|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Mark Your Calendar!
Celebrate "June is Recreation & Parks Month" in your community!
Visit the JRPM website for more info!
|
|
Alberta's new "Plan for Parks"
On April 20th, the Alberta Government released a new plan to guide the management of provincial parks over the next 10 years. Aligned with the province's Land-use Framework, the Plan for Parks highlights the need to identify and develop opportunities and policies for safe and responsible recreation in Alberta's parks.
This plan was developed based on consultations
with Aboriginal groups, stakeholder organizations, park visitors, MLAs,
government staff, and others. This year, the plan will be supported with nearly $85 million, with programs and operations receiving over $67 million and nearly $18 million going to upgrades of facilities and infrastructure.
The Plan for Parks intends to change the way Alberta's parks are managed by inviting Albertans to become more involved. As the first of four listed strategies, greater citizen involvement will include the creation of a Parks Advisory Council comprised of community leaders. Further strategies include offering modern facilities, policies, and programs; establishing a new online campsite reservation system; providing recreation opportunities; and conserving landscapes.
To reduce impact on the land and ensure protection of the environment, the plan highlights the importance of science-based research and a collaborative decision-making process. "Decisions about managing parks will be based on what Albertans want, and on what science tells us is good for the land," said Cindy Ady, Minister of Tourism, Parks and Recreation.
The full Plan for Parks is available online at www.tpr.alberta.ca/parks/P4P. |
Progress continues on CPRA's new national governance model
National, provincial, and territorial partners (Partners) met May 7-8 in Toronto to continue discussions regarding the future of the national organization. The Partners confirmed the need for a strong national voice and that starting anew would be both costly and would have a negative impact on the field nationally.
The PT Partners also confirmed that they are prepared to be members of the renewed association to be reconstructed as an alliance. They would entrust the new board to carry on the business of the renewed association and manage the remaining financial obligations so that the renewed CPRA can be a strong, sustainable organization.
Moving forward, each Partner organization agreed to seek approval from their respective Boards to become partner members of the CPRA, to approve the proposed membership fee structure for the start up year, and to appoint a Board representative. ARPA's Board of Directors will table these items for discussion and approval through a special Board meeting within the next two to three weeks.
In the interim, CPRA will circulate a resolution to its current members to seek approval for the move to a new governance model of a national alliance so that the governance changes will take place as of July 1, 2009. More details will follow as they become available.
|
 Communities ChooseWell honours 26 communities
Twenty-six
Alberta
communities were recognized by ARPA for going the extra mile to promote healthy living to their residents
during the Communities ChooseWell
2008-2009 campaign. A record 162 Alberta communities
participated in Communities ChooseWell
throughout 2008-2009. Two regional awards events were held for the winners on April 30th and May 8th in Okotoks and Edmonton respectively.
The Town of Penhold was recognized as the Overall High Achiever for Southern Alberta, while Strathcona County took the honours for Northern Alberta. An additional ten communities were recognized representing Northern and Southern Alberta in each of five population classes. A total of six communities were recognized with Awards of Merit for their outstanding effort. Please click here to view the complete list of award recipients.
Communities ChooseWell high achievers were selected by a judging panel of health and wellness volunteers, community organization representatives and health professionals. Each overall high achieving community will receive assistance from ARPA, which manages the program. The high achieving communities will receive $1,500 towards a healthy living initiative.
Congratulations to all of the communities who contributed to the success of Communities ChooseWell 2008-2009! | |
| Federal Recreational Infrastructure Fund... new details emerging
As a part of the Government of Canada's Economic Action Plan, the Recreational Infrastructure Fund (RInC) was recently announced. The RInC will provide $500 million over two years in an effort to update municipal infrastructure and stimulate the economy. Further details recently released include:
*Funding will typically cover 33% of eligible costs
*The maximum federal contribution to any project under this program will be $1 million
*Projects will be selected on the basis of merit and construction readiness
*Projects must begin and materially conclude before March 31, 2011.
This program will be delivered by the regional development agencies throughout Canada. These agencies will be soliciting and reviewing applications. Alberta applications will be handled by Western Economic Diversification.
Project proposals are due by May 29, 2009 and projects needing more time to develop have until June 19, 2009. Program and application details may be obtained from the Western Economic Diversification website at www.wd-deo.gc.ca.
|
| Sogo Active updates
Grants available
For a limited time, Sogo Active is offering a Youth Recruitment Grant to support physical activity and sport programs in communities across Canada. Every Sogo Active Community Host that recruits 10 or more local youth, aged 13-19, to register with Sogo Active at www.sogoactive.com will receive grant money to support their organization's physical activity and sport programs. Please refer to the steps outlined in the "how-to" guide to access funding. No grant application is required.
For additional youth recruited above the first ten, you will receive an additional $10 in grant money towards your organization's youth physical activity and sport programs (e.g. 10 youth - $100, 25 youth - $250; 100 youth - $1000; 1000 youth - $10,000).
To be eligible, youth must be members of your "Join Sogo Active Now" group. Youth must be fully registered at www.sogoactive.com , with their parent's waiver accepted, by the end of the day on May 31st.
 Deadline approaching for Sogo Active Youth Leader nominations!!
The deadline for Sogo Active Youth Leader nominations is May 30th. All nominees must have participated in Sogo Active for at least six weeks (only youth who joined Sogo Active by April 17th will be eligible for a Sogo Active Youth Leader torchbearer spot). Please visit the online nomination form to nominate someone today. Additional torchbearer opportunities will be available through a random draw of Sogo Active participants on May 31st.
