Richard Looks At Swimming For Seniors

By Richard Dowson Opinion/Commentary

Fitness Opportunities for Seniors in Moose Jaw abound.

Although I don’t ride my mountain bike anymore, there are bike and walking trails covering all of Moose Jaw. The phone nook shows the trails.

Many people walk the trails in the Wakamow Valley. So many in the summer, it could be called ‘Walk-a-mow’ Valley. (No need to laugh)

I’ve been a walker for many years and when the weather is good, I enjoy walking the Spring Creek Trail.

Walking is my time for solitude, thinking and enjoying the surroundings.

I am a big Fan of the YARA Centre. Love going there – walking – visiting and hanging out.

Moose Jaw Has More!

As a kid I had the great good fortune to spend summers with an aunt at her cottage in Muskoka, Ontario. Boating and swimming was an everyday event.

After moving to Alberta, I swam in the irrigation ditches of Southern Alberta but I got away from swimming in prairies lakes.

With a fair bit of coaxing, I went swimming at the Kinsmen Sports-Plex in Moose Jaw. What an incredible place! I now go fairly regularly.

Kinsmen Sportsplex Pool - City of Moose Jaw photo

If you are a Senior, give it a try.

For a small fee you can add the ‘swimming endorsement’ to your standard Moose Jaw recreation facilities card that you use at YARA.

The pool is rarely busy. True, lots of kids go for swimming classes but they are well supervised and not in the part of the pool used by Seniors.

True – the pool ‘experience’ is not as good as swimming in a Muskoka Lake – but it is the best alternative I found in Saskatchewan. And it beats the hell out of swimming in an irrigation ditch.

I sincerely encourage anyone – and in particular – Seniors – to go and enjoy swimming again at the Kinsmen Sports-Plex. A great way to get your day started.