An example of what Healthy Activity to get people out and socializing looks like.. .
By Kendall Worth!
This BLOG post is about the Bluenose Marathon.
Today is May 20th 2023 and it is Victoria Day Weekend. I have had a few requests this morning from members of my community of people living in poverty, to write a piece using the Bluenose Marathon as an example of a healthy activity to get out and socialize, that people living in poverty miss out on.
One thing that welfare recipients pointed out to me that depresses them over Victoria Day weekend is seeing all of those (assumed to be) financially better off people gathering in downtown Halifax and on the Commons. Some call this an example of healthy social activity they miss out on. Many welfare recipients wonder if those who are participating are paying an expensive registration fee?
According to one source, there is only a $10 fee to register for the Bluenose Marathon. Still, when you live on the ESIA Standard Household rate of $950.00, subtracting $10.00 from that budget is too much, when you live in poverty.
Over the years, I have written often about holidays and how depressing they can be for people living in poverty. I talk about Holidays in this blog post, and here is a link to many articles on my blog about celebrating holidays and how difficult rampant inflation/price increases make it.
The community of people that I advocate for, believe that the people that are running in the Bluenose, all have healthy friendships (although of course we do not know if they do or not) and they envy the possible ease of it.
The whole point I am trying to get at here, is Income Assistance recipients should not feel like they have been singled out and are meant to miss out of healthy activity. Summer is coming and with it lots more social activity is on it’s way.
The main message in this article is Victoria Day Weekend may not be the same as Christmas, Thanksgiving, or Easter. Still, think of those of us who live in poverty. The Bluenose Marathon serves as a reminder that people have the right to be healthy whether we are rich or poor.
Not everyone can afford the registration fee, but we should note that the Bluenose can still be a great social activity for people on Income Assistance (and anyone, really!). It takes hundreds of volunteers to make this type of event work - not to mention coming out to cheer on the runners along the route! These are fun, free ways to get involved in the community and maybe make a friend or two along the way. Something to think about for next year - getting involved could make next Victoria Day weekend something to look forward to!
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