I Move with My Doc: Another Reason to Get Moving
I Move with My Doc: Another Reason to Get Moving
The event "I Move with My Doc" is currently taking place in two municipalities of our region: Pincourt and Saint-Polycarpe. Born in 2013 in Shawinigan, this initiative was designed to help sedentary people get moving alongside health professionals. Since then, the program has flourished, with many cities joining in. In Montérégie, the first edition took place in Sainte-Julie in 2014, where 700 participants walked the marked trails.
This initiative aligns perfectly with the vision behind Horizon 2035, a regional program spearheaded by the Centre Multisports that aims to foster a generation of youth growing up in an active, health-focused environment across Vaudreuil-Soulanges.
But this isn’t just a one-time event. In many towns, permanent walking groups have formed and continue using the trails created for the program.
đŁ Walking with the Family
This June, Pincourt and Saint-Polycarpe are hosting the second edition of the event in Vaudreuil-Soulanges. Last year in Pincourt, 23 doctors, 52 other healthcare professionals, 45 volunteers, and 457 walkers took part. Sponsored by Desjardins Vaudreuil-Soulanges, the event goes beyond the walk itself:
“This initiative is part of our city’s social development strategy,” says Yvan Cardinal, Mayor of Pincourt and an avid athlete. “We promote healthy lifestyles and look for initiatives like this for our residents.”
The event’s goal is to raise awareness of the benefits of regular physical activity to reduce the risk of chronic illness (see Stats & Struggles below). On site, patients are invited to walk with the very doctors who prescribed the activity.
Physicians, pharmacists, and nurses hand out “physical activity prescriptions” to sedentary patients or those with chronic illnesses. These prescriptions are an invitation to join the walk — but no one needs one to participate! As Dr. Simona Dospinescu, family physician and walk leader for a second year, explains:
“I often meet patients who could really benefit from moving more, and I’ve been encouraging them to be active for a long time.”
Participating cities are matched with a local doctor and must commit to establishing a permanent walking route for their residents. “We try to offer various activities that reach all residents,” adds Mayor Cardinal. “I Move with My Doc is a family event — and let’s not forget, our future citizens are the youth.”
đ± The Event’s Legacy
A core goal of this initiative is to promote healthy habits, one step at a time. Mayor Cardinal shares the story of a walking group formed after last year’s event — which includes a 90-year-old woman. Such outcomes were made possible by establishing permanent trail markings.
Beyond that, the mayor calls for increased participation — from citizens and municipalities alike:
“I hope other towns will promote the initiative — not necessarily with more walks, but perhaps adding one in the fall or a second or third edition during the year.”
The mayor also mentioned Pincourt’s upcoming riverside promenade project on Duhamel Boulevard, which aims to revitalize the area with pedestrian and cycling paths. All this serves one purpose: getting people to move.
Studies are unanimous: physical activity helps prevent hypertension, diabetes, cardiovascular disease, and several cancers.
đ Upcoming Dates
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Pincourt – June 5
From 9:00 a.m., citizens are invited to walk 1 km, 3 km, or 5 km on accessible trails. Start point: Desjardins kiosk, Olympic Park (375 boulevard Cardinal-Léger, near the Omni-Centre).
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Saint-Polycarpe – June 12
At 9:00 a.m., residents gather at the Centre sportif Soulanges (100 rue des Loisirs) to walk the same trail options. Everyone is welcome — prescription or not!
đ Stats & Struggles
After the first event in Sainte-Julie:
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90% of participants said they now value physical activity more.
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72% reported being more active in the months following.
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84% of those who received medical advice on physical activity said they increased their activity.
In Montérégie:
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220,000 people (nearly 1 in 5) suffer from at least one chronic disease: asthma, cardiovascular illness, diabetes, COPD, or cancer.
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60% of deaths are due to cancer or cardiovascular disease.
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63% of adults (approx. 700,000 people) have at least one risk factor: high blood pressure, excess weight, or high cholesterol.
In Quebec:
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50% of the provincial budget (≈$33B) goes to health care; 70% of that ($22B) treats diseases that are partly preventable with proper diet, exercise, and smoking cessation.
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6 hours/day is the average screen time for Quebec youth.