Pembroke: The Silver Chain Challenge is back for 2022.

The Silver Chain Challenge is a friendly competition between a growing number of participating communities from across Eastern Ontario, including the County of Renfrew, to inspire and promote more active, safer and healthier communities. Other participating communities are Lanark, Hastings and Prince Edward Counties, the City of Quinte West and the City of Belleville.

From June 1-30, residents of participating municipalities can register and create an account at the Silver Chain Challenge website, then log kilometres – whether walking, biking running or wheeling on trails and roads around their communities. Families, school classes and groups are encouraged to sign up and start keeping track of the distances they travel. A real-time bar graph of kilometres clocked will be displayed on the homepage of the Silver Chain Challenge website, showing which municipality measures up to being the most active on bicycles. A real-time bar graph of kilometres clocked will also be displayed showing which community measures up to being the most engaged.

For those looking to explore, whether walking, cycling, running or wheeling, the County of Renfrew has trails to get participants off the roads, including 100 kilometres of the Algonquin Trail, which is part of the larger Ottawa Valley Recreation Trail from Smiths Falls to Mattawa, in addition to a 21-kilometre section of the K&P Trail, between Renfrew and Calabogie. There are also local municipal trails, including the Millennium Trail in Renfrew.

“I encourage all of council and all our residents to register for the challenge and start clocking your kilometres,” said Renfrew County Warden Debbie Robinson. “It is an opportunity to improve our mental and physical health, be more active in our community and hopefully win bragging rights.”

In addition to the municipal partners, the Silver Chain Challenge is also promoted by the Ottawa Valley Cycling and Active Transportation Alliance, Renfrew County and District Health Unit and the University of Ottawa Heart Institute.

The benefits of participating in this challenge are huge. An active lifestyle results in improved mental and physical health, vibrant, healthier, safer communities, stronger local economy, and a socially inclusive, engaged and active community.

But also remember, this competition isn’t just about points. It’s about increasing the number of participants and kilometres logged in each community. It’s about everyone moving more. It is about increasing the number of community members walking and biking on our trails and roads, creating safer communities, roads, improving our health and having fun.

“The goal is to increase participation in the Silver Chain Challenge throughout the County of Renfrew,” said Chief Michael Nolan, County of Renfrew Paramedic Service. “We encourage residents get more active by exploring trails and roadways across the county, which improves our mental and physical health in the long run.”

To register visit silverchainchallenge.ca/registration/ and be sure to log all kilometres travelled in June by 5 p.m. July 1.

For more information, please contact: Paul Moreau, Chief Administrative Officer/Clerk 613-735-7288 Michael Nolan, Chief County of Renfrew Paramedic Service 613-732-7288 Tina Peplinskie, Media Relations/Social Media Coordinator 613-735-7288 

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