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Thank you to our Sponsors!

Thank you to our Partners!

Why do we celebrate June?

The purpose of observing June, as Recreation & Parks Month, is to draw public attention to the important and varied benefits of recreation and parks to individuals, families, neighborhoods, communities and the province as a whole! Recreation and parks is truly a people business. June can and should be a celebration of people, nature and life.

Whatever programs are planned - make them joyous occasions. You are, after all, enhancing the quality of life.

A key element to the celebration of June is the opportunity to enhance your relationships with other public or private agencies and organizations that provide recreation and parks-related programs or services or that understand and value the contributions recreation and parks makes to our communities. Such coordination and co-sponsorship will create immeasurable goodwill and added value to your initiatives, programs and events.

We encourage your community to Live it up in June but embrace and celebrate the benefits of recreation of parks all year round. This year’s theme is Children in Nature which promotes the numerous and varied benefits children receive from being outside in Alberta’s beautiful great outdoors.

Recreation and Parks Month Theme - LIVE IT EVERYDAY!

Live it Everyday! expresses the need to embrace and participate in recreation and parks programs, services and facilities so that the important and varied benefits of recreation and parks are experienced.

Living it everyday encourages individuals, communities and organizations to live it up in June but to also embrace and celebrate the benefits of recreation of parks all year round.

This theme will be used in all ARPA publicity efforts for this campaign and we encourage your community to utilize it in anyway, such as banners, posters, stickers and buttons, that helps promote the celebration!

Overview

The Youth Development Through Recreation Services (YDRS) Symposium is a bi-annual form for advancing the knowledge about the contributions of recreation programs and services. It aims to provide information about children and youth development by promoting the delivery and expansion of positive development through sport, recreation, physical activity, education and general health promotion.

The YDRS Symposium attracts delegates from municipal recreation, community service departments, not for profit groups, community sports groups, public health, educational institutions and social service organizations. Presenters range from front line staff to youth policy makers.

This three-day educational opportunity is designed to provide delegates with the opportunity to:

• Learn first hand about child and youth development and its application in recreation
• Hear from colleagues and peers through focused and themed presentations
• Enjoy networking opportunities and return home with practical and applicable resources

Mandate

"Providing an educational forum to advance knowledge of youth development through recreation."

History

The Symposium is based on the National Youth Development Symposium that was launched in Calgary in the spring of 2003.

2012 YDRS Symposium

The 2012 Youth Development Through Recreation Services (YDRS) Symposium took place from March 11 to 13, at the Fantasyland Hotel in Edmonton, Alberta.

Presentations highlighted:

• Child or youth development in recreation;
• Best practices surrounding health, education, physical activity, and recreation during out-of-school time;
• Sectoral leadership and collaborations.

ARPA would like to thank all of the presenters and delegates and acknowledge the 2012 YDRS Steering Committee:

Shelley Kwong (Chair)
Heather Wicksted
Kevin Paes
Jennier Gristwood
Jessica Grey
Jodi Smith
Pearl Kapitzke
Augusto Romero

"It was my first time attending and I can't say enough good, positive things about YDRS. I was very impressed and enjoyed the fun atmosphere. Good job to everyone who put things together and made this event possible."

"I participated in the Youth Stream and found it beneficial to my position as an elected official who sits on two different community services committees."

"I would like to say that I thought the conference was very well organized and flowed very well.  The two different streams allowed individuals to make choices that were relevant to their background and interests."

View the 2012 YDRS Brochure

View the 2012 YDRS Program

View the 2012 YDRS Schedule

Download Past Parks Forum Presentations

Slides and documents from previous Parks Forums may be obtained from the Lifestyle Information Network:

2011 Parks Forum: Parks, Landscapes & Open Spaces - A LIFETIME of EXPERIENCES

Browse all available presentations from the 2011 Parks Forum

2009 Parks Forum: Linking Nature, Culture & Community

Browse all available presentations from the 2009 Parks Forum

Overview

ARPA hosted the 2011 Parks Forum March 10-12th in Canmore, AB. The theme was Parks, Landscapes & Open Spaces - A LIFETIME of EXPERIENCES.

The theme of the 2011 Parks Forum captured 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.”

View presentations for the 2011 Parks Forum on LIN »

For more information, contact Dan Chambers, Parks Forum Coordinator, at dchambers@arpaonline.ca.

Keynote Speakers, Presentations and Sessions

Keynote and plenary speakers for the 2011 Parks Forum included:

OPENING KEYNOTE:
Name: Andrew Campbell
Position: Director General, External Relations and Visitor Experience, Parks Canada

KEYNOTE SPEAKER:
Speech Title: A Lifetime of Learnings & Citizen Service (Or at least the first 100 years!)
Name: Anne Charlton, M.L.Arch, CSLA
Position: Director of Parks, City of Calgary

PLENARY WORKSHOP:
Speech Title: Facilitated Discussion Groups
Name: Doug Balsden
Position: Principal, Sunsetter Facilitation

PLENARY SPEAKER:
Speech Title: Cultural Literacy – A First Nations Perspective
Name: Casey Eagle Speaker
Position: Aboriginal Resource Dept. Hull Child & Family Services

PLENARY SPEAKER:
Name: Janette Loveys
Position: Manager of Parks, Capital Regional District Victoria, BC – Capital Region Parks

PLENARY SPEAKER:
Speech Title: Public Safety, Law Enforcement and the Park ExperienceName: Bruce van Staalduinen
Position: Manager, Operations & Development, Ontario Parks

The Parks Forum's practitioner-focused sessions and workshops addressed the total spectrum of areas affected by the challenge to enhance and sustain visitor experience including:

• Education and Visitor Services
• Planning and Design
• Resource Management & Protection
• Operations & Maintenance
• Public Safety & Security
• Research
• Regional Planning & Integrated Landscape Management
• Outreach & Partnerships

Who attends the Parks Forum?

Municipal, Provincial, and National Parks Practitioners; Allied Stakeholders; Partners; and Educators & Students.

Why attend the Parks Forum?

• It provides an excellent mix of topics delivered through a variety of formats that will provide a unique educational and staff development opportunity unattainable at a sector-specific event.
• The Parks Forum allows participants to Interact and network with a cross-section of municipal, provincial and national parks representatives and other key stakeholders.

