Keep Fit | Cedar Heights

Description

With 100+ members, the Keep Fit program is the only place in the Shuswap where you can attend fitness classes twice a week for 75 minutes each session for such a reasonable fee. It’s a wonderful place to get fit, make new friends, and get out of the house for a few hours on your own.

Why Attend

The class is a nice mixture of aerobics, strength training and stretching. More than one instructor is always in attendance to make sure everyone does the exercises correctly and offer alternatives for those with mobility issues. We all know that staying active is the key to good health so why not become a member of Cedar Heights and join the class.

Why So Reasonable?

We are really fortunate to have a dedicated group of certified fitness instructors registered with BCRPA who volunteer their time to keep our rates low and help improve the health and vitality of our members.

Our Instructors

Sharon Spearman

I moved to Blind Bay from Abbotsford in 2011 with my husband, Ken, after an 18- year career in accounting at Duradek Canada and frequent camping visits to the Shuswap. I became a Keep Fit instructor nine years ago at a time when there were only 30 participants. Has that program grown!! I was Program Director on the board for a few years and retired to volunteer at Cedar Heights in many other ways. I am a bookkeeper for South Shuswap Transportation Society and Probus Copper Island Club. I like hiking, kayaking and pickleball and spend a lot of time walking my cute puppy, Bindi, around Blind Bay. Loving it here. Best move we ever made.

Sherri Reimer

I retired from the Lower Mainland to Blind Bay in 2003 with my husband, Ron, so I could enjoy spending more time gardening, hiking, golfing, fishing and kayaking. I became a Keep Fit instructor at Cedar Heights in 2009. I, along with the other Keep Fit participants, benefit from the physical, mental, social and emotional support provided by the program. During my time as an instructor, I have met many wonderful people, all with their own special stories which they graciously share with me. I love all genres of music and am told that the Keep Fit participants enjoy my dry sense of humour.

Joyce Slone

I worked in accounting and became a licensed realtor working in my husband’s and my real estate company in Calgary. I became a Fitness Instructor at Cedar Heights during a sabbatical from work in 2008. We moved back to Calgary a few years later where I was trained under the Alberta health Services Fall Risk Management Program and instructed classes for seniors for 5 years. My husband and I retired and moved to Sorrento in 2020. I now instruct at Cedar Heights and am enjoy seeing our participants benefit from the Keep Fit program. During the off season, we enjoy all that the Shuswap has to offer with our six grandchildren.

Susan Maslanka

I moved to Blind Bay in December 2022 from a small community just outside Winnipeg, Manitoba. Prior to that, I spent almost 45 years working as a sales advisor and project manager in the printing and book publishing industry. I now have a casual job in retail. I was certified in Strength and Resistance Training and Aquafit with the Manitoba Fitness Council prior to coming to BC and have been instructing fitness classes for 5 years. I enjoy walking, hiking, kayaking and spending time with my family and my dogs.

Michele d'Eon

I moved to Blind Bay in 2019 and quickly found out about Cedar Heights wonderful Keep Fit classes. I joined immediately. Hearing about the need for new volunteer instructors, I took the BCRPA provincial course and became a certified fitness instructor in 2023. I spent the majority of my working life in the Lower Mainland where I participated in various classes including yoga, Pilates, fitness and belly dancing. I enjoy the arts, music, an outdoor lifestyle, and everything the Shuswap has to offer.

Russ McLeod

I moved to Blind Bay in 2008 from Edmonton. I worked for Imperial Oil for 34 years in the Marketing Department. My neighbors were instrumental in getting me involved at Cedar Heights, starting with the Fitness Group. I have enjoyed that activity since then. I am also an instructor with the local Karate Club and currently hold a Black Belt in Second Dan. I hope to spend many more years enjoying what the area has to offer.

What Others are Saying

The biggest personal improvement has been the massive improvement in my blood pressure. I had tried healthy food and long walks, but it’s only since attending the class that it has steadily dropped to where I no longer have to take medications.

I joined the exercise program after going through cancer treatment and it was the best decision I made for my health. I will be celebrating more than 10 years of being a cancer survivor and the class has helped me get back my strength. Thanks for keeping me healthy.

I’m one of the guys in Keep Fit and I’m still going after 12 years because I saw the real benefit of the program. I cannot say enough about the quality of instruction and commitment provided by each of the instructors. This program has helped me to remain strong and flexible despite chronic back problems. The social aspect of the program can’t be overlooked and I am proud to have been an integral part of it by helping to start and maintain the after class coffee get together. Where else can you stay fit, have fun and cost you next to nothing.

Facilities

Honorable Mentions

Betty Cosens

Betty and her husband, Lloyd, moved from Sherwood Park, Alberta to Blind Bay in the early 1990’s. She started exercising at Cedar Heights with eight ladies in 1995 using a Jane Fonda cassette tape, which led her to start up Keep Fit and become a certified Fitness Instructor. She taught her last class in November, 2011 when she moved to Salmon Arm. Under her leadership, Keep Fit participants annually formed a Blind Bay Bunch Relay team to raise funds for cancer research. She was President of Cedar Heights from __ to __. She carried the Olympic torch in our area in 2010. She now is an avid walker with the Salmon Arm Lady Striders.

Verna Nitsche

Verna and her husband, Dieter, moved to Blind Bay from Winnipeg in 1996. She was one of Betty Cosen’s Original 8 exercise ladies at Cedar Heights. Verna was the Keep Fit administrator for 25 years. Verna started the Kids Only Christmas Shopping at Cedar Heights in 1997, a day where children can buy Christmas gifts for their family and friends under the guidance of Cedar Heights volunteers. She
still works at the event. As of 2024, Verna has participated in Keep Fit for 28 years which makes her the longest-attending participant in the program.

Heather Hargreaves

Heather grew up as an army brat and spent 12 years in Germany and in various places across Canada. She moved to Blind Bay in 2003. Heather taught the KeepFit Class from 2006-2020. She loved teaching and the opportunity to help others keep healthy. As well, she enjoyed the social part of the class (thanks to the coffee group started up and run by her husband, Steve, for 10 years). Heather
continues to be very active with AquaFit, hiking, snowshoeing and kayaking.