Christine Muise
Kicking Horse Gymnastics Club
In mid-August, the Board of Kicking Horse Gymnastics Club made the decision to rent its own building. There was a lot to be done and I had the ambitious notion that we could be up and running by September 10.
There were walls, counters, and shelving to be removed, painting to be done, floors to be improved and everything to be cleaned. The equipment move and set-up was the final looming task.
Remarkably, our gymnastics community is absolutely amazing! We had an abundance of helpers from dedicated parents, friends, gymnasts, to grandparents who offered their time and their talents to prepare the space, to move the equipment and to have us up and running on September 10. Thanks to Golden Installations: Nancy and Ray Johnson and Tanis, for the paint that covered the entire garage area of our gym. Thanks to Tru Hardware’s John Shapperd who gave us paint for our changing room and an exercise ball to help with our gymnastics programs. Thanks to MERC who gave us paint in our team colours to complete the decoration of our space! It looks fabulous.
As I worked with each spring to prepare the sprung floor, I thought about all the participants who would be bouncing across the floor and learning new skills.
I could not help but consider what it means to help children learn to move, swing, bounce, jump, and fly in the fullness of their being. I was overwhelmed with the potential that this community has created for itself. It is more than I could imagine.
It is hard to believe that I moved to Golden 4 short years ago and thought that maybe 16 children might like to do gymnastics for fun; that first session 65 young people registered. I had no idea that in 4 years we would grow to be a club that has upwards of 200 athletes in a full slate of different programs, ages and ability levels. Golden is definitely a gymnastics community.
As a non-profit group working to make our new home affordable for the long-run, we will be having a variety of fundraising. Overwaitea Foods Kicking Horse Gymnastics is having an “Easy As Pie” Fundraiser. Apple, Strawberry and pumpkin pies are being sold by gymnasts for $6 until September 24. The pies will be ready for pick up by the buyers on Saturday, September 29, at Overwaitea!