First torchbearers announced
ARPA is pleased to announce that Courtenay Ferguson is the first Alberta youth torchbearer selected through Sogo Active for the 2010 Olympic Torch Relay. In addition, Youth Ambassadors for Prevention and Promotion (YAPP) of Spruce Grove was awarded a team torchbearer position through the team selection process. Youth Ambassadors for Prevention and Promotion is a Diabetes Prevention program provided to Aboriginal/Metis students in the Tri-Community area. YAPP will be joining Sogo Calgary as the two teams representing Alberta in the relay. By May 31st, over 100 youth across Alberta will be selected as torchbearers as a result of their participation in Sogo Active.
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. |
| Land stewardship bill introduced
The Alberta Government has introduced legislation that seeks to balance economic growth with environmental protection. Bill 36, the Alberta Land Stewardship Act (ALSA), was tabled on April 27th and creates the authority for regional plans in each of the seven previously defined regions of the Land-use Framework. The Act will require the amendment of 26 other Acts to align support for the regional plans, which should be completed by 2012.
The regional plans will include region-specific visions, objectives, and strategies developed by government-appointed regional advisory councils. The provincial government will review and provide final approval for all of the plans.
The ALSA also enables expanded use of conservation tools such as conservation easements, directives, and offsets, and the transfer of development credits. A series of open houses will be held throughout the province during May for citizens to learn more about what Bill 36 will mean to their community. Please view the open house schedule to find out when government representatives will be visiting your area.
For more information on this legislation, please visit the ALSA websiite. To advance any comments or reactions to ARPA, please direct them to Roger Belley, Chair of the Parks and Open Space Committee, at rbelley@st-albert.net.
|
"June is Recreation & Parks Month" is just around the corner! is just
 Join ARPA as we celebrate the many ways recreation and parks enhance quality of life in Alberta. June is a perfect time to get kids outdoors, and engaging the natural world as it blooms and grows around them. It is particularly timely this year as awareness about the importance of connecting children with nature grows.
To help communities get their children active in nature this June, ARPA has created an activity passport with fun ideas to get outside, engage with the natural environment and be active. Complete nine out of the twelve activities and enter your submission online to win an outdoor prize package! Complete the activities with friends, at a day camp, or individually.
Sign the June is Recreation and Parks Month Charter to declare yourself a champion for Recreation and Parks Month in your family, workplace and community. All the champions will be entered into the inaugural 'Bobblehead Awards' program.
Tell us what events are happening in your community in June. Post your events on the online calendar and you will receive an 'Event Goodie Kit' full of fun items to distribute at your event.
Visit www.june.arpaonline.ca or contact Heather O'Hearn, Resource Coordinator, at 780-644-8440 or hohearn@aceleaders.ca for more details about any of these activities, media templates, or information about June is Recreation and Parks Month. |
| ARPA endorses new degree in Aboriginal sport, recreation and leisure at U of A
The ARPA Board of Directors has offered a letter of support to the University of Alberta endorsing the newly proposed Bachelor of Arts in Aboriginal Sport, Recreation and Leisure. This four year degree would be jointly delivered by the Faculty of Physical Education and Recreation and the Faculty of Native Studies and will strive to produce the next generation of leaders in Aboriginal sport, recreation and leisure by providing students with a flexible and innovative environment that emphasizes academic excellence and experiential learning.
|
ARPA adopts greener operations guidelines
ARPA has adopted "green operations" policy guidelines in an effort to reduce the ecological footprint of internal and external Association activities. Environmentally-conscious strategies will be implemented in the areas of transportation, office practices, program practices, and event planning. The guidelines are intended to help ARPA reduce greenhouse gas emissions, improve energy and water efficiency, reduce waste, promote the use of renewable resources, and reduce the use of toxic or hazardous substances.
For more information on ARPA's green guidelines, please contact Steve Allan at sallan@arpaonline.ca.
|
| ACE Communities wants to know about your blog!
Do you have a blog? ACE Communities would love to know more about the blogs that ARPA members currently maintain. If you are interested in sharing your blog, please forward your URL and any other relevant information to Brenda Herchmer, ACE Communities Project Director, at bherchmer@aceleaders.ca.
|
| Upcoming symposium on creative aging
On June 12th a one-day "Celebration of Creative Aging Symposium" will showcase various initiatives and opportunities that are enhancing the depth and breadth of the field of arts and aging. This symposium will take place at the Sutton Place Hotel in Edmonton, and will be held in conjunction with the week-long Creative Age Festival. The lead keynote speaker, Dr. Gene Cohen, will describe the benefits of the arts, including how artistic engagement enhances the function of the aging brain. Additionally, jil p. weaving, Arts Coordinator with the Vancouver Parks Board, will present on the accomplishments of the Vancouver Arts, Health and Seniors Project.
For more information or to register for this event, please visit http://www.creativeagefestival.ca/festival_symposium.html
|
| Upcoming sustainability conference
From May 20-22, the Pathways to Sustainability Conference will be hosted in Cochrane, AB to accelerate the momentum of sustainable community planning across Alberta. This conference is the kick-off to the broader development of a strong network of communities which will continue to promote, celebrate, and build capacity for sustainable community planning in Alberta's future. Keynote addresses will be delivered by Preston Manning, Mark Anielski, and Don Hill.
Please visit www.pathway2sustainability.ca for further details and to register.
| |
|
| Upcoming ARPA Events
7th Annual Recreation for Life Foundation Charity Golf
Tournament
Monday, June 15, 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 PlaceOctober 29-31, 2009 The
Fairmont Chateau Lake Louise, AB
|
Contact Info
Mandi Wise
Communications Coordinator, ARPA
|
|
|
|
|
