Red Deer residents are known for loving their parks and recreational facilities.
But despite that, Red Deer has fallen short the past few years in a competition pitting Red Deer against Grande Prairie to see who is the most active.
Emily Nadon, Summer Active co-ordinator for the Be Fit for Life Centre, is hoping that is going to change this year, with free events planned for around the city today to encourage people to be active.
Fitness events will be taking place around the province as part of Alberta Active Living Challenge Day, but the Summer Active Challenge is merely for people from Red Deer and Grande Prairie.
To take part people just have to do 30 minutes of exercise — everything from yard work, to going for a walk, bike ride, doing yoga, or anything that makes a person sweat — today.
Once the activity is complete they have from today until Monday to register their activity by phoning 403-342-3134 or emailing emily.nadon@rdc.ab.ca.
People can give their name, the number of people in the group who took part and where they live by giving their postal code.
Last year, 15,803 people took part in Red Deer.
As part of the event participants can get a free fitness day today only at Peak Fitness, Planet Fitness, World Gym, the Red Deer College Train Station, Only Women’s Fitness and Curves on the North and South side.
There will also be activities outside of the Recreation Centre with yoga at 7 a.m., boot camp at 8:15 a.m., step aerobics at 9:30 a.m., a mix of all three at lunch, yoga at 1:30 p.m. and boot camp at 2:45 p.m.
“We want the most active city title because people need to realize how important activity is,” said Nadon, who hopes the event might show people how easy it is to get 30 minutes of exercise in a day.
sobrien@www.reddeeradvocate.com