Top athletes train at Healthy Living Centre, thanks to partnership between Sport Manitoba and Brandon University

Several of Western Manitoba’s top athletes are training at the Healthy Living Centre (HLC), thanks to a partnership between Sport Manitoba and Brandon University (BU).

The collaboration has resulted in the development of the High Performance Centre (HPC), where athletes have access to top-quality equipment and training. Used by national and provincial team athletes, as well as members of the BU Bobcats athletic teams, the HPC is Sport Manitoba’s first regional high-performance training centre.

“Sport Manitoba is excited to grow our partnership with Brandon University and expand the athlete development opportunities in Sport Manitoba’s West region,” says Jeff Hnatiuk, President and CEO of Sport Manitoba. “The services offered mirror the Canada Games Sport for Life Performance Centre in Winnipeg, targeting rural athletes and coaches in Western Manitoba.”

The addition of the HPC is another increase in services offered at the Healthy Living Centre. As BU spends the academic year commemorating 50 years since receiving its charter as a university, the HLC is marking a milestone of its own this year, celebrating its fifth anniversary. A series of special events are planned for January 8-12, 2018 as part of the celebration.

“Each year more than 160,000 people visit the Healthy Living Centre to watch or take part in sport, recreational and social events. That number has continued to grow steadily over the five years since the complex opened,” says Russ Paddock, Director of Athletics and Community Engagement at BU. “This partnership with Sport Manitoba enhances the amenities and programming available at the HLC, and the High Performance Centre reinforces our role as a hub for the city and region by providing some of our top athletes with a first-class training experience.”

Brittany Bruinooge, a Coach/Athlete Development Coordinator with Sport Manitoba provides a collection of services and mechanisms at the HPC, targeting athletes in the Learn to Train and Train to Train stages of Canada’s Long Term Athlete Development framework. Bruinooge works with the athletes to develop the mental, physical, technical and tactical requirements they need to achieve their desired performance outcomes.

Among the athletes who train at the HPC is Isabela Onyshko, a Brandonite who has represented Canada internationally several times, including competing at the 2016 Summer Olympic Games in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil.

“It’s nice that we have such high-quality coaching and facilities here, and it’s so convenient,” says Onyshko, who is a Brandon University Bachelor of Science student and member of the Brandon Eagles Gymnastics Club. “Being able to study and train at home definitely takes a lot of stress off my back and it’s nice to know that I have so much support.”

Sport Manitoba is a not-for-profit organization and the lead planning, programming, and funding agency for the development of amateur sport in Manitoba. Located in the Canada Games Sport for Life Centre, Sport Manitoba partners with over 100 organizations to deliver sport in our province and is responsible for programs including the Manitoba Games, Coaching Manitoba, Team Manitoba, Manitoba Sports Hall of Fame, Fit Kids Healthy Kids and KidSport. Services provided include the Sport Medicine Clinic, Fitness Centre, Performance Centre, and the Paul Robson Resource Centre for Leadership and Coaching.

Brandon University combines proud tradition with shared ambition at our growing, progressive campus, where we welcome a diverse and inclusive community. Through our excellence in teaching, research, and scholarship, we educate students to make a meaningful difference as engaged citizens and leaders. Our roots date to our foundation in 1899 as Brandon College, and through 2017-18 we celebrate the 50th anniversary of our charter as a university. Join us at BrandonU.ca

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