UPEI Athletics leads active living project -- success will be celebrated with community members on June 10

The UPEI Department of Athletics has partnered with nine NGOs and not-for-profit groups and the Department of Community Services, Seniors and Labour on a six-week pilot project that creates inclusion opportunities for people who, due to financial or societal reasons, are not always able to access wellness facilities and programs.

The collaborative initiative that began in March, opens up UPEI facilities such as UPEI Alumni Canada Games Place, CARI Complex - MacLauchlan Arena, and Chi-Wan Young Sports Centre to members of groups ranging from Tremploy Inc. and PEI Association for Newcomers to Canada (PEI ANC), to Special Olympics PEI.

After the pilot project's evaluation, the steering committee plans to continue to develop opportunities that address key health issues such as obesity, with the objective that UPEI will be the catalyst in developing healthy, motivated clients.

UPEI President Wade MacLauchlan believes the pilot will enhance relationships with community groups and with the greater Island community. He says, 'UPEI has a strong tradition of working with partners in our home province, and we are proud of the Department of Athletics and their work in bringing this project to life for so many Islanders.'

UPEI Athletics' Outdoor Facility Coordinator and project lead, Michael Redmond says, 'We have over 225 clients participating in the pilot, each with a specialized program that allows clients to access various campus facilities.' He adds, 'The eventual goal is to have relationships with many more of the identified groups, and develop customized programs for, and relationships with, each of them.'

Hon. Janice Sherry, Minister of Community Services, Seniors and Labour, adds, 'The partnership between UPEI, NGOs and community stakeholders and our Department is a terrific example of what can be achieved when everyone comes together to improve services for persons living with disabilities in Prince Edward Island.'

Coaches and athletes from UPEI are directly involved in programming aspects: fitness classes, swimming, fitness assessments, soccer, soccer baseball, and volleyball. In the case of the PEI Association for Newcomers to Canada, members were able to access the CARI Aquatics Centre for Aquafit, UPEI Fitness Centre for weight training, and the Chi-Wan Young Sports Centre for soccer.

'This pilot definitely introduced the facilities to newcomer families who would not have known about them and it certainly made the pool and the soccer program accessible to clients who could not afford it otherwise,' said Nancy Clement, Settlement Worker with PEI ANC. 'I feel this new-found relationship with UPEI is very important to continue.'

To celebrate the six-week mark and the success of the pilot, UPEI Athletics is hosting a 'Community Day' and barbecue for all of the project steering committee members on June 10 from 6-8 pm at UPEI Alumni Canada Games Place.

Members include representatives from Alzheimer Society of PEI, PEI Council of People with Disabilities, Special Olympics PEI, Queens County Residential Services Inc., Canadian Mental Health Association, Tremploy Inc., Association for Community Living, PEI Association for Newcomers to Canada, Canadian Paraplegic Association as well as the Province of PEI and NGOs such as CARI, Holland College, Murphy's Pharmacy and Andrews Sports Science Research and Training Centre.