ParticipACTION is a national non-profit organization whose mission was to help Canadians sit less and move more. Most people to this day still remember the TV commercials with Hal and Joanne showing us how to be more active. ParticipACTION was established in 1971 and worked with many partners including sport, physical activity, recreation organizations and government and corporate sponsors.

In 1976, ParticipACTION came to Peterborough with a pilot project that would help get people more active in the wintertime. As a result of this program, the first Peterborough Snofest was created! The Festival started off as a one day Carnival and has now evolved into a whole month of events