Together, we’re showing what’s possible when play, equity, well-being, and caring adults are within reach for every child.
What if every kid had the opportunity to enjoy the benefits of play?
Supporting kids through play and movement, growing leaders, building belonging, and shaping brighter futures.
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Marek and his student leadership team left the Everybody Plays Schools event inspired and ready to act. They recognized the importance of listening to students who are directly impacted by not feeling safe, and gathering deeper insights.
Student Voice Sparks Change Across Canadian Rockies Schools
“We have to really try, it’s not good to have 53% of the school not feel safe at school.”
— Marek, Grade 7, Lawrence Grassi Middle School
This statement from Marek reflects the powerful shift sparked by the Student Wellness Symposium, hosted by Ever Active as part of the Canadian Rockies School Division’s approach to the Everybody Plays Schools initiative.
Marek and his student leadership team left the event inspired and ready to act. They recognized the importance of listening to students who are directly impacted by not feeling safe, and gathering deeper insights. Rather than relying on yes-or-no questions, they have an idea to survey asking students to describe, in three sentences, why they don’t feel safe at school. “Maybe we can gather enough data and make our school better,” Marek shared.
Their efforts led to a school-specific action plan that included Winter House Day, an event rooted in student voice and designed to foster connection and well-being. They leveraged students’ identified need for movement and play outside to create connection and belonging to help kids feel safe at school. Students played a key role in planning and leading activity stations, helping to bring the entire school together.
Everybody Plays Schools is an initiative that spans the entire school year and includes in-school residencies, preparation, and follow-up tailored to each school. This school-level programming gains valuable insights into local contexts and crafts customized program implementation and professional development strategies to reduce barriers to play. Approximately 60 schools participated in Everybody Plays Schools in 2024-25.
“Having the symposium in October gave students the chance to reflect on peer data and see how it could lead to real change,” one teacher said. “It was the spark that empowered students to bring their ideas to life.”
The symposium launched similar student-led initiatives across the division, demonstrating how student voice can drive action. Grade 8 student Cole said, “Meeting people was the best part, having fun, brainstorming, and turning our ideas into action.”
Grade 12 student Asher was motivated to create new clubs and improve student voice tools. Their goal: “Boost school spirit, create a welcoming environment, and provide a better school experience.”
The 2024-25 school year marked the first time Everybody Plays Schools took a jurisdiction-wide approach, resulting in a coordinated effort across administration, schools, and community partners to elevate student voice and well-being.
What if the kids who need the most support got it?
Reaching kids who need it the most with accessible, inclusive resources, and programs.
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Jonah is a First Nations high school student whose love for basketball reconnected him to school, to leadership, and to himself through the Movement as Medicine program.
Movement as Medicine:
Reconnecting Through the Game
“I consider myself a leader now, following rules and leading people towards the right path.”
— Jonah
Jonah is a First Nations high school student whose love for basketball reconnected him to school, to leadership, and to himself through the Movement as Medicine program. Jonah faced significant challenges in school, behavioural struggles, disengagement, and even removal from his high school.
“I used to be one of those kids, getting into trouble, skipping school, affiliating with the wrong people. It’s not a good place to be.” – Jonah, audio interview
Everything began to shift when Jonah joined the 3x3 basketball tournaments in Edmonton, part of the Movement as Medicine program. Rooted in Indigenous leadership and cultural connection, the program provided him with a space to play, belong, and grow, even when other doors had closed.
“The 3x3 is different because you constantly play, even if you lose you still play, even if you win, you still play, instead of if you lose or win and then you’re out.“ – Jonah audio interview
Funded by the Edmonton Indigenous Reconciliation Fund, Movement as Medicine expands on Ever Active’s vision of Sport as a Platform, using sport to support Indigenous health, education, and wellbeing. The program embraces a strengths-based approach and builds on the rich legacy of sport in Indigenous communities.
Through the program, Jonah gained mentorship from community leaders and eventually volunteered as a coach for visiting students from Cadotte Lake, becoming a role model and building connections between urban and rural youth. He was consistently recognized by teachers for his positive growth and has since been invited to re-register at his former high school.
