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DOWNHILL SKIING FOR MENTAL HEALTH FACES UPHILL BATTLE
Ski hills provide lots of space for exercise, which can contribute to improved mental health. PHOTO: PHILIP FORSEY and LAKE LOUISE SKI RESORT
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o relieve pandemic stress, many Albertans are using the outdoors to exercise. This, paired with travel restrictions, has meant Alberta ski hills are booming. However, that’s also creating public health problems, despite safety measures to stop the spread. The Centres for Disease Control and Prevention says “it is natural to feel stress, anxiety, grief, and worry during the COVID-19 pandemic,” and that one of the most important ways to reduce stress is by taking care of your body, which includes exercise. That’s because physical activity can make you feel better, function better and even sleep better. In fact, it only takes one session of moderate to vigorous physical activity to reduce anxiety. My Health Alberta, and the Canadian Mental Health Association are just some of the groups that encourage exercise for mental health upkeep.
22 MARCH/APRIL 2021 CALGARYJOURNAL.CA
Because of public health orders closing gyms and fitness studios, finding a place to exercise can be difficult. As a result, Dr. Kelly Burak,a physician and professor of medicine at University of Calgary, says having outdoor facilities for mental health open right now is “very important, and this is the balancing act that we have to try to find.” “It’s important for people to have those sporting activities for mental health and wellness.” Ski hills are one of the few facilities that allow physical activity and have continually remained open to the public in Alberta, alongside other outdoor facilities such as skating rinks and parks. “It’s such a good thing for your mental health just to be able to come out and ski and get some activity and be outside instead of being inside, which is what a lot of this year has been so far,” says Patrick
CHLOE CHAPDELAINE cchapdelaine@cjournal.ca Hoffman, multimedia coordinator at Banff Sunshine Village. Aaryn Secker, associate director of education and health promotion at the Canadian Mental Health Association Kelowna branch says, “We know that fresh air, sunlight, and physical activity are good for our mental health, so I genuinely commend the ski hills for thinking about the role they play in their communities and also for their staff.” Dan Markham, director of communications at Lake Louise Ski Resort, adds, “The people are just really happy that the resorts are open and will do whatever it takes to stay that way.” Normally, international guests make up just over 10 per cent of those resorts’ traffic. Because of the COVID-19 pandemic, many people from out-of-country haven’t been able to enter Canada. Indeed, air traffic arriving in Calgary and Edmonton
