January 29, 2014 (Winnipeg)–Green Action Centre invites Manitobans to celebrate winter and stay active with The Jack Frost Challenge! Teams of up to five people each are challenged to skate, ski, snowshoe, bike, run or walk for a team total of 130 kilometres over a one week period from February 8 to 14.

Friends, family, co-workers or classmates are encouraged to sign up as teams to glide, swish, pedal, and crunch their way across the snow. To work, to school, to the grocery store or just for fun, it doesn’t matter! The purpose of the event is to raise awareness of the importance of staying active throughout the winter and to remind Manitobans that we have alternatives to private automobiles year-round.

“Winter in Manitoba is like nowhere else. It’s important to get out and enjoy the outdoors, and stay healthy. The Jack Frost Challenge is a fun way to enjoy the beauty of our local environment, while doing a bit to reduce our environmental impact,” says Amanda Kinden, Living Green Living Well coordinator with Green Action Centre.

This year marks the third annual edition of the Jack Frost Challenge. In 2013, a total of 11,856 kilometres were completed by 84 teams, up from 67 teams in the first year. Most teams got creative with their names, from Parks Canada’s Bicycles & Icicles to Frosty Relations and Attache ta tuque! Several schools around the province also participated, ranging from École Arthur Meighen School Winter Warriers in Portage la Prairie and the CBF Christian School in Swan River to the GPCI Trojans in Gilbert Plains and Team Gillam School. Special kudos to Oak Table Community Ministry in Winnipeg who pulled together 14 teams!

Each participating team is eligible for ‘cool’ draw prizes from MEC, FortWhyte Alive, FROGBOX, and Festival du Voyageur. There will also be special recognition for one of the teams with a clever name. The Jack Frost Challenge is a Co-Actif Epica event.

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Contact:

Amanda Kinden, Green Action Centre | (204) 925-3779 | commuterchallenge@greenactioncentre.ca

Bougeons en hiver: The Jack Frost Challenge is organized by Green Action Centre, a non-profit, non-governmental organization focused on practical solutions for greener living at home, work, school, and in the community. We share a greener, better living message through the delivery of community programs, events, education, and policy work.