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SAS K ATCH E WA N PA R KS A N D R ECR E AT I O N AS S O C I AT I O N

The Recreation ProfessionalMaking Saskatchewan A Better Place to Live, Work and Play

01 SEPTEMBER 2011

SPRA STAFF

MANAGEMENT

Chief Executive Officer Norm Campbell

Program Manager John Firnesz

Field Services Manager Randy Durovick

Communication, Information and Research Manager Luella Newman

RECREATION CONSULTANTS

Information and Research Services Chantel Doerksen

Communications Lori Ross Christian Bates-Hardy

Human Resources and Funding Lee Anne Balliett

Parks and Open Spaces Andrew Exelby

Physical Activity and Fitness Wendy McKellar

Aboriginal Support Tim Haywahe Leadership and Evaluation Karen Thompson

Recreation Facilities Kelly Skotnitsky

Funding and Youth Tanya Murphy

Assistant Consultant Kristen Bialobzyski

ADMINISTRATION

Business Administrator Bonnie Thiessen

Business Administrator Anita Ehman

Executive Assistant Lois McNaught

Administrative Technician Ryan Monks Administrative Assistant II Wendy Chapman

Administrative Assistant I Lynn Bradley Donna Matheson

Fitness/Administrative Assistant II Amanda Trombley

Regina Office: Phone: (306) 780-9231 or 1-800-563-2555

FIELD CONSULTANTS/ADMINISTRATION

Swift Current Jaclyn Davis/Christine Rousseaux Phone: (306) 778-1091

Rosetown/North Battleford Kerry Bailey/Janae Dawson Phone: (306) 882-6601

Prince Albert Rob Boulding/Shari Morash Phone: (306) 953-0052

Weyburn Morgan Grainger Phone: (306) 848-0272

Melville/Yorkton Darren Spelay/Linda Weinmaster Phone: (306) 728-3860

Humboldt Clint McConnell/ Lynne Morelli Phone: (306) 682-5265

La Ronge Vacant Phone: (306) 425-1910

DECEMBER 2013 | VOLUME 4 | NUMBER 4

TABLE OF CONTENTS

President’s Report 01 What Do Recreation Professionals Bring to the Community? 02 SPRA Scholarship Recipients - Our Future Leaders 03Hiring A Recreation Professional - An Investment in Community and Quality of Life 04Lottery Lingo 05Promoting Programs on Social Media 06SIAST Announces Proposed Changes to Recreation and Tourism Management Program 07The Town of Allan - Responding to Change 08Spotlight on Ava Kalaschnick 09 Just the Facts 09Award of Distinction - Shelley Thoen-Chaykoski 10 Grants and Funding 11Sheila Hryniuk - An Outstanding Recreation Professional 12Employer Wants 13 Commercial Ads 13

DIRECTION is published four times a year (December, March, June and September). The publication is provided to members of the Saskatchewan Parks and Recreation Association. Direct all communications to:

Editor, DIRECTION #100 - 1445 Park Street Regina, Saskatchewan S4N 4C5

You may also send letters or comments to Lori Ross, Communications Consultant, at 306.780.9370, by fax at 306.780.9257, or by email at lross@spra.sk.ca.

Articles within this magazine are the opinions of the author(s) and do not necessarily reflect the policies or opinions of SPRA. Articles in DIRECTION may be reprinted, provided that full credits are shown for the author and the magazine.

SPRA BOARD OF DIRECTORS

President Mike Powell

Director for Cities Jasmine Jackman

Director for Towns Vacant

Director for Villages Clive Craig

Director at Large Corrine Galarneau Director at Large Mimi Lodoen

Director at Large Dawna Nielson

Director at Large Coralie Bueckert

Director for the North Derek Sylvestre

in motion STAFF

Manager Cathie Kryzanowski

Manager - Community and Target Strategies Marnie Sinclair

Communications Consultant Kim Herperger Amanda Perry Administrative Assistant Stephanie Woitas Jill McDougall

Phone: (306) 780-9248 or 1-866-888-3648 Fax: (306) 780-9466

Supported by:

DECEMBER 2013 01

PRESIDENT’S REPORTA few years ago, a group of us were golfing and we had the chance to chat with the foursome ahead of us. We exchanged pleasantries and at one point, they asked what we did for a living. I noticed our answer caught them off guard when we said we were recreation professionals. I would wager that many of us have had a similar encounter, so I have taken this opportunity to provide some conversation

points for the next time you are asked to explain what you mean by “recreation professional.”

Any definition of a professional in general includes a number of criteria. A professional has specialized knowledge and is proficient in the delivery of services within the field of exper-tise. A professional has a high standard of ethics and a high standard for the work results. A professional is dedicated and has a positive attitude towards the profession. Sound familiar? Of course it does…these are all attributable to a recreation professional. I believe that everyone knows this…yet they have trouble equating recreation to a profession. Perhaps it is because there are also some differences for our line of work.

The recreation profession itself stands apart from other professions. The role recreation practitioners play in the community provides a benefit to everyone…not just the direct participants. The more dedicated we are, the better job we do, the larger the positive impact. In our vocation, we have customers to serve…not customers to please. What really sets a recreation professional apart from other professionals is the passion we all feel for the work we do.

