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January 2012
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In this issue ... 
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Alberta Recreation and Parks Association Announces new Chief Executive Officer
The Alberta Recreation and Parks Association (ARPA) is excited to welcome Mr. Bill Wells as their new Chief Executive Officer. Bill is the former Executive Director of the Saskatchewan School Boards Association (SSBA), where his leadership was critical to the school board in anticipating trends and issues that impacted the field, as well as the development and maintenance of many critical relationships with organizations that were key partners within the education community. His focus on communications strategies with media, business, and government with the SSBA will greatly assist ARPA as we continue to improve these critical relationships as well.
Bill also was a member of Regina City Council for over 18 years, elected in six consecutive elections, serving the second longest term in city history. While on council, he served on many council committees and was the chair of several, and was involved in a number of provincial, national and international councils in the area of recreation, arts and culture, transportation, and environment.
"We are thrilled to have Bill join the ARPA team," says Terry Welsh, ARPA President. "His experience and expertise are valuable assets for our organization moving forward, and his perspective from the education field and his experience in the political environment will help to shape a new path forward for the Association. Our organization is at a critical point in its growth and sustainability, with our involvement in developing the outcomes of the National Recreation Summit and our involvement with the Tripartite Group which involves the Faculty of Physical Education and Recreation at the University of Alberta and the Ministry of Alberta Tourism, Parks and Recreation to name just a couple of the Association's critical partnerships."
Bill Wells will officially become the CEO on March 1st, replacing Stephen Allan, who has been Acting CEO since ARPA's long term CEO, Rick Curtis retired after the ARPA Conference in late October this past year.
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 Register Now for the 2012 Youth Development Through Recreation Services (YDRS) Symposium
Registration is now open to attend the 2012 Youth Development Through Recreation Services (YDRS) Symposium. The 2012 YDRS Symposium will be held at the West Edmonton Mall's Fantasyland Hotel from March 11-13, 2012. This year's symposium focuses on the advancement of knowledge surrounding children and youth development through recreation. Attendees will hear thought-provoking keynote addresses from recognized leaders in children and youth development, participate in informative, practitioner-focused sessions and workshops, and learn firsthand about children and youth development and its application in recreation. The event will focus on: - Highlighting the value of partnerships in children and youth development
- Promoting the concept of shared responsibility in children and youth development
- Promoting the Symposium to non-traditional partners in children and youth development
- Promoting youth involvement
- Ensure opportunities for networking are created
Rick Miller, the Founder and President of the international initiative Kids at Hope, is this year's main keynote and will be addressing YDRS delegates at the Sunday night banquet. Rick has spent 44 years education, advocating, caring and support the futures of all youth. His wit, humor and story-telling abilities captivate the imagination leaving everyone who hears him believing that all children are truly capable of success-no exceptions! For details about the 2012 YDRS Symposium or to register online, please visit: www.arpaonline.ca/events/ydrs-symposium/#symposium For more information contact: |
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HIGH FIVE® Training
ARPA is hosting the below HIGH FIVE® workshop in February 2012.
Becoming a HIGH FIVE® Trainer
This workshop is designed for the person responsible for training front-line staff, working with children ages 6-12, in a recreation setting. Using proven HIGH FIVE® research, tips and techniques HIGH FIVE® Trainers ensure front-line leaders will understand what they need to do to ensure each child's social, emotional and cognitive needs are met. Once someone within an organization is certified as a HIGH FIVE® Trainer, it is easy for them to deliver PHCD, Principles in Practice, and Quest 2. It helps organizations improve the quality of their recreation programs by making a commitment to continuous improvement in the area of healthy child development.
DATE: February 23-25, 2012
LOCATION: Calgary
PREREQUISITES: Attendees must have completed Principles of Healthy Child Development (PHCD) and Quest 2
If you are interested in participating in any of the HIGH FIVE® Sessions, please visit www.arpaonline.ca/program/high-five to register or contact Lisa Tink at 780-644-4797 or ltink@arpaonline.ca.
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After School Funding Opportunity
ARPA has advocated for and supported the development and implementation of after school programs across Alberta. Currently, a member of the Canadian Active After School Partnership (CAASP), ARPA, in collaboration with CPRA, has supported the development and implementation of five Active Living After School pilot sites across Canada. Additionally, ARPA recognizes the importance of collaboration, information sharing and contributions from various sectors for the successful implementation of after school programs at the local level. If you are currently running an after school program you may be eligible for the RBC After School Grant. The Royal Bank of Canada has introduced The RBC After School Grant Project. Community-based after-school programs have been invited to apply for a grant of up to $40,000. Applicant programs should provide: - Structured five-day-a-week programming in the critical after-school hours
- Opportunities to improve opportunities for academic achievement
- Skill-based recreational activities
- A safe environment for children and youth in at-risk or underserved communities
Deadline for applications is March 12, 2012. For more information about eligibility and how to apply visit www.rbc.com/afterschool. For additional after school resources please visit the links below: Stone Soup: The Recipe for an After School Recreation Strategy in Alberta
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Communities ChooseWell 2012 Registration
It's registration time for the 2012 Communities ChooseWell year!
