City of Edmundston

Edmundston doctors are prescribing physical activity while practicing what they preach.

In and around Edmundston, doctors recognized lack of physical activity as a common ailment amongst their patients, and organized the group Prescription: Action! to help address this. The group focuses on prescribing physical activity in conjunction with – or as an alternative to – traditional medicine, noting that there is a direct correlation between physical activity and health and wellness.

To support and encourage physical activity and healthy eating, the group organizes a number of activities, all free to the public. To keep costs down, they have worked in partnership with many regional partners, ranging from schools and hospitals through to athletic facilities and walking clubs. Furthermore, the doctors participate in the events themselves, role-modeling the common phrase ‘Practice what you preach’!

To say the program has been a success would be a huge understatement. In a little over a year the Prescription: Action! facebook page has attracted more than 3000 members, and every new event the group puts on generates an increase in participants. In fact, the most recent event “Journée annuelle Prescription-Action” attracted 2000 participants! Prescription: Action! played a significant role in the City of Edmundston winning the national CBC Live Right Now award, and the $100,000 prize to build a natural playground that went with it. The group’s success has also been recognized in New Brunswick by le Mouvement acadien des Communautés en santé (MACS-NB). Prescription Action! is a proud winner of a Prix Soleil 2013.

The group has more momentum than ever, and big plans for 2013. Keep your eyes peeled, Prescription: Action! is on the move!