Let’s get active, together!

From books to bikes, join us at the library for a presentation, group discussion and maybe an adventure too. With the warmer weather upon us, there are lots of easy, gentle ways to get outside (maybe a stroll down to the library) and enjoy our great communities.

The Pictou-Antigonish Regional Library has 14 pairs of Nordixx Nordic Walking Poles, available to library patrons to borrow with your PARL library card. This service was made possible with a Walkabilities grant from the Nova Scotia Heart & Stroke Foundation. Nordic Walking is a highly effective low-impact fitness activity that offers the highest benefits for weight control and wellness.

Nordic Walking Poles are lightweight walking poles that are height-adjustable, have a glovelike hand straps that encircle your wrist (with a thumb hole), and have full-size rubber feet. The walking poles are also great for assisting with walking stability, and by using Nordic Walking poles it will gently enable you to incorporate over 90 per cent of all your body muscles, simply as you walk.

If you would like to join a friendly group for a walk about the neighbourhood, we invite you to join us at the library for Nova Scotia Walk Day on May 9. NS Walk Day is held the second Wednesday in May and uses the success of the Hearth & Stroke Walkabout program to bring together communities and individuals from across the province to participate in a walk and celebrate the joyful side of walking. Take the first step and see where walking will take you.

Many thanks to the Community Health Boards of Pictou County (Pictou West, Pictou Central & East) with providing the healthy snacks for everyone after the walk.

The Westville Library will host a gentle morning walk to Acadia Park leaving the library at 9 a.m., led by Clare Steele with Westville Recreation. The Pictou Library will offer a stroller-friendly walk along the waterfront leaving the library at 11:30 a.m., led by Michelle Young with Pictou Recreation and Parks.

In the early afternoon at 1:30 p.m., the Trenton Library Book Club is hosting a wandering stroll down to the downtown park. Also at 1:30 p.m., the StoryWalk Adventure will be leaving the New Glasgow Library. At 3 p.m., the Afterschool @Library kids at Stellarton Library and Paul Corbin with Stellarton Recreation will be heading down to the NS Museum of Industry. And to wrap up the day, we’ll be leaving the River John library at 6:30 p.m. for a sunset walk along the beautiful Sunrise Trail and the banks of the River John, with two of our local authors, Monica Graham and Linda Little.

And the Women on Wheels (WOW) program with Pictou Recreation is back for the biking season again at the Pictou Library, starting on May 11 at 10 a.m. Join us for this first session, an information session about the program, and a healthy snack. Connect with other women through this group, enjoy short bike rides on local trails and roads, and learn new skills.

For more information on upcoming library programs, special events and services, please drop by your local library branch, follow us on Twitter, find us on Facebook or visit us online at www.parl.ns.ca.

Trecia Schell is the community services librarian and branch manager of the River John and Stellarton public libraries.