Olivia and Acey
June 2023
Grade 10 student Olivia and Grade 8 student Acey make good use of the Field House courts daily. This sister and brother duo love that they can play basketball from early morning until dark all year round! After they are done with their fitness routines, mom's cooking keeps them fueled for the next activity. Whether it's Olivia's one-on-one basketball time with her mom or Acey playing a pick-up game with friends, they're passionate about being healthy and active.
"...[CGC] is a place where kids can come and be active together and be in a safe place doing healthy things."
Olivia & Acey – "Halifax, NS"
- What is your favourite workout routine or your current fitness goal?
Olivia – "My favorite workout routine is to spend an hour and a half on the court in early morning when it is not busy and work on my shot, attack moves and ball handling. Then go upstairs for an hour and do weights and finish with a run on the track. My current fitness goal is to gain upper body and leg strength, increase my speed and agility and my vertical jump." Acey – "I come to the CGC alone sometimes to just shoot basketball. Sometimes I come with friends and we scrimmage. I use the track sometimes to run as well. My goal is to increase my vertical jump and get a better shooting percentage."
- What motivates you to be active/why is fitness important to you?
Olivia – "My #1 motivation is getting better at basketball. I am currently on the Basketball Nova Scotia U17 Girls team and we are headed to the National Championships in August so I am very focused on preparing for that. Afterwards I will be playing for Halifax West and long term I will be working hard every day getting ready for university ball in a couple of years. Fitness is everything to me. It is essential to be in top condition if I want to compete at an elite level in my sport." Acey – "I want to be active so I am healthy and in good shape to play sports."
- What do you like about the CGC/where will we find you in the CGC?
Olivia – "I like that the CGC has something for everyone. And that they are open from early morning until dark. So there are lots of chances to get a workout in and be relatively alone if you want your space. You will most often find me on the basketball court early mornings so I get a net to myself. I also use the upstairs track and weight room for my strength and conditioning training." Acey – "I like the basketball courts the best. I like that it is indoors so a good place to play basketball in the winter or on rainy days. That is where you will usually find me."
- What is your go-to workout song or what are you listening to right now?
Olivia – "I don’t listen to music when I workout. If I did it would be a mix of just about everything. Right now I am listening to Wait For You by Future." Acey – "Eye of the Tiger by Survivor"
- What is your favourite post-workout snack?
Olivia – "I love fruit so yogurt with fresh berries and granola is one of my favorites." Acey – "Probably a bagel with cream cheese and a Gatorade."
- What is your favourite food or indulgence?
Olivia – "I love Burrito Bowls! And anything my mom cooks! An indulgence would be cheesecake!" Acey – "I really like my mom’s potato soup, and chicken wings. My indulgence is candy. I love candy!"
- What do you like to do in your spare time?
Olivia – "I do basketball and then some more basketball and if I have any spare time after that I do more basketball. Basketball is my passion so it is what I do for workouts and for fun!" Acey – "I really like playing NBA 2K with my friends, and going for walks or playing tennis with my mom."
- What is your favourite book/movie/TV show?
Olivia – "My favorite TV show is Gilmore Girls." Acey – "I really like the Rocky movies and the Cobra Kai show."
- What was your first impression of the CGC?
Olivia – "When I first came into the CGC I lived on the South Shore. I just remember being so amazed at the size of the facility and I was younger so I was very excited about the water slide! I was a bit intimidated when I first got my membership but it was a very welcoming place and it now feels like my second home." Acey – "I came to the CGC when I was really little and it was for the water slide. I thought it was such a big place. My impression now is that it is a place where kids can come and be active together and be in a safe place doing healthy things."
- What is your favourite memory of the CGC?
Olivia – "My favorite memory of the CGC is the 6am shooting workouts I have done with my mom before school. She rebounds for me and it is a special time we share together." Acey – "Coming after school with my friends and finding some other people to play basketball against."
- What is your favourite motivational quote?
Olivia – "You have to be willing to fail in order to succeed!" Acey – "It is not the size of the man in the fight, but the size of the fight in the man that matters."
- What do you wish other people knew about the CGC?
Olivia – "I wish people knew about all of the different programs and things to do at the CGC. And that you don’t have to be an elite athlete or a certain age or in perfect shape to go there and fit in. There really is something for everyone. It is a very inclusive, friendly place." Acey – "That it is a lot of fun and you can get a workout in while having fun with your friends. "
