Outdoor adventures abound at Quarry Park during every season of the year.
The cross-country ski trails are now open for all to enjoy. Even better, a new initiative in 2024 will allow visitors to borrow snowshoes or cross-country skis for free.
Kelly Kimball, Quarry Park manager, said the equipment is available at the Heritage Arts Centre.
“You can come to the reception desk in the lower level to complete or submit your lending agreement and waiver. Staff can also email both the form and the waiver to people wishing to use the equipment in advance,” she said.
“The forms must be signed by a parent if the child is under 18 years of age.”
Anyone interested in borrowing equipment can also request the forms via email at stoneqp@stonewall.ca or call 204-467-7980.
“If you know that you will be using the equipment more than once, the lending agreement and waiver can be dated for a certain time period and not just for the one day,” Kimball said.
“ID will be required — a driver’s licence or similar photo ID for adults and student cards for students who do not have government-issued photo ID. Families only need ID for the adult in charge.”
The equipment will be loaned out in two-hour blocks. The Heritage Arts Centre is open from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m., seven days a week.
“Start points are near the gate to Kinsmen Lake, the lower parking lot of the HAC or the parking lot by the campground. We have two full sets of snowshoes for families (two adults, three kids). We also have a variety of ski sizes; however, we are still sourcing enough cross-country ski boots to have a good-sized library to lend from,” she said.
“If you know of or have any used cross-country classic ski boots you wish to donate to the program, we’d be happy to receive them at the Heritage Arts Centre.”
The equipment-lending program will be offered annually, thanks to a Healthy Together Now grant from the Interlake-Eastern Regional Health Authority.
“The idea behind this program is to provide an opportunity for those without skis or snowshoes, or those who have never tried it, to experience the activity and enjoy being outdoors in the winter,” Kimball said.
Healthy Together Now is a community-led and government-supported grassroots program to help prevent chronic disease in Manitoba. Individuals plan and lead projects while the provincial government and regional health authorities provide funding, support and training.
The program targets Manitobans who are most at risk for chronic disease in rural, urban, First Nations and Métis communities. Program goals include supporting communities that lead prevention activities and increasing communities’ knowledge and ability to run prevention programs for a variety of chronic diseases.
In addition, Healthy Together Now aims to encourage organizations, communities, regions and governments to work together to help prevent chronic disease. At the same time, it strives to build on and blend with existing prevention programs, while also developing new ones.
Healthy Together Now supports programs that address four health pillars —nutrition, mental health, physical activity and tobacco reduction — with a focus on health equity.
Caroline Le Clair is involved with community health promotion with Interlake-Eastern Regional Health Authority. She said Stonewall’s snowshoe and cross-country ski program received funding because it addresses the pillars of mental health and physical activity.
“The ski and snowshoe program is free and therefore more accessible to the community. Anyone can use the equipment. By being free, it is breaking down some of the barriers people may be facing in terms of cost when looking for an activity for themselves or their family to participate in,” she said.
“Many programs or activities can be expensive. This program offers an opportunity for folks to get outside, enjoy nature, get some physical activity in and even connect with other community members.”
A spring intake will open soon for Interlake organizations, groups or individuals interested in applying for Healthy Together Now funding.
Visit https://www.ierha.ca/programs-services/life-style/healthy-together-now/ to learn more about the intake process, funding guidelines and deadlines.
Looking ahead, plans are in the works for Louis Riel Day celebrations at Quarry Park on Monday, Feb. 19. The festivities will include crafts, bannock-making over the firepit, outdoor winter games and snowshoeing. The event will also feature toe-tapping tunes from Dave and Jason Lavallee of Lavallee Tradition along with Jason Lepine from 2 to 4 p.m. at the Access Auditorium in the Heritage Arts Centre. The cost is $5 per child and $7 per adult. Admission includes all of the day’s activities and the show.
