Running Free: Documentary Première and Panel

For generations, there was an expectation that children would spend their free time playing outdoors, developing friendships, and exploring their neighbourhoods without direct parental supervision. However, in recent decades we have seen a dramatic decline in the independent mobility of children. A worrying consequence of this shift is that Canadian society is now facing a physical inactivity crisis among children and youth. What is driving these changes and how can we reverse this trend?


 
September 18th was the première screening of Running Free: Children’s Independent Mobility, produced by Professor Guy Faulkner of UBC’s School of Kinesiology. Told through the eyes of three families, this 26-minute documentary explores the concept of children’s independent mobility, the benefits for children’s mental health, and challenges viewers to consider solutions to this issue. Following the screening there will was a panel discussion about the film’s themes and a reception that continued the conversation with fellow UBC alumni and friends.

More details at Alumni UBC

View the Trailer

Watch the film here.

Host

Guy Faulkner – Professor, School of Kinesiology, University of British Columbia; Canadian Institutes of Health Research-Public Health Agency of Canada Chair (CIHR-PHAC) in Applied Public Health

Moderator

Shiral Tobin – Director of Journalism and Programming, CBC British Columbia

Panelists

Adrian Crook – Senior Digital Strategist and Civic Advocate; Founder, 5Kids1Condo.com

Mariana Brussoni, MA’96, PhD’00 – Developmental Psychologist; Associate Professor, Department of Pediatrics and the School of Population and Public Health, University of British Columbia

Negin Riazi – Doctoral Candidate, School of Kinesiology, University of British Columbia

Robyn Pitman – Lecturer, Department of Sociology, Faculty of Arts, University of British Columbia; Registered Clinical Counsellor and Registered Marriage and Family Therapist