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March 2012
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In this issue ... 
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| Alberta Recreation and Parks Association Election Strategy Announced
Alberta Recreation Parks Association (ARPA) President Terry Welsh released a copy of a letter that the ARPA has sent to the leaders of Alberta's five political parties, Premier Allison Redford, Dr. Raj Sherman, Brian Mason, Danielle Smith and Glenn Taylor. The letter asks the five leaders to identify their respective Party's positions on the following three ARPA priorities:
- Will your party support a long term delivery of community-level programs and public policies that will directly influence public behaviour towards a healthy lifestyle?
- Will your party ensure that the Alberta Lottery Fund is focused on its original community development purposes?
- How will your party support, through financial investment, a dedicated program to develop and enhance essential community parks and open spaces in Alberta's urban and rural municipalities?
In releasing the letters, Welsh stated, "Extensive research has clearly demonstrated that recreation and parks, in its broadest context, including sport, play, physical activity, arts, culture and outdoor activities are key components of improving the health, well-being and quality of life of Albertans. As well, such activities reduce crime and vandalism, improve child development, reduce workplace absenteeism and strengthen families and communities".
The Association has asked the five leaders to comment on these issues on or before April 4th, 2012. The responses received by that date will be provided to the Association's members and released publicly.
ARPA is a voluntary, non-partisan and not-for-profit association of more than 1300 recreation and parks professionals and community leaders in more than 120 municipalities providing services to more than 3 million Albertans.
The letter and attachments that were sent to the Party leaders can be found on the special internet election web page set up by the Association.
Stay tuned for Party responses and other updates via the listserv.
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2012 YDRS Symposium a Success!
The 2012 Youth Development Through Recreation Services (YDRS) Symposium was held at the Fantasyland Hotel on March 11-13th. This year's Symposium attracted over 100 delegates from Across Alberta who participated in practitioner-focused sessions and workshops, learning firsthand about children and youth development and its application in recreation.
The first ever YDRS awards were presented at the banquet Sunday night. Awards recipients included:
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Everybody gets to play™ Awards
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Community Innovation Award
Accessibility Leadership Award
HIGH FIVE® Awards
The Purple Badge Award
Award for Outstanding Leadership
Principles of Healthy Child Development Award
Recreation Services Award
Outstanding Leadership Award
Trainer Award
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Strathcona County
The City of Leduc
Heather Cowie (Calgary)
The City of Calgary
Jennifer Gristwood (Calgary)
Red Deer's Collicutt Centre
TransAlta Tri Leisure Centre
Nici Carmichael (High Level)
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Kids at Hope Awards
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No Exceptions! Award
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The City of Edmonton
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Community Services Award
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The City of Grande Prairie
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Outstanding Achievement Award
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Doray Veno (Hanna)
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Trainer Award
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Leanna Moon (Stettler)
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Thank you to everyone who attended!
For more information about the 2012 YDRS Symposium please visit http://arpaonline.ca/events/ydrs-symposium/ or contact :
Lisa Tink
Manager, Children and Youth Programs
(780) 644-4797
ltink@arpaonline.ca
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Communities ChooseWell Launches 2012 Year in Claresholm
Communities ChooseWell kicked off their 2012 program year with the launch event in Claresholm! The Launch saw ChooseWell leaders, as well as other interested parties, attending from across the province.
Barb Thomas, RHN from Love2Eat (www.love2eat.ca) was the keynote speaker, and her energy was contagious - she had the whole room engaged. She spoke about what we put in our bodies, and the impact it has on our lives. She also had herself and participants from the audience making smoothies!
Keynote Barb Thomas makes smoothies
ARPA President Terry Welsh also spoke, along with Claresholm Deputy Mayor Judy van Amerongen, both recognizing the critical role the community plays in building healthy and happy citizens, and the value of active living and healthy eating, both on a personal and community level.
The event was held at the Claresholm Senior Drop-In Centre. Special thanks to Kristein Johnson and Tammy Lorenz from the Claresholm FCSS for their support in organizing the event.
