‘Encouraging people to get out more’

Antigonish town, county providing free winter equipment loans

The town and county of Antigonish are continuing their partnership to help people get active.

The equipment loan program, an initiative of both the town and county, is kicking off its annual winter equipment loans. Emily Stephenson, the town’s active living co-ordinator, says while the program continues to be popular, there are still some people who are unaware of the opportunity.

“We certainly have people who access it year after year but there are always new people moving to the community … and always people who don’t know about it,” said Stephenson.

The initiative loans outdoor equipment, year-round, to residents for free for a set amount of time. Winter items are obviously the focus now.

“We want to encourage people to not hibernate in the winter. Winters can be long and if you are not moving, your body can quickly feel that so it’s the ‘use it or lose it’ adage,” added Stephenson.

Some of the winter items for loan are cross-country skis and related gear including boots and poles, and snowshoes, to name a few. Winter gear becomes available Dec. 1 and sizes child to adult will be available.

Stephenson said it’s easy to view and book equipment. Go to www.townofantigonish.ca, click the services tab, then park and recreation and equipment rental. For people who do not have access to the internet, phone 902-3184048. If calling, you must have sizing information available.

Items selected are picked up at town hall at 274 Main St. on Fridays and dropped off Mondays, both between 8:30 a.m. and 4:30 p.m. Special requests to extend the loan may be accommodated, based on equipment availability.

And “we will be adding to our inventory online as we get the system up and running,” said Stephenson.

She added the program is important to the community.

“It provides access to unstructured physical activity … and some pieces of equipment can be expensive to purchase so this gives people affordable access for these activities.”

For more information, including on year-round equipment such as Nordic walking poles, pickleball and tennis, to name a few, email recreation@townofantigonish.ca

Meaghan Macneil agrees there are many benefits to the program.

“It’s encouraging people to get out more … and it does take away the cost barrier. A lot of people like to try out a piece of equipment and get a feel for it” before possibly getting their own, said Macneil, the county’s active living coordinator.

Macneil added the county and town work together to provide the program.

“We loan our separate equipment out, however, we have similar equipment so we are always in touch with each other. If we run out of something we can bounce off each other,” she said.

“Snowshoes are very popular and we have skates and helmets and Nordic walking poles.”

Macneil said other popular requests throughout the year are paddleboards and outdoor lawn games including washer toss, horseshoes, beanbag toss and tricycles, to name a few.

And there is an accessible equipment section too. For example, the Hippocampe allows “individuals with lower mobility to move more outside and get them into more environments that they may not be able to get into on their own,” explained Macneil.

Wheels or skis can be added to this equipment.

There is also a Mobi chair that has three wheels and can be pushed or the individual can roll it. It can float in water as well.

In addition, the county has two mobile beach chairs for people with lower or no mobility. The special chairs give access to the beach and travel over rocky or sandy places.

“The program grows every year. We monitor community requests … and we try to add to what we have or get something new,” said Macneil.

To borrow equipment through the county, Macneil said residents set up a profile online at recreation.antigonishcounty.ns.ca. Once created, call the recreation department at 902-863-1141 to request equipment.

For people without internet, assistance can be provided by calling the recreation department. All gear can be picked up at the municipal office at 285 Beach Hill Rd.

“Generally, loans are for one week but there is flexibility,” said Macneil.

“If people are loving the gear, simply give us a call and if no one has it out (or booked), we can go on a week-by-week basis.”