YSPOR is currently in the early stages of an active living study that will work to capture the physical activity patterns and preferences of Yukoners across the territory post-pandemic. Working collaboratively with the Recreation & Parks Association of the Yukon (RPAY), we are developing the 2025 Yukon Healthy Living Study (YHLS) that will take place via a survey in the summer of 2025. RPAY is a non-profit society dedicated to empowering Yukon people and communities to adopt active, healthy lifestyles. RPAY works collaboratively with organizations and communities creating environments, which encourage recreation and parks opportunities for all Yukoners. The organization’s extensive programs and services are supported by its territorial, Northern, and national multi-sectoral partnerships with groups, communities and governments. This healthy living study has been run by RPAY three times in the past (2009, 2016, and 2021) but this is the first time that YSPOR will be working as a partner.
The information from previous Yukon Healthy Living surveys has been used by RPAY to create programs that directly address community needs. This includes the Winter Active for Life Equipment Library which was accessed by 935 Yukoners in 2024. This program enables eligible groups to borrow equipment, including skis, boots, snowshoes and kicksleds, empowering them to participate in winter activities that might otherwise be inaccessible. This amazing program was born from an understanding of seasonal patterns of physical activity in the Yukon that emerged in the 2009 YHLS.
This 2025 YHLS will build on previous versions to capture what healthy active lifestyles look like across the territory post-pandemic. We are hoping to understand the ways that Yukoners like to be active, barriers and motivators to leading healthy active lives, and what types of resources, facilities, and programs are available or desired in different communities to support active living. Understanding healthy living from cultural and rural perspectives provides opportunities for programs and services that support community programs and services that support community priorities and preferences in meaningful and relevant ways.
So far, we have begun developing the questionnaire that we will use to gather data next summer. We started this process by evaluating previous versions of the survey to see how it could be improved and updated to be relevant (and shorter!) in 2025. We then took this draft to an advisory group composed of community members with lived experience who work in the recreation space, a Yukon First Nations Elder, YSPOR staff, RPAY staff, and representatives from the Yukon Government. We had many impactful conversations where members shared their personal and professional insights on recreation and survey development. Through listening and collaboration, we made many edits which evolved the survey to be more culturally safe, meaningful, and relevant to all Yukoners.
We will be administering this survey across the territory in the summer of 2025 both online and in-person in order to promote accessibility for all Yukoners. See you next summer!
Production of this survey has been made possible through a financial contribution from the Public Health Agency of Canada. The views expressed herein do not necessarily represent the views of the Public Health Agency of Canada.
Author: Isabella Schwarz