2011 ARPA Conference and Energize Workshop:
October 27-29, 2011 at the Fairmont Chateau Lake Louise

This year's Conference theme is "Recreation and Parks: Bringing Quality to Life."

Check out papers and presentations from this years conference.

Download the 2011 Conference Brochure »

Keynote Presentations

Opening Keynote

Carl Honoré - In Praise of Slow and the Future of our Children

Carl Honoré is an award-winning journalist and author. The Wall Street Journal hailed him as "an in-demand spokesman on slowness." He has written two books, In Praise of Slow and Under Pressure, his books having been translated into more than 30 languages and landed on bestseller lists in many countries.

Closing Keynote

Rhonda Victoor - Rituals of High Performance© for energy-strapped professionals

What do most of us really want? Greater success and satisfaction in work and life. True high performers achieve those things with ease. Not because they have special talents or more will power. But because they practise the rituals of high performance. In this gem-filled keynote Rhonda Victoor will coach us in the rituals we need to be wildly effective and deeply satisfied [what high performance is really all about.

Other program highlights include sessions focusing on:

  • National Recreation Summit Highlights and Learnings
  • Positive Youth Development
  • Eco Energy Session
  • Service Excellence Framework
  • Regional Land-Use Planning- Tools for Communities
  • New Canadian Physical Act Guidelines

Social Program Highlights

Thursday Night: Wayne Lee

Join us during Live the Laughter: A Comedic Hypnosis Show as Hypnotist Wayne Lee opens our minds to the power of positive suggestion through laughter and hypnosis! Learn a 3-step strategy to accomplish any business or personal goal!

Friday Night: 50's Diner Themed Party

This year in celebration of our 60th Anniversary we're going to be celebrating with a 50's soda shop diner theme! Come with us in this blast to the past as we explore ARPA's 60 years of continued excellence in Recreation and Parks with good food, good wine and the company of friends who have journeyed with us and you throughout the years.

Saturday Night: ARPA Presidents Award Banquet & Duelling Pianos

This festive evening starts off with our ARPA Presidents Award Banquet and ends with the duelling piano antics of Rowdy Pianos. Rowdy Rock & roll, sing-along, silly gags and audience participation are all part of the act. Top players spar off with their best chops and have a wild time getting the whole room singing, dancing and laughing along. Just request a song and watch what happens. Or get up onstage for a little "piano-oke"with us in a game we call "so you think you can sing."

Who attends the ARPA Conference and Energize Workshop?

This educational event attracts over 400 delegates from across Alberta and Western Canada. A mix of both rural and urban professionals, volunteers and elected officials from across Alberta, including examples such as:

  • Parks and recreation directors/Community Services Managers
  • Municipal and provincial elected officials
  • All levels of managers, especially those with an interest in, or responsibility for, parks and recreation planning and operations
  • Community recreation practitioners/coordinators
  • Facility programmers and managers
  • Parks professionals (i.e. planners, arborists, landscape architects)
  • Emerging leaders, students, and new professionals
  • Academics and researchers
  • Contract staff, consultants and strategic planners
  • Public health promotion practitioners
  • Community planners
  • Other professionals from allied industries including, but not limited to: justice and crime prevention, tourism, agricultural societies, education and schools, and, outdoor education and recreation