by Sylene Argent
There were plenty of opportunities for those who wanted to make good on their New Year’s resolution to include more exercise into their busy schedules over the holiday break.
The Town of Essex Community Services Department’s full holiday recreation schedule included more than 30 free skate and swim events over the Christmas break. The Town, or a handful of local businesses and organizations, sponsored these free events that provided an opportunity for families to have fun, while getting in some exercise.
On December 23, businesses located within the Victoria Wellness Centre sponsored a “Free Holiday Skate Party.”
The Essex OPP Community Policing Committee hosted two free recreational skates over the holiday break within the Town of Essex. The first one was hosted on December 23 at the Harrow & Colchester South Community Centre and the second was hosted on January 6 at Essex Centre Sports Complex.
Essex’s (M) OPP Community Policing Officer, Constable Sarah Werstein, said the OPP Community Policing Committee’s free skates in Harrow and Essex were both well attended. This was the first year this Committee has offered this opportunity. The decision to sponsor the free skates was made, she said, as a way to give back to the community for the support shown to its various fundraisers hosted throughout the year. The proceeds raised at those fundraisers allow the Essex Community Policing Committee to support a wide-variety of service clubs and organizations.
Hosting the events, Werstein added, was also a great way to offer a chance for community members to ask local OPP officers any questions they may have, as they enjoyed a complimentary cup of hot chocolate or coffee and a few Timbits.
Tim Hortons hosted recreational skates at the Essex Centre Sports Complex and at the Harrow & Colchester South Community Centre on December 27 and 28. And, the Town of Essex hosted its annual New Year’s Day swim at the Essex Recreation Complex, which provided families a great opportunity to ring in 2019 with a splash.
Other free skating and swimming events were hosted over the holiday break, thanks to support from the Town of Essex and funding from Pathway to Potential.