Communities ChooseWell is an initiative that encourages healthy eating and active living in Alberta communities by supporting, empowering, and recognizing these communities for their efforts to promote healthy living. The initiative provides educational resources, seed funding, partnership opportunities and recognition for communities across Alberta, as well as running several challenges each year to promote the "eat right, be active" goal.
Communities registered before the deadlines below receive additional support. All ChooseWell communities receive a toolkit, access to e-learning modules and webinars, opportunities to receive seed funding for healthy living initiatives, invitations to regional ChooseWell forums, and more.
Register your community online for free on the ChooseWell webpage.
Early Bird Registration Deadline: Tuesday, January 31, 2012. Register on or before this date to be entered in a draw to win one of:
- $500.00 in Communities ChooseWell start-up funding*
- ARPA Conference Registration for one person*
- An opportunity for a $1,500 Sogo Active grant by registering as or partnering with a local school*
- Other great prizes*
*Conditions apply
Promotional Toolkit Registration Deadline: Wednesday, February 29, 2012. Communities registered on or before this date will receive a promotional toolkit to support their efforts to promote healthy living.
For more information, visit the website or contact the Communities ChooseWell team at (780) 643-1252 or (toll free) 1-877-544-1747 or email choosewell@arpaonline.ca.
Communities ChooseWell is managed by the Alberta Recreation and Parks Association (ARPA) and supported by Alberta Health and Wellness as part of the Government of Alberta's Healthy U campaign.
Communities ChooseWell™ and Healthy U™ are Official Trademarks of Alberta Health and Wellness and are used herein with permission under license. These logos may not be reproduced, altered or used without permission from Alberta Health and Wellness.
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Communities ChooseWell in Social Media
Communities ChooseWell is excited to announce the launch of their Facebook page and Twitter feed.
Stay in the loop by visiting facebook.com/choosewell and 'like'-ing the page, or by following @ARPAchoosewell on Twitter. Both platforms will be providing regular program updates, as well as an opportunity for you to communicate directly with the ChooseWell team.
Also, check out the ChooseWell 'Prezi', a review of the 2011 year for Communities ChooseWell, as well as some of the efforts the team is making to improve the program for 2012.
If you have any questions or comments, contact the Communities ChooseWell team at choosewell@arpaonline.ca, or by calling (780) 643-1252.
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 Coming to a Community near you!
In partnership with ACE, these rural Alberta communities are hosting a free one-day workshop on Community Building! Here is an update on the upcoming workshops in your area:
- Hanna: March 1 and 2, 2012
- Carstairs: March 10, 2012
- Clear Hills County: March 15, 2012
Participants will have the opportunity to learn more about what it means to be an Active, Creative, and Engaged Community, gain an understanding of community leadership and community building, purchase a Community Building Toolkit that provides a variety of community development related tools, connect with like-minded individuals who are interested in enhancing quality of life, and provide inspiration for community leaders to take action.
Who should attend? Individuals or groups working in the quality of life sector such as: elected officials, business owners, youth, volunteers, and practitioners working in recreation, health, social services, justice, education, tourism, arts, heritage, culture, and others.
For more information contact:
Rose Carmichael
ACE Community Liaison
rcarmichael@aceleaders.ca
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| ACE Communities Upcoming Webinars
The ACE Communities team is housing several upcoming webinars on their Learning Centre website. Webinars are currently available for free, so we encourage everyone to take advantage of the learning opportunities while cost is not an issue. Here is a list of some upcoming webinars. All times are Mountain Standard Time. Presenter name is in parentheses.
If you have any questions regarding webinars, please contact:
Byron Walker eLearning Coordinator, ACE Communities |
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 The National Benefits Hub
The Benefits Hub is a free online resource developed just for people like you - practitioners, volunteers, elected officials, and students.
It is a large (and growing) collection of research studies that demonstrate the importance of recreation, parks, active living, sport, arts, culture and heritage. These studies make the linkage between everyday activities and the value they have for us, our communities, and for other professions such as health and social services.
The research studies are important in:
* developing programs and services with impact (driven by evidence)
* promoting services based on the value to the participant (marketing)
* securing sponsors or volunteers (see the value of their contribution)
* educating others of the important role recreation CAN play in their communities
Easy to use, the Benefits Hub is searchable with key words AND has a 2 minute video to show you how to search most effectively for topics of interest to you. As an option, research categories are listed down the left hand side and arrows expand lists to find evidence for specific areas.
Success stories have been added to give you ideas of how research and practice support each other. Other resources and webinars related to the hub are advertised through e-mail (about 6 times per year). To stay connected to these resources use the "Sign-Up" button for E-blasts at bottom left of the home page at benefitshub.ca.