The ChooseWell team would also like to thank Claresholm Teen Centre leaders Aaron Jensen and Jesse O'Neil for their help setting the event up, as well as their presentation on the successes of the Teen Centre in the past year.
Claresholm Teen Centre Leaders Aaron Jensen and Jesse O'Neil present on the successes of the Centre in the past year
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 Sets Record for Registration Numbers
Communities ChooseWell is happy to announce that, as of the publication date of this newsletter, 161 communities have registered for the 2012 program year!
This eclipses last year's final total of 153, and is only one off of the ChooseWell-best 162 in 2009. The ChooseWell team is confident that that record will be broken in the near future. 161 is also the most registrations the initiative has ever had before the toolkit deadline!
Thanks to all the community leaders that registered for ChooseWell this year!
Toolkits full of educational and promotional resources have been assembled and sent out, and should be arriving in communities across Alberta soon!
Communities ChooseWell is managed by ARPA and funded by Alberta Health and Wellness as a 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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Everybody gets to play™ Community-University Partnership Profiled
ARPA has partnered with the University of Alberta and Strathcona County to examine Everybody gets to play™ in Alberta. This community-university partnership continues to examine the implementation of the national initiative at local, municipal and provincial levels.
Bethan Kinglsey, a PhD Candidate from the University of Alberta, was recently awarded the prestigious Louise Svarich Memorial Graduate Award as a result of the partnership with ARPA and Strathcona County. The award is presented annually to a student in a master's or PhD degree program, with an interest in applying the discipline of psychology to child development, sport or education. As a result of this award the University of Alberta recently profiled Kingsley highlighting both the community-university partnership and the Everybody gets to play™ initiative.
Lisa Tink
Manager, Children and Youth Programs
(780) 644-4797
ltink@arpaonline.ca
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Canadian Active After School Partnership (CAASP) Publish After School Work Force Documents
ARPA in one of many partners currently supporting the Canadian Active After School Partnership. The partnership supports the delivery of quality after school programs that involve increased access and opportunities to engage in physical activity and healthy living practices across Canada. This National project aims to provide information surrounding best practices, highlight supportive policies, examine barrier reduction strategies, and develop evaluation tools resulting in an engaged and motivated after school delivery network.
ARPA in collaboration with CPRA has supported the development and implementation of 5 Active Living After School pilot sites across Canada. Knowledge gained from these pilot sites will provide valuable information about how to run after school programs based on the blended framework outlined in 'Stone Soup'. In addition to information gained from the pilot sites a review of the current policies and guidelines will guide the development of a practical resource tool that will be used to inform the development of community partnerships and the ability of local groups to develop, deliver and evaluate high quality after school programs.
Recommendations for an effective longer term human resource strategy to support and sustain high quality recreation based after school programs have been suggested within the Active Healthy Living After-School Pan Canadian Framework.
View the Work Force Development Strategy Backgrounder andAfter School Work Force Development Strategies today!
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Free HIGH FIVE® Sport Training for Community Recreation Sport Providers
When: April 14, 2012
9:00a.m - 12:30 p.m.
Who: Calgary Community Groups who run sport programs for children and youth and are looking to learn more about HIGH FIVE® Sport.
Why: All participants who complete the course will be certified in HIGH FIVE® Sport.
Where: Dalhousie Community Association
Cost: Free to Participants of North Calgary
Participants need to register through Recreation Program Registration (403.268.3800 - course # 307461) and are asked to bring a snack and wear comfortable clothing and running shoes.
Register now, only 20 spaces available.
For more information, please contact Jen Gristwood at 403.221.3983
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Congratulations to Alberta's Newest HIGH FIVE® Trainers
On February 23 - 25 seven individuals from across Alberta completed Becoming a HIGH FIVE® Trainer. This 3 day workshop was facilitated by Master Trainer Heather Wicksted and was designed to provide participants with the tips and techniques to deliver HIGH FIVE® workshops and ensure social, emotional and cognitive needs are being met in their recreation facilities.
