Shawn and Erin Pinder’s commitment to promoting healthy living to be recognized with ��Ѹ��Դ��߿�Ƭ of Lethbridge Volunteer Award

trevor.kenney — Wed, 22 Apr 2026 16:00:58 +0000

Shawn (BSc ’98, MSc ’00) and Erin (BSc ’01) Pinder, owners of Lethbridge’s Runners Soul athletic store, have an impressive record of volunteer service in the southern Alberta community, generously giving their time to various organizations and local running events. The duo will be honoured with the ��Ѹ��Դ��߿�Ƭ of Lethbridge Volunteer Award at Spring 2026 Convocation.

Shawn and Erin Pinder

As the owners of Runners Soul, Erin and Shawn Pinder promote a healthy, active lifestyle for people of all ages in Lethbridge and across southern Alberta. Through their walking and running clinics and clubs, they have created a strong and vibrant community. They also sponsor and volunteer at numerous running events.

Apart from Runners Soul, Shawn served on the ��Ѹ��Դ��߿�Ƭ Senate for two terms, served a term as president of the Alberta Sport Development Centre South West and is the president of the Prairie Runners Race Association. Erin served a term as president of the Independent Running Retailers of Canada and has been a volunteer coach for the Lethbridge Track & Field team and the Lethbridge Collegiate Institute Cross Country team.

While attending ULethbridge, the Pinders were student-athletes on the Pronghorn swim team. This experience motivated them to participate in the Adopt-A-Horn program that helps students cover costs associated with their sport. In 2012, Shawn and Erin received the Knud Petersen Spirit in Sport Award for their involvement in running. The Pinder family also volunteers at the Lethbridge and District Humane Society.

They are dedicated athletes themselves. Shawn started running when he began competing in triathlons in 2000. Since then, he’s competed in numerous running events and triathlons. Erin is also a longtime runner and triathlete. She joined the Runners Soul Marathon Club in 1998 and was recruited by the then-owner, Ron Bain, to join the staff at Runners Soul. In 2007, when Bain presented them with the opportunity to take over Runners Soul, they didn’t hesitate to take him up on the offer. In the years since, they have become deeply embedded in the community and exemplify the spirit and soul of runners and volunteerism.

Shawn and Erin Pinder will receive the ��Ѹ��Դ��߿�Ƭ of Lethbridge Volunteer Award at Spring 2026 Convocation Ceremony 4, Friday, May 29, 2026, at 2:30 p.m. in the Co-op Centre for Sport & Wellness gymnasium. For more information on Spring 2026 Convocation, visit ulethbridge.ca/convocation.

Maintaining a pain-free environment

trevor.kenney — Mon, 21 Mar 2011 17:21:24 +0000

One aspect of wellness is the ability to perform your duties in an ergonomic environment, free of pain. Unfortunately, there are occasions when we suffer injuries, some of which come as a result of repetitive activities related to our jobs.

Last month, RSI (Repetitive Strain Injuries) Awareness Day took place, bringing to light the musculoskeletal disorders (MSDs) that sometimes accompany work-related activity. It is a very serious matter that can severely limit productivity in the workplace. According to Statistics Canada, 2.3 million Canadian adults annually experience an MSD serious enough to limit their normal activities: and the majority of these injuries are caused by work-related activity. Issues such as tendonitis, tenosynovitis and carpal tunnel syndrome are some common examples of MSDs.

Common symptoms of MSDs include aches, pain, burning, numbness, swelling and loss of joint movement and strength in the affected area(s). These symptoms can progress into chronic disorders, after which no amount of physiotherapy or surgery can completely correct.

The good news is that the majority of MSDs are preventable. Contact the Wellness office (403-332-5217) for an ergonomic assessment, or to establish a Get Fit at Work - Stretch and Strengthen session for your team or department.

March is Nutrition Month, and in keeping with this theme, a number of nutrition Lunch and Learns have been scheduled for March and April. We are lucky to have Diane Britton, the
U of L's registered dietitian, on hand to share her experience.

On Tuesday, Mar. 22, Eat Smart, is the title of the Lunch and Learn event. Bring your lunch and learn how a few small changes in food choices can improve your nutrition. Then, on Wednesday, Apr. 13, Digesting the Nutrition Label will be presented. Both events run over the lunch hour, noon to 1 p.m., in Andy's Place (AH100).

Erin Pinder, a registered dietitian with Building Healthy Lifestyles, contributes to a monthly newsletter and her latest submission offers sound advice.

"We all know that we could make some changes to eat healthier," says Pinder. "There are a few fundamental steps you can take to achieve this. Many people in North America rely heavily on pre-made, pre-packaged foods. We are often unaware of where our food actually comes from. Many children are very surprised to find out that our baby-cut carrots grow in the ground! This month, make a special effort to get in touch with nature and local food sources. Often, the closer the food is grown to your home, the fresher and more nutritious it is. If you have children, get them involved by taking them shopping for foods at your local farmer's market, at grocery stores that supply local produce and meats, or by planting a garden this spring."

Wellness Workshop
Stress Busters – Tuesday, Mar. 15 (Noon to 1:30 p.m., Andy's Place AH100)
Join Lynne Hunter-Johnson in learning useful strategies for resilience while experiencing stress.

Suzanne McIntosh is the Wellness co-ordinator at the ��Ѹ��Դ��߿�Ƭ of Lethbridge.
Contact her at suzanne.mcintosh@uleth.ca, wellness@uleth.ca
or 403-332-5217 for more information.

For a look at the March issue of the Legend in a flipbook format, follow this link.

UNews - Erin Pinder

Shawn and Erin Pinder’s commitment to promoting healthy living to be recognized with ��Ѹ�����Դ���߿�Ƭ of Lethbridge Volunteer Award

Related Topics

Maintaining a pain-free environment

Related Topics

Shawn and Erin Pinder’s commitment to promoting healthy living to be recognized with ��Ѹ��Դ��߿�Ƭ of Lethbridge Volunteer Award