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Jack Frost Challenge all about embracing winter

It might sound like a tough task trying to convince Manitobans to get outside and get active after the recent cold snap that walloped the province, but for Nicole Roach of the Green action Centre in Winnipeg, it may have been a blessing in disguise.
jack frost challenge 2019
The Jack Frost Challenge urges Manitobans to embrace outdoor winter activities.

It might sound like a tough task trying to convince Manitobans to get outside and get active after the recent cold snap that walloped the province, but for Nicole Roach of the Green action Centre in Winnipeg, it may have been a blessing in disguise.

“I’m so glad that Jack Frost Challenge is falling after the polar vortex because people will be tricked into thinking it’s so much warmer,” said Roach.

The Jack Frost Challenge is a week-long promotion running from Feb. 3-9 to encourage Manitobans to stop hibernating and to get outside and enjoy skiing, skating, snowshoeing, biking or even just plain old walking.

“The idea is to encourage people to get outside in winter get moving and hopefully inspire people to choose sustainable modes of transportation all year round,” she says, which isn’t always easy. ”With cycling we see a lot of people who are willing to do it in the summer but then they fall off when the weather gets colder so the Jack Frost Challenge is to get people to embrace winter and continue choosing those sustainable modes of transportation.”

The environment isn’t the only beneficiary, either.

“It’s definitely good for your health,” Roach says. “Lots of people are on their New Year’s resolutions and we’re kind of saying that you don't’ need to buy a gym membership, you just need to get out there and get moving. The world is already out there. People are so scared to get outside to cycle or do any activity but really you end up sweating so much even when it’s -30, -40. You arrive wherever you’re going in an absolute sweat. It definitely keeps you warm when you’re moving along and winter doesn’t feel so bad.”

The idea behind the challenge is for individuals or teams to sign up at greenactioncentre.ca/register and then to log the amount of outdoor exercise they get between Feb.3 and Feb. 9, a week that coincides with the international Winter Bike to Work Day and the national Winter Walk to School and Winter Bike to School Days.

“You’re with the team, you’re doing fun outdoor activities together, you're encouraging one another,” Roach says. “We hope that it feels a lot more approachable for people when these outdoor winter activities are also fun. It’s not just good for the environment, it’s not just good for your health but it’s also enjoyable.”

Outdoor activity enthusiast Bruce Krentz said he is part of a team taking on the challenge.

“It’s my eighth year doing Winter Bike to Work Day,” said Krentz. “I’ve participated every year. It’s not as hard as you think if you do a little bit every day. Dress in layers and dry your boots every day.”

The Green Action Centre has more than $700 in prizes to give away to participants. So far there are participants from 15 communities, including Churchill, signed up.

“We definitely want people in Thompson to register,” Roach says. “We just want people outside and moving. It’s free and fun and hopefully a rewarding experience. We do have a very unique challenge being in Manitoba in the winter. I believe it makes us tougher but a lot of people, they choose to hibernate in winter. There are other people who choose to embrace it. We want to get more people embracing winter.”

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