Congratulations to those who completed the training. We look forward to your continued leadership with HIGH FIVE®
For more information on HIGH FIVE® Alberta please visit http://arpaonline.ca/program/high-five/.
For additional information on Trainers or to find a Trainer in your area please contact:
Lisa Tink
Manager, Children and Youth Programs
(780) 644-4797
ltink@arpaonline.ca
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| Sogo Active Youth Recruitment Grant
Sogo Active is providing a new funding opportunity for existing Sogo Active Community Hosts. This opportunity will provide additional support for physical activity and sport programs in communities across Canada.
A Community Host will receive $10 for each completed youth offline registration form. This opportunity is available to the first 800 completed offline youth registration forms that are submitted.
Step 1: Determine if your organization or community is currently a community host
Step 2: Download the Sogo Active Registration Form
Step 3: Get the Youth in your programs to fill out the form
Step 4: Mail the forms to participation
Please send in all completed youth registration forms to the following address by March 31st, 2012:
ParticipACTION
c/o Megan Sutherland
2 Bloor Street East, Suite 1804
Toronto, Ontario
M4W 1A8
For more information please contact:
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Recreation Facility & Nutrition Guidelines Study
Would you like assistance to implement the Alberta Nutrition Guidelines for Children and Youth in your recreation facility? Would you like ideas about how to offer healthier foods without losing revenue?
If so, you may be eligible to participate in a research study at the University of Alberta. If you are selected to participate in the study, researchers will assist you to implement the guidelines in your facility. They will also visit your facility to interview managers and staff, and study food sales and the food environment before, during, and after the study.
If you would like more information, please contact:
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2012 Communities in Bloom Registration Deadline is March 31st, 2012
 The deadline to register your community for the 2012 Communities in Bloom campaign is March 31st, 2012. To register your community, download the registration form here. For more information, visit the Communities in Bloom website, or contact:
Dan Chambers
Provincial Coordinator Communities in Bloom Alberta Ph: (780) 458-5383 Fax: (780) 451-7915 Email: dchambers@arpaonline.ca
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Do You Have What it Takes to be a Master Community Builder?
The EXCITING news is that ACE Communities will soon be launching three Master Community Builder Certificate Programs.
Master Community Builder certification will be available for:
- Local Leaders
- Practitioners
- Community Coaches
Preliminary information on each of these certificates can be found at this link.
To get you started on your journey to certification, or simply to help you continue to explore your love of learning, we have a number of webinars to get you started at our virtual learning centre. As an added incentive, we're going to offer you the first webinar absolutely free! How's that for making it easy?
Communicate! A Beginner's look at Social Media
March 21, 2012 @ 10:00 AM
Cost: $25.00
Have you ever wondered about the hoopla around social media? Are you on Facebook? Do you blog or tweet? But more importantly, should you? This webinar will demonstrate for participants how various types of social media (like blogging, tweeting, videos, and the use of a website) have become an essential part of ACE Communities' communication strategies. The reality is that social media is becoming more and more synonymous with community engagement every day. So while you might not have to be a master at the art of social media, you at least need to know what options are out there! Objectives: 1)To introduce participants to the various forms of social media 2)To share the experience of ACE Communities as a case study to show how one organization is using social media
Are We Making a Difference...measuring & evaluating the outcomes of our programs and services
March 27, 2012 @ 10:00 am MT
Cost: $25.00
What if there were a way you could communicate powerful results to your stakeholders in annual reports, budgets, marketing materials, and proposals; motivate staff and volunteers; improve performance; and encourage innovation and accountability? And, as demands increase for your programs and services, and your resources are at risk for decreasing, what if you could prove the impact of your programs and services?
While the connection may not be readily obvious to everyone, making outcome measurement a priority is the solution and strategy for addressing all of the above issues. However, even though that sounds straightforward, it is especially challenging for social profits and government organizations who are focused on benefits or outcomes that aren't easy to measure and quantify.
