Finally, funding has come through for something Jasper desperately needs – an upgrade to its fitness centre.

The overpriced, dingy facility in the basement of the Activity Centre is enough to turn the most ambitious person into a couch potato, especially when the town freezes over and going outside becomes a painful endeavor.

With so many fitness buffs, it’s a wonder this town doesn’t have a better gym. Sure, most people get their workouts in the great outdoors, but there are times of year when that’s not the easiest thing to do, and that’s not necessarily everyone’s cup of tea.

In any case, the Activity Centre renovation is a leap in the right direction, providing an option for those who want it, and encouraging everyone to lead a healthy lifestyle.

Of the projects confirmed this year, these renovations are potentially of great benefit to the community.

An outlet for young adults

Last Tuesday night, the Fitzhugh was invited to attend a basketball game, as part of a local hotel league that started up a few weeks ago and plays two nights a week. 

The Athabasca Hotel, Sawridge Inn, Jasper Park Lodge, Mountain Park Lodges, Smitty’s and the Jasper Inn all take part in the league, which gives employees the opportunity to get out and do something active and social on winter evenings.

The businesses sponsor the teams to take part and some have purchased personalized jerseys for the players.

What a fantastic outlet for young adults in our town.

An initiative like this has the power to make a person feel welcomed, accepted, and a part of the community. Kudos to these hotels for going ahead with this.

These are the kinds of activities and outlets we need in this town – for teenagers, for temporary employees, for out-of-towners who have moved here permanently. Not everyone who comes to Jasper is in to hiking or mountain biking, and having the chance to do something like play ball with friends can make all the difference.

This is an inclusive initiative, that welcomes those who don’t feel at home here, and it’s free for the participants, especially because a sport such as basketball hardly requires any special equipment.

If the town wants to address rowdiness and vandalism downtown in the summer, this is one way to do it. Keep people busy, interested, and happy. 

Unfortunately, fantastic initiatives such as this fall by the wayside in the summer months, as everyone suddenly becomes too busy to bother. How could a team of basketball players all get the same night off, when the restaurant/hotel/store is so busy?

It is unfortunate, because this is what our town needs. Not only for the benefit of the town, but for the well-being of newcomers as well.