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Beckie Scott, cross-country ski gold medalist in the Salt Lake winter Olympics in 2002, spent time working with students at Kitaskinaw School on the Enoch Cree Nation recently.
Scott, who has served as program director for Ski Fit North Alberta for the last seven years, received help from Les Parsons, her personal club coach who travelled to three Olympics.
Before they strapped on their skis and hit the snow, Scott talked to students about the benefits of eating well, exercising, getting enough sleep and drinking lots of water.
The cross-country ski initiative was brought to the students by Don Patterson, who invited Ski Fit to the school. Ski Fit is sponsored by Atco Gas.
Patterson is a former lawyer and now manager and commercial director of a Royal LePage office. Patterson brought a BMX pump track, bicycles and helmets to Kitaskinaw School in October.
He recently received approval, through Canadian Tire’s Jump Start program, to acquire 35 sets of skis and 50 pairs of boots for Enoch students.
Starting in January, skiing will be part of the school’s physical education program. And like the cycling program, students will be able to sign out equipment after school and on weekends.
“What I find exciting is the potential to create similar ski and bike programs in other Indigenous communities,” said Patterson.
Discussions are taking place with Kisipatnahk School at Louis Bull First Nation, schools in the Fort McMurray area and Fort William First Nation in Ontario.