DEER LAKE — A new fitness centre opened in Deer Lake on Monday, aiming to improve community members' health and give them a place to spend time.
Leonard Mawakeesick, chief of Deer Lake First Nation, said the centre is equipped with top-quality equipment, including weights, dumbbells, benches, a leg press machine, a Starlink satellite, a TV, and a fridge.
“We’re getting our kids motivated, and it’s something to do in the evenings.”
Mawakeesick said on the first day, 10 young adults came out to see the new centre.
“I'm hoping they keep at it,” he said.
The fitness centre will be open from 9 a.m. to 9 p.m. on weekdays, with shorter hours over weekends.
The centre opening has been a project in the works for a long time, Mawakeesick said.
“I did this in phases. It's a long-term project. I have been putting in applications for grants to get this done for four years,” he said.
Four years just happens to be how long Mawakeesick has been chief of Deer Lake First Nation. He said it’s great to finally have this facility for the community's young adults.
“I've been trying to do more youth and young adult initiatives: this fitness centre, projects like a volleyball court and the beach, and the same with our arena, which will probably be done late fall as well.
“It's all this movement of the chief to get our youth and young adults a healthy lifestyle and active. As a chief, I've always worked out at my home gym. But I wanted to share what I have with everybody,” he said.
Mawakeesick said is striving to have a welcoming and warm community, and the fitness centre will help in that.
“A warming community means I provide health and fitness as well. This is for the teachers, nurses, NAPS. I want people who come and work for our community to have a fitness centre as well.
“All the youth and adults will be happy. They will have a place to go,” he said.