Objectives of the Forum

Two of the primary objectives of the Parks Forum are:

1. To provide educational and development opportunities that include the exchange of views, sharing of experiences and learning of new and unique approaches to planning and managing Alberta parks; and
2. To develop ideas, concepts and proposals for realistic interaction and collaboration on issues and initiatives of common interest and concern. These important objectives will be achieved through a program that appeals to a broad range of interests and engages a variety of learning styles such as keynote speakers, inter-active workshops, concurrent sessions, panel discussions, plenary sessions and opportunities for informal social interaction.

Forum History

ARPA demonstrated proactive leadership in the field of parks and outdoor recreation by successfully facilitating the inaugural 2005 Parks Forum, A New Tomorrow.

The 2007 Parks Forum, which was themed Benefits Beyond Boundaries, was inspired by the incredible range and diversity of benefits provided by Alberta's parks, landscapes and open spaces.

The central theme of the 2009 Parks Forum was Linking Nature, Culture & Community, and it built on the forward looking themes of the two previous Forums. Presentations, workshops, and subsequent discussions explored the need for a total landscape approach to nature conservation and its potential to enhance the long term sustainability of Alberta's parks, landscapes and open spaces.

All of ARPA’s past Parks Forums have attracted a broad cross section of participants from Alberta's three major park providers (municipal, provincial and national) as well as a variety of key partners, educators and students.

Download Past Conference Sessions

Slides and documents from past ARPA Annual Conferences may be obtained from the Lifestyle Information Network:

2011 Annual Conference:
Recreation and Parks: Bringing Quality to Life

Browse all available presentations from the 2011 Conference

2010 Annual Conference:
Renaissance 2010: Endless Possibilities

Browse all available presentations from the 2010 Conference

2009 ARPA Annual Conference:
Weaving of Values∞Spirit of Places

Browse all available presentations from the 2009 Conference

Trade Show, Silent Auction and Tailgate Party

This year's Trade Show event was SOLD OUT with over 26 different exhibitors.

The Trade Show provides a great opportunity to network and meet with various suppliers and services that are important to your organizations. This year's theme for the Trade Show was "Tailgate Party", which continued after the close of the booths. The ARPA Silent Auction was also held throughout the Trade Show area.

This year's exhibitors included:

Alberta Association of Recreation Facility Personnel
Alberta Tourism, Parks and Recreation
Alberta Sport, Recreation, Parks and Wildlife Foundation
Advantage Sport Inc.
Blue Imp Recreational Products of Canada
BRZ Partnership Architecture Inc.
Canadian Ramp Company
Canadian Red Cross
Centaur Products Inc.
CIMCO Refrigeration
Erv Parent Group
Evergreen Playground Services
FieldTurf Inc.
First Edition First Aid Training Inc.
Fitness Town
GreenGym Outdoor Fitness Equipment
Habitat Systems Inc.
Haul-All Equipment
Musco Lighting
New Line Skateparks
Park n' Play Design Co. Ltd.
Playworks Inc.
Splashables
Staging Canadell Ltd.
TDI
Team Aquatic Supplies
Toker and Associates Architecture Industrial Design
The Playground Guys
Water Technology Inc.

Thank-you to our sponsors!

The Alberta Recreation and Parks Association would like to extend our thanks to the following organizations who committed to sponsorship of the 2010 Conference.

It is because of their generous support that we are able to continue to offer a high-quality educational and networking event.

PLATINUM

GOLD

SILVER

BRONZE

STUDENT

Student Program Details

City of Calgary Recreation Student Bursary

Students registered in a recreation/leisure studies or related degree or diploma program are eligible to apply for a $200 bursary to help offset the costs of attending the 2010 ARPA Conference. For additional details and an application form, please email sallan@arpaonline.ca.

Student-focused Sessions

Sessions that would be recommended for students are identified throughout the program with the student symbol.
 

Guest Program Details

Thursday, October 21st, 2010

6:00 - 8:00 p.m. - Thursday Evening Keynote, Dinner and Renaissance Fair

The Thursday night social program features a dinner and keynote presentation from Jim Carroll, followed by a Renaissance Fair.

Cost: $65/person

Friday, October 22nd, 2010

6:30 - 7:30 a.m. - Boot Camp

Join Boot Camp Instructor, Cheri Onushko, for a kick start to your day, outdoors rain or shine. All levels and abilities welcome!

Cost: Free for conference delegates, $10 for guests.

9:00 - 10:30 a.m. - Walking Tour of Jasper Park Lodge

Join JPL staff for a 1.5 hour, behind the scenes tour, with visits to the kitchen and historical cabins.

Cost: $16/person

1:30 - 3:30 p.m. - Old Fort Point Guided Hike

Join a guide for an interpretive hike to Old Fort Point - enjoy the breathtaking views of The Fairmont Jasper Park Lodge and the Jasper Townsite. Approximately 6 km and takes about 2 hours return.

Cost: $20/person

6:30 p.m. - Midnight - Trade Show, Silent Auction and Tailgate Party

The Trade Show provides a great opportunity to network and meet with various suppliers and services that are important to your organizations. This year's theme for the Trade Show is a Tailgate Party and will continue after the close of the booths. The ARPA Silent Auction will be held throughout the Trade Show area. The Trade Show features multiple prize draws, food and beverages.

Cost: $25/person

Saturday, October 23rd, 2010

6:30 - 7:30 a.m. - Early Morning Pilates

Early Morning Pilates is a great way to rejuvenate and prepare for the day ahead.

Cost: Free for conference delegates, $10 for guests.

9:00 a.m. - 12:00 p.m. - Nature Photography in the Rocky Mountains

Discover how to get stunning mountain and nature photos out of your camera! Led by award winning local photographer, Brian Carnell, this session will start indoors and discuss, in non technical terms, photographic techniques for the area. Then move outdoors as Brian guides you through the grounds and implement what you learnt in a hands on session. From simple point and shoot to more complex equipment, bring whatever camera you have. For more info about the photographer visit his website at http://www.BrianCarnellPhoto.com

Cost: $30/person

2:00 - 3:30 p.m. - Wine and Food Pairing

Elaborate rules of pairing wine and food are giving way to a thoughtful adventure when wondering what to order at a restaurant or serve at home. Explore questions to consider when matching these two pleasures of the table, starting with "How does the wine create a bridge to the food and (as in all good relationships) vice versa?"

