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Help Ucluelet win $100,000 for the skatepark and basketball court

Join the ParticipACTION Community Better Challenge from June 1-30
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Ucluelet’s Recreation department, from left: Abby Fortune, Bri Walker, Judy Bloedorn and Barb Gudbranson, are calling on the residents to join the ParticipACTION Community Better Challenge that kicks off on June 1 to help win funding for outdoor lighting at the skatepark. Read about the contest on page 13. (Nora O’Malley photo)

Starting June 1, towns across Canada will sweat it out for the chance to win a cool $100,000 to support local community rec projects.

Enderby, the small Okanagan city of 2,964 residents, took the grand prize purse in the inaugural ParticipACTION Community Better Challenge launched in 2019. Ucluelet’s Recreation department is confident the town has the same drive to win the loot this year and be crowned Canada’s most active community.

“A lot of Canada is active, but we are that much more active just from living on the Coast,” says recreation programmer Barbara Gudbranson. “Surfing, kayaking, mountain biking, hiking, walking your dog, gardening, mowing the lawn, it all counts. Every minute matters. We want everybody to log those minutes.”

The ParticipACTION Community Better Challenge runs from June 1-30 and is open to everyone. Ucluelet Rec is encouraging all members of the community to log their physical activity minutes through the free ParticipACTION app or website. The community with the most logged hours by the end of June will be crowned the winner and receive the grand prize. Parents will need to sign-up for kids under 17, and if you don’t have access to a smart phone or computer, the Ucluelet Rec team will happily track your hours.

“It’s just a good time for this too because we can’t hold big community events, so this is something I think the community can focus on to help us get outdoor lighting for the skatepark and the basketball court,” says Gudbranson.

Recreation assistant Judy Bloedorn thinks the ParticipACTION challenge will lift community spirits.

“Movement supports our mental health. Getting outside and moving our bodies makes us feel able. Our cellular movement is happening and that is really enlightening and lifting for our mind and soul,” says Bloedorn.

With a community broom busting event planned for the first few days of June, plus GoByBike Week kicking off on May 31, the Ucluelet Rec team is setting the community up to take the win.

“You can double down. Ride your bike and go to the GoByBike website and log in your hours for prizes and then the ParticipACTION website to track your hours for the skatepark,” Gudbranson encourages.

“We really feel like we can win this. Let’s go, Ukee!” says Bloedorn.

To join the ParticipACTION Community Better Challenge, visit: www.participaction.com. Don’t have a device to log your minutes? Stop by the Ucluelet Community Centre for assistance or contact (250) 726-7772.



nora.omalley@westerlynews.ca

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READ: Enderby, B.C., named Canada’s most active community

READ: New mural pays homage to community strength in Ucluelet