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Prince George, B.C. – About 10 doctors and roughly 100 of their patients participated in Prince George’s first annual ‘Walk with your Doc’ event at Lheidli T’enneh Memorial Park this morning.

It’s been held elsewhere in B.C. since 2010 and by a few doctors and their patients locally, but not at a community level like today.

“It’s just an opportunity for docs to advocate for people to get out and exercise and potentially meet their doc in a more social way,” said Dr. Ian Schokking, a family physician and head of the Department of Family Practice at UHNBC. “It’s an effort to sort of do things in a different way.”

Dozens participated in a stretching session prior to the walk

Participants received a free pedometer to help track their steps and continue their healthier lifestyle.

To stay fit, Schokking recommends going out and getting 40 minutes of exercise three times a week.

Dr. Ian Schokking with daughters Asha and Ava

“It’s the number you should aim for and more often is better but that’s the benchmark to try and shoot for.”

After all he noted, the opportunities to stay fit here are endless.

“Just get outside. The good thing about Prince George is you can walk, you can hike, you can ski, you can skate, you can do anything. So the more you do outside the better.”