Huntsville Sports and Recreation Week kicks off with a healthy reminder

Featured photo (from left): Morven Barnes, Melissa Slade, Leslie Tempest, Lorraine Van Luit, Kym Bice, Councillor Bob Stone, Mayor Scott Aitchison and Councillor Dan Armour cut the ribbon to officially launch Huntsville Sports and Recreation Week

The Town of Huntsville wants you to be active and healthy. To that end, Huntsville Sports and Recreation Week kicked off this morning (November 14) at the Centennial Pool with a ribbon-cutting ceremony that also celebrated the pool’s new Hydrorider aquabikes. The aquabikes were purchased with an Ontario Sport and Recreation Communities Fund grant. (If you’re wondering what a class is like, check out the demo on the video at the bottom of this post.)

Mayor Scott Aitchison launched the week’s activities along with representatives from ProActive Rehab and Motivations Fitness.

“I’ve just been getting a lesson why these Hydrorider bikes are so important,” said Aitchison. “I liken it to why free weights are better than machines because it works your entire body. And anything in the pool is better than anything on the ground I’m told by Morven (Barnes, Manager of Aquatics for the Town of Huntsville).”

He added that the women joining him at the podium “have all done their bit to try to whip me into shape at various times in my life and I’m thankful that they continue to fight this fight of wasted effort on me.”

Leslie Tempest from ProActive Rehab added, “We are excited to see these bikes. ProActive Rehab has had the great fortune of collaborating with the Town of Huntsville for the last number of years in providing an aquatherapy program. We are able to get our clients into the water and exercise and receive the great benefits of being in the water. I enthusiastically congratulate the town on being able to get these bikes.”

The staff at Motivations Fitness, which is just upstairs from the pool, are also excited about the aquabikes. “We are constantly dealing with people that are having more birthdays like Scott [Mayor Aitchison] and finding that they are more and more out of shape,” said Kym Bice. “And they are worried about injuries – getting in the water on these bikes is such a great way to start, and it’s great for rehab and injury prevention. We are trying to keep everyone healthy and well.”

And that’s important for the Huntsville community, said Aitchison.

I understand how important it is the more I spend on the healthcare file. So many of us in Western society don’t lead active healthy lives so it puts a strain on our symptom-care system. It’s important for us to promote the many opportunities – affordable and otherwise – to be active and lead a healthier life and take good care of yourself. Huntsville has a nice reputation as a sporting community and I hope that encourages people to get out and go for a walk or use the bikes.
Mayor Scott Aitchison

“I lead a very sedentary lifestyle and I need to practice what I preach. Every time I’ve gone to the gym in my life, I always did it first thing in the morning and I’d have more energy and felt healthier,” said Aitchison. “It makes a huge difference not just in your physical appearance and stamina but in your mental stamina as well. So I need to do more and hopefully this motivates me to do it.”

Simone Babineau, Manager of Recreation and Leisure Services for the Town encourages everyone to check out the open house-like atmosphere of Huntsville Sport and Recreation Week. “Come and try our new Hydrorider aquabikes, try the other activities, and get active, get fit and have fun. It’s easy!”

There are free and affordable activities happening all week at the Canada Summit Centre and Active Living Centre. The Hydrorider aquabike classes are free for first-timers at their regularly scheduled times, but an RSVP is required. Get details on how to register and a schedule of all of the events happening here.

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