Spirit points are awarded to a community that impresses us through its outstanding commitment and the efforts it takes to participate in Live Right Now challenge. After Brampton and Cambridge, in Ontario, we are pleased to announce that the city of Edmundston, New Brunswick has won 500 spirit points!

Since the competition began nine weeks ago, this city of 16,000 has impressed us through its involvement in Live Right Now. Encouraged by the local initiative Prescription: Action led by local doctors, it created a Facebook group called Vivez mieux Edmundston - VM and multiplied the number of events available with a view to promoting a healthy lifestyle within its community.

As stated by Cindy Sirois, the 600 members of her Vivez mieux Edmundston - VM group are very active. "Spinning classes, snowshoeing trips, running, an anti-bullying day and a drink enough water challenge. The activities and events offered are both numerous and diverse."

"People were happy to participate in the project, without us having to twist their arm. They wanted to increase their physical activity to prove the statistics wrong." 

In spring 2011, New Brunswick demonstrated one of the highest obesity rates in the country. "Live Right Now came at just the right time. People were ready; we could feel that change was in the air," explained the group leader, Elaine Albert.

On March 4, they organized a snowshoeing trip which brought 150 to 200 people together, aging from a few months up to 80 years old. In an interview with Dr. John Tobin following the activity, 80-year-old Jean-Paul Michaud declared that his recipe for physical fitness could be summarized in very few words: stay active! As his daughter Paula Michaud wrote, Jean-Paul is an inspiration for his entire community.

Elaine Albert, who's done interviews about Live Right Now with local radio and on Radio-Canada's C'est a la vie, said "Live Right Now proved to me that there is no age limit for taking back control and getting back into shape. We make resolutions every year on New Year's, but this time they were for real." 

What did she enjoy the most about her experience? "I made many new friends and met people in my community who I didn't know before and with whom I will keep in touch." She explains that as the competition comes to a close, "there is already a feeling of nostalgia among our Facebook groups however; they are there to stay." She confirms that the motivation and community spirit of Vivez mieux Edmundston - VM is not about to fade.

Demonstrating its team spirit, Edmundston even created a Facebook group called Envoyez vos encouragements Cambridge ou Pictou - VM  which translated means "Send your encouragements to Cambridge or Pictou" to support their " ... most ferocious competitors.... Without them, it wouldn't have been so much fun!.... They're like our friends." Pictou liked the idea and created its own group called A Final Day to Say Hurray (to our "competition") - LRN. We recognize Edmundston's community spirit and that of all the other cities involved in Live Right Now.

John Tobin, who published the following on the Vivez mieux Edmundston - VM and Live Right Now Facebook pages has the final word: "Regardless of who wins the most points, the important thing is that we take back control of our health, and together, I sincerely believe that is what we have accomplished. We must also thank (CBC) Radio-Canada for organizing this initiative, and our competition, which brought out the best in us."

Congratulations Edmundston!

A little reminder: In order to allow for a full and final verification of all points, we will announce the semi-finalists on Tuesday, March 20. So come back and see us to find out whether your community has earned itself a place in the Live Right Now semifinals!