When Billy Schofield left the hospital following a spinal cord injury three years ago, he wasn't sure what would happen next.
"My oncologist told me most people in my situation never walk again," he says. "And, when you get out of the hospital, there's no physio. So, I didn't have a plan."
Without a clear path forward, Schofield, 69, began looking for something that could provide structure. He was eventually directed to University of Calgary Active Living's Rehabilitation & Fitness program, designed for individuals managing chronic conditions, injuries or mobility challenges. The program is one of several offered by Active Living to help individuals get back on (or stay on) their feet, while giving Faculty of Kinesiology students valuable real-world practicum experience.
The Rehabilitation and Fitness program begins with an initial orientation, where participants complete an assessment of their motor, cognitive and physical abilities. From there, each participant works with staff to develop a personalized exercise plan tailored to their needs. That plan is then carried into group sessions, where participants follow their individual programs.
For Schofield, the program is practical in ways that make it easy to commit to. The location and accessibility of UCalgary's facilities meant it was something he could realistically build into his routine.
"It's convenient, with the access bus and drop-off locations," he says. "Whether you're in a wheelchair, using a walker or just dealing with a disability, everything is accessible."
Classes run twice a week throughout the year with flexible scheduling options. Staff, with kinesiology students completing practicum placements, as well as volunteers, help adjust movements and guide exercises throughout each session.
Schofield credits them with playing a key role in making it possible to stay consistent.
"They're so open and supportive," he says. "They've given me the drive and motivation to continue forward."
Over time, that structure has translated into tangible progress. What once required relearning has now become part of his daily routine.
"I had to learn how to walk again," Schofield says. "I'm now happy to be self-sufficient with the walker and get around in my apartment without it."
Taking the first step
For Gillian Fisher, the starting point wasn't a lack of options it was hesitation.
"I was nervous at first, I felt anxious, unsure and very unfit," she says. "But when I got here, they reassured me that I could do this program."
Fisher, 70, joined JointEffort, an exercise program within Active Living designed for individuals with hip or knee osteoarthritis. Often recommended for those preparing for surgery, recovering from joint replacement or managing symptoms without surgery, it focuses on strengthening joint function through guided movement. JointEffort is also supported by UCalgary Kinesiology students completing practicum placements.
Referred through Active Living's Good Life with osteoarthritis in Denmark (GLA:D) program, she entered a small-group setting where exercises are adapted to her ability. That support, she says, made a difference early on.
"If you can't do it, they'll help you find a way to do it or adjust your program. It's unconditional support."
Some improvements are easier to measure than others. For Fisher, one stood out.
"The fact that I'm doing squats now, that was huge for me," she says. "It sounds simple, but it wasn't before."
What started as uncertainty gradually shifted into familiarity. Showing up became easier, and progress became more noticeable not in dramatic changes, but in everyday movement.
"It has given me a lot more confidence," Fisher says. "I can bend down now I can pick things up off the floor that I really couldn't."
Community at the centre
While the Rehabilitation & Fitness and JointEffort programs differ in some ways, they share a common structure: Consistent sessions, customized plans and hands-on support, with participants building on small, incremental gains over time.
"Our focus is on creating a supportive environment where individuals can develop strength, confidence, and independence at their own pace," says Parvin Pazira, adapted programs co-ordinator at Active Living. "These programs also provide student volunteers with valuable experience working with diverse populations, helping them grow into future practitioners."
For many, what begins as a structured program becomes something more familiar.
"It gives me a sense of being part of a community," says Schofield. "As a person with a disability, there are many things that you can't participate in. This is a place where you're with people you can relate to."
That familiarity seeing the same faces, working toward similar goals becomes part of what keeps participants coming back.
"I come to the gym now, which I never used to do," Fisher says. "It's changed my habits it's made me want to be more active."
As they continue attending their programs, that consistency has become part of the experience.
"If you put in the effort, you might be pleasantly surprised at your progress," Schofield says. "It gets me up in the morning, it gives me some focus. I think I'll be coming here until I can't come anymore."
Fisher's advice for those considering the program is more direct: "Do it. It moves you forward and you move the program forward, too."
To learn more about these and other programs, visit the Active Living website.
