For New Year’s babies like Barrie Chapman, every year begins on a high note.
Born Jan. 1, 1939, he lived his first two years in a tiny, rented house at 1782 Marine Dr., next to what was then the Hollyburn Theatre, where his father was a projectionist. The family moved over town when Barrie’s father landed a job at the Varsity Theatre.
Forty-some years later, Barrie and his wife, Cherie McDonald, were married in front of the fireplace at the Park Royal Hotel, and have made their home in West Vancouver ever since.
The highest point of 2016 for Barrie was the day in July when the Fit Fellas were honoured by UBC’s School of Kinesiology. The West Vancouver-based fitness program was recognized for inspiring an extensive, two-year study of the benefits of group exercise programs for older adults.
Fit Fellas was formed in the 1970s by Frank Kurucz – then West Vancouver’s director of recreation – to address the shortage of fitness programs for men. Today, there are 190 Fit Fellas, with almost half, including Barrie, having been with the program more than 10 years.
The Fit Fellas’ adherence to success inspired UBC’s GOAL Trial (Group Based Physical Activity for Older Adults) involving 600 people, designed to identify positive factors in fitness programs and to explore the possibility of replicating the Fit Fellas model.
“Fit Fellas interested researchers for its strong social element, of equal importance with the physical activity,” says Barrie. “Once you’re a Fit Fella, you’re in it for life – that’s important.
“For example, when we noticed people were dropping off as the classes became too much for them, we created the Senior Senators program with lighter exercises tailored to individual abilities. And if you’re off for health reasons, like me with my knee replacement, you’re always welcome for coffee after the class.”
And cinnamon buns. When you’re a Fit Fella and your birthday rolls around, you buy the cinnamon buns. The tradition might be the secret of the group’s success. Barrie concurs.
“Fit Fellas is successful because we’re here to have fun. If you get fit, that’s your problem. You’re just going to have to deal with it.”
Barrie was newly retired when, as he did with many other Fit Fellas, Frank recruited him to the program.
“Frank told me I would become a couch potato if I didn’t join,” recalls Barrie. He took on the volunteer manager position 15 years ago.
It is unlikely that Barrie would succumb to the lure of couch and television. He’s always been active – golf, hiking, walking, swimming and cycling, in addition to teaching or participating in daily fitness classes. He put himself through UBC working as a lifeguard, and may have continued along that path had his mother not decided the time had come for her son to put his commerce degree to good use.
Barrie started in the purchasing department at BC Telephone Company and was with the company for his entire working life, rising to senior management positions in marketing and communications with Telus before retiring in 1996.
As the Fit Fellas manager, he keeps current on developments in wellness and exercise.
He builds relationships among men with diverse personal and professional experience. He’s collaborative, involving his fellows in program activities and maintaining a high participation level among the Fit Fellas.
In 2016, the group contributed a remarkable $29,550 to the Lions Gate Hospital Foundation and donated an automated external defibrillator to the West Vancouver Seniors’ Activity Centre.
Over the years, Barrie has exercised his creative skills. His book So,… Where Were You When the Phone Rang?, a telecommunications history of West Vancouver, received a Community Heritage Achievement Award. A collection of family photographs inspired Barrie’s next project. Researching his family history is an ongoing labour of love that has taken him all the way to Scotland, where he met new family members and made new friends.
Barrie has great expectations for 2017. Returning to his role as volunteer instructor and manager of the Fit Fellas with a brand-new, chromium-cobalt knee, he’s looking forward to buying the cinnamon buns.
“Getting back with the Fit Fellas is like reuniting with family. They’re a great bunch and I love them.”
Laura Anderson works with and for seniors on the North Shore. [email protected] 778-279-2275
