Ervin Anthony has been volunteering his time at the Grand Forks Aquatic Centre since January and is being recognized for his work.
“It all started in the winter time. I wanted a good workout. Tammy Battersby (Sunshine Valley Community Services worker) is who I started with and ever since then, I’ve been volunteering and helping out at the pool,” explained Anthony. “I’m getting to know everybody.”
Anthony enjoys the work and says there is nothing to it, really.
“I’m just washing windows, mirrors, doors and stuff like that. I enjoy it a lot,” he said. “It gets me in the pool for free, it gets me lunch and I can volunteer and I can work out in a class and the circuit class and I’m helping out in the community.”
Cora Ludwar, Grand Forks aquatic supervisor, said that has been very valuable.
“Ervin has been very consistent. He does listed amount of tasks every week and he does them and completes all the chore lists,” she explained.
In terms of his workout routine, Anthony says he cycles, walks, hikes, jogs on top of the weight and circuit training.
“Ervin is actually great with the circuit class,” said Sunshine Valley Community Service worker Jennifer O’Brien. “He’s actually helping people in there to show them how to do certain exercises and he fills them in if they’re doing it wrong. He also lets them know when it’s time to switch onto the next exercise and he keeps up himself as the same time as doing that.”
On top of getting in shape, Anthony has been able to network a bit and even landed a part-time job with someone he met while volunteering at the pool.
“It’s been a nice year so far,” Anthony said. Grand Forks Recreation gave Anthony a shirt in recognition of his hard work.