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Celebrating physical activity

The Bowen Island Municipality's community recreation department is planning a block party and extends an invitation to islanders of all ages to join the fun on Sunday, September 30, from noon to 3 p.m. at the Bowen Island Community School.

The Bowen Island Municipality's community recreation department is planning a block party and extends an invitation to islanders of all ages to join the fun on Sunday, September 30, from noon to 3 p.m. at the Bowen Island Community School.

The focus of the party will be on health and fitness. Shauna Jennings, community recreation programmer, is excited about Bowen Island's participation in the Sports Day in Canada that is part of a National Participaction initiative.

"Participaction was big in the 80s as an initiative to get people moving and doing sports," she said. "During the last couple of years, thousands of communities in Canada organized special events around this." And this year, BIM received a grant that will allow the recreation department to host an event that will showcase programs that promote health and fitness.

"Part of the initiative will be to show Bowen Islanders what is available for them in terms of health and fitness," Jennings said. "Our instructors will be on hand for demonstrations about the classes they are teaching as part of the community recreation programming. This is also an invitation for people to continue staying active."

Jennings is working on a schedule that sees 15-minute slots for instructors where people can get a taste of what it's like to practise Tai Chi, Pilates, Irish Dancing or cardio kickboxing.

"The event has something for all ages, from senior's weightlifting to the parent-tot equipment where babies can crawl around on mats," says Jennings, adding that this promotes good role modeling.

"By bringing the families together, kids can see adults who are having fun and being active. It teaches them about the benefits of being active for life."

"We are encouraging the community to come together and celebrate being active as well as to kick of our fall and winter programs," Jennings said, adding that it's a launch of this year's online registration as well. In addition to the instructors' demonstrations, there will be ongoing activities on the turf and grass fields and the tennis courts. the thriller dance team will do a presentation and games like bocce and croquet are set up. "The event is also targeted at youth," Jennings says. "The Bowen Island Youth Centre will be here with a portable skate board park."

Hockey fans will get a chance to find how good their slap shots are as Bowen Island's RCMP officers will be on hand with the radar gun to measure the speed, according to Jennings.

The event promotes a heightened awareness in the community and also offers an education component. "We want to share what we know about being healthy and how that builds community," Jennings said.