Page 38 - Cornwall Sports Energy News Issue No 96, Mike Piquette

38 Issue #96 January 2021 www.sportsenergynews.com

Competitive Weightlifting in the Time of COVID

By Casey Leger Guelph. “As I got into University, I started
doing CrossFit to stay in shape. I was
exposed to Olympic Weightlifting which
o say that this last year has been hard
Ton fitness clubs—traditional gyms, I then became hooked on,” says Hartwick,
martial arts studios, CrossFit clubs, dance who also medaled at multiple Provincial
schools, weightlifting clubs—would be championships in Alberta while working
an understatement. For Kevin Hartwick in the oil and gas industry. “I represented
Alberta at The Western Canadian
and Abigail Sergenese of the United
Counties Weightlifting Club, however, Championships and Nationals from 2015
there seems to be a light at the end of – 2017. While in New Zealand, I joined a
the COVID tunnel. These two Olympic weightlifting club in Christchurch where I
weightlifting coaches and competitors was able to finish 2nd at the South Island
Championships, which is similar to our
feel that there’s a growing interest in their
sport and in their club. Provincials, and I finished 3rd at the New
Zealand Nationals Championship.”
The United Counties Weightlifting
Club, the UCWC, has been registered with At 26, Sergenese has completed a Photo Submitted
the Ontario Weightlifting Association, the Diploma in Registered Massage Therapy,
but she hasn’t been able to write the
OWA since 2019. “Up until November improve.” She has been competing for 6 the membership fees we charge go
of this year we had been a fairly small provincial exam because of the pandemic. years and working towards competing at completely back into the club, and
club, just 1-3 athletes,” says Hartwick. “Once registered, I will work within the the national level. neither Abigail nor I are paid.”
“We’ve now moved into a new space at community providing treatment-based Both coaches are singularly committed
Summit and have expanded our group. massage, focusing on people who have to the success of their athletes. “All This dedication seems to be paying off
had injuries or are suffering from chronic for club members. “Maleeka Virtue has
We currently have 9 athletes whose ages the money we bring in goes towards
vary from teens to adults. We’ve also pain,” she says. “I grew up dancing and subsidizing expenses for the club,” medaled at the last two junior Nationals
had a reasonable amount of interest from performing in theater, so once I graduated explains Hartwick. “Under non- events -- silver in 2018 and bronze in
additional people looking to join.” from high school, I wanted to stay active. 2019,” says Hartwick. “Maleeka has won
I was introduced to CrossFit in 2012, COVID restrictions, all competitions multiple Youth and Junior provincial
Both Hartwick and Sergenese bring and from there I was exposed to the are in the Toronto area, so we have
a wealth of experience to their club. At sport of weightlifting. I fell in love with travel, food, and hotel expenses, as titles, as well as a senior provincial title
31, Hartwick earned a BSc. Honours in weightlifting because of the technical well as OWA memberships, and then in 2019. Brady Killoran medaled as a
Human Kinetics from the University of aspect – there is always something to buying and upgrading equipment. All youth at provincials in 2019 as well.”

The fREe-Store – A New Concept

By Christine Ouellet initiative”?
A: The fREe Store is free to use,
as the name suggests. We hope as this
arly in December, the City of
ECornwall inaugurated the fREe- program gains traction that residents
Store at the site of the Cornwall will become more accustomed to re-
Landfill. The fREe-Store serves two using items that are typically thrown
purposes: first, to reduce waste which into the trash.
Q: Where is it taking place?
impacts the environmental system, and
A: The project is housed at the
second, to provide those who are less
City of Cornwall’s Landfill Site and is
fortunate with household items at no
cost. open during regular operating hours. If
Items available at the moment residents are interested in dropping off
are furniture, clothing, all kinds of or picking up at the depot, simply drive
renovation and construction material, over the scales and tell the scale house
and many other items in good condition operator and they will direct you to the
which could have a second life in depot.
a home. Dave Kuhn, acting Waste Q: Who is behind the initiative? Photo Submitted
A: The City of Cornwall’s Waste
Management Supervisor, answered a operates it? landfill site is open, so is the fREe-
Management Department created this
few questions about the fREe-Store A: The City of Cornwall Waste Store.
concept.
project: Management Staff operate the depot Q: What objects are considered
Q: What exactly is the fREe-Store Q:: How did the fREe-Store come and help residents bringing in items acceptable donations for the program?
project? about? identify what can and cannot be reused. A: Anything that is in good, usable
A: The project, dubbed the fREe- A: We see so many items in good, Q: When did the program start?
Store, is meant to divert reusable items usable condition get thrown into the A: It started December 1st, 2020 condition may be a potential item. The
from the landfill site and make these trash and we had been looking for ways and we’ve already accumulated over point of the program is to divert these
items available to families in need, as to divert these items from the landfill. 1 tonne of usable items which are items from out of the landfill, which
well as to our residents for their home Being able to redirect these items to currently available for pickup. is quickly running out of capacity, to
families who could use them made this families in need. However, there are
projects. Q: Is the program operational all
an easy decision for us.
Q: Where do the funds collected year long? some items that cannot be accepted even
Q: Who is involved and who
go? Is it considered a “charitable A: We are open year-round. If the if in good condition, like mattresses.