The origins of the Lantzville mental fitness trail can be traced back to several years ago when Mayor Mark Swain established a connection between Rotary and Ojala’s family. Initially, the concept of a memorial bench was suggested, but the idea of creating something more proactive gained traction. “We should do something to help raise awareness of mental health here, so we came up with the idea of this mental fitness trail and we worked with the VI Crisis Society and the Canadian Mental Health Association’s B.C. chapter to bring it to fruition,” Taylor added.
The trail forms a popular section of the larger E&N Trail, with connections through Nanaimo. Each sign along the trail is meticulously designed to offer diverse messaging, exercises, and thought prompts to encourage trail users to focus on their mental health as much as their physical well-being. Moreover, the signs also provide direct contact information for the Vancouver Island Crisis Line and other mental health support services.
According to Taylor, the goal of the trail is to provide people with tools and exercises that may help them become more resilient and equipped with coping mechanisms. The family of Ojala, whose legacy inspired the trail, attended a special gathering on July 12 to witness the trail’s unveiling. Expressing their happiness with the project, Taylor added that it was important for the family to have a say in it and to experience how their input made a meaningful impact in honoring Adam Ojala.
The project, which incurred a cost of just over $10,000, was made possible through the combined efforts of fundraising and grants from various groups, including the District of Lantzville and Rotary International. According to Rotary, the trail is believed to be the first of its kind in Canada and one of the very few similar facilities in North America. The signs along the trail, in addition to offering mental health-focused exercises and focal points, also encourage trail users to pause and reflect.
The new mental fitness trail in Lantzville aims to provide a haven of support and resources for individuals struggling with mental health issues, and is an uplifting example of how communities can come together to address such critical issues.