Why Atlantic Canadians are turning to smartwatches for health monitoring and motivation

Hiley Montijo, an international student in P.E.I. from Mexico, says her smartwatch helps her stay active and better understand her daily movement. Judith Mendiolea

(Story originally published by The Guardian on May 22, 2025)

Hiley Montijo didn’t believe her smartwatch would become part of her daily life. At first, it seemed like a novelty—something more suited to tech enthusiasts than to her. But like many Canadians, she soon realized it started reshaping how she thought about her health.

“I started worrying a little more about my health,” said Montijo, who moved to Charlottetown from Mexico. “Sometimes I feel like I’ve walked a lot, but the watch tells me I haven’t. It helps me be more aware.”

She noted how it prompts her to walk more when she’s below her goal and helps correct self-perceptions about how active she really is. “Sometimes I get off the bus a stop earlier just to get in another thousand steps,” she said.

Like Montijo, more and more Atlantic Canadians are incorporating wearable tech into their daily lives.

Health tracking meets motivation

A display of Garmin smartwatches at The Running Room in Charlottetown. Popular among runners and athletes, the devices offer features like GPS tracking, heart rate monitoring and training readiness scores. Judith Mendiolea

About 40 per cent of Canadians use a smartwatch or fitness tracker, with nearly a third wearing one daily, according to a 2023 Deloitte report. In Atlantic Canada, where aging populations face higher rates of chronic illness, wearable tech is helping bridge the gap between healthy intentions and action.

In Nova Scotia, the percentage of people using wearables rose from 18 per cent in 2020 to 33 per cent by 2024, according to provincial health statistics. P.E.I. follows closely at 29 per cent, with New Brunswick at 30 per cent.

The most common features include step tracking, calorie monitoring and heart rate tracking, while newer models are adding stress-level monitoring and guided breathing sessions.

At The Running Room in Charlottetown, assistant store manager Hannah Landry said smartwatches can offer structure and motivation—even for beginners.

“The watches help keep us accountable to our goals. It gives you a visual—especially if you’re struggling,” said Landry, who also uses a smartwatch. “You don’t have to be a runner to use a watch. It could be anything gym-related or just active living... Sometimes my goal is just to do a 5K and feel strong at the end. That’s enough.”

Hannah Landry, assistant store manager at The Running Room in Charlottetown, says smartwatches can offer structure and motivation for runners and non-runners alike. Judith Mendiolea

She said community also plays a big role. Landry joined her first running clinic in 2014 and credits the group environment with helping her stay committed. “With like-minded people, it was like therapy in my own time,” she said.

But not everyone finds wearable data motivating.

“You really have to weigh whether it’s going to be a positive or negative,” she said. “If you’re the type of person who snowballs into a negative headspace from data, it might not help.”

A snapshot of daily wellness

For Gary MacDonald, a regular weightlifter, smartwatches offer “quiet accountability.” He’s worn one for more than a decade, and when he moved from B.C. to Charlottetown two years ago, he used it to monitor his health during the cross-country drive.

“Been wearing one ever since I came out. I’m in the Apple ecosystem, so it was just another Apple product to try,” he said. “Having the watch makes it easy to see if I’m staying on track.”

The 53-year-old engineer uses his smartwatch to track heart rate, sleep and blood oxygen levels, but he admits he rarely changes his behaviour based on the data.

“Some of the data may not be valuable to me now, but in 10 or 30 years, I think it’ll be cool to look back on it—see how my heart rate or oxygen levels changed as I got older,” he said. “It’s just interesting, you know?”

Gary McDonald, an engineer from B.C., has used a smartwatch for more than a decade to track his heart rate, sleep and oxygen levels. He says it helps him to have a data record along with his exercise routine. Judith Mendiolea

A year-long randomized controlled trial found that older adults who used wearable trackers and received feedback from health professionals were able to maintain increased physical activity over time. The study, published in the Journal of Health Informatics in Primary Care, emphasized the role of habit formation and regular monitoring in sustaining behaviour change.

