Movement

Please review each article prior to use: grade-level applicability and curricular alignment might not be obvious from the headline alone.

Six-year-old Casey, of Saanich B.C., becomes the first official user of the new MiraColt Horse-Riding Motion Simulator as Victoria Therapeutic Riding Association board chair Liz Gagel assists him at a demonstration hosted by the VTRA in Central Saanich, B.C. on Thursday, May 22, 2025. The simulator is the first of its kind by pairing a commercially available simulator with software developed at the University of Victoria in Victoria, B.C. to create a more authentic and motivating experience for riders. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Wolfgang Depner
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Innovative horse simulator helps riders with disabilities get in the saddle

Wolfgang Depner, The Canadian Press 4 minute read Preview
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Innovative horse simulator helps riders with disabilities get in the saddle

Wolfgang Depner, The Canadian Press 4 minute read Friday, Oct. 10, 2025

VICTORIA - "Do you want to go faster?"

Jayne Imeson already knew the answer she was going to get from her six-year-old son, Casey, sitting astride his new steed in a park in Central Saanich, B.C.

He nodded with a smile. "Always faster -- this kid loves his speed," Imeson said.

Casey's usual ride is a Fjord horse named Valla, but on Thursday, he became the first official user of the MiraColt horse-riding motion simulator developed for the Victoria Therapeutic Riding Association.

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Friday, Oct. 10, 2025
SHANNON VANRAES / WINNIPEG FREE PRESS Being outside, like Anna Cooper Reid, with her dog in Assiniboine Park, is beneficial to health in many ways, including stress reduction.
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Nature prescription could be just what the doctor ordered

Kevin Rollason 3 minute read Preview
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Nature prescription could be just what the doctor ordered

Kevin Rollason 3 minute read Sunday, Oct. 17, 2021

Take a hike in the forest and call me in the morning.

Instead of prescribing just a pill or ointment, doctors could soon tell patients to head to the great outdoors.

PaRx, a national nature prescription program, has launched in Manitoba to help address mental and physical health problems and to encourage people to get outside to exercise.

Anna Cooper Reed, a social worker and doctoral student who is helping bring the program to this province, said she grew up being able to go to the family cottage in a provincial park in Manitoba so she knows first-hand the benefits of spending time outdoors.

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Sunday, Oct. 17, 2021
The sand is exceptional, and the water is blue — and cold. (Photos by Gord Mackintosh / Winnipeg Free Press)
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Lake Winnipeg loaded with hidden treasures

Gord Mackintosh 5 minute read Preview
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Lake Winnipeg loaded with hidden treasures

Gord Mackintosh 5 minute read Saturday, Sep. 25, 2021

“Let’s walk to a Lake Winnipeg island!” I exclaimed to Margie. “Forget about Mont-Saint-Michel over in France!”

Folks usually boat or wade the kilometer to Manitoba’s Elk Island but, with low water, I heard you can walk on a mostly dry sandbar.

Elk Island is a nine square-kilometer provincial park west of broad Traverse Bay and north of Sandy Bay, least known of Lake Winnipeg’s east-side beach communities. The Cree name is Misse Ministik, meaning big island. The park is designated for natural wilderness with no development, amenities or, apparently, elk.

We first found Sandy Bay last year, surprisingly discovering two red tractors with trailers - sitting in the lake. Are farmers prepping for the next flood? Growing watermelons?

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Saturday, Sep. 25, 2021
Joey Johnson (right) takes a shot during the gold medal game in men's wheelchair basketball in Beijing during the Paralympic Games in 2008. (Mike Ridewood / CPC files)
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Legendary wheelchair basketball player embraces new role with Manitoba Wheelchair Sport Association

Taylor Allen 6 minute read Preview
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Legendary wheelchair basketball player embraces new role with Manitoba Wheelchair Sport Association

Taylor Allen 6 minute read Wednesday, Sep. 22, 2021

When Joey Johnson tells his story, he describes it as the most devastating part of his life. He was eight years old when he sat in the doctor's office and found out that he had a degenerative hip disease.

"I remember sitting there and being like 'OK, what does that mean? When can I get back on the rink? I want to go play with my buddies.' And the doctor said 'No, there will be no more hockey for you,'" Johnson told the Free Press Wednesday.

"I literally sat in his office crying on my mom's lap for an hour before we got out of there."

Johnson, now 46, was an active child who grew up wanting to play in the NHL and represent Canada on the biggest stage. The diagnosis ruined his dream of one day hoisting the Stanley Cup over his head, but it did, however, open up a path for him to wear the red and white and be a trailblazer along the way.

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Wednesday, Sep. 22, 2021
City Couns. Brian Mayes and Devi Sharma run on the rubberized track, along with members of the Garden City Collegiate cross-country team, at the official opening of the school's new track Wednesday. Mike Deal / Winnipeg Free Press
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Runners’ high: School opens rubberized track

Gabrielle Piché 3 minute read Preview
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Runners’ high: School opens rubberized track

Gabrielle Piché 3 minute read Wednesday, Sep. 22, 2021

The burgundy race track Marlee Bragg's phys-ed students run on is unique in north Winnipeg.

Teens pounded Garden City Collegiate's 400-metre rubberized track, with Bragg's whistle sounding in the background, as city councillors Devi Sharma (Old Kildonan) and Brian Mayes (St. Vital) viewed the new upgrades they had helped spur.

"We feel very privileged," Bragg told the councillors Wednesday.

The Jefferson Avenue high school is one of three rubberized full-size tracks in the city. The University of Manitoba and Victor Mager School, in St. Vital, host the others.

