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Program keeping families active in the cold

Winter’s chilly temperatures often put a freeze on physical activity, but a Turner Valley mom is determined to keep families in her community moving.
Tracie and Cameron David, with their kids (left to right) Jamie, Johnathan, and Jason in the Turner Valley School gym on Oct. 17.
Tracie and Cameron David, with their kids (left to right) Jamie, Johnathan, and Jason in the Turner Valley School gym on Oct. 17.

Winter’s chilly temperatures often put a freeze on physical activity, but a Turner Valley mom is determined to keep families in her community moving.

Tracie David is organizing a free Family Fun Night in the Turner Valley School gymnasium once a month for families in the area.

The event will take place on the last Tuesday of each month from 6 p.m. to 7:30 p.m. starting this month. It is sponsored by the United Church in the Valley.

“I have three kids and it’s just nice to have an opportunity to get out and do some physical activity without a huge price tag involved,” said David. “I’m really wanting my kids to enjoy it and recognize the importance of exercising for fun, not because you have to. It’s a nice opportunity to connect with other families and get some exercise.”

A different family will host the event each month, organizing games of volleyball, basketball and floor hockey, as well as beanbag tosses, relay races and obstacle courses, said David.

“It’s to take advantage of the opportunity to have all of these activities available to us,” she said. “It’s just fun to be able to do what you want with the equipment.”

As the temperature drops, David said there’s less for families to do together in town and Family Fun Night will alleviate that.

“That’s the nice part about it is it’s something you are doing with your kids and other families,” she said. “We’re just going in it not really knowing what to expect and hoping that people will come out.”

The event is sponsored by the United Church in the Valley, which will cover the cost to rent the gym.

“We want to keep incorporating families into the life and work of the church,” said Matthew Heesing, minister of the church. “We want to create opportunities for families to come together and create a wholeness of mind, body and spirit and engage the community.”

The idea of getting families together in the Turner Valley School gymnasium initially came from Mary Clarke, who implemented the weekly Family Rec Nights in 2013.

“At the time I had two children and I was just looking for something to do,” she said. “I found I never had time to play with my kids. I was watching them from the sidelines and I thought it would be awesome if I could shoot some hoops with them.”

Putting her sons in organized sports was as challenge as Clarke’s son with cerebral palsy was constantly comparing himself with his peers and her son with autism was often over stimulated.

“I was looking for something unstructured and fun,” she said. “I also wanted something affordable for parents.”

Clarke established an annual fee of $5 per family to cover the rental cost for the gym and held the events on a weekly basis.

“We were very busy,” she said. “It was very snowy and blustery that year so a lot of families came to play. People would come from Okotoks and Millarville.”

Family Rec Night didn’t continue the following year as Clarke was pregnant with her third child and busy running a photography business.

With life more manageable last year, Clarke ran the program again, but saw a decrease in participants due to above average temperatures throughout winter.

In June, Clarke realized she didn’t have time to run the program again and put out a call for help.

“This year I have three children and my business is very busy,” she said. “I had some helpers the first year, but didn’t have much last year. Near the end of the year I was feeling burnt out.”

While several parents told Clarke what a great program it is, no one stepped up to help until David approached her last month. Clarke is relieved the program will continue.

“It’s a fun night that families can go to and play with their kids and enjoy some downtime together,” she said. “I’m really excited, especially to enjoy it without the obligation of being there every day to open it. I just loved the time I spent with my kids and other families.”

If the interest is high enough, David might consider expanding the program to more evenings.

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