The Qualicum School District will allow Oceanside Integrated Fitness Society access to the Qualicum Commons to continue with its initiative that provides community access to adaptive exercise equipment.
The society operates an adapted and sustainable accessible fitness centre, for use by elderly people and people with disabilities, in the Qualicum Commons, which is owned by the Qualicum School District.
School board trustee Carol Kellogg recently toured the facility, which is open Tuesdays, Thursdays and Fridays.
“I was impressed with the facility, the staff and the impact on the participants," Kellogg said during the board's June 25 meeting. “There’s no question that they’re providing really great support in the Oceanside area.”
The facility serves 15 clients, Kellogg said, and its staff includes a personal trainer.
She added that during a recent Oceanside Integrated Fitness Society board meeting, a stroke survivor noted significant recovery after unsuccessful attempts with other providers and a person with a work-related head injury reported health and mobility improvements thanks to time spent at the facility.
The board voted to allow access to room 12, at no charge, for a period of one year, ending on June 30, 2025.
In lieu of rent, the society has indicated it will provide access to the school district to use the adapted fitness facility during a mutually agreed schedule.
“I’ve seen the benefit of this," said Trustee Elaine Young. "I’ve worked on disability applications as an income assistance and disability advocate and I know of the Nanaimo brain injury folks. They do awesome work. I think this is a good way to support them."
Following on the success of the BrainBodyFitness pilot project last year, the board of education decided in December 2023 to allow an extension of six months of rent-free use of Room 12 in the commons. Oceanside Integrated Fitness Society Linda Feil requested, during the school board's May 28 meeting that access be extended for another year.
The Qualicum Community Education and Wellness Society and Oceanside Integrated Fitness are currently fundraising to keep the facility running with a GoFundMe campaign.
Later in the meeting, the board voted to postpone a decision on closure of both Qualicum Commons and Craig Street Commons to public and business use until the fall.
Ron Amos, school district secretary-treasurer, said he will bring a report to the board in October, at which point it will be up to them to propose putting the motion back on the table in November. The motion postponed by the board called for the closures to be effective July 1, 2025.
