ARPA Conference and Energize Workshop
October 26 – October 28
Overview
October 26-28, 2023
Fairmont Chateau Lake Louise
This year’s theme is “Inspiring Creativity and Community”. Recreation and parks are the heartbeat of our communities. Our spaces have the power to inspire creativity and bring all people together in meaningful ways. However, recreation and parks are more than just programs, places and activities; they are also about art, culture, and community development. That’s why we are excited to invite you to this year’s conference, which will have a special focus on these vital aspects of our collective work. This conference is a platform for recreation, FCSS, culture, and park professionals, elected officials, and others within our sector who have an interest in recreation, parks, art, culture, and community development to come together and share their experiences, knowledge, and ideas.
With the theme “Inspiring Creativity and Community” this conference is an excellent opportunity for everyone interested in making a positive impact on their community. It is a call to action for us to think big, push boundaries, create unique partnerships and collaborate with our community members.
The education program will cover the diversity of the recreation and parks sector and will include content that connects to a broad range of focus areas. Whether you’re interested in trends in recreation programming, parks and open spaces, environmental stewardship, or cultural and artistic programs, there will be something for everyone.
Together, let’s inspire creativity in our communities and build stronger, more vibrant places to live, work, and play.
Call for Presentations
The ARPA Conference Education Committee invites students, educators, practitioners, professionals, allied health professionals and others to submit presentation proposals relevant to evidence based best practices, innovative programs, assessment, facilitation techniques, interventions, management issues, theories/models, research, and other strategies that advance and develop our sector and related professions. The program for the Conference will be developed by a volunteer committee that will include representatives from ARPA as well as a number of other key stakeholders. The recreation and parks sector is quite diverse in terms of the work we do and our hope is to have strong program content for everyone.
If you have a presentation that you think should be considered for the 2023 ARPA Conference and Energize Workshop, please click on the button below to start your submission.
*Deadline to submit your presentation proposal is April 30, 2023 at midnight.
Who will attend this Conference?
A mix of both rural and urban professionals, volunteers, students and elected officials, including examples such as:
- Recreation and parks 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
- Business leaders in our sector
- Contract staff, consultants and strategic planners
- 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.
Some other background information to help with your presentation proposal:
- Connections to national sector policies and frameworks including but not limited to:
- High level trends
- Essential role of recreation and parks
- Changes of roles and programs coming out of the pandemic
- Demographic Changes
- Connections to Health
- Equity, Inclusivity and Diversity
- Social Challenges
- New & Emerging Technology
- Trends in Infrastructure Design and Planning
- Threats to the Natural Environment
Registration
Our registration will open in early July 2023. For the sake of planning and transparency, ARPA has elected to post our prices early for your planning purposes.
| Early Bird (until August 31) | |
| Members | $845.00 |
| Non members | $995.00 |
| Student | $495.00 |
We would like to inform you that the conference price for this year’s event has increased due to the all-inclusive conference experience we offer. The conference registration includes 7 meals from Thursday dinner to Saturday dinner, 44+ session options, 3 keynote speakers, an industry trade show, and several social and networking options.
We understand that price increases can be frustrating, but we believe that the value of this package far outweighs the additional cost. By including all meals, encompassing education options and offering a wide range of social and networking opportunities, we are creating an immersive experience that will enable attendees to fully engage with the conference material and their fellow attendees.
Furthermore, the increased price allows us to provide a high-quality experience that meets the needs of our attendees. We are committed to delivering the best possible conference, and this all-inclusive package is one way we are working to achieve that goal.
We appreciate your understanding and look forward to seeing you at the conference. If you have any questions or concerns, please do not hesitate to contact us.
Accommodation
Host Hotel: Fairmont Chateau Lake Louise
Room Rates:
| Fairmont Rooms | starting at $195 |
| Fairmont Deluxe | starting at $275 |
| Suites | starting at $395 |
To book your accommodations, please click here or call the Fairmont Chateau Lake Louise at 1-800-441-1414 to secure your reservation. Make sure you identify yourself as being with the ARPA Event or the Alberta Recreation & Parks Association Event. made, reservation requests must be made by September 24, 2023 in order to qualify for your group rate.