Sg“ Centre for Recreation and Wellness maintains loyal following By Shaylee Perez Associate News Editor ealthy living; what does it mean to you? To George Hunt and Donn Richardson, both aged 76, it has meant meeting every Tuesday and Thursday at Douglas College’s Centre for Recreation and Wellness over the last 22 years. “It’s not the number of years in your life, it’s the amount of life in your years,” opines Richardson. In addition to the 45 minute run the two also use the machines in the gym for 45 minutes. They both also run regularly every Saturday morning before heading to IHOP for some well- deserved pancakes. The two say keeping fit has changed their entire outlook on life, and continues to make life more fun. “If you keep up the routine it isn’t bad to stay with it, but once you drop off it’s hard to come back,” said Hunt. “It is harder to come back, but that doesn’t mean you can’t do it!” adds Richardson. Before frequenting the Centre for Wellness and Recreation along with a larger group of friends, some of whom they still run with regularly, Hunt and Richardson were members of the local YMCA’s Senior Men’s class. When the YMCA closed down in 1985 due to funding issues, they tried a few other centres until the group decided on Douglas College, finding the environment more positive and welcoming. Throughout their lives, Richardson, a retired commercial! Pilot and former Director of Aviation Licensing, and Hunt, a retired poultry farmer, have managed to keep their health and fitness a priority. In fact, Richardson’s dedication to fitness played an integral role in his swift recovery from prostate cancer in 2003. Though he was not always this committed to sticking with a routine in his early years of raising a family and building a strong career, he explained that after seeing the decline in his wellness, he was motivated to make a change. He experienced such an improvement in his quality of life that he never looked back. In fact, Richardson is still passing his bi-yearly medical check-ups, and holds a valid pilot’s license to this day Hunt is still living on the farm and continues to do work there. He gets out to ski once a week at Cypress or Baker, and has also participated in numerous Sun Runs over the years with his 19- year-old granddaughter, Leila. Both agree that while enforcing the regimen takes discipline, it is much easier to work out with a group or with a partner keeping you focused. Not only has that kept their health on track, it has also kept their friendship strong all these years. All fitness classes from 11:35-1:25 p.m. are open free to Douglas College students and staff in New Westminster Campus room 1313, Monday to Friday. Pinetree Community Centre is also open to David Lam students and staff. For more information, visit www. douglas.bc.ca/csrw/recreation. Rail for the Valley uses Facebook to gain “tremendous support” ‘Matthew jane Steinbach | last year | news editor support | has exploded for the Rail L for the Valley citizen initiative, which aims to bring a public light rail line to the South Fraser Valley between Surrey to Abbottsford and Chilliwack. The Other Press spoke to John Buker, one of the leaders of the “tremendous public support throughout the valley... especially in Abbottsford and Chilliwack,” and during the municipal elections the team “gained a bunch of support” from municipal politicians. Buker did admit that there is “not strong provincial support,” but his group is “going to get a stance from all candidates” before the election is through, which they believe could solve 6 : * . * There is ‘not strong provincial support,’ but his group is going to IF get a stance from all candidates’ before the election is through group. According to Buker, Rail for the Valley began after “I took a trip to Europe... [I] could get around everywhere without a car.” Upon his return he immediately began a campaign over Facebook. When asked why he chose Facebook, he explained that he just thought that it would be a good place for him to help create the campaign. However, he did admit there was a lot he didn’t know about at the time regarding how much attention his plight would receive through the networking site. However, through Facebook, Rail for the Valley has been able to gain the provincial issue. They have also expanded their mandate with this upcoming election to include the new proposed 10 lane Port Mann Bridge. They want to see some light rail as a part of this project as they see this as a “vital” part of a “sustainable rail infrastructure” in the future. Buker said that this proposal merely deals with cars without considering any transportation alternatives. More information about upcoming events can be found at www. railforthevalley.com Riding the rails: a quick history of light rail in BC 50 years ago there used to be the British Columbia Electric Company, a precursor to today’s BC Hydro, which also ran the BC Electric Rail Company (BCER), a precursor to today’s SkyTrain line. Some of the old rail tracks are still visible around the Edmonds SkyTrain station area. The last line closed RSM OTT eR Um RCM cme Tm Tite from Gastown through to North and South Burnaby to New Westminster. From New Westminster there were rail lines out to Chilliwack. These lines were closed and the trolley bus fleet replaced them. The rise in car ownership made the train lines financially impossible to maintain until recently. Most lines were converted to freight, but the proposed rail line that Rail for the Valley is recommending be used is the old New Westminster-Chilliwack BCER line, which is still in place today as a freight line. However, with slight conversions, Rail for the Valley has ed on their Facebook page that this line could be used again at a “fraction of the cost” for the new proposed SkyTrain lines.