose sustainable options like walking, biking, transit, carpooling, jogging, or rollerblading instead of driving alone. Track your trips, compete with other teams, and climb the leaderboard for a chance to win prizes. The ACC is a great way to boost your health, build team spirit, and reduce your environmental impact—while contributing to a healthier, more connected community. Registration is open—register now to take part in this fun and impactful initiative! Resources are available to help you commute safely, lock your bike securely, and encourage active travel in your workplace. Check out the FAQs page and feel free to reach out to TBDHU’s physical activity team for support by emailing physicalactivity@tbdhu.com.
Active transportation means any sort of “human-powered” transportation – cycling, walking and even taking public transportation such as city buses. Commuting actively is a great way to build physical activity into your busy day!
The TBDHU has partnered with other organizations to help communities plan for more – and safer – active transportation options. These include encouraging Walkable Communities, making cycling in Thunder Bay safer and more enjoyable, and connecting public transportation such as Thunder Bay Transit with active transportation methods. (Every bus ride starts and ends with walking!
Did you know? The average transit user walks 20 minutes per ride!
For Further Information
Call the Physical Activity Program: (807) 625-5900
or toll-free 1-888-294-6630