Late in 2010, the provincial government announced that it would defer debate on Bill 29, the Alberta Parks Act, until further feedback from the public has been obtained.
  

The intent of the Alberta Parks Act is to consolidate and streamline three existing pieces of parks related legislation: the Provincial Parks Act, the Wilderness Areas, Ecological Reserves, Natural Areas, and Heritage Rangelands Act, and the Black Creek Heritage Rangeland Trails Act.
 

However, debate on Bill 29 was suspended in the province's legislature amidst concerns voiced by conservation groups and others regarding the Act's ability to protect the ecological integrity of Alberta's parks and protected areas. Further, growing concerns emerged about the discretionary authority that would be provided to the Minister and Cabinet by way of the proposed legislation with respect to both the process and impact on how parks and protected areas would be zoned and managed. Alberta Tourism, Parks and Recreation (ATPR) will continue to conduct consultations, and is expecting to re-table the Bill in the spring.
 

While details regarding future public consultations on the Alberta Parks Act have not yet been released by ATPR, Albertans are currently invited to submit their feedback on the Act to tpr.communications@gov.ab.ca.
 

The Alberta Recreation and Parks Association will be assembling an ad hoc committee around the Alberta Parks Act to prepare a brief for submission to ATPR, and also encourages its members to submit their individual comments on the Act via the email address noted above.

For more information on the Alberta Parks Act, please visit the ATPR website, or download a copy of Bill 29.
 

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The 2011 Parks Forum will take place March 10-12 at the Canmore Radisson Hotel and Conference Centre. This year's theme is Parks, Landscapes & Open Spaces - A LIFETIME of EXPERIENCES.

The theme of the 2011 Parks Forum captures the excitement created by the incredible diversity of issues and opportunities that exist for municipal, provincial, and federal government parks and open space practitioners and their stakeholders to collectively explore, expand, and enhance the concept of "visitor experience."

Attendees will hear thought-provoking keynote addresses from leaders in the parks and open space community, and will also have the opportunity to participate in informative, practitioner-focused sessions and workshops. ARPA is please to announce that this year's keynote speakers are Andrew Campbell, Director General, External Relations and Visitor Experience, Parks Canada, and Anne Charlton, Director of Parks, City of Calgary.

The official Parks Forum program guide and registration information will be distributed via the ARPA listserv shortly.

In the meantime, all who plan to attend this year's event may secure their accommodation at the Radisson Hotel and Conference Centre by calling 403-678-2625 or 1-800-263-362. Please mention that you will be attending the Parks Forum when booking your room.

For more information on the 2011 Parks Forum, please visit http://arpaonline.ca/events/parks-forum.

The Lieutenant Governor's Leadership for Active Communities Awards program is gearing up to accept nominations for the 2011 awards cycle. ARPA encourages all of its members to consider nominating a worthy individual or group this year.

This province-wide awards program recognizes the achievements of teams and individuals who demonstrate the very best of active community leadership; engaging citizens in planning, and leading their community to get more people, more active, more often. These leaders work to create places, spaces, and opportunities for people to be physically active and engaged in their communities, using recreation and parks as a catalyst.

There are six award categories to recognize the breadth of leadership that is required to create active communities. A new category has been included to recognize community-based recreation, parks, and active living professionals that have led strategic change in getting their communities more active. 

• Outstanding Community Leader
• Group Spirit of Community Leadership Award
• Community Leader of Tomorrow Award
• Elected Community Leader Award
• Corporate Community Leader Award
• *New for 2011* Professional Leadership Award

Award recipients will be recognized at a ceremony on May 26, 2011 in Edmonton by the Lieutenant Governor of Alberta.

The nomination deadline is March 25, 2011.

For additional information please visit: http://arpaonline.ca/lieutenant-governors-awards/

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Don't be disappointed! The Recreation for Life Foundation's Charity Golf Tournament always sells out months in advance, so be sure to secure your spot in the tournament today.

The tournament will take place Monday, June 13th, 2011 at the Derrick Golf and Winter Club in Edmonton

There are two ways to register:

• Register online
• Download a printable registration form

The Texas Scramble-style tournament will kick-off at 11:00 a.m. for brunch and registration, followed by a shotgun start 1:00 p.m., and dinner at 7:00 p.m. The registration fee is $275 per golfer all inclusive, $25 for those who wish to only attend the lunch, or $55 to only attend the dinner.

The Foundation is also excited to announce that PCL Construction Leaders has signed on as the tournament's title sponsor this year. PCL continues to provide quality construction services involving recreation facilities throughout the province.

For more information, please see the golf tournament brochure, view the list of sponsorship opportunities, or visit the tournament's website at www.golf.recreationforlife.org.
 

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ARPA's Provincial Forum will take place January 21-22 in Edmonton. A number of ARPA Board Members, Past Presidents, Committee Chairs, staff members, and other invited stakeholders will be in attendance.

This year's Provincial Forum will be one of heightened opportunity as it will provide a venue to supply input into several key milestone events and happenings in 2011, including ARPA's 60th Anniversary.

Workshops will be focused around key issues and program areas including the National Recreation Summit, the Norman Kwong Centre for Community Recreation Excellence, and municipal sustainability planning, amongst others.

Stay tuned to the next issue of REConnect for an overview of Provincial Forum outcomes.

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The Alberta Centre for Active Living recently released the results of its most recent survey on physical activity, which reports that 54% of adult Albertans are physically active enough to receive health benefits. This is down from 58.5% in 2009.

 Dr. John Spence, a co-author of the survey and Senior Research Associate at the Alberta Centre for Active Living, said, "Although the decrease in activity since 2009 is not statistically significant on its own, there is a downward trend over the last four years. The downward trend is not unique to Alberta; it's also happening across Canada."

Among other findings the survey also found that:

• 75% of Albertans would use a provincial adult fitness tax credit if one was available; with higher income Albertans more likely to use the fitness tax credit than lower income Albertans.
• Albertans achieve a moderate amount of physical activity by walking. They do most of their walking during leisure time, followed by walking while at work, and then by walking as a form of transportation.

For more information, please download a copy of the survey results, or visit the Alberta Centre for Active Living's website at www.centre4activeliving.ca.