One of the First Nations teachings from the Medicine Wheel is that healthy, balanced individuals result from equal development of the four realms of one’s life: physical, mental, emotional and spiritual. The newly-opened PotashCorp Health and Wellness Centre at St. Mary’s Wellness and Education Centre in Saskatoon embraces this philosophy.  

The facility includes a 125-metre indoor track that students and members of the surrounding Pleasant Hill community are able to utilize throughout the year. An after-school running club made up of students from grades one through eight – the Wolf Pack – trains there three times per week with their teacher Lindsey Tetarenko and trainer Joel Pedersen.

“I like running club because I think it’s fun,” said Jennifer Wee Eng, Grade 8 student. “I make my little brothers come, too. At first, they didn’t want to, but then when I say it’s time to go home, they say, ‘No! We’re having fun! We don’t want to leave!’ ”

Teacher Lindsey Tetarenko uses the facility daily, for a morning “body break” with her students before math class and for an agility class that she alternates with the traditional curriculum gym class. She says that the PotashCorp centre has made the agility program possible and that it has had a tremendous effect on the ability of kids to pay attention in class.

“When I’m in the classroom with the kids and I see that they’re antsy and need to move, to shake it off, we just walk down the hallway and do a couple of laps. We do it every day.”

Tetarenko says there are many benefits of the centre. Through the after school running and boot camp programs, kids learn to incorporate fitness into their routine, their daily lives. It’s also a way to deal with tough times.

“I love to run and exercise and try to fit it into my own life. I find it balances things, helps gets rid of stress. And our kids often face great stress, whether it’s at home or at school, so of course it’s beneficial to them, too,” said Tetarenko.

“I started the running program in January. I wanted the kids to do the long distance running - to have that discipline and motivation – and learn about training. It’s great motivation for all of the kids involved, and for me, too!”

Trainer Joel Pedersen joined Tetarenko in January to incorporate healthy functional movement into the program. “It’s just body weight, and the conditioning aspect of it is quite basic. Once the kids learn these exercises, they can do them on their own for the rest of their lives.”

“The socio-economic challenges of this particular community are not like those in other parts of Saskatoon. To be able to provide this kind of facility to the Pleasant Hill community is really special. This is high-class equipment, too. And it’s provided at no cost! It’s amazing that PotashCorp has come in to meet those needs.”

Senior citizens in the community use the facility three afternoons every week.

“It’s important for youth to have that connection with their elders, and for the elders to be involved with the kids,” said Pedersen. “It’s very positive.”

“We’ve been using the walking track since it opened,” said Columbian Place director Elaine Frehlich. “The benefits are just to be able to get out to walk and get a bit of exercise. It’s nice to have that connection with the community of children, too.”

Lee Knafelc, Vice President of Human Resources and Administration, said that PotashCorp was inspired by the program right from the blueprint stage. A $500,000 investment from PotashCorp was directed toward the new community wellness centre.

“We saw the potential of this centre and what it could do for St. Mary’s and the surrounding community. With its focus on health and living in balance, the centre offers young people a path to connect to a brighter future and for the people in the community to connect with each other. We truly hope this centre will be a place where everyone from the very young to the young at heart feels welcome, supported and included.”