I’d like to take this opportunity to thank Ms. Stanton of Salmon Arm for her letter to the editor regarding the free fitness program in Sicamous. It provides me the opportunity to highlight to the residents of Sicamous the fitness knowledge, extensive experience and educational background that one of their local volunteers is offering.
Ms. Stanton’s letter infers that Mr. (Craig) Mitchell, because he is volunteering his services, is not qualified to lead an exercise class and has not obtained all necessary certification to be a certified personal trainer. This is not the case.
If Ms. Stanton had any concerns about his knowledge, skills, education and certification, she should have voiced those concerns when she called him at his home a couple of weeks ago to inquire as to how the exercise program was going, or spoke to him in person while at the Clinical Exercise course that they both attended.
I would like to assure the residents of Sicamous that Mr. Mitchell is a fully qualified, certified personal trainer. He is fully insured, has current first aid and CPR certification and, like Ms. Stanton, has built a very good working relationship with the health-care professionals in our community and is well respected in his field.
Just because you volunteer your services does not mean that you are unskilled or unknowledgeable. Doctors Without Borders are no less skilled or knowledgeable physicians than those physicians not involved in the organization. Carpenters who volunteer their skills, expertise and services to Habitat for Humanity are just as qualified and skilled as other carpenters.
Sicamous is a fantastic place to live and we are fortunate to have such skilled and knowledgeable professionals who are willing to volunteer their services to make our community that much better.
No volunteer should have to apologize or defend where they choose to volunteer.
You never know what will motivate someone who has both feet standing still to start moving. A death in the family, clothes that don’t fit any longer, warnings from a doctor or an exercise class that is free.
Once people are moving forward, who knows where it will lead? Maybe they will keep moving forward into a pool program, a dance class or to a gym, but they need to start with that first step forward.
This class could be those first steps.
I would like to invite anyone who may have any questions, concerns or inquiries to go to the website, www.sicamouscommunityfitness.info, where they can find information about the free fitness program as well as links and information about other gym and fitness opportunities offered in Sicamous.
Janet Mitchell
