Cardiovascular Disease remains the most significant health problem for Western countries in terms of mortality, morbidity and financial costs to health care systems. In Canada the direct and indirect costs amount to $20 billion a year which equates to $300 million a year for the Niagara peninsula. The potential positive impact of a reduction in these figures is enormous. When designing initiatives which positively affect heart health it is the adverse factors such as cigarette smoking, inactivity, obesity and high fat diets that have increased premature heart disease. Modifying the smoking habits, the activity patterns and the nutritional choices of adolescents by demonstrating their individual genetic vulnerability through assessment is the bedrock of this strategy. Heart Niagara believes this strategy provides an effective whole population approach to eradicating cardiovascular disease.

In 1987 Heart Niagara Inc. established a school-based program in the Niagara region with the support of all the school boards and Public Health Unit. Heart Niagara believes "that the direction of primary health care in the field of cardiovascular health must be directed toward strategies that have a hope of long-term success, rather than ineffective attempts to change long-established behaviour patterns. Two strategies co-exist in Heart Niagara planning: Risk reduction and heart health promotion are among the only target group in the whole population who do not already have the disease; school children. This group is 100% available to heart healthy recommendations and self-care education delivered within core curriculum utilizing experiential learning.