The We Play Here campaign is encouraging young people to demonstrate how they remain active, whether by taking part in the sport, school and play programs funded by the foundation, or any other activities that suit their interest.
“Play just isn’t about sports, it’s about playing,” executive director of the Calgary Flames Foundation Candice Goudie said. “That’s making forts in your living room, that’s playing in the backyard, that’s [building] snowmen outside, that’s snowball fights.”
While there is no shortage of research available highlighting all the mental and physical benefits of being active, it’s also a way for families to bond.
“I’ve got three kids; [ages] seven, four-and-a-half and a year-and-a-half,” Calgary Flames forward Milan Lucic said. “In the summertime, we live in L.A. for a couple months, so we go down to the beach and build sandcastles, run around — in and out of the ocean — and all that type of fun stuff, so it’s just getting to re-live those memories and build new ones with kids.”
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Flames defenceman Michael Stone, who has three children, says during the summer, his family gardens together and spends time playing basketball and street hockey on their Springbank property.
“Right now I’m in the process of flooding the [sport] court for a backyard rink, but the weather hasn’t been cooperating with me,” Stone said. “It’s been a little warm.”
The foundation is also promoting the campaign on social media by asking people to share a photo of what play means to them, tag the Calgary Flames social media accounts and use the hashtag #WePlayHere.