Should fit be free in Toronto?

Should health and fitness be something only available to those that can afford to pay?

Contemplating the future of Toronto and the call for ideas, a friend recently pointed me in the direction of the Guardian’s Public Services Awards 2009. The overall winner of last year’s award was the City Council of Birmingham for their Gym for Free project.

It’s so big, so bold… It’s probably not the kind of idea anyone in our now "have not" province or city wants to allow themselves to dream about. But if Birmingham can do it, why not us?

You see, on Valentine’s Day 2008, Birmingham City Council and the public health trust (part of the National Health Service, I gather) partnered up to send an invitation to the residents of the Ladywood District, offering every household free use of civic recreation facilities in return for attending four times a month.

Within seven months, the number of Ladywood residents using public gyms on a regular basis had skyrocketed from just 90 to more than 6,500. The project was so successful, so quickly, that Birmingham has now extended the project to the entire city of 1.1 million residents.

Why does this matter?

Ladywood is one of the most depressed districts in Britain, where most people are too worried about feeding their families to spend precious dollars on gym memberships.

There’s not room here to go into everything to be learned from Gym for Free, but suffice to say that along with the myriad health benefits, the project aims to build social cohesion. It gets people talking, sharing experience. Furthermore, the economic benefits -- particularly in the longer term as they see reduced health costs -- will be significant.

Look, I don’t think that a parks and rec fee increase is the number one issue of this election. But that’s because I live downtown, with lots of access to gyms and recreation centres, and have some disposable income to spend on those things. And when I compare the cost of using city facilities with the cost of private gyms and private lessons, those fee increases still don’t look so bad.

But at the end of the day, shouldn’t all families have access to good facilities and supports? Some families may need an extra hand or incentive to take advantage.

Like Ladywood and Birmingham, there are real health inequalities in our city. In 2008 Toronto’s Medical Officer of Health released a frightening report, “The Unequal City." The report illustrates the impact of Toronto’s health inequalities by showing what would happen if everyone was as healthy as those with the highest income:like, 1,300 fewer low birth weight babies, and nearly 1,600 more children ready to learn at school entry.

It’s pretty clear the City of Toronto needs to think big. We need to reduce poverty, and close the gap on health inequalities.

So along with the Do the Math Campaign, ask the provincial government to immediately introduce a $100/month health food supplement for all adults on social assistance, and set up a process to set rates based on what it actually costs to live a healthy, frugal, dignified life in Ontario -- let’s look at offering more and better services that will help keep residents healthy.

If Birmingham can think big and bold, why can’t we?

About Marit Stiles

Comments

[Allie Grassie]

Fitness classes, gym memberships, and other Parks and Recreation programs are already made available for free for those who cannot afford them through the city's Welcome Policy - http://www.toronto.ca/parks/welcome_policy_reg.htm

[Jack R]

I exercise every single day. And I pay for it. I am not in favour of adding a new tax to pay for this though. If you want to exercise, great. Do so. Running and push ups are free. I don't want to pay for your regime though.

[Susan]

A good start in the right direction would be to eliminate the price for parking at city trails such as the Taylor Creek trails that lead to Sunnybrook park

[Akmal Farah]

I own and operate a fitness studio in Markham called Authentic Taekwondo and Fitness centre. I'd be willing to offer free programs, such as Taekwondo, cardio kickboxing, Bootcamp and MMA to the residents of Markham on Thursdays. I would offer this program once a week but my only problem is getting the message out to the people. I think this is a start to allow people access to these facilities.

If anyone here is interested in this free offer contact me directly. akmalf@gmail.com.

My programs are for the entire family.
Taekwondo (ages 3 and up)
Cardio kickboxing (16 and up)
Lunch hour Bootcamp (adults)
MMA (16 and up)

[EF]

Lets stop paying for "free stuff" until the city gets out of debt. The Miller era has almost bankrupted the city giving "free stuff" to people who apparently can't afford it. It's about time that people who "apparently" need free stuff started paying for it like everyone else. This is the main reason that this city and province is in such dire straights. Everyone wants everything for FREE! Well, the world doesn't work that way and people should start realizing it. Lets all stop and think for a minute before we continue to give "free stuff" away to people who, in someones opinion, thinks they can't afford it. Nothing is FREE and somebody is paying somewhere down the line. Lets get rid of Miller and his NDP buddies first and then think about who should get "FREE STUFF"! It's about time somebody did some thinking!!!

[amberspyglass]

That's all very nice, but who is going to pay for this? I think my taxes are already rather high. And please don't start with the "Toronto has the lowest property taxes" again. Our lots and houses are MUCH smaller than comparable properties outside Toronto.

[Jon LeBlanc]

this is a joke...
at last i saw, running tracks, at local high schools didn't charge admission...
why are we catering to the over weight under/unemployed to provide them with freeweights, a personal trainer, and the latest edition of P90X.... why stop there - lets provide free healthy groceries too!

[outsider]

Another benefit is exercise's effect on mental health. With increase in physical activity, mental health costs should go down for a community. I hope that Birmingham is doing some longitudinal studies to support the permanent support for physical exercise in their community.

[Sonny Yeung]

Dear Jon; our city is getting fat! The persona of some of the candidates don't exactly show a good example of a slim or average weight healthy lifestyle... some people lose hair from stress(chuckle)

Dollar for dollar, investments in a nutritious diet and promotion of exercise will benefit the city in the long run and save the province money in health care costs.

[John Missios]

Did not read the article, but unquestionably fitness facilities should be made available to all who cannot otherwise afford to pay for such service. Come on. Let's stop talking about this non issue and put in into use without much further delay.

[Kevin]

While a laudable idea, its worth noting that ALL recreation programs in the old City of Toronto were free until amalgamation. (12 years ago).

