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Mark Your Calendar!
Celebrate "June is Recreation & Parks Month" in your community!
Visit the JRPM website for more info. |
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| Provincial Budget leaves much to be desired for the "quality of life" sectoreavesmuch
The 2009 Provincial Budget has offered up very little, if anything, for those sectors operating with a "quality of life / community development / volunteer capacity building" focus. Most notably, there will be NO renewal of the Major Community Facilities Grant Program; no increases/decreases in lottery funding to the ASRPWF, AFA, Community Spirit Program, and CFEP program; a reduction in funding for the Community Initiatives Program (CIP); a 50% reduction in Agricultural Initiatives Program funding; and overall reduced Lottery Fund expenditures within the "Tourism, Parks and Recreation" funding component. Additionally, the dissolution of the Wild Rose Foundation and an associated $8.5 million cut in lottery revenues has been carried out with an expectation that the CIP will now become the replacement funding mechanism.
Within Alberta Lottery Fund disbursements, $257 million will be directed to Alberta Health Services; $375 million will be directed to Provincial Highway Rehabilitation, Provincial Highway Preservation, and Rural Transportation Partnership; and $26 million will be directed to Municipal Sustainability Operating grants. Community-based health, innovative health research, and community education have all been drastically reduced or eliminated, and less provincial funding is being directed to community-based innovations and initiatives... this at a time when senior levels of government will want
the not-for-profit voluntary sector and local governments to take on
more "divested services."
Essentially, the Lottery Fund is being used more extensively than ever before for General Revenue Fund (GRF) type expenditures while program expenditures traditionally linked to the Lottery Fund are being reduced or eliminated. Such a move is a significant departure from previous public policy and, how gaming devices such as VLTs (and the use of accruing revenue) were originally justified to the general public and Alberta communities.
While the fiscal circumstances being faced by the Provincial Government are acknowledged, remedial action continues to be at the expense of so-called "discretionary soft services." These services are, in fact, vital to a caring, active and connected society and, ones that need more than ever, in difficult times an investment so as to enhance overall wellness and quality of life in Alberta.
More to follow on the Provincial Budget at a later date.
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| Federal Sport & Recreation Infrastructure Funding
The 2009 Federal Budget outlines provisions for addressing the infrastructure deficit in sport and recreation through the new Recreation Infrastructure Canada (RInC) Fund.
The RInC Fund provides $500 million over two years to support construction of new community recreational facilities and upgrades to existing facilities. The initiative will support up to 50 per cent of the total cost. To be eligible, projects must be "shovel ready." Plans should be in place soon for evaluation, and should be able to be initiated within ten months.
For more information on this initiative and how funds will be administered in Alberta, please visit the Western Economic Diversification website at www.wd.gc.ca/eng/home.asp.
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 ARPA Governance and Strategic Plan Review
ARPA is currently undertaking a "Governance and Strategic Plan Review." Professional Environmental Recreation Consultants Ltd. (PERC) has been contracted for this review with DowneyNorris & Associates Inc. providing support for the communications audit/strategy aspect of the project. Members will be provided the opportunity to input throughout the Review process and participation is greatly appreciated. More details to follow shortly.
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| Inspiring "Kids at Hope" message at the YDRS Symposium
The 5th Annual Youth Development Through Recreation Services Provincial Symposium was held March 30th - April 1st, 2009 in Banff, AB. The symposium was an opportunity for youth practitioners to come together to learn first hand about youth development and its application in recreation; hear from colleagues and peers through focused and themed presentations; and enjoy networking opportunities and return home with practical and applicable resources.
The opening keynote and workshop featured Rick Miller from Kids at Hope. The program, founded in 1993, is a cultural framework centered upon seeing children "at hope" rather then "at risk," and trying to reverse the stigma and stereotypes of the phrase youth at risk. Kids at Hope is committed to inspire, enable, and transform communities to guarantee the success of all children, with no exceptions. This program will launch in Canada in Alberta through the Active Creative Engaged (ACE) Communities initiative. ACE Communities plans to pilot the Kids at Hope program in eight communities throughout the province.
For more information on the Kids at Hope program contact Jennifer Finnigan, Children and Youth Program Coordinator, at 780-644-4797 or jfinnigan@arpaonline.ca, or visit www.kidsathope.org. |
 ACE Communities in print!
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| Four STEP students for FITS
Through Alberta Employment and Immigration, ARPA has received support to hire four students through STEP (Summer Temporary Employment Program). Starting in May 2009, these four positions will be regionally based across the province and will assist with the gathering and input of community recreation facility usage and operations data into ARPA's enhanced FITS (Facility Inventory Tracker System).
For more information contact Denise Gariépy, Program and Member Services Manager, at 780-644-1779 or dgariepy@arpaonline.ca. |
Sogo Active updates
Coca-Cola's "Sogo Carry the Flame Tour" coming to a city near you!
