INUVIK
A long-time Inuvik health-care worker whose work has helped elders get active caught the eye of the Canadian Centre for Activity and Aging.

Clara Fitzgerald of the Canadian Centre for Activity and Aging, left, congratulates Elders in Motion Community Leader Award winner Sheena Tremblay, Elders in Motion Community Service Award winner Crystal Navratil, Active Elder Award winner Wilfred Jackson of Fort Good Hope and president Tony Devlin, accepting the Elders in Motion Community Capacity Award for the NWT Recreation and Parks Society. - photo courtesy of Sheena Tremblay

Crystal Navratil's work with the elders fitness program in Inuvik landed her the Elders in Motion Community Service Award from the organization based at the University of Western Ontario last month during a conference in Yellowknife.

Navratil, who has organized a twice-weekly program that sees participating elders visit the fitness centre at the Midnight Sun Recreation Complex, said she had no idea she had been nominated for the award or really why she had been chosen.

"I wasn't going to go to the awards dinner (for the conference)," she said with a smile. "I went to the Elders in Motion conference, but I hadn't registered for the dinner.

"I have lots of friends in Yellowknife, and there are lots of good restaurants there, so I thought I'd rather go with my friends somewhere. So I didn't register."

One of the staff members with the NWT Recreation and Parks Society had to confess that Navratil was getting the award before she would agree to change her plans.

"So it wasn't a surprise then (at the dinner), but it was a surprise that she told me," Navratil said.

Alfred Moses, the MLA for Inuvik-Boot Lake, also tipped her off.

"He just said, 'You're not coming to the dinner?'" Navratil said with a poorly-concealed smile. "Then he said, 'Ahhhhhhhhhhhh, maybe you should come.'"

It was significant to Moses that she be there to accept the award, Navratil explained, because he had started the program while serving in her position more than 10 years ago.

She succeeded him in the job, and took up where he left off with the elders fitness program.

"He used to be in this position, and one of the first things I was asked was 'when are you going to start this program?' I didn't have a clue."

She learned quickly about the program, which is offered free to community elders at the recreation complex, including free transportation.

"The only struggle is to get people to come," she said. "I think it's underutilized, but I don't think I could handle more than 10 people by myself."

The program has seven or eight elders who frequently attend on a regular basis, which Navratil said is a manageable number.

"People don't like to exercise unless their doctor tells them to do it," she added. "By bringing people here I think these machines do a good job (of improving fitness)."

Margaret Miller is one of the regulars in the group. Her doctor told her she needed to do more "load-bearing exercising," although she's an avid walker.

"I recently retired and I've been a workaholic all my life," she said. "And I thought I was going to die of boredom and I was afraid of that. It's a great program."

The program Navratil operates is perfect for her. Miller said she often accepts a ride to the fitness centre, and then frequently walks home after a workout, or to one of her many volunteer activities.

While she was pleased with the award, Navratil said the real stars are the elders who are loyal to the program. She's seen the benefits to their health, and that's her most satisfying reward.

The Canadian Centre for Activity and Aging also recognized Sheena Tremblay with an Elders in Motion Community Leader Award, Fort Good Hope's Wilfred Jackson with the Active Elder Award and the NWT Recreation and Parks Society with the Elders in Motion Community Capacity Award.