A retired doctor wanted his grandson remembered for his passion in life, fitness. The result is a new fitness centre at Windsor's Downtown Mission.
Dr Robert Bell's grandson, Cameron, had battled addiction in the past but found physical fitness kept his demons at bay. After two decades sober, he passed away 15 days after he was prescribed an opioid to deal with pain from an injury.
Bell donated $50,000 to the Mission in the hopes of establishing a new local program pairing addiction and mental health treatment with physical wellness. After meeting with the mission's executive director over the summer, the Cameron Robert Bell Fitness Centre opened this past week.
The meeting came during a year-long study on best practices; part of a partnership with the Fitness and Health Promotion Program at St. Clair College.
"Their students designed a fitness centre from start to finish," says Dunn. "What the walls should look like, and what kind of equipment we should have, and what kind of exercise programming."
Starting Monday, students will help coach participants through the work week at the Wellness Centre at 875 Ouellette Ave.
Dunn says it is not so unusual to have a fitness centre in a homeless shelter, noting that Day of Hope in Kitchener-Waterloo has one. He says most shelters have some kind of health and wellness programming that dovetails mental health and addiction treatment.
The centre at the mission boasts a weight machine, two rowing machines, two ellipticals, and two treadmills. Depending on funding, Dunn says more machines may be added.
Dunn adds the fitness centre is not just for clients at the shelter.
"It's not just for people with addiction and mental health [issues]. Anybody who wants to use it and has a lower income will be allowed to come out and use the facility for free," he says. "Ten bucks a month for a gym membership is out of reach for many."