Cost: $45/person

6:00 - 8:00 p.m. - President's Banquet

This Banquet, hosted by the ARPA President, includes the presentation of the ARPA, AABRD and Energize Awards for 2010. This semi-formal affair will celebrate the past year's achievements as we look to the future.

Cost: $65/person

**Other Guest Meals are available - see registration form for costs and ordering**

Evening Socials

Thursday, October 21st, 2010 - 8:00-10:00 p.m.

Renaissance Fair: A Look into the Future

Hear Ye Hear Ye! Come one Come all! In the spirit of the Conference's theme Renaissance 2010, we invite all the Lords and Ladies of recreation and parks to attend our Renaissance Fair following Thursday's feast! Please help us in making this a memorable experience for new delegates and the students by joining us for this mystical and magical evening. Hark! You will have the opportunity to meet colleagues from kingdoms near and far over a goblet of wine and a little bit of fun! This evening will provide you with a look into the future...

Friday October 22nd - 9:30-11:00 p.m.

ARPA Trade Show and Tailgate Party

Hey you tailgate rookies and pros - Rah Sis Boom Bah! The game is nothing! The food, drink, and camaraderie with your fellow reckies are everything. Wear your favorite jersey (even if it doesn't fit!) and we will supply the face paint. Watch some old battles of Alberta - smell the team spirit. Compete in some healthy competition at this spontaneous gathering. Win a prize for team spirit by creating a cheer or making a banner OR win Grey Cup tickets to the Big Game this November. Cheap beer and snacks will be served.

Saturday, October 23rd - 8:00-11:00 p.m.

Casino Cavell

Luck be a Reckie tonight! Join us 007-style at our fun money casino night. Blackjack, craps, poker, and roulette are there for you to try with many chances to win great prizes! If you're not a gambler, come to be seen dressed in your best Bond or Bond Girl apparel on the red carpet.

PC1 - HIGH FIVE® Sport in Alberta

Thursday, October 21st - 9:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m.

This preconference will mark the launch of HIGH FIVE® Sport in Alberta! The HIGH FIVE® Sport pre-conference will be divided into two interconnected components. The morning session will be led by Dr. Steve Norris and will introduce participants to the concept of physical literacy and how the mastery of fundamental movement skills during childhood leads to life-long participation in physical activity.

Designed for recreation programmers or coaches, the afternoon HIGH FIVE® Sport workshop will focus attention on design and delivery of physical activity programs for children age six to twelve. Aligned with the FUNdamentals and Learn to Train stages of the Canadian Sport for Life model, HIGH FIVE® Sport focuses on the social, emotional, and cognitive development and wellbeing of athletes.

Participants receive the HIGH FIVE® Sport Workbook and Coach Kit. At the completion of this workshop, delegates will receive HIGH FIVE® Sport certification and will be able to:

Identify cognitive, emotional and cognitive development traits of children age six to twelve
Determine the impact of recreation staff and coaches on a child's experience
Communicate effectively with children and their parents Identify strategies to reduce competition pressure

Speakers: Dr. Stephen Norris along with HIGH FIVE® Sport Trainers

Member - $149
Non-member - $199
Student - $49

PC2 - City Repair and the Power of Community Placemaking

Thursday, October 21st - 10:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m.

City Repair (http://www.cityrepair.org) is a 15 year old grassroots organization in Portland, Oregon dedicated to restoring community in the urban environment by facilitating creative, participatory placemaking in the public right of way. Using the planning, creation, and celebration of social structures such as benches, community boards, and intersection murals as catalysts for positive interaction.

Mark and Michael will share the story of the organization's radical and enchanting beginnings: how a journey into the indigenous cultures of the world sparked the creation of a guerrilla tea house, the transformation of a street intersection into a village commons, and a culture of neighborhood placemakers across the nation.

After learning about and discussing the principles and elements of community placemaking, we will look at some case studies of projects that happened during the 10 years of City Repair's annual citywide placemaking event, the Village Building Convergence. What worked, what didn't work and how did we make it all happen?!

During the second half of the day, we will work in groups and as a whole on various placemaking design exercises and creative community development brainstorm sessions.

Session Speakers: Michael Cook & Mark Lakeman - City Repair

Member - $149
Non-member - $199
Student - $49

PC3 - Power and Promise of Recreation in Aboriginal Communities

Thursday, October 21st - 10:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m.

This session will be of interest to anyone who sees the power and potential of recreation, sports, arts, culture and heritage in Aboriginal communities. Facilitated by ARPA's ACE Communities initiative and the Indigenous Sport Council Alberta (ISCA), this preconference session will examine past and current practice and policy in Alberta-based Aboriginal communities as well as build collective strategies for the future.

It is anticipated that participants will:

Gain an understanding of the impact of past government and policy decisions and how they have influenced the delivery system
Learn more about the feedback gathered from ARPA and ISCAs' first Aboriginal Recreation Directors Summit
Gain information about actions that have been taken to address issues surrounding the current state of the recreation delivery system
Share and learn more about innovative programs and initiatives that are taking place in aboriginal communities Work collaboratively to design strategies for strengthening existing services

Session Speakers: ACE Communities and Indigenous Sport Council of Alberta

Member - $99
Non-member - $149
Student - $49

PC4 - Creating "Smart" Parks

Thursday, October 21st - 1:00 p.m. to 4:00 p.m.

As parks and recreation departments try to wrestle with the challenges of shrinking budgets, it is vital that an understanding exists regarding to the impact these changes may have on the risks facing park users. To meet these challenges, the Smart Parks program has been developed to assist parks and recreation departments in implementing strategies to improve park safety while decreasing costs to the department. Municipalities may also become designated as Smart Parks communities which will help reduce costs of risk and heighten awareness of park safety initiatives in the community. All participants at the sessions will be provided a unique training experience, certificate of completion, a Smart Parks manual and receive a step by step guide outlining how to receive the Smart Parks designation for your community.

