(Fort McMurray, AB, November 22, 2012) – MacDonald Island Park introduced the Mi Kids program and the Mi Kids Roots 73 clothing line at the official opening and ribbon cutting ceremony for the new Total Fitness Centre on Thursday afternoon.
The new Total Fitness Centre, which opened to the community on Monday morning following an eight-week construction phase, is nearly double the square footage of the old facility. It features an array of new fitness equipment, including cardio, resistance, cable- and plate-loaded machines, benches, dumbbells, weight plates and a series of Life Fitness Lifescape equipment, which is the first of its kind in Canada.
“As the first deliverable of the Shell Place project, the new Total Fitness Centre is a world-class addition to the Suncor Community Leisure Centre,” said Tim Reid, Chief Operating Officer at MacDonald Island Park. “Following the community engagement sessions we held as the major element of the Shell Place process, it was important we started this journey by developing more health and wellness space at the Island. We’re happy to say we’ve delivered on schedule and on budget for the community.”
The new Total Fitness Centre was designed and delivered by the group of architectural and construction management firms responsible for Shell Place: Architecture: ATB, 360 Architecture, Clark Builders and Turner Construction Company.
The official opening included remarks from Regional Municipality of Wood Buffalo Mayor Melissa Blake and Total E&P President Jean Michel Gires, who cut the ribbon on the new Total Fitness Centre.
Access to the new facility is included in a Mi Play Pass to the Suncor Community Leisure Centre.
MacDonald Island Park also launched the new Mi Kids program and Mi Kids Roots 73 clothing line on Thursday. The Mi Kids program is aimed at enhancing quality of life in Wood Buffalo by ensuring financial assistance to youth and families that face barriers to participation in sport, recreation, social and cultural programs and activities.
Five percent of all MacDonald Island Park partnership funds are directed towards the Mi Kids program, as is 100% of all proceeds from the sale of the Mi Kids Roots 73 clothing line.
The Mi Kids Roots 73 clothing line, which includes a variety of high-quality items for adults and youth, is now on sale at the new Total Fitness Centre. The community is invited to visit the Mi Kids page at macdonaldisland.ca to learn more about the program and facebook.com/MacDonaldIsland to browse items in the Mi Kids Roots 73 clothing line.
Gires got the ball rolling by announcing Total has made a $10,000 purchase of Mi Kids Roots 73 clothing, which was distributed to community members for free by Total staff at the Total Fitness Centre on Thursday.
“We’re tremendously excited to get started on the Mi Kids program and to do our part in ensuring that every kid in Wood Buffalo can afford to have fun,” said Rob MacGregor, CPGA Director of Golf and Grounds at MacDonald Island Park and Mi Kids committee Chair. “Mi Kids is intended to be broad reaching and isn’t at all limited to programs and classes at MacDonald Island. Ultimately, Mi Kids strives to assist kids no matter where they wish to participate and grow.”
