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FROM THE CENTRE: While you adjust to the cooler autumn climate

While you adjust to the cooler autumn climate, there are a few items on the agenda to remind you of. First, don’t forget our Golden Guest age has been changed to 80 years old so when you reach that marker, you get free access to the facility and the drop-in programs. Why wouldn’t you take advantage of that, even if it’s to grab a soak in the hot-tub or walk around the track when it’s a bit slippery out there?
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While you adjust to the cooler autumn climate, there are a few items on the agenda to remind you of. First, don’t forget our Golden Guest age has been changed to 80 years old so when you reach that marker, you get free access to the facility and the drop-in programs. Why wouldn’t you take advantage of that, even if it’s to grab a soak in the hot-tub or walk around the track when it’s a bit slippery out there?

Speaking of drop-in programs, Tia was just filling me in on the Shutdown Showcase which was all the dryland programs we ran during the pool shutdown a few weeks ago. Each year we dial this in a bit better – over the two weeks, we had 391 people attend 47 different classes compared to 228 people in 35 classes in 2016. In fact, every class we offered ran – plus we saw many new faces which also led to new registrations in our fall programs. The partner in our success was Denne Ahlefeld CPA who sponsored the Shutdown Showcase making many of the programs possible and most importantly for you, free. Actually, the other partner in the program was You and as Tia pointed out, the only cost was your time, energy and the daring to step outside the box on occasion.

Did you know the Titanic was the first Ocean Liner to have a swimming pool and a gym? Just like us, if we were an ocean liner! Unlike the Titanic, what we do have is the Swim the River Challenge which follows up on the success of the Swim the Lake Challenge we did last season. Check out the wall by the pool which has a cool map of the Arrow Lakes showing Revelstoke to Castlegar and describes how you get a stamp on the chart for every 5 km you swim. Or just use the map to check out where you can camp and fish; that’s OK too.

Speaking of things on the wall, hopefully by the time you read this, you may also see our 125th Royal Lifesaving Society Commonwealth Service Certificate hanging somewhere around the aquatics area. We received this certificate because we taught Swim to Survive programs in 2016, thereby contributing to the drowning prevention mission. Survival swimming was a major initiative for the Commonwealth 125th Anniversary with Canadas’ Swim to Survive program recognized as a proven method to prevent drowning and teach the essential skills needed to survive unexpected fall into deep water. We take a lot of pride in being able to teach the program and see first hand the need for providing this education to our young members of the community.

Finally, as we head towards more indoor type activities, watch for The Gleaners Society Coat Sale Oct 22nd and the start of indoor Farmers Markets on Sundays beginning Oct. 22nd. Along with all the regular hockey, curling, swimming and fitness; these events keep the place humming as we see a pile of people cross the threshold.

Submitted by Neil Ostafichuk