聽 聽 聽 聽 聽 聽 Three meetings were held in Kamsack last week with the objective of building a physical activity community profile.
聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽 The meetings, held December 7 at noon at the Kamsack Comprehensive Institute for students, at 3:45 p.m. at the Harmony Centre for seniors and at 6:30 p.m. at the harmony centre for the business community, were led by Kacie Loshka of Saskatchewan in motion and Chelsey Johnson of Parkland Valley Sport, Culture and Recreation.
聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽 鈥淲e want to get more kids more active more often,鈥� Loshka said during the afternoon session at the Harmony Centre. 鈥淲e all have a role to play.鈥�
聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽 She said that it has been proven that today鈥檚 youth spend much more time indoors, watching television and playing with video games than did youth of previous generations.
聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽 Loshka explained that a physical activity community profile is a two-year project that would build a strong foundation for current and future generations in Kamsack to follow.
聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽 She began the session by asking everyone in attendance to remember the first activity in which each had participated and the response confirmed that all had been involved in an outside activity, which is rare today.
聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽 She showed a short video that outlined the community action model involving six elements or building blocks: understanding, awareness, programs, environments, policy and behavioural change.
聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽 Developing the profile is a five-step process, she said, outlining understanding of the community, a moving together symposium, an action plan, the implementation of the action plan and an evaluation.
聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽 Loshka thaen asked everyone to look at Kamsack to identify the 鈥渁wesome鈥� aspects, and the participants listed several, including: great street cleaning, resulting in rapid snow removal; a community that takes pride in its appearance; its friendliness; a great medical service; good effort to work at recreation opportunities; a good core group of committed residents, and a great recreation centre.
聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽 There was mention of sidewalks and the walking trail initiative currently underway.
聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽 She also asked participants to consider the community鈥檚 challenges in the way of maximizing physical activity.
聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽 When cost of certain activities, like hockey, was said to have possibly been too high for some families to fully participate in, Kev Sumner, Kamsack recreation director, explained several initiatives which help subsidize those costs, or to provide feasible, low cost alternatives to some sports.
聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽 Discussion included the proximity of Duck Mountain Provincial Park and the regional park for downhill skiing and the activity potential of both areas to the residents, even though they are not within the community proper.
聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽 Asked what is still needed, for example, a zero-entry swimming pool, the response seemed to indicate that residents were largely satisfied with what exists.
聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽 鈥淎 shuttle service to the ski hill鈥� would be beneficial, it was said.
聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽 Loshka and Johnson concluded their presentation saying that the next step in the process of developing the physical activity community profile will be a symposium planned for mid-February.
聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽 Persons interested in becoming involved with the process may contact Kev Sumner at the Kamsack recreation office.
