Clarington is offering free fitness memberships and other healthy perqs to newcomers to Canada through the Clarington Kickstart for Fitness and Active Living program.
The new program, hosted in partnership with Community Development Council Durham, aims to reach newcomers through outreach and referrals and provide opportunities to learn about the community while staying active with fitness memberships, workshops, and activity kits.
Newcomers to Durham Region ages four and up are eligible for the program. A newcomer is an immigrant or refugee who is adapting to life in Canada. It is not defined by a specific amount of time in the country and once someone gets their Canadian citizenship, they’re no longer a newcomer.
Newcomers can sign up for a free three-month swim/skate membership for family members aged four and up. Teens and adults can sign up for a free three-month Fitness Plus Membership. The program also offers workshops for fitness, golf, pickleball, and more. Participants can access a range of fitness kits, which families can borrow to try an activity before buying the equipment.
The Clarington Kickstart for Fitness and Active Living program is funded by a Reaching Each and Every One, a Community Sport Intervention grant from the Canadian Parks and Recreation Association. The grant supports programs that remove barriers and increase access to local sports and recreation.