Blair Sands embarked on his trip about two weeks ago. (submitted photo/Blair Sands)

By Derek Cornet

On the Move

Northern teacher walking, biking and rollerblading to Prince Albert

Jun 6, 2019 | 4:48 PM

A physical education teacher from northern Saskatchewan is on a mission to raise awareness about the consequences of inactivity.

Blair Sands has been a teacher at Deschambault Lake’s Kimosom Pwatinahk School since August. During his time there, he has been opening the school’s gymnasium to students and the public between 8:30 and 9 a.m. to give those interested time to walk. In an effort to encourage people to participate, Sands set a goal of achieving 2,600 kilometers collectively with a promise to walk, bike or rollerblade from Deschambault Lake to Prince Albert if the same distance was achieved in the gym.

“I said I would match the community and the kids on what they do and, once they reach Prince Albert, I will go real time on the road and match what they do to keep them active,” Sands said. “I left the school about two weeks ago and, like I said, I have to emphasize this is not a race. I work during the day as a teacher, so I do this kind of thing after school.”

Since Sands began his trek to Prince Albert, he has travelled nearly 240 kilometers as he last stopped close to Smeaton. It took about two days for him to make it to the Highway 106 Junction and since then he’s continued down the roadway and made his way through Narrows Hills Provincial Park. Sands has been travelling mostly on weekends and leaves a ribbon to remember where he left off.

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During the simulated walk in the gym, participants are also encouraged to reach checkpoints representing Prince Albert Grand Council (PAGC) communities. Kids from Deschambault Lake are then given a trip to the community where they partake in a sporting or other physical activity event. For example, a group of students were already treated to a weekend of soccer at the Alfred Jenkins Field House in Prince Albert.

“What I’m trying to do is promote physical activity because 85 per cent of our kids, not only on reserves but in public schools right across Canada and almost all around the world, are so inactive they are getting diabetes, heart disease and cancer before their time,” Sands said. “Up to 30 to 60 minutes of activity a day will help your health tremendously.”

Sands is expected to arrive at the PAGC gymnasium in Prince Albert on June 11.

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derek.cornet@jpbg.ca

Twitter: @saskjourno

by Derek Cornet

Northern teacher walking, biking and rollerblading to Prince Albert

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