In a city where the conversation around mental health is growing, one grassroots organization is putting meaningful strides behind those words, literally.
This year’s Community Builders Award in Sports and Recreation goes to Up and Running Guelph, a local charity that is redefining what mental health support can look like.
With a unique blend of exercise, nature and social connection, the group is creating powerful ripple effects across the Guelph community one walk or run at a time.
Founded with a simple yet powerful mission, Up and Running Guelph supports women who are experiencing stress, isolation or other mental health challenges by offering structured walking and running programs.
Open to women of all fitness levels, their programming creates a safe and supportive space where participants can reconnect with their bodies, with nature and with each other.
“I love being part of something that brings so much of my interests together: women’s empowerment, mental health, running, walking, the whole sense of community, getting out into nature,” says Suzanne Conquer, board chair of Up and Running Guelph.
The results speak volumes.
Women aged 19+ who’ve taken part in the program report improved mental health, greater psychological wellbeing and a boost in confidence.
It’s a reminder that healing and hope can come from the most human of things: moving our bodies and sharing space with others.
“We know what it’s like to live with anxiety, to live with depression, to be lonely in your own community. So, we walk the talk. It’s a peer support program. It’s just so easy to be passionate about it when you’re seeing the difference it makes and when you’re feeling it in yourself,” Conquer explains.
But the impact of Up and Running Guelph reaches far beyond those weekly sessions.
The organization has created stroller-friendly pop-ups, women-only and co-ed options and regularly hosts community events that are as inclusive as they are inspiring.
These public-facing activities help participants feel less alone while inviting newcomers to get active in a low-pressure environment.
The organization was inspired by a similar initiative in the UK, but its local focus is what sets it apart.
Whether it's a new mother finding connection on a morning walk, a newcomer building friendships through a community run or a retired woman reclaiming her physical health and confidence, Up and Running Guelph is meeting people where they are and walking beside them on their journey.
At its core, the charity is not just about running, it's about creating access.
Access to movement. Access to community. Access to a happier, healthier life.
“The program has grown to close to 500 people in 2024, people come back to us year after year. So it’s really growing that community,” says Conquer.
“A lot of women are now being referred to us through their medical professionals, our program is being recognized by the medical community for its benefits over medication for mild to moderate anxiety or depression,” she adds.
It’s this unwavering commitment to mental wellness, equity and connection that makes Up and Running Guelph a standout in the Guelph community and the 2025 recipient of the Sports and Recreation award.
“Winning an award like this really reinforces the impact that every one of the participants and volunteers make. It shows that the coaching and mentoring done by the volunteers had such a positive impact on those that they interact with every day,” Conquer reflects.
The Sports and Recreation award is presented to an individual or group who has contributed to the strength of a sport in the community, by way of inspiring people, establishing a program, mentoring a team or individual to extraordinary accomplishments or setting an example for others to carry.
Congratulations, Up and Running Guelph!
This award is proudly sponsored by Nick Fitzgibbon.
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