By continuing to add new programs, classes and events to its schedule, City of Powell River’s parks, recreation and culture department is ensuring it has multiple fitness, health and recreation options to offer area residents of all ages. Releasing the Fall 2017 Active Living Guide last week is another step toward achieving the city’s goal of becoming the healthiest region in the province.
“We are really promoting active living, whole health and fitness for all of Powell River,” says recreation office coordinator Nyla Ross. “In step with that, we have several new activities to choose from.”
Copies of the Active Living Guide were distributed inside the August 11 issue of Peak Weekender and can be picked up at Powell River Recreation Complex, city hall and Tourism Powell River. The guide is also available at powellriver.ca, as is registration for all programs and classes.
“People can look through the guide online and register from home rather than having to come in,” explains Ross. “We can also talk them through the process if they call in.”
Pages two to five of the guide feature an events calendar and information about admission fees and passes, while pages six through 10 provide a quick overview of all programs for each age group.
“The guide is laid out in a way to make it simple for anyone to find what they’re looking for,” says Ross. “Information about swimming, skating, fitness or any other activity is easily accessible.”
New health and fitness programs include Women on Weights, Listening to Your Body and Understanding Nutrition, Plant-Based for a Healthy Heart, Lunch Hour Circuit Express and five new yoga classes: Rise and Shine Yoga, Sunrise Yoga, Yoga for Anxiety, Somatics Yoga and Vinyasa Yoga. New drop-in fitness classes and fitness assessments are also available.
“The fall is one of our busiest program seasons of the year,” says manager of recreation Neil Pukesh. “We find that, after the summer, people like to get back to a routine.”
For the working person, the FlexFit program offers three early morning and two early evening classes each week.
“You can have a regular gym membership or go to regular drop-in classes, but FlexFit classes are specifically for people who register for a FlexFit package,” says Ross. “Those classes will not be overcrowded; we will only sell a certain number of memberships, so spots will be guaranteed.”
Additions to the lineup of community recreation programs include Buddy Artists (ages two to four), Journal-making for Youth (ages 10 to 15), a weekend baby-sitter training course (ages 13 to 18) and Active after School, which targets a different elementary school each month.
“For Active after School we pick students up at 3 pm on Wednesday or Thursday and bring them to the complex,” says Ross. “They might go swimming or skating or we might have an aerobics class or take them for a hike.”
Parents pick their children up from the free program at 5 pm.
Popular events returning to the schedule include Winter Wonderland Skate from December 8 to 31, Laser Light Video Skate on October 13 and musical theatre, which features a production of Beauty and the Beast Junior.
Arena and gymnasium sports programs include Factory Hockey skills sessions, an introductory to basketball and weekly public skating and shinny hockey.
“We also have skate lessons for people of all ages to learn how to skate,” says Ross. “For younger kids it is a feeder into minor hockey or the CanSkate program.”
A full schedule of aquatics classes and programs is also listed in complete detail within the guide.
“The variety of programs we’re offering this year is the best mix we’ve put forward,” says Pukesh. “With our new recreation software, all of our programs are now available online in an easy-to-find format that allows people to view programs in a calendar format as well as manage their own personal account.”
For more information:
• 604.485.2891
• powellriver.ca
• facebook.com/PowellRiverRecComplex
