COLD LAKE - The City of Cold Lake council officially approved an amendment to the Recreation User Fee Policy at the Oct. 8, regular council meeting.
This change introduces the Prescription to Get Active (RxTGA) program, a partnership with the Cold Lake Primary Care Network (PCN), which enables residents to access the Cenovus Energy Centre Wellness Centre through a prescription from their healthcare provider.
The RxTGA program was originally discussed at the City’s Special Corporate Priorities Committee meeting on Sept. 17 where it was recommended that the Council revise the Recreation User Fee Policy to accommodate the program.
The initiative allows healthcare professionals to prescribe physical activity to their patients, breaking down barriers and encouraging healthier lifestyles by granting free access to local recreational facilities, according to information from the City of Cold Lake.
CAO Kevin Nagoya explained the significance of the amendment during the meeting, stating, “This is an amendment to the recreation policy as the council is briefed on the RxTGA program for health that the city of Cold Lake is going to offer.”
The new policy enables participants to receive a one-month membership at no charge, giving them access to the Cenovus Energy Centre Wellness Centre.
“This policy amendment just allows for a new category to exist in the recreation programming and the user fees to allow for this program to exist for a one-month free membership at the Energy Centre,” Nagoya said.
Mayor Craig Copeland is supportive of the initiative and asked how the public would be informed about the program, “So people can read up on what this is about, right? Or just basically being brought to you by the Cold Lake PCN (Primary Care Network).”
Nagoya responded, assuring that further information would be shared, saying, “There will be more information that is going to go to the public in this regard. It will have its rollout for marketing purposes. This policy is just to amend administratively to allow us to administer it.”
As outlined in the amendment, participants of the program may not return with another prescription within a 12-month period, ensuring that the benefit is available to a broader segment of the community.
