New signs now dot a roughly two kilometre stretch of the E&N Trail in Lantzville, encouraging a focus on mental health and mindfulness. (Alex Rawnsley/NanaimoNewsNOW)

By Alex Rawnsley

focus on mental health

New Lantzville ‘mental fitness trail’ believed to be first of its kind in Canada

Jul 14, 2024 | 9:58 AM

LANTZVILLE — A nearly-two kilometre stretch of the E&N Trail now has a higher purpose other than physical exercise and active transportation.

Through work done by the Rotary Club of Lantzville, the section of trail between Aulds Rd. and Ware Rd. is now dotted with 10 signs offering a variety of mental fitness exercises and activities, inspired by a local man Adam Ojala.

Mark Taylor, past-president with the Rotary Club of Lantzville, said Adam lived unhoused in the Lantzville area, suffered from schizophrenia and left a lasting legacy in the region after his passing in 2020

“He was very different in many ways but he suffered from mental health issues and had a tough life. He lived in the bush in Lantzville and his family had approached the District about getting a memorial bench.”

The project itself started a few years ago, with Lantzville Mayor Mark Swain connecting Rotary with Ojala’s family.

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They’d originally approached the District about a memorial bench, but the idea of something more proactive took over.

“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 is a popular section of the larger E&N Trail with connections through Nanaimo. (Alex Rawnsley/NanaimoNewsNOW)

Each sign offers different messaging, exercises and thought prompts to encourage trail users to work on their mental health, as much as their physical wellbeing.

Signs also contain direct contact information to the Vancouver Island Crisis Line and other mental support services.

“Rather than talking about how to deal with things, why don’t we give people some tools and exercises that may help make them more resilient in the first place, give them some coping mechanisms there.”

Taylor said Ojala’s family attended a gathering to unveil the trail on Friday, July 12.

In addition to the signs, a memorial bench was also placed adorned with the phrase “Stay: Tomorrow Needs YOU!”, a message crafted by Ojala’s nephew.

“We wanted them to be happy with what it was and have some input into it. For them to be there, for some of them it was the first time they’d seen any of it…for that it was quite emotional to see how much it actually meant to them and we found a way to help community and honour Adam at the same time.”

The total project cost just over $10,000 and was completed through fundraising and grants from different groups including the District of Lantzville and Rotary International.

Rotary believes the trail is the first of its kind across the country, and one of the only like-facilities anywhere in North America.

Signs encourage pauses, as well as a variety of mental health-geared exercises and focal points. (Alex Rawnsley/NanaimoNewsNOW)

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