“I consider myself a leader now, following rules and leading people towards the right path.” – Jonah audio interview
When asked what kind of program he’d create for others like him, Jonah said he’d build more opportunities for kids from lower-income homes who want to play sports.
Photo Credit: Free Play for Kids
What if every school prioritized well-being?
Helping schools meet Canadian Healthy School Standards to prioritize well-being and create supportive learning environments.
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École Whitehorse Elementary School Activates Recess with a Whole-School Approach. Walk into the school in downtown Whitehorse, Yukon, and you’ll feel it right away—this is a place that hums with warmth, community, and care.
École Whitehorse Elementary School Activates Play with a Whole-School Approach
École Whitehorse Elementary School Activates Recess with a Whole-School Approach
Walk into École Whitehorse Elementary School in downtown Whitehorse, Yukon, and you’ll feel it right away—this is a place that hums with warmth, community, and care. Hallways are lined with art by students and local creators. Light streams in and plants bloom in sunny stairwells.
But despite its welcoming atmosphere, the school’s urban location limits access to natural outdoor spaces for active learning and play. Combined with Yukon’s climate and resourcing challenges, students have fewer opportunities to experience the restorative benefits, social connection, and learning readiness that outdoor, creative play provides.
That’s where the Active Play Experience (APE) stepped in. Aligned with Yukon Education’s core competencies for intellectual, personal, and social development, the APE Leadership program helped two Grade 6 classes learn and practice games they could lead with younger peers, laying the groundwork for peer mentorship and meaningful play.
From there, Ever Active Schools and Yukon’s Physical Literacy Education Coordinator connected the school to the Everybody Plays initiative. Recess activation kits filled with imaginative loose parts were introduced. One joyful afternoon of experimenting and inventing followed. The impact was immediate:
94% of students said they moved their bodies in a way they enjoyed
Yet only 58% felt confident leading play for younger students
They needed more support.
The next step: a professional learning session for all staff. Teachers explored the kits firsthand, becoming champions of creative play. Buddy classes began planning and playing imaginatively together, co-creating activities, and teachers use the kits with their own classrooms. Suddenly, recess was no longer seen as a break from learning, it was a vibrant extension of it.
Now, when you pass École Whitehorse Elementary, you might see students proudly wheeling the kits back inside, their cheeks flushed from activity and laughter. Active play is woven into the fabric of the school’s culture of well-being.
This story is just one of many unfolding across the territory. Everybody Plays continues to promote well-being in Yukon schools - not only to increase physical activity and recreation, but to use evidence-based, health-promoting approaches to transform the learning environment. Because when we take a whole-school approach to something as fundamental as recess, we send a powerful message: every child deserves joy, movement, and connection at school.
Rooted in best practices from the Canadian Healthy School Standards and funded through the generosity of Canadian Tire Jumpstart Charities, this work is about more than increasing movement. It’s about building the conditions across policy, practice, and people for health and well-being to thrive in every corner of the school.
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At Taradale School, the morning drop-off had become a daily challenge. Crowded crosswalks and unsafe intersections made the school zone feel chaotic, setting a stressful tone for everyone’s day.
Paving the Way: Students Lead the Charge on School Zone Safety
At Taradale School, the morning drop-off had become a daily challenge. Crowded crosswalks and unsafe intersections made the school zone feel chaotic, setting a stressful tone for everyone’s day. Students often arrived feeling anxious, while teachers began their mornings managing tension rather than focusing on learning. It was clear that something needed to change.
The shift began when a dedicated teacher partnered with Ever Active through the Active & Safe Routes to School program, an initiative that encourages walking and wheeling by improving safety in the school zone. With support from Ever Active, the teacher brought together a team of students to become change-makers. These students stepped up as ambassadors for active school travel, collecting data, raising awareness, and leading efforts to shift habits and inspire lasting change.
