Communities ChooseWell is excited to welcome our friends at Canadian Parks and Wilderness Society for a free webinar on March 7, 2025 at 12:00PM – 1:00PM MST on Fostering Diverse Parks for Healthy Communities!
Research demonstrates that nature connections improve community building, health and wellbeing, and care for nature. However, a majority of this academic literature in Canada focuses on white/Eurocentric perspectives. Further, this academic knowledge is often seen as more valuable than traditional knowledge(s) and lived experience which fails to represent diverse perspectives and therefore fails to undertake inclusive outdoor recreation and conservation.
In order for equitable outdoor recreation and conservation to take place, everyone must feel welcomed to form a connection with nature. Therefore, our presentation will put forth recommendations for inclusion and accessibility from Fostering a Sense of Belonging in Canada’s Parks and Wilderness (Shah & Badaloo, 2023), solutions which are driven by both research and a diversity of lived experiences, to promote healthy living for all.
The Alberta Recreation & Parks Association would like to acknowledge the First Nations, the Métis, the Inuit and all of the people across Alberta who share a history and a deep connection with this land. We dedicate ourselves to moving forward in partnership with Indigenous communities in the spirit of reconciliation and collaboration.