Session Speaker: Doug Wyseman

Member - $129
Non-member - $179
Student - $49

Session A: October 22nd - 8:30 a.m. to 10:00 a.m.

A1- Youth as Indicator Species

Speaker: Don Carruthers Den Hoed

The Canadian Parks Council Youth Engagement Working Group helps federal, provincial, and territorial parks engage youth with outdoor recreation, natural and cultural heritage, employment, and stewardship. In the first year, the team determined best practices and created a measuring tool for developing effective, engaging, and sustainable youth programs. This summer, the youth research team is doing a national audit and gap analysis of Canadian park agencies' youth engagement programs. In applying the tool, and in developing the strategy, the working group has come to realize that youth are an indicator species; connecting with them is the first step in making parks and nature relevant to all of society.

A2- Think, Talk, and Act your Way to a Better Day: Tips for Healthy Communication

Speaker: Michelle Cederberg

Do you pay attention to how your thoughts, words, and actions affect those around you? What we say and how we say it have a dramatic impact on the quality of our lives both in the messages we tell ourselves and those around us. In this session Michelle exposes our biggest self-talk blunders shares tools to 'erase and replace' toxic messages with positive thinking, talking, and acting, and provides powerful reminders for reducing negative talk and behaviour in your home and work environment. Prepare to think, laugh out loud, and in the end learn to talk to yourself better.

A3- Staging for Aging; Valuing, Supporting and Engaging Seniors in Your Community

Speakers: Brenda Wong and Sheila Hallett

Are you and your community ready for the growing number of older adults? Come learn about their needs and interests as well as promising practices to value, support and engage seniors in your community. Learn about Edmonton's Creative Age Festival, Creative Aging Resources, Edmonton's Seniors Declaration, International Age Friendly Guidelines, Vision for an Age Friendly Edmonton, Aging in Place Initiatives, A Toolkit for Working with Multicultural Seniors and more. Come share your success stories on initiatives for seniors from your community.

A4- Working Together to Get the Facility You Want and Need!

Speaker: Robert Johnston

When a brand new facility is opened, people tend to forget about the hurdles overcome to get to that special moment. With every project, it's almost assured the 'wants' had to be weeded out from the 'needs' and, that due to budget constraints the 'needs' usually have to be pared back as well. Many of these decisions would have been made a year or two previous and, the hard work, cooperation and understanding of all participants is all but a faded memory.

The exercise of collaboration and partnering invariably means giving something up to get something in return and often it can mean sacrifice for a greater common good. But compromise doesn't mean coming up short - it can mean the development of a solution that meets everyone's needs as fully as possible and works within the financial realities of our times.

This session will talk about the collaborative effort of staff, stakeholders and the consultant teams at various stages of the process including feasibility, programming and in all stages of the design process. Techniques and methods for a dynamic, effective and constructive process will be presented and discussed.

A5- Attracting Tourists to Your Community Through Outdoor Recreation

Speaker: Joe Pavelka

Alberta is well endowed with outdoor recreation assets. Outdoor recreation, adventure and ecotourism are on the rise both here and globally. However, the sector has experienced critical changes in recent years. In this session we will discuss some recent developments in this area and key trends. We will discuss different types of outdoor related tourism and how it links to traditional recreation and what types of outdoor related tourism may be better suited to different types of communities. We are going to talk about ways that large and small, mountain and prairie communities can capitalize on outdoor recreation, adventure and ecotourism. A great session for political leaders and practitioners of all types.

A6- Graffiti Prevention Through Local Art

Speakers: Kristina Copeland & Kathy Wipf

The session will introduce three programs that beautify the public realm, build community, and promote healthy lifestyles and legal creative alternatives for graffiti writers. Spread the Paint is a graffiti removal program that focuses on youths doing community service hours. ReStart, the Restorative Justice Art Project is a restorative response to graffiti that brings the graffiti writers into a mural workshop with volunteers, and victims of graffiti. The Black Book Sessions is an art program that offers further mentorship and opportunities for youths to develop their creative talents. Participants will also be provided with tools and tips to get these programs going in your own community.

A7- Building Physical Literacy in Alberta's Communities

Speaker: Dr. Stephen Norris

There is now a common goal amongst wellness, physical education, recreation and sport programs -- physical literacy! Canadian Sport for Life (CS4L) effectively brings everyone in the physical activity system onto the same page and working towards a shared vision. Since many different groups are involved in delivering recreation and sports programs, CS4L recommends that schools, coaches, clubs, wellness programs, community recreation facilities and governments coordinate their efforts for the greatest welfare of the participants in their programs. This session will assist organizations and communities in understanding the benefits of collaborating to achieve physically literacy in their community.

Session B: October 22nd - 10:30 a.m. to 12:00 p.m.

B1- Exploring Places and Neighbourhoods With Reference to Health Outcomes of Populations

Speaker: P. Tish K. Doyle-Baker

Eighty percent of the people in North America live in urban environments and spend 90% of their time indoors. Therefore it makes sense to understand how social epidemiology and health geography can inform and engage us into influencing the health of the built environment. The goal of this session is to provide valuable insights for epidemiological approaches to health and environment. Which includes exploring the relationship between the built environment and sedentary lifestyles and how our manmade surroundings impact the overall health of our citizens.

B2- Regional Planning in Alberta: Opportunities for Recreation and Parks

Speakers: Lyall Brennies, Dr. Tim Burton, Justin Ellis & Judy May-McDonald

Building on an overview of Alberta's new regional planning system presented at the 2009 ARPA Conference, a panel of recreation, parks and planning professionals will discuss opportunities for recreation and parks development within Alberta's regional plans. The following topics will be addressed: opportunities afforded by the Land-use Framework and Alberta Land Stewardship Act; current activities in landscape mapping that will lay foundations for identification of recreation and parks opportunities within regional plans; issues surrounding integration of current metropolitan region plans into broader regional plans; and processes for practitioner involvement in preparation of regional plans. The session will build upon ARPA's recently-completed study, The Role of Recreation, Parks and Open Space in Regional Planning (2010).

