Survival of the fittest in annual fitness challenge

Two southwest communities went head-to-head in a healthy rivalry last month. 

The City of Swift Current's 12th annual Wellness Challenge had participation from the Town of Shaunavon in a contest of which community could rack up the highest average of Wellness points from its teams. 

A total of 187 individuals created 21 teams in Swift Current, and Shaunavon added 105 more people to 10 teams. 

Val Choo-Foo, in-motion community facilitator for the City of Swift Current, was thrilled to have more southwest residents joining in on the four-week event. 

"Of course it's a competition, that's the challenge, but everyone that signed up has the greatest prize of all -- working on and focusing on their health and well-being," she said. "They're all winners, and I know those people out there that really like to get the prize hate hearing that, but you're all winners for participating."

Shaunavon was victorious in the overall competition, accumulating an average of 211 points while Swift Current averaged 179.  

There were also grand prize winners in both communities, awarded to the team with the highest number of points and completed activities at the end of the challenge.

Team Canada Post and Team Shaunavon Fire and Family were the reigning champions in their respective regions, and each group won $250 towards any health equipment or program of their choosing. 

The hardworking team at Canada Post in Swift Current had the most points of teams from the city.

For Shaunavon’s director of wellness and leisure, Dana Dale, it was a successful event for wellness that engaged the excitement of local residents.

"A lot of people were worried because Swift Current is just that much bigger," she said. "[Choo-Foo] made it super seamless for us to participate in. We were just super appreciative of Swift Current to reach out to us to join them."

The light-hearted competition is something both parties hope to do again in the future, potentially with even more southwest towns joining in.

"It's about trying to help people make some small changes or tweaks to their lifestyle that will focus more on health and well-being," said Choo-Foo.