Settings-based Intervention Research through
Changes in Lifestyles & Environments

SIRCLE aims to create wellness supporting environments for kids, their families, and their communities.

SIRCLE is Dr. Kate Storey’s Research Lab. Dr. Storey is an Associate Professor in the School of Public Health at the University of Alberta and Distinguished Researcher, Stollery Children’s Hospital Foundation.

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What We’re Up To

SIRCLE delivers and evaluates school- and community-based healthy living programs throughout Canada which promote wholistic health, prevent chronic diseases, and reduce health inequities. We work to create systems-level change through projects that foster resilience and empowerment and builds on the strengths of communities.

SIRCLE-led Projects

Active School Travel (AST), or walking and wheeling to/from school, is an innovative way to support healthy cities. AST improves mental and physical health and provides social, economic, and environmental benefits.
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This project aims to surface diverse stories of wellness to inform and inspire Canadian school jurisdictions in adopting their own unique cultures of wellness to improve the health of children in their community. Learnings will be shared to inform and strengthen school-based health promotion.
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Essential Conditions for taking a Comprehensive School Health Approach (CSH) is an effective approach that benefits the health of school communities by transforming the culture of the schools, promoting healthy behaviours for students, and improving academic outcomes.
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The Indigenous Youth Mentorship Program (IYMP) is a communal, relationship-based afterschool healthy living program. It is delivered by Indigenous high school students for elementary school children. IYMP is delivered in partnership with Ever Active Schools in over 50 communities across Canada.
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This study evaluated the implementation and effectiveness of the scale-up of School’s Out…Let’s Move!, an after-school healthy living program that provided training, resources, and support to after-school care providers.
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Sleeping Soundly is a research project aimed to improve the implementation of sleep promotion in schools, with reach to home and school environments. Our team works to understand perspectives on sleep, and ways that sleep behaviour can be improved.
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Partner-led Projects

APPLE Schools is an innovative school-focused health promotion initiative that works with vulnerable school communities to change students’ healthy eating, physical activity, and mental health habits to improve their quality of life.
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The Canadian Healthy Schools Alliance is a collaboration of stakeholders spanning the interest of both health and education working together to advance healthy school communities across Canada.
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What’s New

Indigenous mentorship program uses research to foster young people’s mental, physical and spiritual health

What started as a bid to reduce rates of Type 2 diabetes has led to friendships, opportunities and success for Indigenous children and youth across Canada. The Indigenous Youth Mentorship Program (IYMP) is guided by a national advisory circle of Elders, partners and youth from across Canada.

Learn more about the program, which builds on the strength of the youth and the communities in this recent article featuring IYMP mentor Teiotsatonteh Diabo, and Dr. Kate Storey, associate professor in the School of Public Health, Stollery Science Lab Distinguished Researcher and member of the program’s leadership circle.

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