The student change-makers led a school-wide design contest, inviting each class to create simple, vibrant patterns. The winning designs were painted in the Passenger Loading Zone and along sidewalks, transforming ordinary spaces into colourful reflections of student voice and sense of belonging.
Painting day brought a sense of excitement to Taradale School. Students worked side-by-side to bring their colourful designs to life while families, neighbours, and the school gathered to watch the transformation.. The once-congested drop-off zone became a vibrant reflection of creativity, teamwork, and community pride. It was a moment filled with smiles, supportive honks, and genuine excitement - a clear indication that positive change was unfolding.
One parent commented:
“Beautiful! I walked with my daughter in the morning, and it felt so good and positive. Thank you!”
Reflecting on the experience, the teacher shared:
“Our students were proud to be part of positive change at our school. They embraced leadership and loved working with Ever Active Schools. The support we received built momentum and helped create lasting change in our community.”
And the change was measurable:
- Walking increased by 17% (from 25% to 42%)
- Wheeling rose by 5% (from 0% to 5%)
- Private vehicle use dropped by 25% (from 67% to 42%)
Taradale’s story highlights how prioritizing well-being through student leadership and community support can transform a school community.
What if every adult in a child's life knew how to support their well-being?
Empowering teachers, staff, and leaders with the skills to support every child’s well-being.
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Andrew, a principal in Southern Alberta, has always prioritized the well-being of his students and staff. But when new gender policy legislation was introduced, he found himself in unfamiliar and challenging territory.
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Marion, an elementary teacher at Voyageur Memorial Elementary in Mistissini, Quebec, was a standout delegate at this year’s Shaping the Future conference, not only because of the long journey she made to attend but because of her genuine eagerness to learn and grow.
Shaping the Future Far and Wide
Marion, an elementary teacher at Voyageur Memorial Elementary in Mistissini, Quebec, was a standout delegate at this year’s Shaping the Future (STF) conference in Lake Louise, not only because of the long journey she made to attend but because of her genuine eagerness to learn and grow. Living and teaching in the remote community of Mistissini, Marion faces daily challenges such as isolation and limited access to professional learning. Opportunities for collaboration, fresh ideas, and growth can often feel out of reach. Yet, driven by a deep commitment to her students and her own development, Marion’s dedication shone through, and when she found out about STF, she knew she had to be there.
STF is a school health and well-being conference that brings together over 500 educators, health professionals, and community leaders from across Canada to explore ways to build healthier, more connected schools and communities. The conference offers a wide range of sessions supporting various dimensions of well-being.
Getting to Alberta from Mistissini was no easy task. Marion had to travel a long distance, navigating remote roads to the nearest airport before boarding a flight west. For many, that journey would be a barrier. But Marion didn’t see it that way. She saw an opportunity to grow.
Throughout the conference, Marion’s passion and enthusiasm were impossible to miss. She eagerly attended sessions on school wellness, equity, and mental health, connecting with people who shared her dedication. Each time Marion interacted with the Ever Active team, she would smile and say how every mile travelled had been worth it, and she wasn’t alone in that experience. Shaping the Future is designed to create an inclusive, welcoming space where everyone feels seen and valued, and delegates feel empowered to further the well-being of young people in their respective spaces. In a post-conference survey, 96% of respondents (n=109) said that STF increased their skills and abilities to support well-being in their program or school community.’
For Marion, the conference was transformative. She left feeling energized and with new tools and ideas to bring home. Her story is a powerful reminder that when we prioritize and invest in connection, learning, and well-being in professional spaces, we create lasting impacts reaching even the most remote corners of the country.
Thank Your From Our Leaders
On behalf of the Board of Directors and Ever Active team, we extend our heartfelt thanks to our dedicated partners, generous funders, engaged schools, and vibrant communities for their unwavering support throughout the last year. Your friendship and collaboration has been instrumental in advancing wellness initiatives and creating environments where students can learn, connect and thrive. Together, we are shaping a healthier, more equitable future for children and youth across Alberta and beyond. Your commitment to well-being continues to inspire meaningful change and endless opportunities.
Brian Torrance