B3- Community Building in Action

Speakers: ACE Community Leaders

Community building is a contribution unique to our field and one that means our staff and volunteers are primed and poised for meaningful and perhaps new and significant leadership roles in our communities. Learn more about how leaders working at the grassroots level across Alberta are using recreation, parks, arts, culture and heritage as a catalyst for strengthening community leadership, innovation and collaboration. Hear inspiring stories from the newest flight of local leaders from ARPA's Active, Creative, Engaged (ACE) Communities initiative and how they have contributed to the capacity of their communities, their challenges, and what they've learned along the way. Participants will leave the session with practical ideas for applying a community development approach in their own communities and be motivated to make it happen.

B4- Recreation Facility Sponsorship - the Leduc Experience

Speakers: Greg Krischke, Darrell Melvie & Roger Smolnicky

In fall 2009, the City of Leduc opened its brand new 310,000 sq. ft. Leduc Recreation Centre. Built as an enhancement to the original Leduc Black Gold Centre, it is one of the province's premier recreation facilities hosting a full aquatic centre, three arenas, curling facility, twin field houses, fitness centre, walking/running track and lease/restaurant space. A key part of the success of the project was the ability of the community to attract corporate sponsorship. Learn how the community's award winning sponsorship team worked to attract both one-time and ongoing financial contributions for the facility and how the facility was packaged to entice community corporate sponsors to be 'part of the action.' The panel will provide an overview of the strategies used and the promotion methods employed to raise in excess of $3.3 million in component naming rights.

B5- Grassroots Projects for a Kool Community

Speakers: Shana O'Connor & Jason Simituk

Shana O'Connor, with nine other "Kool Moms," identified a need for families to be able to meet, play and engage in social activities within their neighborhood. In 2009, the Constable Jose Agostinho Park was constructed and became a perfect addition to the growing Southfork Neighbourhood. What is unique about this grassroots initiative was, within a period of four months the Kool Moms raised more than $100,000 by partnering with the City of Leduc, community residents and the Let Them Be Kids initiative. On June 6, 2009, more than 200 residents came together to build this much-needed park space. The Kool Moms, using the park space as a tool, were able to engage Leduc as a whole, creating a lifelong legacy and established a community.

B6- Designing and Building Outdoor Natural Playspaces

Speaker: Adam Bienenstock

Canadian municipalities, schools, childcare facilities, and institutions from St John's to Vancouver, and across the US and UK are building natural playgrounds. The goal of these natural playgrounds is to connect children to nature when and where they play. But there are obstacles to creating these important spaces at every step of the process; design standards, construction requirements, public policy, risk assessments, monetary reward systems, and regulatory frameworks for playgrounds all play a part. This presentation examines some short case studies of the impediments to creating 'nearby nature' and strategies that we need to consider if nature play is to become a standard for our children.

B7- Physical Activity for Health; An Untapped Market

Speaker: Stephen Cheetham and Angela Torry

A significant portion of the population has or is at risk for chronic disease. Physical activity is an important behavior for preventing and treating chronic health issues yet most of us do not do enough to maintain health. Municipal recreation centres offer a range of physical activity opportunities but are only used consistently by a minority of the population and not by those whose health could benefit most. These individuals represent a largely untapped market but how can municipal recreation centres better tailor their facilities and services to attract this portion of the population?

Session C: October 22nd - 1:30 p.m. to 2:45 p.m.

C1- Art in the Park: An Overview of Implementing Public Art in Parks and Municipalities

Speaker: Kristy Trinier

Kristy Trinier will give an overview of how public art can be included in parks and municipal spaces and how artists can be involved in parks planning. This session will also provide a practical understanding of "What is public art?" and the process of administrating or accessioning a public artwork.

C2- EXPOSING the MYTH of Life Balance... and Revealing the REAL Secret to Success

Speaker: Michelle Cederberg

75% of Canadians don't believe that work-life balance is possible. We're working more than ever, spending less time with our friends and family, and watching our health and happiness drift away. So maybe it's true? Since we spend more time looking for balance than we do experiencing it, perhaps success needs a new strategy? In this session Michelle exposes the myth of work-life balance and reveals the real secret to success. She helps you recognize your biggest time wasters and effectively prioritize your time to include growth in work and life activities - even with a busy schedule. With Michelle's humour and get real approach you can find more time for the things that matter, and learn practical and realistic tips for moving toward better balance.

C3- A Journey of Volunteer Engagement

Speaker: Susan Kankkunen

The journey begins with an overview of the City of Edmonton's Volunteer policy and current trends in volunteerism in Edmonton and Alberta. The journey continues with models of how the City of Edmonton has created movement and space to facilitate community connections. The journey ends with discussion on the places we will go in the future. Participants will have an opportunity to share a promising practice and walk away with a tool kit of resources./font>

C4- Planning Today for the Aquatic Facility of the Future: Keeping your Finger on the Pulse of the Aquatic Industry

Speaker: Douglass Whiteaker

Trend today, gone tomorrow?...Maybe not gone, but certainly new and improved. Tomorrow's aquatic center will resemble today's waterpark boasting bigger and better attractions with soaring entertainment value. In a strained economy, families opt for the aquatic facility as a one stop shop for entertainment and less expensive alternative to the vacation. Guest safety and public health will persist as a driving force in the design and technical trends of these facilities, and government legislation will play a critical role in safety regulation. Explore how the family aquatic center will continue to satisfy our insatiable appetite for more, more, more!

C5- Active Alberta Policy - Impact on Recreation and Parks

Speakers: Alberta Tourism, Parks and Recreation Representatives; ARPA Representatives

Participants will be briefed by officials from Alberta Tourism, Parks and Recreation on the status of "Active Alberta - A Recreation, Active Living and Sport Policy." Find out what is intended and included in the policy and then interactively contribute to determining ways in which ARPA and community recreation and parks systems could assist in attaining policy outcomes.

