News release

Senior Director Named for Sport and Recreation

Office of Health Promotion (Jan. 2003 - May 2005)

A senior director will lead provincial initiatives to increase the physical activity of Nova Scotians, through sport and recreation. Farida Gabbani was named to the new position in the Office of Health Promotion's Sport and Recreation division today, July 24.

"Ms. Gabbani is a valuable addition to our team," said Scott Logan, executive director of the Office of Health Promotion. "Her vast experience involves many sectors and ranges from community development to government programming. We will all benefit from her strong leadership."

Ms. Gabbani has experience at the local, provincial, national and international levels, in many aspects of education, health, sport, recreation and physical activity. She was most recently an English program consultant with the Chignecto-Central Regional School Board. She was responsible for regional physical education, health, music, art, dance, drama and the Active School Community pilot project. Active School Communities is a component of the province's Active Kids, Healthy Kids Physical Activity Strategy.

"I look forward to meeting and working with people across government and in all parts of the province to ensure that the physical activity, sport and recreation opportunities we provide, are meeting the needs of Nova Scotians," said Ms. Gabbani. "Inactivity is a substantial problem in our province and reversing that trend is a challenge I'm ready for."

The Sport and Recreation division strives to enhance the quality of life of Nova Scotians through sport and recreation programs and services. Ms. Gabbani will guide the Sport and Recreation division to meet its goal of increasing physical activity in Nova Scotia by 10 per cent by 2010.

The Office of Health Promotion was created in December 2002 to give a greater focus to improving the health and well-being of Nova Scotians.