From dodge ball to dancing, Yellowknife students are learning fitness can be fun SA国际影视传媒� and rewarding SA国际影视传媒� thanks to a police-run in-school exercise group.
The Fitness Squad, developed by the Yellowknife DetachmentSA国际影视传媒檚 community policing and recruitment units, is gearing up to bring its array of fitness-based activities back to city schools this fall following a positive response from students during its inaugural year.
SA国际影视传媒淟ast year was really successful,SA国际影视传媒� said Cpl. Charmaine Parenteau, a recruiter with the Yellowknife .
Parenteau, along with community policing liaison Const. Heather Cosenzo, formed the Fitness Squad in 2019.
Yellowknife Const. Heather Cosenzo, left, and Ecole Allain St-Cyr teacher Christine Levesque, far right, lead a group of students in dance as part of the Fitness Squad's appearance at a community barbecue at the detachment in May.
The squad visits Yellowknife-area schools, leading participating students in a host of sweat-inducing activities aimed at building bodies, brains and relationships.
During lunchtime or after school sessions, students partake in exercises ranging from running and CrossFit to Zumba dancing and dodge ball.
Last year, the campaign reached 60 to 80 students at Ecole Allain St-Cyr, St. Patrick High School, William McDonald and NdiloSA国际影视传媒檚 Kalemi Dene School.
The Fitness Squad often saw 30 or more eager-to-exercise students showing up at its Ecole Allain St-Cyr sessions.
Parenteau told Yellowknifer showing students the importance of exercising at a young age is invaluable.
SA国际影视传媒淚 think you need to plant the seed early in youth,SA国际影视传媒� said Parenteau.
SA国际影视传媒淚tSA国际影视传媒檚 about building trust and having positive engagements through fitness,SA国际影视传媒� she said.
"It's about building trust and having positive engagements through fitness," says Cpl. Charmaine Parenteau, a recruiter with the Yellowknife and a Fitness Squad leader.
The Fitness Squad operates thanks to the concerted efforts of teaching staff, and other local law enforcement agencies.
Parenteau has brought in Mounties from various units at the detachment to lead exercises, and the Department of Fisheries and Oceans, she said, has played a SA国际影视传媒渉ugeSA国际影视传媒� role in helping out with the initiative.
Parenteau said the workout sessions, which also give students interested in pursuing a career in law enforcement a taste of what training for the job is like, help young people see members as SA国际影视传媒減eople, not just police.SA国际影视传媒�
ItSA国际影视传媒檚 not uncommon for Parenteau to run into participating students outside of school, where sheSA国际影视传媒檚 often met with a SA国际影视传媒淗ey! Fitness Squad.SA国际影视传媒�
Engaging with youth and building those relationships drives Parenteau to continue leading area youth in exercise.
Her favourite part is watching students grow and thrive over the course of the Fitness Squad sessions.
SA国际影视传媒淲e'd like to get as many people involved as we can because I think itSA国际影视传媒檚 such a great program,SA国际影视传媒� said Parenteau.
The Fitness Squad is slated to kick off in late September, when will be reaching out to area schools for participation.
