FROM THE CEO

Daniel Mulloy | Chief Executive Officer, ARTA

– Jim Ryun

I did not realize it at the time, but my lifelong relationship with health and fitness began the way many good things do: with competition, a stopwatch, and the deeply satisfying urge to beat my own score. Not someone else’ s score. Just mine. Seven-year-old me took that very seriously.

Staying healthy was never about kale smoothies, colour-coded meal plans, or tracking my life in spreadsheets. For me, it grew out of competition and sports. That initial spark came from the Canada Fitness Award Program, a national initiative run by Health and Welfare Canada from 1970 to 1992. It wasn’ t flashy. Progress was marked with badges: bronze, silver, gold, and the much-revered Award of Excellence. And somehow, it worked.

The mission was simple and refreshingly direct: promote health in Canadian youth, encourage higher levels of fitness, recognize achievement, and increase awareness of sport and recreation. The method was even simpler. Six events. The 50-yard run, the 300-yard run, flexed arm hangs, shuttle runs, speed sit-ups, and the standing long jump. No screens. No apps. Just effort, sweat, and the unmistakable sound of lungs working overtime.

Developed by Sport and Recreation Canada and launched nationally in September 1970, the

program gave kids like me something priceless— a reason to care. Success felt good. Really good. That sense of accomplishment planted an idea that never left. Moving your body makes you feel strong, confident, and capable. Somewhere between the shuttle run and the long jump, motivation quietly turned into habit.

Those habits followed me into adulthood. I gravitated toward active friends because that energy felt normal. Sports became social glue, stress relief, and a dependable source of joy. When I met my wife, her active lifestyle was part of what drew me to her. Movement was not a chore. It was simply how we lived.

Now I see that same spark in my son. He loves the motivation sports provide, the goals, the teamwork, and the small wins that stack up over time. More importantly, he is building habits I hope will last a lifetime. Not because he is told he should be healthy, but because being active feels good.

That is the real secret to lasting health. Motivation may start the journey through a fitness test, a race, or a friendly challenge, but habits built on enjoyment, connection, and progress are what keep you moving forward.

And sometimes, all it takes is a seven-year-old, a standing long jump, a stopwatch, and the realization that moving your body can feel like winning.

58 | arta. net STAY HEALTHY