Fitness Festival starting in Summerside

CAPTION: Organizer Corey Arsenault stands next to a poster promoting the Summerside Fitness Festival in July, at his Stretch Fitness facility in the Waterfront Mall Tuesday afternoon.

Ryan Quigley

Journal Pioneer

The Summerside Fitness Festival, which will be held on July 15-17 hopes to be an annual event, says organizer Corey Arsenault.

The festival, which is teaming with the Lobster Carnival, includes seven events, a Fit Chic fitness class, an Atlantic Police Academy Fitness Class, a Fitness trade show, a Summerside Bark Park dog walk, a Keeping Fit fitness class and the signature event a weekend with Ava Cowan, third place finisher at the International Federation of Body Builders’ Ms. Figure competition.

The festival will take place for the most part at Credit Union Place and the events range from free to $5, with the exception of the Weekend with Ava, which will cost $99.

The events are drawing people from around the Maritimes, especially the Weekend with Ava.

Arsenault says his hope is to have all the festival’s events filled to capacity.

“I’m hoping we pull this weekend off well and it shows up next year as a bigger event that draws in more from off Island.”

Arsenault said Cowan is their biggest draw because of her fame with from her Ms. Figure finish.

“She’d be like if Wayne Gretzky put on a hockey camp, kids would pay whatever to go be with him. She’s it for women’s fitness.”

The idea came from an event Arsenault attended in Las Vegas called Total Fitness weekend.

“I’ve always wanted to do one, so I thought why not do one small here using local groups and just doing different events.”

He said he hopes to have the event turn into a bigger one in years to come and draw more tourism to Summerside.

“What I’d eventually like to have is a big fitness weekend, like a National event. It’s the first year, I’d like to make it an annual event where we draw in bigger events, bigger names to have bigger crowds.”

Arsenault said he hopes the festival will inspire some residents to pick up healthier lifestyles.

“People should care about their health and wellness, and being part of their community.”