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Bravo!  Félicitation! Edmundston, New Brunswick

Congratulations to the folks in Edmundston, New Brunswick whose “Vivez Mieux” (Live Better) efforts were rewarded with a $100,000 natural playground in the CBC/Radio-Canada’s Live Right Now Campaign.

When we first heard of the CBC's quest to find 'The Live Right Now Capital of Canada" in early January, thousands of Canadians immediately responded.

Communities, large and small, across Canada joined together to improve their overall health and quality of life. They ran, they walked, they worked out, they played games - and they did it together.

What the CBC panel of judges looked for: "The Canadian community that most embodies the spirit of Live Right Now: a community where residents are motivated and supported to make healthier choices."

And the winning team: Edmundston, New Brunswick, who embraced an amazing Vivez Mieux Vivre / Live Better  campaign to get healthy and fit. Citizens of this winning city attended spin and zumba classes, played racket sports, jogged, skated, skied, played  hockey and danced!

Their hearty efforts racked up the points - and they've now won a custom-designed natural playground (valued at more than $100,000) for their home city, compliments of the Canadian Wildlife Federation , Bienenstock Natural Playgrounds and Parks Canada.

For more information on the CBC's campaign to get (and keep) Canadians fit and healthy, visit LiveRightNow.ca.

Get Outside Right Now! $100,000 incentive!

A playground just like this could be coming to your community! (Courtesy: Bienenstock Natural Playgrounds)

As many of you know, CBC is currently on the quest for the healthiest community in Canada. It's a continuation of last year's incredibly successful Live Right Now campaign in which Canadians pledged to lose a total of 1,600,000 pounds.

What the CBC panel of judges is looking for: "The Canadian community that most embodies the spirit of Live Right Now: a community where residents are motivated and supported to make healthier choices."

And to add a little outdoorsy incentive, three organizations have come combined their resources to give the winning community a  $100,000 reward - one that will pay itself forward for the next generation.

The Canadian Wildlife Federation, Bienenstock Natural Playgrounds and Parks Canada, all ardent believers in natural play, natural environment, nature-filled childhoods, have promised a custom-designed natural playground (valued at more than $100,000) for the winning community.

But it's not just any playground. Say the organizers, "The natural playground will reflect the natural heritage of the nearest national park and Parks Canada will help the winning community experience the national park nearest to them."   Created from the trees, earth, and bedrock found across Canada, the natural playground will be a place for children and neighbours to gather and play - be active - in a playground that is custom-built to their community's specific needs.

This is echoed by Wade Luzny, Canadian Wildlife Federation Executive Vice-President and CEO.

“A major part of CWF’s conservation mission is educating Canadians; but the greatest goal is for people to actually explore the outdoors and find the true value of our wildlife-rich land. The natural playground will unite people in their love of the outdoors and ignite that spark to want to get out and discover more. What a perfect way to celebrate the Canadian Wildlife Federation 50th Anniversary of connecting Canadians to wildlife.”

If you need any further encouragement - just browse through the gallery of incredibly original, all-natural playgrounds Bienenstock has built all across Canada. (They make me want to be a kid again!)

To find out how you can enter your community, town or neighbourhood in the competition, visit LiveRightNow.ca.

How to Treat Cold Weather Injuries

By: Graduate intern Jennifer Shenouda
While every vacation comes with its own unique set of health risks, packing sunscreen for the beach is a bit of a no-brainer. But what if your heart’s set on a ski holiday or ice climbing excursion this winter or, for that matter, simply spending time outdoors in the winter wonderland with your friends and family?

Dr. Mark Wise, author of the book, “Travel Health Guide: Everything You Need to Know Before You Leave, While You’re Away, After You’re Back” has some helpful tips for how to spot and treat the nastiest cold weather injuries, so that you can enjoy your stay in winter wonderland.

1.  Frostbite: Imagine the tissues in your body freezing and tiny ice crystals forming in your cells, that’s frostbite! Dr. Wise says that the places on your body that are at highest risk are those with the greatest exposure, as well as your extremities. Frostbitten skin looks white or bluish, and is stiff to touch.  You won’t be able to move or feel the affected areas.
Stay warm tip #1: When bundling up for the outdoors, think of protecting your ears, nose, fingers and toes. Dr. Wise suggests having bandages or splints handy to warm up frostbitten parts.