Coca-Cola's "Sogo Carry the Flame" Tour is bringing the Vancouver 2010 Olympic Torch to communities across the country to inspire everyday Canadians to apply to be Vancouver 2010 Olympic Torchbearers and live more active, healthy lifestyles. Tentative tour dates and locations for Alberta include:
May 1 - Millwoods Youth Week celebration (Edmonton)
May 2 - Recreation for Life Walk/Run (Strathcona County) - a.m.
May 2 - North Cineplex Odeon Theatre (Edmonton) - p.m.
May 3 - Village Square Leisure Centre (Calgary)
May 6 - Location TBA (Calgary)
 Sogo Active Youth Leader nomination forms now available
Approximately 60 Sogo Active youth across Canada will receive a Sogo Active Youth Leader torchbearer spot. The spots are in addition to the over 100 other torchbearer spots available to Sogo Active youth in Alberta. Youth (aged 13-19) who have demonstrated outstanding leadership through Sogo Active can be nominated based on several critieria. Visit the online nomination form for more information and to nominate a youth leader today!
Nominees must have participated in Sogo Active for at least six weeks (only youth who join Sogo Active by April 17, 2009 are eligible for a nomination). All nominations must be received by May 30, 2009.
For more information on Sogo Active, visit www.sogoactive.com or contact Denise Gariépy, Program and Member Services Manager at dgariepy@arpaonline.ca or (780) 644-1779.
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| Grant funding announcements
ARPA recently received a $25,000 grant from Alberta Tourism, Parks, and Recreation to complete an Eco-Energy Utilities Audit Assessment Program for community recreation facilities. The purpose of this initiative is to research, understand and strategize opportunities to alleviate the burden of increasing energy costs on community recreational facilities. ARPA's Infrastructure and Utilities Committee will work with consultants to undertake and prepare a situation analysis on the impact of the rising eco-energy utility costs at community recreation facilities.
ARPA also recently received a $30,000 grant from Alberta Tourism, Parks, and Recreation to undertake and prepare a situation analysis on children's play and playspaces in Alberta. This initiative will also include the preparation of public information and fact sheets pertaining to CSA "Playspace Safety and Accessibility" standards.
Based on information collected from each of the two projects, strategic level
actions will be recommended for consideration by ARPA and the
recreation and parks sector in general.
For more information, contact Jennifer Finnigan, Children and Youth Program Coordinator, at 780-644-4797 or jfinnigan@arpaonline.ca.
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Communities ChooseWell 2008 Awards - celebrating our successes!
Communities ChooseWell will be hosting two recognition events (north and south) in celebration of the outstanding successes Alberta communities have had in their efforts to promote active living and healthy eating. The South event will take place on April 30th in Okotoks with Henry Burris, Quarterback for the Calgary Stampeders, as the guest speaker. Burris was a 2008 Grey Cup Champion and the 2008 Grey Cup MVP, as well as the 2008 Calgary Male Athlete of the Year. The North event will take place on May 8th in Edmonton at the Matrix Hotel with Rick Walters, BA, MCFP Business Grants Officer, Culture and Community Spirit, in attendance as the guest speaker. Rick was a 2003 Grey Cup Champion, 2001 CFL Man of the Year, and 2001 CFLPA Tom Pate Memorial Award. |
Volunteer Police Information Check Program
The Government of Alberta announced the Volunteer Police Information Check Program today. This new, three-year pilot program will cover the costs of police information checks (PICs) for eligible volunteers in nonprofit/voluntary sector organizations.
This pilot program will defray the costs of police information checks for many organizations. The program will cover the costs of PICs for volunteers who are in positions of trust and authority with minor children, seniors 65 and older, and persons with disabilities. Volunteer Alberta, administrator of the program, will monitor and manage the day-to-day operation of the program.
For more information, please visit the Volunteer Alberta website.
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Alberta Centre for Active Living:
2009 Physical Activity Forum
Is sweat the best antidepressant? The Alberta Centre for Active Living and Mount Royal College are proud to co-sponsor this important half-day Physical Activity Forum in Edmonton (May 26) and Calgary (May 27). At this year's forum, Dr. Guy Faulkner will explain how physical activity can help in both treating and preventing depression. A panel discussion will follow Dr. Faulkner's presentation. Please visit the Edmonton forum or Calgary forum registration sites for more information.
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Upcoming ARPA Events & Important Dates
Become a HIGH FIVE® Trainer Session
April 20-22, 2009
7th Annual Recreation for Life Foundation Charity Golf Tournament
Monday, June 20, 2009
11:30 a.m. Brunch & Registration / 1:30 p.m. Shotgun Start
Derrick Golf and Winter Club, Edmonton, AB
2009 ARPA Conference and Energize Workshop: Weaving Values∞Spirit of Place
October 29-31, 2009
The Fairmont Chateau Lake Louise, AB
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