C6- PLAY - It's Serious Business

Speaker: Judy Hoad

"PLAY is freely chosen, personally directed, intrinsically motivated behaviour that actively engages the child." Child development experts and recreation and parks professionals agree children today do not have the same opportunities to PLAY as earlier generations. And they link the PLAY deficit to increasing rates of child obesity, gaps in healthy child development and concerns about our young people and their behaviours. Is there a case for change? This session talks about the PLAY deficit, the implications and the need to take action to support the return of PLAY to the public policy agenda. ARPA had recently prepared a position paper on PLAY, and it recommends new policy development and engaging the community and children in designing playspaces and activities. It also raises questions. How can we in the recreation and parks sector support PLAY?

C7- Local Motion - Community Demonstration Project

Speaker: Ian Hosler

Join Ian Hosler as he describes this unique social marketing demonstration project to change a community's travel behaviours for the month of June in 2009. Using a community development model, a collaborative working group of the City of Edmonton and partners worked to get residents of the neighbourhood of Parkallen to engage in more eco-mobile travel. This session will describe the program model used and the outcomes and learnings from this award winning project.

Session D: October 22nd - 3:15 p.m. to 4:30 p.m.

D1- Stone Soup - The Recipe for an After School Recreation Strategy in Alberta

Speakers: Heather Cowie & Graham Clyne

While there are many practical and obvious reasons to embrace an After School Recreation Strategy for Alberta, it will take the willing contribution of many different partners through a blended program development framework to create a high quality system of after school programs for our children and youth. This session will overview the recent research that ARPA has conducted in regards to an After School Recreation Strategy for Alberta, including recommendations for ARPA, its members, and other key stakeholders. Find out the rationale for, and what comprises the blended program framework and the key steps are next in working towards this important holistic provincial strategy.

D2- Community-based Physical Activity Promotion: The Australian 10,000 Steps Experience

Speaker: Dr. Kerry Mummery

There are many challenges to conducting whole-of-community interventions. Developing community partnerships and coalitions, reaching socially disadvantaged groups, and developing effective evaluation methods have been identified as specific concerns. Despite the challenges, the whole-of-community approach offers tremendous potential for developing the social and cultural change which will be required for sustained improvements in population physical activity. The session will focus on community-based physical activity promotion using examples from the award-winning 10,000 Steps program. The session will define community and cover the various levels and methods used to promote health related physical activity to the population at the community level.

D3- Aquatics for Active Retired Adults and Seniors - A Growing Market

Speaker: Douglass Whiteaker

With the average life expectancy on the rise and a continuing increase in the 65-and-older population, active retired adults and seniors will become a growing dynamic as aquatic designers, facility operators and owners go through the process of designing and programming our aquatic facilities. American Sports Data noted that Baby Boomers are the strongest market to target. Are you ready? Get educated on design and programming solutions for this growing population. Explore the benefits of aquatic exercise as well as the continued specialization of aquatic facilities from enriched programming to multi-purpose design to accommodate our aging population.

D4- Alberta Recreation Facilities Energy Assessment Program

Speakers: Shafraaz Kaba & Josh Kjenner

Within community recreation facilities, rising utility costs have led to increased overall operating costs even as energy consumption has dropped. In response to this situation, ARPA has recently engaged the services of Manasc Isaac Architects to initiate phase one of a Recreation Facilities Energy Assessment Program. With support from the Alberta Sport, Recreation, Parks and Wildlife Foundation, this project aims to assist ARPA members in assessing the energy performance in their facilities and developing strategies to improve facility energy efficiency. This session will highlight learnings from this project including methodologies used in the pilot facilities, promising practices stemming from their research, and cost-saving recommendations.

D5- Facilitating Collective Joy and Strength in our Communities through Arts, Culture and Heritage

Speaker: Janet Naclia

Throughout history, group celebrations have brought people together in a spirit of solidarity, joy and union. Celebrations involving arts, culture, music and dance have the potential to strengthen families and communities, build our confidence and self esteem, express a vision for the kind of community we're seeking, and teach that joy can be achieved in sustainable ways. Join us as we share more about ARPA's ACE Communities and how it is working to bring more opportunities for collective joy into our lives, organizations and communities. This session will share more about a groundbreaking Alberta Rural Talent Showcase (ARTS) Music and Dance Tour, and how it is supporting communities to come together to celebrate and grow local talent.

D6- Marketing Parks - An Award Winning Case Study

Speakers: Judy Hobbs & Donna Sinclair

The City of Calgary Parks developed and executed an award-winning campaign to increase public awareness and encourage park visits. Innovative advertising included the use of life-size images on interior elevator doors in various locations in order to creatively reach the audience. This session will share the research, development and production of this campaign in a case study format. Participants will learn about the challenges and opportunities that were explored throughout the project, key learnings the presenters garnered from the experience and how the campaign is helping to reach Parks' overall goal of environmental stewardship. This City of Calgary Parks awareness campaign was awarded a Gold Quill award of Merit from the International Association of Business Communicators in 2009.

D7- WHERE WORK COMES TO PLAY - Keys to a Successful, Self-Sustaining Event

Speakers: TNT Communications and Event Planning

The Edmonton and Area Corporate Challenge Games have grown from a small 50 team event to one of the largest sport & recreation events in Western Canada. Today the Games boast some impressive statistics:

• 17,000+ participants
• 175+ participating companies
• 2000+ volunteers
• 22 sporting events
• Party in the Park (attendance 4,000)
• 24 Facilities Family Day (attendance 6,000)

Through the strategic development of targeted sponsorship programs, membership buy-in and creative fundraising, this two-week, Olympic-sized event has managed to flourish and be self-sustaining for 19 years. Come learn the keys to developing and maintaining an event with little to no government funding.

Session E: October 23rd - 1:30 p.m. to 2:45 p.m.

E1- Environmental Worldview of Children Living in an Oil-Rich Economy

Speaker: Lori Gray

In a Province greatly dependent on the business of oil-extraction and in a world where environmental devastation is rapidly becoming a global concern, this session addresses how children view the natural world around them. This session is based on a research study that took place in a northern Alberta community and looked at the environmental worldviews of children in an oil-rich economy. If you have children, work with children or have concerns about the future of the natural environment, you won't want to miss this! The results will leave you shocked and change the way you engage children and plan education programs.

E2- It's 11:00 P.M., Do You Know Where Your Records Are?