2. Frostnip: A nip is usually thought of as a gentle warning, but in the case of frostnip it’s a red flag alerting you to the earliest stages of frostbite. Frostnip occurs when only the superficial layers of your skin freeze.  Dr. Wise says that skin appears white or gray in light-skinned people, red or pink in dark skinned people, and feels numb.
Stay warm tip #2: Treating frostnip quickly is key. Affected areas can be immersed in hot (not steaming) water and bodies can be warmed up with clothing and soup.

3. Hypothermia: While taking a dip in a Nordic bath after a long day of snowshoeing sounds heavenly, when your core body temperature takes a dip below 96°F/35.5°C,  it’s called hypothermia.  Shivering uncontrollably and becoming disoriented are all signs of hypothermia. “The very old or very young, the intoxicated or those on certain medications may be predisposed to hypothermia,” warns Dr. Wise.
Stay warm tip: Getting out of the cold is crucial, as is removing anything wet from the body and bundling with blankets. Sources of heat can be applied to the person, but never directly onto the skin.

4. Chilblains/Trench Foot:
Chilblains and trench foot are less severe injuries resulting from a mixture of cold and wet conditions.
Stay warm tip: These cold weather wounds be treated similarly to frostbite, says Dr. Wise. A few extra pairs of socks tucked away in your suitcase is not a bad idea, either!

Stay tuned for Jennifer Shenouda's upcoming series on family fitness and heart health, scheduled to appear online during February's Heart Health Month.

If you have a question about travel health, post it below.

Safe travels.

Vancouver or Moose Jaw or Medicine Hat or Fredericton or Taber or Powassan or Digby...?

Well, our national broadcaster, the CBC, has done it again - or rather, is doing it again. If you participated in last year's Live Right Now campaign that resulted in Canadians losing an astounding one million pounds, I think you'll be all over their next endeavour: to find 'The Live Right Now Capital of Canada."

In other words: what's the healthiest community in our country? Maybe it's yours.

“Since the launch of Live Right Now in January, more than 50 dedicated communities across our country have joined together to improve their overall health and quality of life,” said Kirstine Stewart, Executive Vice-President, English Services, CBC. “The level of commitment and dedication we’ve seen from Canadians nationwide has been truly inspiring – it’s going to be really tough to crown only one Live Right Now Capital of Canada.”

Not to toot our own horn, but a gang of us at Canadian Living embraced the Live Right Now Challenge last year and had a blast doing it. Our lesson learned: fitness can be fun. That's when it sticks.

CBC is going to find the community that most embodies the spirit of Live Right Now. You can nominate your own community starting today, Jan. 13. So what are the hallmarks of a healthy community? Think athletic activities, impressive lifestyle changes, infectious team spirit, plus commitment and dedication to getting and staying healthy.

Of course, it's apparent many Canadian towns and cities have what it takes to be healthy. When Kingston, Ontario can boast about the Kingston RoadRunners Association, and Burnaby, British Columbia residents ski, hike and cycle to their heart's content (literally) when they join the Burnaby Outdoor Club, and youth have access to the Mount Pearl Soccer Association, then you know the country is on the right track.

To nominate your community, submit your inspirational stories, photos and/or videos online at LiveRightNow.ca, or by email at LiveRightNow@cbc.ca.

Canadians from coast to coast to coast will be joining the competition. And the winning community will be announced by Live Right Now Ambassadors Steven and Chris in Ottawa on Canada Day. Stay tuned to CBC Television’s Steven and Chris for regular updates.

Maybe you're power-walking this season with your neighbors in Digby, Nova Scotia, or organizing a jogging club in your subdivision in the south end of Calgary. Perhaps your book club in Hamilton, Ontario will close the books and strap on pedometers to exercise the body in addition to the brain. Log on, tell your story to the CBC. One of you could be named the Live Right Now Capital of the country.

Who's it going to be Canada?