Three meetings were held in Kamsack last week with the objective of building a physical activity community profile.
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.
“We want to get more kids more active more often,” Loshka said during the afternoon session at the Harmony Centre. “We all have a role to play.”
She said that it has been proven that today’s youth spend much more time indoors, watching television and playing with video games than did youth of previous generations.
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.
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.
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.
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.
Loshka thaen asked everyone to look at Kamsack to identify the “awesome” 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.
There was mention of sidewalks and the walking trail initiative currently underway.
She also asked participants to consider the community’s challenges in the way of maximizing physical activity.
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.
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.
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.
“A shuttle service to the ski hill” would be beneficial, it was said.
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.
Persons interested in becoming involved with the process may contact Kev Sumner at the Kamsack recreation office.
