Kids’ Run Club creator honoured with award of excellence
Dartmouth, NS – Kerry Copeland, creator and coordinator of Doctors Nova Scotia’s Kids’ Run Club will receive the Health, Wellness and Sport Progress Women of Excellence Award at a gala tonight at the World Trade and Convention Centre, Halifax.
“We at Doctors Nova Scotia are so proud of Kerry’s achievement and this well-deserved recognition of an outstanding program that inspires kids from across the province to learn the joy of running,” says Nancy MacCready-Williams, CEO, Doctors Nova Scotia.
The Kids’ Run Club is a free, school-based running program, which sees 16,000 Nova Scotian youth, in 230 schools get active every year. The program has received two national awards, the Ron Draper Health Promotion Award from the Canadian Public Health Association (2012) and the Health Promotion and Innovation Award of Excellence from the Canadian Institute of Child Health (2006).
“Under Kerry’s leadership Doctors Nova Scotia was the first medical association in Canada to offer a free running program to schools. The program has been replicated in other provinces,” says MacCready-Williams.
Copeland has devoted more than 25 years to working to support the health and well‐being of children and youth. After earning her Bachelor of Social Work from Dalhousie University in 1989, she had a nine-year career as an Adolescent Protection Worker with the Children’s Aid Society in Halifax. Most recently, she has made her career building and implementing the award-winning Doctors Nova Scotia Kids’ Run Club.
Ms. Copeland is also completing her Masters in Health Promotion at Dalhousie and is expected to graduate this winter. She previously served on the board of the Phoenix Youth Programs and is the current board co-chair for Avalon Sexual Assault Centre.
The Progress Women of Excellence Awards are hosted each year by the Canadian Progress Club Halifax Cornwallis. The awards honour 19 inspirational women who each play an important role in our community. The annual fundraiser is hosted in support of Phoenix Youth Programs.
About Doctors Nova Scotia
Doctors Nova Scotia is the professional association representing all doctors in the province. It is the oldest medical association in Canada. The association represents about 2,500 physicians serving patients across the province, and 700 medical students and residents.