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Ask the ACE Team!
Do you have burning questions about ACE Communities or about community building in general? Then email ACE at jnaclia@aceleaders.ca and we will send your question onto our team of ACE leaders, contractors, coaches, ACE Communities and ARPA staff members. Each month, a new 'ASK ACE' question will be featured.
Click here to see past questions! We look forward to hearing from you!
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Alberta boosts efforts to showcase culture
Albertans will have the opportunity for broader exposure to the many facets of Alberta's culture during this year's annual celebration in September.
Based on input from the recent Culture Forum 2012, Alberta Arts Days has been renamed Alberta Culture Days. Participants felt this change would help encourage broader participation and support the efforts of Alberta's arts, heritage, nonprofit/voluntary, multicultural and youth serving organizations. It also reflects the importance of increased collaboration and partnerships across the relevant sectors.
"Hosting an Alberta Culture Days event is a wonderful opportunity to foster community relationships and showcase local talent," said Heather Klimchuk, Minister of Culture and Community Services. "It's also a great way for organizations to boost the impact and reach of existing efforts to promote the value and availability of cultural programming in our province. Culture connects our people, our communities and our province."
Alberta Culture Days runs from September 28 to 30 in conjunction with the national Culture Days movement. To support the province-wide celebration, the Government of Alberta is again making funding available to those wishing to host cultural events and be designated official Celebration Sites. All nonprofit/voluntary, multicultural, heritage and arts organizations are encouraged to apply.
Two levels of funding are available: up to $20,000 to be designated a Feature Celebration Site; and up to $5,000 to be designated a Host Celebration Site. Consideration will be given to those who partner with others in their community to present cultural programming. Interested applicants should visit http://www.culture.alberta.ca/culturedays/. The application deadline is May 8.
"Alberta Arts Days has always been about celebrating our heritage, cultural diversity and provincial pride," said Klimchuk. "The change in name to Alberta Culture Days is actually in keeping with what communities are already doing. Last year, thousands of Albertans enjoyed 1,046 events and activities hosted by an array of organizations including schools, libraries, recreation centres, arts and multicultural groups, social serving organizations; and many, many others."
In 2011, 64 Host Celebration Sites and five Feature Celebration Sites were selected to coordinate activities in their communities. All Albertans are encouraged to participate in Alberta Culture Days by attending some of the hundreds of free, family-friendly events; or hosting one of their own. Alberta Culture Days is helping to fulfill the goals of our provincial cultural policy, The Spirit of Alberta. For more information visit http://www.culture.alberta.ca/culturedays/.
Culture Forum 2012 occurred February 24 and 25 and involved nearly 400 representatives from Alberta's broad culture sector. The discussions that occurred, along with feedback received from the online public survey, which is available until March 28 and can be found at www.culture.alberta.ca/cultureforum2012, will help government, the corporate community and Alberta's culture sector collectively build a solid foundation for culture to prosper in our province.
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| The Quebec Declaration for Leisure
Quebec is asking all of its citizens to sign the Quebec Declaration for Leisure:
'Adopted October 10, 2008 at the 10th World Leisure Congress, the Quebec Declaration for Leisure states that "Leisure plays an essential role in community development: it affects the quality of life and the well-being of individuals, contributes to the development of social ties and social capital, and represents a place for expression and engagement in democratic life."
In 2011, this declaration is more current than ever and the actors of public and corporate leisure, individuals and organizations, must band together to remind society of the importance of leisure in the daily life of every man and woman in Quebec!'
For more information, visit www.loisirquebec.com.
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Festivals and Events Tourism Growth Program
Alberta Tourism, Parks and Recreation has launched a new program to assist festivals and events in Alberta realize their full tourism potential. The Festivals and Events Tourism Growth Program makes funding of $25,000 to $40,000 available to eligible organizations. This funding will allow organizations to work with a third party-consultant to evaluate their festival or event, identify tourism growth opportunities, and set clear steps towards growing the visitor experience and increasing visitation and revenue.
