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By Alessia Proietti

"Happy, healthier community"

Learn how to achieve those New Year’s fitness resolutions at the Healthy Living Expo this Saturday

Jan 20, 2023 | 12:39 PM

If you’re wondering how you can actually stick to those New Year’s fitness resolutions, you might want to attend the Healthy Living Expo in Red Deer this Saturday.

Taking place from 10 a.m. – 5 p.m. at Westerner Park’s Harvest Centre (4847A 19 St), central Alberta’s premiere health and wellness trade show is coming to the city for their 13th year, held every third Saturday in January.

According to Expo Directing Manager Rayna Heinzlmeir, the inspiration for the trade show came from her day job working as the Business Manager for Pure in Red Deer, a centre offering a variety of healthcare services.

“People were asking us all the time what we do for health and wellness,” she said. “We were like, ‘well how do we put together an event that can encompass our whole community?’, because it takes our whole community in order to be able to find what is best for you. We put them all in one spot.”

Focusing on the concepts of sustainability, innovation and a healthy lifestyle, over 100 exhibitors from across the country are scheduled to occupy over 20,000 sq. ft. of space, showcasing their products and services to customers and industry professionals. Vendors range from food, photography, vegetable greenhouses, kids clothing, animal charities, and more to appeal to kids, adults and even pets.

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In two separate rooms, the Expo will consist of health professionals and gurus to answer fitness questions, interactive stage demonstrations, an indoor public market, door prizes requiring guests to engage with exhibitors and the Central Alberta Leadership in Health Awards. Nominated by the community, the award recognizes local businesses that are involved in providing health services, foods and beverages, retailing products for healthy homes and lifestyles, and promoting healthy, active lifestyles in the community.

“We always hope that people take away new ways to be healthy. We hope that they take away new views of local vendors and shopping local and the importance of that. We hope that people have the opportunity to talk to healthcare providers that will help them on their health journey to health and wellness and to be a happy, healthier community.”

An annual tradition, at 12:30 p.m., the Expo will be hosting their famous XLR40 Plank Challenge for attendees who want to test their core strength. Registration opens at noon with a $300 cash prize to the person who holds the most proper plank for the longest time.

The most important takeaway Heinzlmeir wants people to go home with, is that is takes a village to raise a healthy life.

“The key is that it’s not magic,” she said. “It takes lots of different things; it takes variety, it takes a healthcare team, it takes a healthy local community and if you’re persistent, you’ll attain your goals.”

Heinzlmeir said she hopes to see the typical amount of roughly 4,000 attendees this year.

Tickets can be bought at the door for $5 per person or $10 per family without limitation on size.