Ontario students to get 1 hour of exercise every day

Ontario students are about to get more active.

Premier Kathleen Wynne announced a new partnership Thursday morningthat will help school implement 60 minutes of physical activity every day for students.

• GTA students not getting enough daily exercise, report says
• Kids get less physical activity than parents believe

The program will be lead by the group Active At School, the Ontario Physical Health and Education Association (Ophea) and the province.

Part of the effort will include developing a system to formally recognize schools that achieve the 60 minute standard and establishing 20 "pilot sites" beginning with 20 next year and potentially 250 by 2016 to help researchers understand how physical activity time can be maximized in schools.

The initiative is also supported by a $1-million donation from retail giant Canadian Tire.

Wynne campaigned on a promise to introduce at least 45 minutes of exercise for Ontario's school children every day during the last provincial election.

The premier announced the new program at the MattamyAthletic Centre in downtown Toronto.