Speaker: Gisele L. Crawford

Word, PowerPoint, Excel, e-Mail, SharePoint, shared and personal drives, Databases, paper, PDAs, text messaging, memos, projects, client files, presentations, pictures and even jokes. How do I save, maintain, share and sort through this stuff? Which is the latest version? What was changed? Do I have everything? Could this project signify an era in Parks design and management? Are these documents discoverable in the event of litigation? How and what can I get rid of? If you are asking yourself these questions, this session is for you! This session will focus on tips and strategies to help you understand how to better manage your information on your desktop, laptop, PDA or paper.

E3- Community Building Through Block Parties

Speaker: Roy Bedford

Leftover from another era, Block Parties can provide a gateway to community building. Disguised as a time for fun, food, and meeting people, Block Parties can be an effective way to engage residents in the life of their neighbourhood. Social networking through Block Parties can have positive effects on crime prevention, neighbour-helping-neighbour, physical recreation, and the overall quality of life for residents.

This session will cover basic considerations for a successful street or neighbourhood event. This includes sparking leadership, developing an afternoon or evening program, budgeting, and marketing for individual block parties. The session will also cover how to initiate a block party strategy as a community development tool, focusing on key considerations to any-sized community including creating buy-in, resourcing, and administrative/organization factors, and will highlight steps beyond the party to help residents become engaged in lasting community building.

E4- Mountain Bike Terrain Parks - Overcoming the Obstacles

Speakers: Stephen Hanus & Jay Hoots

Ever wondered where to start when it comes to opening a mountain bike terrain park in your community? This session will answer all of your questions and then some. The Hinton Bike Park was made possible with a unique partnership between the Hinton Mountain Bike Association and the Town of Hinton. The site includes 37 acres of land, with only 1/4 developed to date. Phase II of the project was completed in 2009 and was made possible through the support of over 2200 volunteer hours and sponsorship from 47 businesses. Find out how this was all possible and how the park exists today with issues of liability, insurance and ongoing maintenance as obstacles that were overcome through the visionary leadership of the partners involved.

E5- Developing a Healthy Food Policy for your Recreation Facility

Speaker: Patrica Martz

Recreation facilities are places where individuals and families gather for sports and recreation and where they should also have access to healthy food choices. This session is intended for facility managers and operators with an interest in policy as a way to bring about health promoting change. It will provide a practical orientation to the process of developing and implementing healthy food policies that will assist your facility in implementing the recommendations in the Alberta Nutrition Guidelines for Children and Youth. The session will be a guided, hands-on policy writing experience that will utilize a policy template that will allow participants to tailor a policy specific to their needs and leave with a first draft to take back to their facility for refinement.

E6- Positioning Your Community to Win Bids on Major Events

Speaker: Jim Jones

Have you ever struggled with where to start when your community is interested in bidding for events? The process of putting a successful event bid together starts well before the pen hits the paper. Jim put together a team of volunteers that bid on, planned and carried out the best ever Alberta Cup in Hockey Alberta's 29 years of hosting the Cup by working with Hockey Alberta to create a "Best Ever" atmosphere for all participants. Jim will provide details on how to help you pledge to build a "Best Ever" event and build the confidence in your ability to host major events in the community, outside the community, and eventually nationally and internationally.

E7- Promoting Healthy, Active Lifestyles for Persons with Physical Disabilities

Speakers: Laura Lee Crook, Evelyn Sawicki & Laurie Wilson

The session will highlight; awareness of para-sport opportunities for persons with a physical disability at all levels of participation, including recreation, development, and competition; the current reality of para-sport programs available in Calgary and surrounding areas; the potential partnerships of successful para-sport models, as well as co-operative initiatives underway; sport as a vehicle for the integration of persons with a physical disability into the community, and onto the playing field.

Session F - Activity Sessions:
October 23rd - 3:15 p.m. to 4:30 p.m.

If there is one thing that we hear from delegates in our Conference evaluation process, it is that delegates feel that they don't have enough time to enjoy the beautiful settings that our Conferences are hosted in. Well we have heard you and these activity sessions have been designed to enjoy the amenities inside and outside of the Fairmont Jasper Park Lodge while hopefully challenging you to try something new and different!

F1- Explore Nature Photography

Bring along your camera and we will head outdoors on a short hike to enjoy the scenery while learning tips and techniques to capture stunning nature photos.

Leader: Brian Carnell

F2- Ghost Tour of the Jasper Park Lodge

Have you caught the paranormal bug? Come find out all of the chilling details about the haunted past of the Fairmont Jasper Park Lodge and learn more about the increasingly popular activity of ghost hunting.

Leaders: Kerri Kaboni and Fairmont Jasper Park Lodge

F3- Zumba® Fitness Session

The Zumba® program fuses hypnotic Latin rhythms and easy-tofollow moves to create a one-of-a-kind fitness program that will blow you away. Get out your fitness gear and come join the party!

Leader: Irene Bobocel

F4- Card Making

With Christmas around the corner, come learn how to make cards for any occasion. Create 3 beautiful cards with an experienced scrapbooker/card maker from Rocky Mountain Monograms.

Leader: Rocky Mountain Monograms

F5- Belly Dancing 101

Come and learn some of the basic movements in the graceful art of belly dancing. Try this fun way to move which is non-impact and suitable for all ages.

Leader: Nicole Koebel

F6- Kitchen Tour and Demo

Calling all foodies, this session is for you! Join in as the kitchen staff from the Fairmont Jasper Park Lodge provide a tour of the kitchen facilities and provide a short demonstration on preparing a unique dish.

Leaders: Fairmont Jasper Park Lodge

F7- Maligne Canyon Hike & Tour

Join in on a quick, informative hike that will start at the top of Maligne Canyon and visit several viewpoints. This hike is considered moderately strenuous and does involve elevation changes and uneven ground.

Leader: Trevor Poth

F8- Lac Beauvert Stroll

Join in on a leisurely stroll around the beautiful Lac Beauvert which is situated just in front of the Fairmont Jasper Park Lodge.

Leaders: 2010 ARPA Conference Committee Members

F9- Free time on your own

F10- *New Session* Dance Lesson

Do you think you can dance? Well, we do! Come and join the dance movement by learning a routine that is fun for all ages and abilities. There is even a super cool surprise! This session is led by the main dancers from the ACE Communities ARTS Tour.

