Active life for people, communities

The importance of volunteers in building healthy, sustainable communities will be examined Saturday in a keynote address at the Recreation Nova Scotia annual conference in Digby.

Ruth Goldbloom, chair of the Pier 21 Foundation in Halifax, is presenting the address in which she will share advice and experience on the importance of giving back to the community. She will also provide insights on what motivates individuals to volunteers for cause they support

Goldbloom’s address is one of two being presented to the conference in the Digby Pines Golf Resort and Spa. Mark Fenton, billed as one of North America’s foremost experts in active transportation, was to deliver the opening address at the Oct. 18 conference opening.

Fenton addresses how people can break from a sedentary lifestyle and weave activity back into their lives, and how communities can become more pedestrian-friendly.

The conference, which ends Saturday with a massive drum circle, is one of the largest this year at the Pines and is jointly organized by the province’s Department of Health Promotion and Protection.

Department minister Barry Barnet is expected to don hockey skates and take to the ice in the Digby Area Arena on Friday at 4:40 p.m., during one of a series of wellness sessions offered conference delegates. The hockey session will be open to the public.

While the conference is open only to delegates, its trade show in Digby Hall at the Pines today is open to the public, says Bob Powell, recreation manager with the Digby Area Recreation Association. The show runs from 2-3:30 p.m.

Among topics being discusses in sessions during the conference are risk management, cycling opportunities in Nova Scotia, building a skatepark, trail development and recess revival.

The latter session of recess revival will be held at Digby Elementary School where students in grades 5 and 6 will be offered ideas on how to play without the need of fancy playground equipment, said Powell.