Hundreds of people filled the Leisure Centre Saturday for the first annual Back to Health … for Good Health Fair.
“It was really successful,” said Councillor Paul Horn, who co-chaired the organizing committee. “It was very, very busy. People took advantage of the free Leisure Centre services and got a taste of some fitness classes” plus the ice rinks.
In addition to free facility use, the fair also offered activities and classes like chair exercises for those with mobility issues, fun brain exercises for children, Special Olympics sports and daily physical activity suggestions, in addition to pilates and bosu ball classes.
Horn spoke on mental health and stress, while others advised about increasing activity, substance abuse, fall prevention for seniors, healthy eating and quitting smoking.
The presentations were packed with useful information, but Horn admitted he was disappointed more people didn’t attend.
People spend hundreds of dollars to go to a weight loss clinic to help them lose weight and asked who knew that information was available free from the provincial government.
Organizers have been planning the health fair since mid-2010 and started promoting it close to the new year when more people are thinking about improving their health.
The group will be meeting next month to review the fair’s success and look for improvements.
While the fair represented how well community councils and local health authorities can work in partnership, there were also a number of other groups involved, such as the school district, Fraser House and Mission Association for Seniors Housing.
Next year, Horn would like to get local doctors involved and even target specific community groups, such as seniors and youth.