He also appreciates the device for minor conveniences, like quick message notifications. “I can look at my watch for basic notifications without interrumping the conversation.”

Even simple devices can kick-start healthier habits.

A study published in BMC Geriatrics found that older adults who used wearable activity trackers for 12 weeks increased their daily step counts by an average of 900 steps, representing an 18 per cent increase from baseline. This boost in activity is associated with significant health benefits, including improved cardiovascular health and reduced risk of chronic diseases.

For Montijo, her watch doesn’t need to be complicated to be effective. “It helps me realize what I’m actually doing,” she said. “I’m more conscious of how I move throughout the day.”

Accessibility, trust and affordability

Wearables may be gaining popularity, but not everyone has access. A 2023 Leger poll found that while 30 per cent of Canadians credit wearables with improving their sleep and 25 per cent say they feel less stressed, more than half identified cost as a significant barrier. Many models can cost several hundred dollars, and even the more affordable ones often require syncing with a smartphone.

Trust is another concern. Despite their widespread use, only 32 per cent of Canadians say they trust insurance companies with their health data—even though wearables collect intimate details such as heart rate, sleep cycles and activity patterns.

“There are very different models and their offerings, but even the cheaper ones give you your daily basics—sleep, heart rate monitoring and daily steps,” Landry said. “It gives you a place to go—an app—so you can see what you’re tracking.”

At ProEdge Elite Training in Bedford, N.S., general manager Graeme Besler said he’s seen more clients using wearables, including less conventional ones like the Oura Ring. The ring tracks sleep and fitness data but is designed to be more discreet.

“They do the same thing, but instead of being a watch, they’re just like a ring on your finger,” said Besler. “Then you use an app to track your health, workouts, sleep cycles—all that.”

Still, not everyone can afford even the most basic models. Low-income households, newcomers and seniors—many of whom could benefit most from health-monitoring tools—are among those least likely to access them. The upfront cost of a smartwatch can range from $80 to $600, and ongoing app subscriptions or device replacements can be difficult to sustain.

More than just gadgets

As smartwatches and other wearables become more integrated into daily routines, their role in shaping health habits grows.

For many Atlantic Canadians, these devices are more than tools—they’re companions. Whether it’s nudging users to walk an extra kilometre, helping track a new workout, or providing a clearer picture of sleep patterns, wearable tech is becoming part of the personal health journey.

Smartwatch Options in Atlantic Canada: Health Features & Suitability

Model	Key Health Features	Price Range (CAD)	Best For
Apple Watch Series 8	- ECG (FDA-approved in Canada) - Blood oxygen (SpO2) - Sleep stages & cycle tracking - Fall detection & emergency SOS	~$499–$1,468	iPhone users seeking comprehensive health monitoring
Samsung Galaxy Watch 6 Classic	- Heart rate monitoring - Sleep tracking - Stress management tools - Fitness tracking with GPS	~$407	Android users desiring a classic design with modern features
Garmin Fenix 8 AMOLED Edition	- Advanced GPS & VO2 Max - Pulse Ox sensor - Training readiness & recovery tracking	~$1,401	Outdoor enthusiasts and athletes needing rugged durability
Fitbit Sense 2	- ECG app - SpO2 monitoring - Stress management with cEDA - Sleep tracking with smart wake alarm	~$359.99	Users focused on stress and sleep health
Oura Ring Gen3	- Sleep tracking - Heart rate monitoring - Temperature trends - Activity tracking	~$269–$299	Those preferring a discreet, ring-style wearable
Garmin Vivoactive 5	- Heart rate monitoring - Sleep tracking - Pulse Ox sensor - Fitness tracking with GPS	~$333.98–$399.99	Fitness enthusiasts seeking a balance between features and price
Letsfit Iw4 Smartwatch	- Heart rate monitoring - Activity tracking - Sleep tracking	~$29.98	Budget-conscious users looking for basic health tracking

Note: Prices are approximate and may vary based on retailers and ongoing promotions. It's advisable to check with local retailers or online stores for the most current pricing and availability.