Joanne McQuarrie, Local Journalism Initiative Reporter | [email protected]
Get up and give: that's the impetus behind the December Project.
It's a community initiative designed to motivate Jasper folks to both stay active and contribute to a worthy cause during December.
As of Dec. 4, there were more than 400 people taking part in the project. Participants are being asked to donate $20 to the Santas Anonymous campaign and complete at least 20 minutes of exercise each day.
Santas Anonymous was chosen because many of its annual events including the Santa Train and Skate with Santa were cancelled due to COVID.
Nicole Veerman got the project going this winter after a three-year hiatus.
She said, "We wanted to make sure that this year, when there is a greater need for this program because of all of the challenges that COVID-19 has presented our residents, the Santas Anonymous elves have everything they need to provide holiday gifts and food to each and every family and individual who applies.鈥�
Longtime Jasperite Joe Urie created the project in 2014 and it ran in 2015 and 2016, raising funds for different causes each time.
"It was a spur-of-the-moment thing," Urie said.
He said he came up with the idea towards the end of November, when a lot of people were burned out, and, "We end up overeating (this time of the year) - so that's where the exercise part comes in."
That first year, Urie said, "There was such a great response from the community. We changed it to not just helping our community - that was when there was an effort to help Syrians."
Veerman took part in the project each of those three years and said she loved the encouraging, positive way participants pumped each other up on Facebook to either go outside or get active in their homes.
When November rolled around this year, Veerman said she found herself thinking it would be great to get it going in a year that has challenged people in many ways.
"This December, more than any other before it, we really need to take care of our minds and bodies and we all need something positive to boost us up," she said.
Veerman pitched the idea to former members of the group and shared the idea on community Facebook pages to gauge interest.
"I also reached out to my buddy Joe to see if he wanted to resurrect it with me," Veerman said. "I am thrilled to say, he is not only on board, he鈥檚 taken on the role of hype man and is showing up with a live video every morning to pump up the community."
"In the other three years, I called them Kitchen Posts," Urie said, recalling part of his chats were about the temperature of the day and other fun facts.
He's doing the same address this time around, from a different room.
Urie and Veerman may be doing those chats together on Facebook, if technology works in their favour.
Urie credited Veerman with getting the project going this year.
"I give kudos to Nicole - she's on top of things," he said. "She's just so gung-ho."
Veerman said tons of people are posting photos of their daily activities and posting comments on each other鈥檚 posts in the , to keep up the positivity and encourage each other to keep active.
Urie said the Facebook community is a supportive group and that, "This year, more than ever, it's important this avenue exists."
Twenty minutes of exercise can take many forms.
"You can film yourself if you like or take a photo of yourself when you're outside - or are active in your home," Veerman said.
"We have seen photos of people doing virtual fitness classes, home yoga classes, skiing, skating, sledding, fat biking, running, hiking, snowshoeing, dog walking, dancing and lifting weights. There are so many options and ways to take part. As long as you move your body, it counts."
Urie noted a lot of people are participating but not posting photos of themselves.
It can be a photo of many things, like your skis, or your dog at the end of a leash - whatever you're doing.
"We really want to be inclusive," Veerman emphasized. "If you're insolation because of COVID, but you're feeling well, you can participate from home."
Urie added, "We're looking for ideas about how seniors and people with disabilities can participate."
Veerman said she and Urie are excited to have the municipal council joining the project.
"It has been so great to have our local leaders leading by example,鈥� she said.
鈥淓ven mayor Richard Ireland, who doesn't have his own Facebook page, is participating by sending a daily photo of his activity to councillor Jenna McGrath to post along with her own picture."
McGrath shared, "The December Project is important to connect our community through wellness, while supporting a very important initiative - Santa's Anonymous.
鈥淭his year, more than ever before, these connections through wellness have a really important role to play in our lives. I'm inspired by the organizers, Joe and Nicole, and the rest of the participants each and every day."
All council members are participating, she said, and welcomed "all Jasperites to take part and join us".
Urie pointed out, "Throughout those three years and this one - it's 94 per cent women who are driving this bus. It's women who are making it happen."
He said he's laid out challenges to guys and will see how it goes.
Veerman said she and Urie are both humbled and elated by support from the business community.
They hope the incredible pace that this year's project started with continues throughout the month.
"This is a year where we really need to look out for one another, support each other and find positive ways to connect, even if it's through a screen," Veerman said. "We hope this project builds community resilience and connection."