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Wednesday, Sep. 22, 2021
Front row, from left: Tobi and Craig Geekie, Back row, from left:, Morgan, Noah and Conor Geekie. (Alex Lupul / Winnipeg Free Press)
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Athletic excellence in the genes of Geekie family

Mike Sawatzky 10 minute read Preview
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Athletic excellence in the genes of Geekie family

Mike Sawatzky 10 minute read Wednesday, Sep. 1, 2021

STRATHCLAIR — It's a hot day in August and the Geekie brothers are home together for a change.

That doesn't happen much anymore.

Morgan, the eldest, has packed a lot into summer. After playing 36 games for the Carolina Hurricanes last season, the 23-year-old centre was chosen by the Seattle Kraken in the NHL expansion draft.

Less than two weeks later, he married his high-school sweetheart, Emma Coulter.

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Wednesday, Sep. 1, 2021
submitted Penner recently placed third in an ALD event in Calgary, Alberta on August 13 in the Women's category with a best drive of 253 yards.
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Winnipeg teen representing Canada at World Amateur Long Drive Championship

Joseph Bernacki 6 minute read Preview
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Winnipeg teen representing Canada at World Amateur Long Drive Championship

Joseph Bernacki 6 minute read Tuesday, Aug. 24, 2021

A Winnipeg teen known for her prowess on the tee box will be launching bombs on behalf of Canada next month in Chicago.

Hannah Penner, 18, will don the red and white as part of a contingent of 20 golfers set to represent the nation at the 2021 World Amateur Long Drive Championship, set for Sept. 11-19.

She's headed to the Windy City but doesn't require a strong breeze at her back to routinely crush the ball well over 250 yards or, occasionally, eclipse the 300-yard mark.

Penner, one of four women in the group, said she's thrilled about the chance to compete against others with the same unique skillset.

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Tuesday, Aug. 24, 2021
PHIL HOSSACK / WINNIPEG FREE PRESS - Team Torque's #31Aaron Dobson goes high and wins possession against Best Before's #3 Dan Benvenuti in Ultimate Play Wednesday. See Mike Sawatzky's story. - July 31, 2018
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Ultimate test of sportsmanship: no refs, players resolve game disputes

Mike Sawatzky 6 minute read Preview
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Ultimate test of sportsmanship: no refs, players resolve game disputes

Mike Sawatzky 6 minute read Wednesday, Aug. 1, 2018

At the World Masters Ultimate Club Championships being played this week at Little Mountain Sportsplex, the idea of respecting your opponent and promoting the integrity of the sport is not given lip service. Participants talk about respecting the spirit of the game and they mean it.

Following a round-robin men's division game between Winnipeg's Torque and Quantum of Quebec City, both teams convened for separate "spirit circles," as they are called.

These group sessions involved a discussion of the game and improvements that might be made for the upcoming match. Next, players from both teams locked arms for another spirit circle — a place where quality of play, any lingering disagreements over matters such as rough play or interpretations of the rules could be handled.

Spirit circles are part of all World Flying Disc Federation-sanctioned events.

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Wednesday, Aug. 1, 2018
Daniel Bahuaud Photo Des équipes du Centre du kayak et du canot du Manitoba ont rodé leurs nouveaux bateaux-dragons, le 18 février, en prévision du Festival de bateaux-dragons sur glace du 25 février. Au moment d’écrire ces lignes, l’évènement de la Manitoba Paddling Association était toujours au programme.
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Youpe! Youpe! sur la glace en bateau-dragon

Daniel Bahuaud 4 minute read Preview
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Youpe! Youpe! sur la glace en bateau-dragon

Daniel Bahuaud 4 minute read Saturday, Feb. 25, 2017

Le bateau-dragon est l’épicentre d’une nouvelle vague d’engouement mondial. Mais d’une grosse nouvelle vague figée. Depuis fin 2015, les passionnés de cette pirogue se paient le plaisir de pagayer sur la glace. La première manitobaine aura lieu le 25 février.

Le tout premier Festival de bateaux-dragon sur glace du Manitoba se déroulera sur la rivière Rouge, près du Centre du kayak et du canot du Manitoba, situé sur la promenade Churchill.

Pour Alfred Bérard, un des organisateurs et l’annonceur officiel de l’évènement, il s’agit d’une “grande source de fierté d’être à la fine pointe des activités d’hiver.

“La Manitoba Paddling Association est une pionnière de ce sport au Canada. Nous, les Manitobains, on aurait pu être les premiers, mais le Festival de bateaux-dragon sur glace d’Ottawa nous a battus d’une semaine, parce que Winterlude, la fête d’hiver de la capitale avait lieu les 17 et 18 février. Et que cette année, notre Festival du Voyageur se tient pas mal tard.”

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Saturday, Feb. 25, 2017
CAMILLE SÉGUY / WINNIPEG FREE PRESS À 95 ans, Hortense Sabourin danse toujours, malgré la perte de sa vue.
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Danser à 95 ans

CAMILLE SÉGUY 4 minute read Preview
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Danser à 95 ans

CAMILLE SÉGUY 4 minute read Saturday, May. 5, 2012

L

E 9 avril dernier, la Franco-Manitobaine Hortense Sabourin a célébré ses 95 ans.

Un âge avancé qui ne l’empêche pas de poursuivre sa passion, la danse, malgré la perte de sa vue depuis plus de 15 ans.

“Quand, vers l’âge de 75-80 ans, mon médecin m’a dit que je devenais aveugle, c’était une triste nouvelle mais je n’ai jamais pensé abandonner la danse,” affirme Hortense Sabourin. “C’est un bon exercice et c’est bon pour le moral. On n’a pas besoin des yeux pour danser, mais des oreilles.”

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Saturday, May. 5, 2012