Leaders: Michelle Greenwell and Emma Forman

F11- *New Session* Antlers, Tracks and Scat - Show and Tell

Are you able to distinguish the difference between a caribou and moose track or perhaps a grizzly and black bear print? Is there a difference in size between a grizzly and black bear claw? Would you be able to recognize a wolf track in the wild? When was the last time you were able to feel just how soft a beaver pelt really was? Have you ever wondered which scat belongs to what animal when stumbling upon a little surprise that was left for you on your daily nature walk in the wild? You've got the time, we've got the answers, so why not be brought up to speed on various wildlife matters that are pertinent in the largest and most northern Rocky Mountain National Park.

*Note*

These sessions have registration limits and are open on a first-come first-serve basis. As sessions fill up, additional Activity Sessions will be added. Be sure to check back to this page for information on new sessions as they become available.

Jim Carroll

Endless Possibilities for the Future of
Recreation & Parks

Thursday, October 21st - 6:00-8:00 p.m.

Futurist Jim Carroll has helped hundreds of organizations minimize their insomnia when preparing for the future, and he will discuss some of the upcoming opportunities and challenges for the recreation and parks sector in Canada when he delivers his keynote presentation on October 21st.

Carroll will concentrate his presentation on three areas:

• Aligning organizational missions with the major trends and developments that will influence the field of recreation and parks in the future.
• A leadership style that encourages a culture of agility, allowing for a rapid response to sudden changes in programs, markets, competition and other trends.
• A performance-oriented focus in which people are encouraged to turn new challenges into opportunities, rather than viewing change as a threat to be feared.

Jim Carroll lives five years in the future. As a leading international futurist, trends and innovation expert, he dedicates his time to helping people and organizations understand how they can aggressively adopt tomorrow, today. Jim wakes people up to the trends that will affect them, and challenges them to cope with a world that continues to witness constant, relentless, dramatic change. He is recognized for his critical thinking and business-oriented view of issues relating to social, consumer and workplace trends, demographic and lifestyle issues, emerging technologies, as well as economic and business trends.

He is recognized worldwide for presentations that involve his signature humour, high-level energy, deep insight and challenging observations, and which are based on extensive research and customization.

A prolific author, his works have been sold in the U.S., Germany, India and Canada, with sales exceeding a half-million copies. As a columnist, he has written over 600 articles for a wide variety of national and international publications. As a media commentator, he has provided his insight in over 3,000 interviews on radio, television and in print, including to ABC News, CNN, the South China Morning Post (Hong Kong), INC, CEO Magazine Hungary, Texas Meetings & Events, American Way Magazine, Oprah Magazine, Elle, Family Circle, Cosmopolitan, Good Housekeeping, Family Circle, Meeting News, Association LEADERSHIP, the National Post and PROFIT . He is an award winning columnist, has been listed as "One of 50 International Names to Know" by the Online Journalism Review published by the Annenberg School for Communication at the University of Southern California, and was recently honored with the Lifetime Achievement Award by a major national new media organization.

As a frequent keynote speaker with some 1,000 high profile presentations to his credit over the last 10 years, he is recognized as someone who provides presentations that deliver relevant, unique insight. His client list includes some of the world's largest organizations and associations, such as the BBC, the U.S. Department of Defense, the American Federation of Teachers, Microsoft, American Express, the American Payroll Association, VISA, the Health Care Industry Distributors Association, Blue Cross/Blue Shield, KPMG, Monsanto, Deloitte, the North American Newsprint Producers Association, Nortel Networks, the American Academy of Ophthalmologists, the World Congress of Association Executives, Towers Perrin and many more.

Bruce Kirkby

No Opportunity Wasted: Forging a Path to Excellence

Saturday, October 23rd - 8:30-9:30 a.m.

In this high energy keynote, Kirkby shows you how to ditch the excuses, plan bravely, move carefully, use fear as a compass, and embrace the unknown. Along the way he unearths key elements of excellence in leadership and teamwork, providing a step-by-step strategy for systematically breaking down barriers and achieving goals. Combining video, photography and awe inspiring stories from his expeditions, he explores the fundamental principles of working (and living) with passion, purpose and vitality - and he challenges you to step outside your comfort zone to rise above self-imposed limitations. Whether facing massive uncertainty and change, or striving for new and extraordinary results, Kirkby will help you and your organization plot a course towards lasting success.

Bruce Kirkby has led a life of adventure through sixty countries, from Africa to the Arctic. He has crossed Iceland by foot, traveled by horse through Mongolia, and joined an expedition to the summit of Mount Everest. There simply isn't a better person in Canada to help normal Canadians achieve their goals, whether professional or personal. Sharing his adventures, and the lessons they hold, is Kirkby's passion.

As the host of No Opportunity Wasted, a recent CBC reality show, Kirkby's mission was to help regular people overcome personal fears to accomplish their goals - things they'd always dreamed of doing, but put off for years. In his keynotes, he takes audiences on a scenic tour along a road less travelled, sharing stories, adventures and brilliant photographic images gathered from a lifetime of journeys exploring the landscapes and cultures of the world.

Kirkby is the author of the bestsellers Sand Dance and Dolphin's Tooth. He is a contributing editor at Explore, and has contributed to The Globe and Mail and TIME. His journeys have been featured in National Geographic documentaries, and his photographs have been shown in National Geographic Adventure.
 

Online Conference Registration

Look for Online Registration to be open in July 2012

Accommodation

The Fairmont Jasper Park Lodge
Old Lodge Road
Jasper, Alberta, T0E 1E0, Canada
Phone: 780-852-3301
Toll Free: 1-866-540-4454

Website: www.fairmont.com/jasper

Room Rates

Mention the “2012 ARPA Conference” to receive the following rates:

* Rates include a per person daily service charge, however do not include Tourism Levee or 5% GST.

** Additional persons per room at $25.00/person/night (not including relevant taxes)

To book your room by phone, call the Fairmont Jasper Park Lodge at 780-852-3301, identifying that you will be attending the ARPA Conference.

*Our block typically sells out by mid-August*