Saskatoon, Saskatchewan – The students at St. Mary’s Wellness and Education Centre are off and running thanks to a $500,000 contribution from Potash Corporation of Saskatchewan Inc. (PotashCorp) announced in 2009. The company and school joined forces to complete the school’s new health and wellness centre that features a 125-metre indoor track for students and the surrounding neighbourhood to use year round.

“Health and wellness is at the heart of our vision for our school and community,” said St. Mary’s principal, Tony Bairos. “Our goal was to build a modern and welcoming space for our students and neighbours to experience the benefits of healthy, active living. Thanks to PotashCorp, our dream has come true.”

The new PotashCorp Health and Wellness Centre will serve as a hub for fitness and exercise programs open to people of all ages. The facility is already popular among local seniors who use the track to stay active when it is too difficult to walk outside. Students involved in St. Mary’s after-school running club – called the Wolf Pack – are regular users of the facility as they prepare for Saskatoon’s Bridge City Boogie on June 9.

“This place is more than an exercise facility. It’s a place to build community,” said Joel Pedersen, a local police officer and fitness trainer who coaches the Wolf Pack. “For a lot of kids who live in Saskatoon’s core neighbourhoods, it is a safe place where they can come together in a nurturing environment and meet others who share their goals and interests.”

The importance of health, wellness and living in balance is highlighted throughout the fitness area using the traditional Aboriginal medicine wheel. The medicine wheel, which represents spiritual, mental, emotional and physical wellness, has also been incorporated into the design of the track itself.

“We wanted to do something special for the students of St. Mary’s and help create a space in keeping with the school’s values and philosophy,” said Lee Knafelc, Vice President of Human Resources and Administration at PotashCorp. “We hope that this space becomes a popular destination for students and the surrounding community and motivates people to make healthy choices for themselves and their families.”

As the world’s largest crop nutrient company, PotashCorp plays an integral role in global food production. The company produces the three essential nutrients required to help farmers grow healthier, more abundant crops. With global population rising and diets improving in developing countries, crop nutrients such as potash, phosphates and nitrogen offer a responsible and practical solution to help produce the food we need, from the land we have.

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