centre opens at SAMand stays open until12:30 or 1AM. A fitness instructor holdsaerobics classes twice a week for twogroups of people. Rocke says the averageattendance for an in-company fitness centre is about 25 percent. Waterloo is up toone-third, about 75 employees, but thecommittee is aiming for 50 percent participation. More and more people aretall^g about signing up, Rocke notes,and he's optimistic.

Schwan has a goal ofmaking the fitness

Last May it was Amherstburg's awall," Pontini explained. Thatturn. After many moons spent separated the room completely from thethinking aboutit and talking about rest ofthe bottling area. Changing rooms

it, their fitness centre finally got the go- were built, some electrical changes madeahead. The needs and circumstances and chipped terrazzo repaired, but mostwere somewhat different from Water- of the work involved cleaning, paintingloo's, yet their approach had much in and fireshening up. Amherstburg's luckycommon. Firstcame aquestionnaire sent break extended even to the showers,around to all em-

A AyiHFP QTRTthrpTant' ^oundS XjLiVlXl.-L/AVO A

As theprojectgrew, so didIkvities would youlike to see' Do youhave any equipment preferences? When Two were instaUed in the women's chang-the response was tallied, the result ing room, but those for men were alreadysurprised more than a few people. AfiiU there30 percent of employees said they would Which is not to say the plant got itsparticipate if a fit- ^

committee

was consist- Hjof maintenance ] |clerk Leo j

Bob pPyjlHIp^ ^^9assignmen^

they

zeroed m . herstburg's fitness centre committee (clock- | Mherstburg sold bot- Amherstbu^g mthng area, which ^arry Amlin, BobSinesac Jr. j Whad been closed the fitness centre inits original state. |for a number of S ^ |years, ^d chose a fitness centre without effort, j Mroom 40 X bottling supplies. In The engineering department ! Vbeing used to ^tor^^ ^ajor de- worked out the floor plan of fone way to ham- the room; the plant trades- ^mohtion was r q - men took on the wall con-

5Ss Actually the only heavy construc- struction and the painting. InLntork that £d to be done was to build addition to the hours put in by

centre more like a healthy lifestyle centre. "We're looking at having people comein to give talks," he says. "And the Ministry of Tourism has excellent movies onlifestyle. I've got my name on the list toget some. Those of us on the committeehave been pointing out to the plant the tie-in between fitness routines and jobs. People who constantly pack bottles, for instance, should know what they can do tobuild up their wrists. Men who roll those500-lb. barrels could be doing exercise to

a wall," Pontini explained. Thatseparated the room completely from therest of the bottling area. Changing roomswere built, some electrical changes madeand chipped terrazzo repaired, but mostof the work involved cleaning, paintingand fireshening up. Amherstburg's luckybreak extended even to the showers.

strengthen their backs. I'm con\ancedthat the fitness centre will not only getpeople feeling better, it will help themperform better on the job."

Ours was the first industrial companyin the K-W area to build a fitness centre."It's something we're really proud of,"Schwan added. "We're urging everyoneto contribute ideas by joining the fitnesscommittee and havinga say in the runningof their facility."

the four committee members, at least adozen volunteers firom the plant contributed evenings and Saturdays primingthe walls, stripping the floor, vacuumingthe dust off the beams and scraping thewindows. "When it came to scrubbing thefloor, we were all there," remarked LeoDeslippe, rubbing an imaginary stiff

shoulder.

I • By February al-I IJ# most all was ready.I E^kEjr A Wintario grant' ^ was pending, some

interestno one wanted towait any longer.

The centre was declared open. Fitnessbuffs can choose from aerobics or a wideassortment of body-building equipment,including a universal gym, two bicycles, a

AMHERSTBURGAs theprojectgrew, so did the interest

ing room, but those for men were alreadythere.

Which is not to say the plant got its

Amherstburg's fitness centre committee (clockwise from top right): Leo Deslippe, A1 Pontini,Larry Amiin, Bob Sinesac Jr.Above: the fitnesscentre in its original state.

fitness centre without effort.The engineering departmentworked out the floor plan ofthe room; the plant tradesmen took on the wall construction and the painting. Inaddition to the hours put in by

&

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bench press and two sets of weights.Wayne Brush, an employee skilled in circuit weight training, is volunteering histime to teach people how to use the machines. When the mood turns to sportsthere's a basketball net and backboard.

The ceiling isn't really high enough for aserious game of volleyball or badminton,but a net can be strung up for a just-for-fun workout. Future plans call for the purchase of a punching bag, a ping pong tableand a Nordic track machine that simulates

cross-country skiing. The centre is openduring the employees' preferred hours:6AM-7:25AM, 11:30AM-1:10PM &4 PM-9 PM. "If the need arises, we'lladd additional times," Pontini says. Thefacility is also available to retirees andthose on layoff.

Deslippe, 62, began running 10 yearsago when he joined a fitness class andfailed the stress test. How times change!He placed fifth in his age group in the lastDetroit marathon and was one of the firstAmherstburg employees to promote thebenefits of building a fitness centre. Hefound it interesting to watch the excitement grow as the project progressed."I do believe the idea of fitness is finallytaking hold here. When people saw thecentre fireshly painted, they began asking, 'What time will it open? I'd really liketo get ina workout before the day begins.'No question in my mind, our fitness centre is going to fit in great."

Like Waterloo, those closest to planning and building the centre regard it notonly as a place to work out, but a means of

developing a healthier lifestyle, cuttingdown on absenteeism and accidents, andhelping employees feel better at the endof a working day. In fact, the centre tiesright in with the "wellness program", anall-embracing live-healthy concept nowbeing promoted by plant social workerRuth Ann Schnarr. Ifonly the 30 percentof employees who originally expressedinterest in the centre do, in fact, use it,that should put the plant weU over thenational average ofparticipation in similarcompany facilities, which, contrary toTerry Rocke's information, wasquotedtoPontini asameresix percent. Thehope isthat Amherstburg's wait will proveworthwhile. #

1

Clockwise from top right: Ron WoelHe putting uo drvwnllpane mg; Gerry Russell, par! otthe demoliKrew p" erUbelle on the universal gym; Leo Deslippe adjusis abe„e1