Active Aging

SATURDAY, MAY 11, 2024 | Active Aging 5 Participants can also enter their arts & crafts works for judging and display in categories such as knitting, photography and woodworking, just to name a few. The schedule is set up to allow participants to join several events over the three days, and the $40 registration fee drops to $20 after your first event (or starts at a new, lower $20 fee for the brain games and arts & crafts categories). Participants can win medals, and even qualify for the biennial Canada 55+ Games in Quebec City this August. While the Manitoba 55+ Games are hosted by a different community in the province each year, the Brandon location is quite convenient for many participants. They can drive in for the day, stay in ample local accommodations, or camp nearby, says Brown, adding that once people join in the Games for the first time, they're often hooked. "We have many participants who have been coming back for many years. They get to be active, see friends and meet new friends, and just enjoy the friendly competition and camaraderie. Everybody has a smile on their face, and the whole atmosphere is really heart warming." she says. The inclusivity of the Games extends to things like the "predicted time" track events – a one-kilometer Nordic pole walk and a three-kilometer walk/run – where participants are judged not by their speed, but by how close they finish to the time they predicted. "When the Games were in Selkirk two years ago, the gold medal was won by a woman who was 85 years old, and walked around the track with her walker," says Brown. "It makes it open to anybody, and that's really what it's all about." Want to join in the fun atmosphere without participating? Spectators of all ages are welcome at every event for free. Several hundred volunteers will also be needed. The Games also have a virtual option: all 55+ Manitobans are welcome to sign up, get active from June 24 to July 22, track their activity, then share it with Active Aging in Manitoba to win prizes. Registration for the Games in June is open until May 20, and volunteers are welcome to join any time. For more information including schedules and to sign up, visit www.activeaging. mb.ca, call (204) 632-3947 or email info@activeagingmb.ca. PARTICIPANTS CAN WIN MEDALS, AND EVEN QUALIFY FOR THE BIENNIAL CANADA 55+ GAMES IN QUEBEC CITY THIS AUGUST. Manitoba Blue Cross offers individual, family and retiree* health benet plans with robust coverage to protect you and complement your Manitoba Health coverage. *To be eligible for a retiree plan, you must be between the ages of 55 and 70 at the time of application and retired from a group benet plan within the past six months. Apply within 60 days of termination of your group benet plan and no medical review is required. Made-in-Manitoba coverage To learn more and purchase a plan: Visit mb.bluecross.ca Call 204.788.6858 or 1.800.873.2583 (toll free) Talk to your trusted broker ®*The Blue Cross symbol and name and Colour of Caring are registered marks of the Canadian Association of Blue Cross Plans, independently licensed by Manitoba Blue Cross. †Blue Shield is a registered trade-mark of the Blue Cross Blue Shield Association. 2024-03-19 A leading health benefits provider in Manitoba for 50 years. PLAYING A GAME OF PICKLEBALL OR CARDS IS A GREAT WAY TO STAY PHYSICALLY AND MENTALLY ACTIVE.

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