EAS has operated as a provincial initiative in Alberta through a special project within the Health and Physical Education Council of the Alberta Teachers’ Association for 19 years. EAS contributes to the healthy development of children and youth using a whole-school approach. Our programs and services are available to all communities; EAS is a hub for wellness activity across the recreation, sport, active living and education sectors. 

In 2019, EAS began transitioning from our home within the Alberta Teachers’ Association to a registered national charity, formerly named Active Healthy Kids Canada (AHKC). This charity was active in Ontario, and instrumental in public awareness of youth health status through the publishing of the Active Healthy Kids Canada Report Card. After the responsibility for the Report Card was transferred to ParticipACTION, AHKC was acquired late in 2017 by a board of directors based in Alberta to be a platform for thought leadership, coordination, and awareness for the importance of upstream approaches to healthy school communities. Between 2017 and 2019, EAS was the implementation partner in the work of AHKC, a relationship that was governed by a partnership agreement under board approval. 

Given the passage of time for the new board of directors to mature with enhanced board capacity, the opportunity arose in 2019 for the successful implementation partnership to be formalized into the transition of EAS to become the charity. While the operations of Ever Active Schools will continue as usual, this transition represents a change in governance for EAS from the Alberta Teachers Association to a board of directors under national charitable status (formerly AHKC). Our relationship with the ATA, HPEC and government ministries is expected to continue through partnership agreements and advisory opportunities. The shift in governance enables the alignment of purpose (between EAS operations and AHKC charity) for enhanced impact, as well as a greater range of possibilities for both strategic guidance, partnership, and funding opportunities.