So this is not a new idea here.

Also, in addition to the welcome policy, currently Toronto has 20+ recreation centres in 'priority' areas that free for most/all programs; many children's programs remain free city-wide, as does outdoor Skate and Swim.

That's not to say the current situation is adequate or perfect.

I suspect lots of people are unaware of what's already on offer at little or no cost.

I think its worth noting that user fees bring in over 50M per year; so completely chopping them wholesale is not likely on the table.

There might be better ways to organize 'access' though. I've often thought of doing away with the all-free facilities, in favour of making so-called drop in (or self-serve) programs, like fitness centres and swimming free; while charging for all specialty classes that have instructors. That swap could be done at a fairly low cost.

I think this might be fairer, while also eliminating the negative aspect of the welcome policy which some might find an affront to personal dignity as well as a bureaucratic boondoggle.

[Pat Capponi]

the best way to get people healthy and moving is to help them find good paying jobs, and for the long time poor, those jobs should be made available in social service agencies where they can inspire others, be role models, demonstrate that there is a way out of poverty. 100 dollars added to a welfare check today can be taken away tomorrow, we've seen how successive governments slash and burn..
Giving a man a fish vs. teaching him to fish: its all there, we need to get off the "charitable" approach and move to a teaching, enabling, embracing effort to help those in need earn a decent salary. There is nothing healthier than feeling as though you are living up to your full potential, and that you are allowed to contribute your skills and abilities.

[Jimbo]

Are we going to pay for the Nike/Reebok/Adidas shoes as well? How about track suits? Has anybody ever heard of "walking" or "running"? You don't need a health club membership to walk or run-you just need to visit a high school track-they're not used very mush anymore; better yet, walk or run to your local high school!

How about "push-ups" or "sit-ups"? The last time I checked, you only needed a couple of square metres of floor. If you have a vacant chair in your house, you can do "step-ups".

All of these exercises can be done any day of the year-for free!

This is absolute lunacy-but consider the source...

[Jimbo]

"not used much anymore"...although "mush" just might work as well...

[Dave Breukelaar]

Fitness is free everyone. Go for a walk. Do some pushups, squats, simple exercises. Ride your bike. Jog for a few km. Play with your kids.

[Eileen B]

I already exercise at my local community centre for free, it even offers classes like yoga for free. (free for everyone, not just need based)

I've also found that the fees the city does charge to quite reasonable. For example, my daughter's swim lessons work out to be about $3 a lesson, not exactly sky high costs.

People need to do a little more to find out what the city already offers, I think they might be pleasantly surprised.

[James]

I have a better idea, why not just take all my pay check and give it to people that make less then I do. I think every one should do this it seems to be where we are going anyways.

I don’t think the city and the government will be happy till I am poor myself!!!!

Lets take more from people who work there hard and give it to those who do not.

[Tom S.]

It is interesting to wonder how many of those 6500 people simply canceled their membership to a local gym, rather than being a fresh start? I know if I could get free access to a gym, simply for going at least once a week, I would. Why would I pay $40/month for a gym membership when I could be paying $0?
.
The gym I went to throughout high school was dirt cheap (public). I have a hard time believing someone who is willing to dedicate the time it takes to become fit is not willing to pay a small price / month for it.
.
A better idea may be something I saw in a park in Madrid, Spain. They had an adult playground/outdoor gym. Basically, all sorts of monkey bars, benches, etc. You could get an absolutely fantastic full-body workout there so easily.

[brm2000]

I think the biggest impediment to fitness is information. For instance, beyond walking moderately 30 minutes per day all one needs is 20 minutes hard exercise three times a week for health. Thats it, statistically, any more is not needed. Even Dr. Ken Cooper who invented aerobics said that after running more than 15 miles a week, you are doing it it for more than just health. That is just 2 miles a day per week! All you need.

So I think that the majority of people are not even doing part of this. But if there were free lessons by city staff in parks during the good weather months, people could learn to exercise for themselves and not have to rely on gyms. One could open the city community centres for free during November to February, that is just four months during year with bad weather. There used to be allot of fitness trails around the city that have been allowed to go into disrepair. There was one in West Deane Park and one in High Park. I think these were from the participaction era.

Another aspect of fitness is that one does not need any equipment to get into shape. All you need is your own body weight and the ability to use it. If you want to get huge muscles, then it helps to lift iron. But for above average fitness all you need is your own body (look at gymnasts). So information is free, it justs costs to disseminate it.. Putting the money into transit would be better because our lungs would benefit and we could walk more.

[Jane]

Fit is FREE! WALK!

[RowerGuy]

Excercise IS free. But it is free for me to go outside and walk for an hour, to run for 30 minutes, to lie down in a park and do 100 situps, 100 burpees, 100 squat jumps and 100 secodns of running on the spot. If I purchase a second hand bike for reasonable cost, I can bike as much as I want.
I choose to pay more because A) I can afford it; and B) because I need a place to shower before work. And given that many people start an excercise program, then abandon it because it's too hard or they don't want to do it, I refuse to pay for free gym memberships that people don't use.

[MacGregrrrr]

Fascinating, isn't it, how so many things are "free" ... well, okay - they're only "free" when some politician says so (otherwise, they're a "benefit" paid for by ... yup - you guessed it - paid for by OUR taxes ...)

[Robert Seagraves]

I have to agree with most posters here, free exercise already exist. We don;t need another tax, which is what 'free' means to most people in this city, sigh. Another non-story.

[Mark]

Why should taxpayers have to foot the bill when people can exercise outdoors for free?

[thor]

Heck lets make transit free, parking free, food free, trips to Cuba free, what the heck go whole hog, free cars for all who live in TO.