The application dates for the program are April 5, 2012, September 21, 2012 and February 15, 2013. Successful applications submitted by April 5, 2012 will receive their funding by early May 2012. The Festivals and Events Tourism Growth Program application and program guidelines are available at http://tpr.alberta.ca/tourism/festivals-events.aspx.
We encourage you to provide information about the Festivals and Events Tourism Growth Program to festival and event organizations in your region that you feel have the potential to increase tourism visitation and revenues. We also ask that you post a link to the above program on your website.
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New Project Focuses on Directing Capital to Local Businesses
The Rural Alberta Development Fund Board of Directors approved more than $1.2 million in funding towards a pilot project aimed at empowering communities to invest locally, direct their own economic development and reduce dependency on government supports. Led by the Alberta Community and Cooperative Association (ACCA), the Unleashing Local Capital model will direct outward-bound investments towards local businesses, keeping local capital flowing through local communities.
"Albertans working together and investing in their own communities will strengthen our provincial and regional economies," said the Honourable Evan Berger, Minister of Agriculture and Rural Development. "This initiative will help create new businesses, increase employment and income levels and provide a low-risk investment for rural communities."
The Unleashing Local Capital project will educate rural communities on the community investment model while assisting in establishing a community investment fund - a pool of capital raised from local investors, managed by a local committee and then invested in local businesses. Three pilot communities will be selected to implement and test the Unleashing Local Capital model and create a Raising Local Capital Guide that will provide step-by-step instructions for rural community leaders to develop investment cooperatives. The project focuses on addressing rural business succession planning, directing local capital into local communities and simplifying and reducing the cost of investing.
"Seeing other rural communities, both in Alberta and across Canada, successfully use the community investment fund model shows how these types of cooperatives increase local business revenue and create more jobs to maintain the economic vitality of rural communities," said Marie Logan, Chair of the Board of Directors, Rural Alberta Development Fund. "This project is also transferable as it will develop a series of tools and training resources to help establish community investment funds in other rural Alberta communities."
ACCA takes the lead on this project with a strong support network from Athabasca University, Community Futures Network of Alberta, Alberta Business Family Institute and Alberta Rural Development Network, all of whom will participate in selecting the pilot communities, indentifying project stakeholders, coordinating local projects and developing training guides and online programs.
Funding from the Rural Alberta Development Fund will go towards developing the Raising Local Capital Guide, associated workshops and online support materials, producing promotional materials and administrative and operational costs. The project's anticipated completion date is December 2013.
Rural Alberta Development Fund is a not-for-profit company that inspires innovation, collaboration and growth across rural Alberta. In 2007, it was capitalized with $100 million by the Government of Alberta as part of its Rural Development Strategy. So far, $97.4 million has been committed to 83 projects. The remaining funds will be committed by March 31, 2012. Expressions of Interest are no longer being accepted.
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Canadian Certified Playground Inspector certification available
The Canadian Playground Safety Institute is holding two combined Theory/Practical certification course sessions in Alberta in the spring of 2012. Participants completing the combined Theory/Practical course will achieve their Canadian Certified Playground Inspector certification.
The course locations are as follows:
Fort McMurray (Municipality of Wood Buffalo) - April 24-27, 2012
To download a registration form for this course - click here.
Calgary - April 30-May 3, 2012.
To download a registration form for this course - click here.
You can find more information about this course, and a registration form under the course schedules tab at cpsionline.ca or call the Canadian Playground Safety Institute office toll-free at 1-877-536-2338.
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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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Upcoming Events
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
S.A.F.E. Youth Conference
Date: April 13-15, 2012
Location: Camp Warwa (45 min. West of Edmonton)
2012 Senior Services Conference
Date: September 13-14, 2012
Location: Fantasyland Hotel, Edmonton
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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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