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Healthy Living Fair boasts a wealth of information

Saturday's event at Penticton Trade and Convention Centre features more than 40 exhibitors

Health assessments and well-known keynote speakers will be among the attractions on Saturday at the Healthy Living Fair in Penticton.

Keynote addresses from local Olympian Kristi Richards and triathlon announcer Steve King are among the scheduled highlights of the fair, which will also feature activity demonstrations, exhibitors with health-related goods and services, and a special kid-focused section.

“We’re hoping to see a good turnout of parents with their kids because we see them as a unit. Parents are role models for their kids,” said Dr. Gerry Karr, president of the Okanagan Similkameen Healthy Living Society, which is hosting the fair.

He’s also excited about healthy-living assessments that will be offered on site. Participants will visit a series of booths for checks of blood pressure and lung function, among other things, then make a plan to improve their health.

“It’s open to anybody who wants to learn about their health and have an opportunity to set realistic goals for healthy living and get some coaching in the process,” Karr said, adding some local doctors have also agreed to coach people on a confidential, one-on-one basis as they try to try to reach their goals. Pre-registration for the assessments was recommended, but Karr expects there will still be a few spaces available on Saturday morning.

Forty-five exhibitors run the gamut from an in-home wig service and fitness studios to a volunteer co-ordination group and retailers. Activity demonstrations will range from tai chi to self-defence, and guest speakers and films will also be used to pass along information on healthy eating.

Admission is free to the Healthy Living Fair, which goes Saturday from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. at the Penticton Trade and Convention Centre. More information is available online at www.healthylivingfair.com.