Our Lady Seat of Wisdom College (SWC) is excited to announce its first-ever “Wisdom Winter Workout,” to be held Saturday, February 6, 2021 in Barry’s Bay and surrounding areas.
SWC students, faculty, and staff have signed up to complete a “10-km challenge”, by committing to walk, run, ski, or skate a distance of 10 kilometers through the day, either individually or with a household partner. Participants are inviting sponsorship through an online form. Funds raised will go to the needs of the College, which is a registered charity in Canada and relies on private donations to operate. Participants are competing for prizes in categories for most sponsors, and the total amount raised. Additionally, the student residence with the highest percentage of participation will also win a pizza party for their house!
The response to this COVID-19-safe event has surprised organizers: 59 participants have registered, including 46 students, over half of the student body this year. Twelve members of the faculty and staff are also registered to participate, including Interim President Dr. Christine Schintgen, Academic Dean Dr. Natasha Duquette, and Dean of Students Kenton Biffert. While most will be participating from around Barry’s Bay, Killaloe, and the skating trail in Pembroke, one participant is a priest studying online part-time from Peterborough, and who has committed to skateboarding indoors from his parish hall!
With current Ontario lockdown restrictions, SWC has been able to offer courses online only since the start of the Winter Semester, although many full-time students are living in the College’s eight men’s and women’s residence houses throughout Barry’s Bay. With campus buildings closed to the public, students are able to see and interact with others in their own house, but many report missing the campus community as a whole.
The purpose and goals of this event include promotion of physical activity during this time of isolation and increased screen time, while having fun, raising spirits, promoting awareness of SWC to a wider audience, and raising needed funding. The government’s lock-down restrictions have allowed and encouraged physical activity out-of-doors and within households to promote wellness and mental health. College students in particular are at risk for increased levels of stress, anxiety, and social isolation. The Wisdom Winter Workout, which organizers hope to continue in future years, is a way to bring the community together in spirit, even when we are physically apart.
To follow this event online, visit the campaign page: https://www.givecampus.com/schools/OurLadySeatofWisdomCollege/wisdom-winter-workout-2021
For more information about Our Lady Seat of Wisdom College, or this event, please visit www.seatofwisdom.ca.
Reilander,M.,SWC Director of Development(2021,Feb.1) Seat of Wisdom hosts first-ever “Wisdom Winter Workout” event [media release]
Our Lady Seat of Wisdom College is very grateful to Dan Olshen for his support and for the thoughtful gift of a voucher for pizzas at the Bent Pie Pizzeria! It’s great to experience the community coming together in these challenging times. Thank you!!
WOW!!!
What a superlative initiative by The Great Academy in the MV renown as the “Our Lady of Wisdom College” and the capable Leadership of Academic Dean, i.e., Dr. Christine Schintgen”.
As in my op-ed on the future of the “Paul J. Yakubuski Community Centre”, one maintained that the future vitality of the MV Community depends to a large degree on the vibrancy of our Youth especially in this “zeitgeist” where iPhones, Rap Music, Cannabis Facilities, Netflix, etc. are disengaging them from the realities and challenges of their potential as contributing members of a dynamic society.
As opined in the article “David Shulist and the future of the PJYCC”, I for one advocate the thesis: that the PJYCC is an integral part of the Community and its viability must be maintained. However, in this hiatus of the lockdown where local businesses are struggling to survive, this is my minor contribution to this solid conviction noted above:
I will leave a voucher to support this important outdoor workout cause “Wisdom Winter Workout” aka; 10Km Challenge – to the Bent Pie Pizzeria for 5 – 10 inch Pizzas for the participants and for the duality of supporting local entrepreneurs like highlighted below.
IMO: Mathy and Jamal make the finest Pizza in the 100 Km perimeter) of the MV (in these lockdown financially challenging times) and it is my expectation or hope that other concerned and engaged citizens will engage in supporting this great initiative by “Our Lady of Wisdom College” and support the future of the most important asset we have: Our Youth.