By KENDALL KING, Local Journalism Initiative Reporter on February 26, 2022.
kking@medicinehatnews.com Shop YXH, an online marketplace featuring Medicine Hat businesses, is aiming to promote healthy living through partnerships with local wellness and fitness organizations. “Throughout the pandemic … it was apparent supporting local businesses was about more than shopping local and promoting their products and services,” Kelli Ireland, Shop YXH project manager and Invest Medicine Hat marketing specialist, said in a Thursday press release. “It’s about supporting … the mental and physical well-being of business owners and entrepreneurs.” The first collaboration is set to begin on Feb. 28, with F45 fitness facility offering a free exclusive class to local business owners and employees, as well as a small gift. Ireland hopes the collaborations will also inspire the public to remain active and healthy. “We need to encourage positivity and by offering opportunities to practise physical and mental health, it encourages our community to stay active and take care of one another during a time we need it most,” said Ireland. 7