The Healthy Heart Schools’ Program is a Niagara specific solution, reaching over 4,300 grade nine students annually with education regarding their potential future risk of cardiovascular disease.  

Physical activity level, healthy eating habits, and tobacco use are three risk factors for heart disease, a condition that affects 50% of Canadians. Heart disease, caused by a "hardening of the arteries," begins in adolescence and studies have shown that many teenagers already demonstrate significant plaque formation (too technical?) in their arteries. This condition is often associated with teenagers who are inactive, who smoke, or whose nutrition includes significant amounts of saturated fat.

Heart Niagara and our partners, collaborators and key influencers are concerned with physical activity, healthy eating, tobacco use and how knowledge of these factors relates to making informed decisions regarding healthy growth and development. Due to this commitment to improve adolescent education on the risk of future heart disease, the Healthy Heart Schools’ Program was developed and as evolved to meet emerging health promotion agendas since 1985

Healthy Heart Schools’ Program is delivered as part of the Grade 9 health and physical education program and is delivered by Heart Niagara with support from health promoters and educators from Niagara Region Public Health, District School Board of Niagara, Niagara Catholic District School Board, Conseil Scolaire de District Catholique Centre-Sud and Conseil Scolaire de District du Centre-Sud-Ouest. 

The awareness and assessment procedures that are involved in the Healthy Heart Schools’ Program may identify those students whose family history indicates potential genetic risks for future coronary heart disease and who should increase positive lifestyle choices. The program may also demonstrate to those children who do have a suggestion of genetic risk that as a precaution their parents should also consider making positive and healthy lifestyle changes. This educational program includes blood pressure assessment, cholesterol testing and CPR training.

This program provides students with information about their individual heart profile to guide them in making positive lifestyle decisions. The corporate and community donors investment provide support in 32 secondary schools, and underwrite a program cost of $48.00 per student. All dollars raised through participation and corporate sponsorship are invested in Niagara’s youth and adolescents through the Healthy Heart Schools’ Program

Consider a contribution today to support health and wellness of Niagara families.