What was your experience like when you went to school here?

Definitely enjoyable. The masters program allowed me flexibility to move my studies along at my own pace and direct my studies towards topics in which I was keenly interested. I was able to network within an academic and professional setting, which helped me earn a great deal about myself, including strengths I never realized I had. It also helped me determine which career path would best fit my skills and interests.

What was your most memorable experience in the program?

Working with such highly intelligent and motivated individuals was definitely a great experience. I would have to say the best experience at the U of M came as a result of my research study on the energy cost and health benefits of golfing and lawn-mowing. The subjects who took part taught me a lot about life and we had a lot of laughs through the course of their participation. It was an especially rewarding experience to present my study results and receive recognition for my hard work at the 6th World Conference on Aging and Physical Activity in London, Ontario in 2004.

What do you do now?

Currently, I am the Coordinator for Winnipeg in motion, which is an initiative that is geared towards helping Winnipeggers add physical activity to their daily lives for health benefits. The partners include the City of Winnipeg, the University of Manitoba and the Winnipeg Regional Health Authority.

With Winnipeg in motion, I am taking leadership roles in our website as well as our Older Adults and Primary Care strategies. The position requires knowledge and skills in community development, community capacity building and networking with a health promotion focus in mind. Some components of the position require a strong knowledge base surrounding physical activity promotion, disease prevention, and behaviour change. The position differs from many other exercise professional positions as it requires a comprehensive understanding of many levels of government as well as an understanding on how to work with the community to develop community-based strategies that will improve health through the promotion of physical activity and proper nutrition.

An important component of the Winnipeg in motion strategy is to educate, support and instill change in large populations through social marketing and mass media, while incorporating best practice and literature to support the messages and evaluate the success of the initiative.

I also continue to work as a personal trainer on weekends and I teach at the University of Winnipeg and Manitoba when opportunities that fit my schedule arise.

How is your job related to what you studied?

During the course of my studies at the HLHPRI, my main focus was on Older Adult Health and Physiology. To be successful academically, I had to improve my time management skills, presentation skills, writing skills, and my ability to think critically. Opportunities at the University also helped me understand the importance of administrative process and community involvement in the delivery and promotion of health and physical activity opportunities. All the skills I learned at the Institute have proven to be transferable, and I hope will allow me more success as an exercise professional within our healthcare system.

How has your degree helped you in your life and/or career?

The Masters degree provided me with several career opportunities, including teaching university courses at the University of Manitoba and University of Winnipeg, working as a fitness consultant/personal trainer at the Kinsmen Reh-Fit Centre and as the Coordinator for Winnipeg in motion. The degree has also afforded me the freedom to travel, network, and enjoy some of my favourite pastimes including sushi, weight training, running, music and of course, golfing.

What’s the one thing you learned while a student here that you’ll never forget?

I guess the one thing I learned through the course of my university career is that you will only get as much out of your university education as you put into it. Not everyone knows what they really want to do in first year, but keeping yourself engaged in your coursework and engaged in the “university community environment” is a step towards helping yourself succeed academically and succeed in finding something that you will truly love to do for the rest of your life.

In terms of healthy living and the current awareness around the connections between quality of life, fitness, leisure and recreation, how relevant do you think our degree programs are nowadays?

I think our degree programs are becoming more relevant every day. Community Development, Health Promotion, Chronic Disease Prevention, Older Adults, Exercise Physiology and course work related to fitness leisure and recreation are fast becoming part of health care. I believe Winnipeg in motion will be a stepping stone for many up and coming students from our faculty to jump into health promotion, disease prevention and the healthcare system.

What is the salary range for someone in your field?

$50,000 to 65,000.