Being situated next to the beauty of Riding Mountain National Park and home to world class fly-fishing venues are natural advantages the Community of Rossburn enjoys. Enhancing this natural setting through additional healthy lifestyle options will make Rossburn a choice destination for health and nature enthusiasts. With the completion of the new Rossman Lake playground, the next step for the community is a Fitness Centre and Physiotherapy Clinic.

Ilse Ketelsen has been working for several months with Community Places, a Provincial Department that provides funding and project consultation services, to identify a suitable building and location to be the new home for a fitness centre.

“We looked at several locations, which were found to be unsuitable, and when the vacant building on Manitoba Avenue became available, we were told the size and location was perfect for this project”, enthuses Ketelsen, who recently accepted the position of Economic Development Officer after one term as a councillor for the R.M. of Rossburn. “The renovation and occupancy of this building will help in our efforts to rejuvenate our downtown area. It is ideal for lunch hour workouts for those employed in the downtown area and is centrally located for the whole community. There are currently two other new businesses considering downtown locations”, says Ketelsen. “We have also seen an increased demand for rental properties and home and property purchases. Immigrants, many with young families, are choosing to live in our Community because of the superior lifestyle it offers. There are several cottage developments located at our numerous lakes. Increased population results in more demand for services. A physiotherapist from Egypt is eager to complete his paperwork so he can set up his services in the Fitness Centre.”

The Centre will offer treadmills, recumbent and upright bikes, a multi-station, a rower as well as benches for free weights. An open area will be available for stretching and other classes, including sessions for seniors. The facility will feature a fingerprint lock systems, showers, lounging area with internet access and will be wheel-chair accessible.

The final price tag for this project is still being determined. Success is contingent on support from the community as funding for a portion of this initiative from the Recreation Reserves from both municipalities is conditional on a minimum number of founding members being pre-sold. Applications for several Provincial and Regional grants have been completed. The Fitness Centre Committee must source other funding such as donations, corporate sponsorships, fundraising and volunteer labour. “Our intent is to avoid the use of taxpayer’s money, other than the reserve funds that were set aside specifically for recreational services” explains Town of Rossburn Mayor Shirley Kalyniuk. “This needs to be a community effort to succeed”.

Several fundraising initiatives, including a pay-what-you-pull raffle, a comedy night, a bottle drive and a concert are in the planning stages. An open house will be held in the Rossburn Community Hall on March 18. All founding memberships and private and corporate donations will be held in trust until it is determined that the project will proceed. For more information, or to pledge volunteer labour, founding memberships or tax deductible donations , visit the Town of Rossburn office or call Kerry at 859-2762.