Welcome to Healthy Kids Community Challenge Manitoulin!
“I’m Grand Council Chief Pat Madahbee and I am the Community Champion for the Healthy Kids Community Challenge, Manitoulin. I encourage all youth to engage in physical activity every day and to choose healthy food options.”
-Grand Council Chief Patrick Madahbee
Biography:
Grand Council Chief Patrick Wedaseh Madahbee is currently serving his third consecutive term as Grand Council Chief. He also served one term as Grand Council Chief in 1980, the youngest Grand Council Chief ever at 27 years of age. He is also the President of the Union of Ontario Indians and the Anishinabek Nation 7thGeneration Charity.
Mr. Madahbee’s prior roles on a regional level include Lake Huron Regional Grand Chief, Lake Huron representative on the Anishinabek Nation Leadership Council, Ontario Regional Chief, and the Tribal Chair of the United Chiefs and Council of Mnidoo Mnising. His dedication to the Anishinabek Nation has included active leadership positions such as chairperson for the Robinson-Huron Treaty Claim Legal Strategy Team and the Anishinabek/Ontario Fisheries Resource Centre. He is the past Vice President of the Native Canadian Centre of Toronto and has held numerous other board positions.
He is the Health portfolio holder for the Chiefs of Ontario, member of the Assembly of First Nations Chiefs Committee of Health, and Co-chair of the joint Non-insured health benefits review.
Grand Council Chief Patrick Madahbee is an inspiration and a role model to our youth and is committed to improving both the health of our children and their future!
There are approximately 3,220 children and youth (ages 0 to 19 years of age) living in the Manitoulin District, comprising up to 25.5% of our population. Our lifestyles have to change in order for our children to have a better future!
The Manitoulin District is one of 45 communities across Ontario to successfully receive funding by the Ministry of Health and Long-Term Care (MOHLTC) for the Healthy Kids Community Challenge (HKCC). This initiative is targeted at improving the health of our children ages 0-12 through the promotion of physical activity and healthy eating.
The Noojmowin Teg Health Centre (NTHC) is heading this initiative, having received the funding from the MOHLTC. The NTHC has partnered with local organizations, schools, the Sudbury & District Health Unit, health centres, townships and communities, distributing funding and providing support to drive this project toward success. Every 9 months, the MOHLTC will provide us with a theme, relating to either physical activity or nutrition. The first theme ran from October of 2015 to June of 2016 was “Run. Jump. Play. Every Day.” The second theme, from July 1st, 2016 to March 31st, 2017 was “Water Does Wonders.” The third theme, “Choose to Boost Veggies and Fruit" ran from April 1st until December of 2017. We are now into the fourth theme “Power Off and Play!” which aims to encourage children and families to spend less time in front of screens and more time developing healthy habits from the three previous themes.
Our community partners will be offering various programming related to physical activity and healthy eating for children ages 0 to 12, depending on what theme is underway.
To see a list of programming being offered, please click on “Community Calendars” under Navigation and then select your community to find a community calendar listing all activities and events.
If you are not a community partner, but would like your activities posted, please contact Danielle Bourgault, Healthy Kids Community Challenge Project Manager at This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.
or 705-368-2182.
Activities must be related to physical activity and/or healthy eating and must be offered to children ages 0 to 12 in the Manitoulin District.
