About:

Recreation is a very important part of a healthy lifestyle, in Antigonish and Pictou Counties there are multiple facilities and activities (indoor and outdoor) for you to take part in. Sport Nova Scotia is a non-profit organization that voices amateur sport throughout the province. Through partnerships the organization offers many programs to get people involved in sports. A main program is KidSport, which offers support to help kids overcome the financial barriers of organized sport. Pulse Pictou County organizes many recreational activities, focusing on young, working-age people in the area.

Beaches:

Antigonish and Pictou County are located along the Northumberland Shore of Nova Scotia and is home to many beaches. Here is a small list of some:

• Antigonish County: Big Island, Pomquet Beach
• Pictou County: Melmerby Beach

For a list of all beaches in Nova Scotia visit NSBeaches. Also, many beaches along with hiking trails are located within Nova Scotia Provincial Parks.

Nova Scotia Lifesaving Society - Water Safety information

Facilities:

If you are interested in joining a gym or participating in exercise classes consider visiting one of the following facilities:

• Asana Yoga and Massage offers yoga and belly dance classes in downtown Antigonish.
• GoodLife Fitness is located in both Antigonish and New Glasgow, and offers access to a gym with a variety of equipment and exercise classes.
• Pictou County Yoga offers yoga classes every day of the week for the community.
• William M. Sobey Indoor Sports Complex located in Stellarton, offers an indoor space for sports, mainly soccer.
• YMCA of Pictou County located in New Glasgow, offers a variety of ways to exercise. In the facility there are two pools, a gymnasium, and workout machines. Classes for all ages in multiple forms of recreation are offered.

Ice rinks:

Community ice rinks are placed throughout Antigonish and Pictou Counties, they offer public skating times, classes, hockey games and rentals.

• Antigonish Arena
• Pictou County Wellness Centre Public Skating
• Trenton Minor Sports Community Centre
• Stellarton Memorial Rink
• West Side Community Centre Outdoor Rink
• Westville Miners Sports Centre

Pools:

Public swim times and lessons are offered at the following locations:

• Fisheries Training Pool
• St. Francis Xavier University Pool
• Trenton Park Pool (Summer Only)
• YMCA of Pictou County

Walking trails:

Antigonish and Pictou County offer beautiful outdoor scenery that can be viewed while being physically active. Highland connect is a directory of active living resources in Antigonish and Pictou Counties. Also, within Pictou County there is Active Pictou County. An amazing set of beautiful trails to try in Antigonish County are the Cape George Hiking Trails, they offer a variety of trails that range in difficulty.

Other recreation activities in the area are dance classes, golfing, skiing, etc. Listings of all the different types of recreation classes can be found by searching through the Yellow Pages. Here are some examples:

• Antigonish Golf & Country Club
• Highland Soccer
• Keppoch Mountain offers skiing, shoe shoeing, sledding in the winter and a bike park during the rest of the year.
• Maureen Fraser School of Dance
• Moxie's Riverside Rentals offers rentals on kayaks, paddleboards and bikes during the summer.
• Pictou County Rugby Club
• Step-dancing