WIKWEMIKONG—Wikwemikong is encouraging healthy lifestyles through the new Mnamaadzawin (living the good life) Centre for Fitness, as well as continuing to support and grow the arts sector in the community through the new Wikwemikong School of Dance, both scheduled to open later this month.
“The current fitness area for the community in the youth centre has limitations,” explained Wikwemikong Chief Duke Peltier, noting the size and hours of operation as two of the limitations. “The new fitness centre and dance studio will be state of the art and provide community members with accessibility to facilities and programs to maintain healthy lives.”
“The dance studio will provide opportunities that normally only exist in larger municipal settings in addition to programs for everyone in the community,” added Chief Peltier.
Wikwemikong Youth Centre Coordinator Lawrence Enosse told The Expositor that the Wikwemikong School of Dance is set to open Monday, September 15 with dance classes being held weekly on Wednesdays and Thursdays.
“Registration for 2014-2015 will be held on September 3 and 4 from 2 to 6 pm at the dance school located at 15 Edward Street, Unit 4 of the Chi Nodin Business Centre in Wikwemikong,” said Mr. Enosse. “We have a certified dance instructor, Kate Collett, who will be travelling from Elliot Lake and teaching Kinderdance (jazz/hiphop), jazz, ballet, kinderballet, hip hop and open adult classes. Our core programming is for ages 4-6, 7-10, 11-17 and 17 plus.”
“The idea for the dance school came from the youth in the community that were looking for programs,” continued Mr. Enosse. “We have kids that attend dance programs in Sudbury or other areas of the Island, but we wanted to have something here easily accessible for them. The classes are economically accessible as well because we wanted to make it affordable for everyone.”
Mr. Enosse said that he and other members of the team behind the new dance studio and fitness centre travelled to Elliot Lake earlier this year to tour their facilities and then brought inspiration (and a teacher for the dance school) back with them and applied the ideas to the community’s new facilities.
“The fitness centre will have 24 hour access and the dance studio will be open to anyone looking for a space to host dance or fitness classes,” added Mr. Enosse. “The dance school features full mirrors, a professional dance studio floor and state-of-the-art sound system—it’s been a big investment on behalf of the band. We’ve made the dance studio space affordable as well to encourage a variety of instructors and classes such as Zumba and boot camp.”
The fitness centre will feature treadmills, ellipticals, seated ellipticals, vibration machines, rowing machines, stationary bikes and free weights.
“We are really excited about both facilities,” continued Mr. Enosse. “We have received a lot of interest from not just Wikwemikong band members, but individuals across the Island. We are making sure we are doing everything right, taking our time and hoping to build something that will just continue to grow moving forward.”
For more information call Mr. Enosse at 705-859-3597, Wayne Osawamick at 705-859-3122 or Nikki Manitowabi at 705-859-3018.
