Active Living Month has been declared for January by Yorkton Council.
The request was made at the regular meeting of Council in December.
“The City of Yorkton’s 2020 Strategic Plan identifies building a healthy community, encouraging healthy lifestyles, and personal wellness as some of the community’s goals,” explained Taylor Morrison, Recreation Services Manager with the City. “One of the ways Community Development, Parks and Recreation department works to achieve these goals is to provide low-cost or no-cost social, recreational, and educational opportunities for all community members to participate in.”
Marking the month sends a signal to the community, said Morrison.
“Promoting the benefits of being physically active is one thing, but actually getting people to be physically active is another,” he said. “What better time of year to support and encourage people to become more physically active than January, when most people are discussing their New Year’s resolutions which likely includes being healthier.
“The promotions involved with designating January as Active Living Month in the City of Yorkton will help create awareness of the benefits of, and provide opportunities for, people to become more physically active.”
Morrison said it was hoped the promotion will:
• Increase physical activity levels of our citizens.
• Educate citizens and businesses about the importance of being physically active and making positive healthy lifestyle choices.
• Increase use of our facilities
• Encourage families to be physically active together.
• Expose citizens to different ways to become physically active.
The following schedule of activities and opportunities are being promoted as part of Active Living Month:
• Free walking at the Gloria Hayden Community Centre and Gallagher Centre for the month of January.
• Squash and racquetball clinics, drop in sports programming, and 2-for-1 admission for court sports at the Gloria Hayden
• Drop-In Tennis sessions and clinics at the Gallagher Centre hosted by the Yorkton Pirates and Yorkton Community Tennis Clubs
• $5.00 Teen curling Friday nights at the Gallagher Centre, hosted by the Yorkton Curling Club
• Free public skating at the Kinsmen Arena and the Farrell Agencies on Sunday evenings.
• Free preschool and senior skating at Kinsmen Arena on Wednesdays, from 1:00-2:00 p.m.
• $2.50 Youth swims Monday, Wednesday, and Fridays at the Gallagher Centre Water Park.
“And while the weather may be chilly, there is a lot to do outside as well,” said Morrison, including:
• Toboggan Hills at Knights of Columbus Park, Rodney Ridge, Weinmaster Park and the Deer Park Golf Course, with new LED lighting at Rodney Ridge on until 10:30 p.m.
• Outdoor Rinks at Knights of Columbus Park, Silver Heights Park, Weinmaster Park and Heritage Heights Park, with three of those locations having lighting on until 10:30 p.m.
• Cross country ski trails at the Deer Park Golf Course which are kept groomed by the Yorkton Cross Country Ski Club.
• Over eight kilometers of cleared pathways throughout the City.