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Recreation for Life Foundation - 10th Annual Charity Golf Tournament
The Recreation for Life Foundation (RFLF) is busily preparing for the 10th Anniversary Charity Golf Tournament 2012. Please mark your calendars now and get your requests in earlier so we may secure your participation.
Tournament Details:
Location: Derrick Golf & Winter Club Golf Course
3500 - 119 Street, Edmonton, AB
Date: Monday, June 11th, 2012
Format: Texas Scramble
Lunch & Registration: 11:00 a.m.
Shot Gun Start: 1:00 p.m.
Banquet Dinner: 7:00 p.m. (includes program & silent auction)
Registration Fee: $300 / golfer ($50 eligible for tax receipt)
Banquet Only: $55 / person
Luncheon Only: $25 / person
How to Register:
Register online at www.Golf.RecreationforLife.org where you can fill out the PDF form and send it electronically or you can download and print it out and send it via fax or in the mail.
You can also view the golf brochure and view a list of sponsorship opportunities.
Last year we sold out by the end of April and anticipate to be sold out again.
2012 Title Sponsor.....
 This year, we are very pleased to announce CenturyVallen has come on board as our Naming Title Sponsor. CenturyVallen is also celebrating their 75th Anniversary in 2012 and is proud to commemorate this by supporting the Recreation for Life Foundation's 10th Anniversary Charity Golf Tournament.
Identified by their longevity and established presence within the Canadian business community, CenturyVallen has been, and continues to be, one of the most respected and reliable industrial goods and service suppliers in the country.
Unrivalled proficiency in the business-to-business supply of safety, janitorial and MRO (maintenance, repair, and operations) products and related technical services has contributed to over seventy years of sustained growth and prosperity.
In addition to an extensive supply business, CenturyVallen offers comprehensive commodity related service programs, vending solutions, mobile project trailers, professional application assistance and product related training. CenturyVallen is a member of the Sonepar Canada family, which in turn is a member of the Sonepar Group, the world's largest privately-held electrical distributor. Global resources and reach, combined with credible local market experience, allow CenturyVallen to provide customer service excellence, sophisticated cost-saving programs, and inventory management mastery.
If you have any questions please contact:
Kathleen Badry
Recreation for Life Foundation
Suite 202, 15023 - 123 Avenue SW
Edmonton, AB T5V 1J7
Email:
Phone: 780-422-8103
Fax: 780-643-1776
Thank-you for your continued support, and we look forward to seeing you at the tournament! (back to top)
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2012 Recreation Industry Awards
On Thursday, May 10th, 2012 the Recreation for Life Foundation (RFLF), it's allied partner, the Alberta Recreation and Parks Association (ARPA), and their many sponsors and supporters will present the second biennial Recreation Industry Awards of Excellence gala. This event will be hosted in Calgary at Canada's Sports Hall of Fame.
The Recreation for Life Foundation Recreation Industry Awards of Excellence is a province-wide initiative that recognizes the achievements of individuals or teams within the corporate, business and private sectors who symbolize the very best in our field and communities.
Using recreation as a catalyst, the winners are those who help contribute to healthier and more active communities by utilizing and applying an understanding of community commitment and development strategies.
Through these awards, recognition will contribute to community leaders increased citizen engagement, higher levels of participation in active living, recreation, and sport, healthier people reflecting balanced lifestyles, and more diverse and culturally rich communities.
The RFLF is presently seeking nominations in all award categories. Nomination Deadline: Monday, March 19, 2012.
For more information contact:
Kathleen Badry
Fund Development Manager
kbadry@recreationforlife.org
www.Awards.RecreationforLife.org
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CPRA Newsletter
The Canadian Parks and Recreation Association (CPRA) has released their quarterly newsletter. Topics in this issue include:
- Canada's National Recreation Summit: The Next Steps
- Everybody Gets to Play™ Workshops
- Canadian Active After School Partnership
- Updates on Provincial/Territorial Associations
- Rick Curtis Retirement piece
- Upcoming Events
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New Ecotourism Project in Northern Alberta 
The Rural Alberta Development Fund Board of Directors recently approved funding for an ecotourism experience in Willmore Wilderness Park, near Grande Cache. Using an education and storytelling focus, the plan hopes to increase the profile of the park, and use this increased visibility as a marketing strategy for tourism in the region.
For more information, click here. |
Upcoming Events
YDRS Symposium
Date: March 11-13, 2012
Location: Fantasy Land Hotel, Edmonton AB
Urban Wildlife: Challenges and Management
Date: April 18-19, 2012
Location: Rocky Mountain Prestige Inn, Cranbrook, BC
Recreation Industry Awards of ExcellenceDate: May 11, 2012 Time: 4:00 - 8:00 p.m. Location: Canada's Sports Hall of Fame, Calgary, AB CenturyVallen Recreation for Life Charity Golf Tournament Date: June 11, 2012 Location: The Derrick Golf and Winter Club, Edmonton, AB
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REConnect is a monthly e-newsletter published by the Alberta Recreation & Parks Association. For more information, please contact arpa@arpaonline.ca.
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