Widely considered one of the most beautifully vast countries in the world, Canada provides opportunities for adventure sure to inspire even the most experienced outdoor enthusiast. In celebration of our great nation’s big 1-5-0 last year, ParticipACTION challenged us to get more active by taking part in their 150 Play List – the ultimate list of activities that define us as Canadians. Thousands across the country participated in exercises such as snow shoveling, sailing and even pillow fighting! Sheila Wells of Northern B.C. was named a play list champion and documented the entire experience on her Twitter account @SwelSheila. We asked her to share more about the challenge below. —Rachel Johnston
Tell us a little bit about yourself and your life in Prince Rupert.
Prince Rupert is small, coastal, somewhat isolated town in the North West corner of British Columbia. We have magnificent views of the mountains and Pacific Ocean and it is very easy to be outdoors exploring and taking in the beauty. Prince Rupert is a multicultural town and our cultural diversity is truly amazing. I retired about two years ago after a successful 37-year career as a teacher/principal. Teaching high school physical education and foods (my ideal job), coaching and playing sports was a way of life for me and I am still active. Being a principal enabled me to build relationships and use my leadership and team building skills. I also continue to volunteer in the community.
What inspired you to participate in the program?
I heard/saw the 150 Play List on the news so I checked it out on the ParticipACTION web site. Reading the list, I discovered many activities that I had never tried and some that I had never heard of. Being the curious, adventurous, goal oriented person I am (and being a bit bored), I decided to see how many activities I could check off the list. Soon I was involving neighbors, friends, and school kids to partake in the activities. On a Habitat for Humanity’s build last March, the group eagerly partook in activities during our free time. What started as doing activities soon became a challenge to complete the entire list! My competitive nature and desire to succeed motivated me. In addition, friends pushed me to complete the list and I had to take a couple of road trips to complete the last of the snow activities.
What were some of your favourite activities from the playlist?
There were many activities that I really enjoyed while working my way through the list. Probably the first one was going for a Polar Bear Dip about 5 days after the ice left Lakelse. It was cold but so refreshing. Axe throwing was harder than I thought but gave me a rush of strength. I have never been a fan of heights so rock wall climbing helped me face that fear and I loved the fact that I went to the top and rang the bell on my first attempt. Learning a Punjabi dance routine was such a good workout, (probably the activity I sweated the most in) and the one-foot high-kick was an excellent test of leg strength, coordination and agility. For circus arts one of my activities was walking on stilts, so I had to build them first. It was something we did as kids so it brought back many good memories. Baton twirling was probably the activity that helped me build the confidence to tackle the entire list. Learning some skills and moves was easier than I thought because of Kathy (the excellent teacher), but it was putting on an outfit and preforming a short routine that allowed me to show a less than polished routine in an outfit I shouldn’t have ever put on.
Why is physical activity important to you?
I grew up in a family that encouraged physical activity and it has always been important to me. Being active is a way of life. It opens doors while allowing you to meet new people and try new things. It’s also a huge factor in your overall health. There is a direct correlation between being active and staying healthy. I feel that the more active I can be, the healthier my mind and body will be and that I will have a better quality of life than if I was to sit around. I fully believe that we are never too old to be proactive and take on new challenges while pushing our limits and getting out to enjoy the fresh air.
What makes you proud to be Canadian?
I am proud to be Canadian as we live in not only a physically beautiful country, but also we live in a country with a diverse population that accepts, respects and celebrates the rich culture that we have to share. We can learn so much from each other and I personally have a goal to visit each province and learn more about the history of Canada. We are for the most part a peaceful country. We care about our communities, our environment and our freedom.
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