Pipestone Flyer
As anyone who has spent any time at all in Leduc will know, this city puts a big emphasis on getting active and leading a healthy lifestyle. It can be seen in the miles of our year round maintained multiway system, seasonal outdoor ice rinks and outdoor pool, the upcoming splash park currently under construction, and the City's point of pride, the Leduc Recreation Centre.
So it should come as no surprise to hear that Leduc had partnered up with the Leduc-Beaumont-Devon Primary Care Network in 2011 to become a Canadian leader in a pilot project called "Prescription To Get Active". Based on a project started in New Zealand called "Green Prescriptions", patients can basically get a prescription for exercise from their doctor.
As a way to encourage wholistic health and preventative medicine, people can go to one of the more than 50 local physicians in the Leduc region that are participating in the program and tell their doctor they feel they would benefit from getting more exercise. Their doctor can then write them out a special prescription detailing the type of exercise that they feel would be most helpful and the patient can then bring it to the Leduc Rec Centre, the Thorsby Rec Centre or the Beaumont Rec Centre and choose whatever type of physical activity suits them best.
After monitoring the success that the program has experienced in the Leduc region, on February 25, 2014 the Capital Region jumped on board and is now offering the same service through their nine Primary Care Networks throughout the Edmonton area, involving over 900 doctors and 22 recreation facilities.
“With the success and growth of this program, we’re extremely pleased to have been one of the communities that started it all in 2011,” says Roger Smolnicky, director of Business and Project Development. “It’s truly amazing to see the power of partnerships and how it benefits citizens. This program is designed to promote healthy, active living for everyone and it’s great to see it now offered throughout the capital region.”
For more information, visit www.prescriptiontogetactive.com or call the City of Leduc at 780-980-7177, or the Leduc Beaumont Devon Primary Care Network at 780-986-6624.