A Weekend of Competition and Community
This past weekend, our team – The Nexum Bowheads – paddled in our very first Dragon Boat Festival. It was an incredible experience filled with teamwork, friendly competition, and raising funds for local charities. The energy on the water was contagious, and the sense of community on land was just as inspiring. But beyond the racing, we wanted to learn something more. We wanted to know just how well these participants knew Canada’s Physical Activity Guidelines.
So, we walked around and asked fellow teams three simple questions:
- Do you know Canada’s minimum physical activity guidelines?
- Are you meeting them?
- What’s a health or activity goal you have for later in life – in your 50s, 60s, or 70s?
What We Learned
The answers surprised us. Not a single person we interviewed knew what Canada’s Physical Activity Guidelines were. Most were indeed active enough to meet them – through paddling, training, and outdoor activities – but none realized there were official guidelines.
That raised an important question: if active people don’t know the guidelines, what about those who aren’t meeting them?
Canada’s Physical Activity Guidelines
According to the Canadian Society for Exercise Physiology (CSEP):
- Adults 18–64 should aim for at least 150 minutes of moderate-to-vigorous activity each week, in bouts of 10+ minutes.
- Include muscle- and bone-strengthening activities at least 2 days per week.
- Limit sedentary time, especially recreational screen time.
These guidelines reduce the risk of chronic disease, support long-term independence, and improve quality of life.
Why Awareness Matters
At the festival, one theme stood out: those already active plan to keep moving for decades to come. For them, exercise is simply their “normal.” This is what one participant of the Dragon Boat Festival said to us when asked what they want their 70’s and 80’s to look like?
“I want to be doing the same thing… golfing, pickleballing, dragonboating… I still want to do all that stuff. I don’t see age as a reason to stop”
But for those without that foundation, not knowing about the guidelines means they may be unaware they’re falling short. And that lack of awareness could increase long-term health risks.
Takeaway From the Festival
The Dragon Boat Festival was about more than racing – it revealed an important gap. Awareness of Canada’s Physical Activity Guidelines is low, even among active communities.
Our goal moving forward is clear: celebrate activity while also spreading knowledge. By making the guidelines better known, we can help more people build healthier, stronger, and longer lives.
Final Thought: Whether you’re a lifelong athlete or just getting started, knowing the minimum recommendations is powerful. Let’s make Canada’s Physical Activity Guidelines as familiar as the benefits of being active — because the two go hand in hand.
Our team of Kinesiologists are the exercise experts that will take you where you need to go!
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