Students from Canoe Lake Miksiw school pose with Joel Pedersen of Fitness 2J2 (centre, kneeling). (Facebook/Fitness 2J2)

By Alison Sandstrom

Building strong communities

Supports for Canoe Lake student athletes

Dec 16, 2019 | 2:39 PM

Students at Canoe Lake Miksiw School will be heading into 2020 with some new sports equipment. The early Christmas gifts are expected to touch down in the community this week thanks to the Saskatoon-based health and wellness company Fitness 2J2 and Canadian Tire Jumpstart.

Fitness 2J2 runs week-long training sessions in First Nation and Métis communities across Northern Saskatchewan. The programming covers fundamental exercises important for everyday activities and self-defence for youth and adults.

Since he retired from the Saskatoon Police Service in 2016, the company has been founder Joel Pedersen’s primary focus. Pedersen, who is a member of Fond-Du-Lac First Nation, sees it as his way to share his passion for fitness and help build strong communities.

“Physical, metal, spiritual, emotional health, it’s all connected. Especially when you look at the teachings of the Medicine Wheel, it’s holistic and it’s all interconnected,” he told paNOW.

“The importance of sport and fitness as it adds to people’s ability for resiliency is tangible.”

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He estimates he’s taken Fitness 2J2 to over 30 communities and provided programming for more than 30,000 people since 2011.

“It’s encouraging when I hear people tell me that they don’t have to take medication for diabetes anymore or they’ve lost a substantial amount of weight in a healthy way and they’re able to be more active and more engaged with their family,” he said.

Canoe Lake students do functional fitness exercises. (Facebook/Fitness 2J2)

While providing programming in Canoe Lake in November, Pedersen spoke with gym teacher Dennis Iron who explained the school recently started a contact football team but was short on equipment.

Pedersen, who is a member of the Army Reserve contacted fellow reservist Rob Williams who has previously expressed an interest in supporting Fitness 2J2.

With the help of Canadian Tire Jumpstart, Williams, who is the associate dealer of Weyburn Canadian Tire was able to put together a shipment of new fitness equipment for Canoe Lake School, including much needed football cleats. On Wednesday, he’ll fly himself and Pedersen out to the community to make the delivery.

“I remember being a kid and getting a new pair of shoes or skates or a piece of equipment and how proud I was of that,” Pedersen said.

“It’s building pride for the community and building the capacity that’s also going to build hope and I think that’s a big thing, especially in our remote communities.”

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alison.sandstrom@jpbg.ca

On Twitter: @alisandstrom