I heard a story once about Yuri Gagarin who was the first hu-man in space in 1961. Yuri was one of a number of poten-

tial Cosmonauts to be the pilot on this first voyage. All the candidates were qualified, skilled, dedicated, and performed very well. The story goes that the first time the potential Cosmonauts saw the spacecraft, Yuri carefully sat down and removed his shoes before entering the marvel of engineer-ing. This small act demonstrated his passion and made an impression on the space officials. Yuri was selected and the rest is history!

It is with all this in mind, that there is a movement to increase awareness and the prominence of the recreation sector and the recreation service providers. The Canadian Parks and Recreation Association has begun work on creating a Nation-al Professional Development and Certification Program with the hopes of bringing a level of awareness of the profession and elevating the professional. Here on the home front, the Saskatchewan Association of Recreation Professionals has been pursuing a professional designation project. Such a designation can bring awareness and standards for the entire recreation field and to all municipalities and employers.

One can not be a professional without education, training, and ongoing learning. Our province has three formal educa-tion institutions and each provides an excellent platform. But we can’t stop there. The Saskatchewan Parks and Recre-ation Association supports professional development through a variety of opportunities available through all our recreation partners. This certainly includes opportunities like the annual SPRA Conference, SaskFit and the Spring Facilities Sympo-sium where our recreation practitioners can share, learn and network. It is these opportunities that offer us a chance to reach that next level.

So…I say to you, my fellow recreation professionals, go ahead and let everyone know how proud you are to be in your chosen career. Be prepared for the next conversation on the golf course. Go ahead and take your shoes off.

Mike Powell SPRA President

02 DECEMBER 2013

WHAT DO RECREATION PROFESSIONALS BRING TO THE COMMUNITY?

Program Design and DevelopmentRecreation Professionals design and develop programs contributing to a

vibrant and healthy community, drawing businesses, organizations

and families together.

Promotion of Recreation and Active Living

Recreation Professionals deliver benefits that are

essential to personal health and quality of life.

Financial SkillsRecreation Professionals

possess skills in fiscal management, budgeting,

reporting and evaluation skills.

Leadership Skills Recreation Professionals

empower others and influence behaviour to have a positive

impact on staff and volunteers.

“I believe any community of any size can benefit from a Recreation Director. A Rec-reation Director can provide

programming, which infants to seniors need to maintain a high

quality of life. They can take pressure off of overworked vol-unteers through their planning

and organizing skills.”(Municipal Recreation Director Assistance

Program Survey)

ReferencesSaskatchewan Association of Recreation Professionals. (n.d.) The Benefits of Hiring a Recreation Professional. Saskatchewan Parks and Recreation Association (SPRA). (2009). [Municipal Recreation Director Assistance Program Survey]. Unpublished data

“Activity levels have increased and facility operations are more efficient and safety levels have

improved.”(Municipal Recreation Director Assistance

Program Survey)

DECEMBER 2013 03

SPRA SCHOLARSHIP RECIPIENTS OUR FUTURE LEADERS

JESSICA STEPHANSON Jessica has held a number of recreational positions including Lifeguard and Swimming Instructor, Pool Manager, Aquatic Technician, Recreation Program Supervisor and Playground Coordinator. She completed her Recreation and Tourism Management Diploma in 2013 and is currently working on a Degree in Sport and Recreation Management from the University of Regina. In addition to her educational and professional endeavours, Jessica has volunteered as Team Captain for Relay for Life, as a committee member for the Red Cross Anti-Bullying campaign and as Class President for the Recreation and Tourism Program.

The SPRA Scholarship Program supports individuals pursuing careers in recreation by awarding scholarships to students enrolled in Recreation and Leisure Programs across Saskatchewan. Recipients are selected on the basis of academic achievement and demon-strated involvement as a volunteer in recreation, parks or leisure services. Read on to learn more about this year’s scholarship recipients.

MATTHEW OKRAINECMatthew is currently attending the College of Kinesiology where he is completing his Honours Thesis. He has worked as a Men’s Volleyball Athletic Trainer for two years and is currently the strength and conditioning coordinator for the team. He has also worked with Camp Easter Seal and with the Peer Assisted Living Program, which incorporates physi-cal activity into the lives of people with physical and cognitive disabilities.

04 DECEMBER 2013

HIRING A RECREATION PROFESSIONAL AN INVESTMENT IN COMMUNITY AND QUALITY OF LIFE

Over the years, there have been many reasons and excuses not to hire a recreation manager, but now that we have one on staff, we can’t imagine being without one.

It was a difficult decision to spend more dollars on recreation, especially when the recreation facilities were already produc-ing large deficits. But we were trying to promote our com-munity as a vibrant one and knew we had to do something different. With the growth and change in population dynam-ics, there was growing demand for more services, especially recreation services, so we took the plunge and hired a pro-fessional Recreation and Community Development Manager. The outcome of this decision has not only surpassed my expectations, but those of Council’s, as well.

The successful candidate for our then newly-formed position had taken the two-year recreation and tourism program at SIAST and was very enthusiastic and personable. We had a general job description for him, but I’ll never forget when he asked, “So . . . what exactly is my job description and what is my budget?”

My response was, “Well, we’ll have to figure that out as the year goes by.” I can only assume what was going through his mind and I am very thankful that he didn’t run out the door.

We decided to let this person take charge of the position, get a feel for what the public wanted and see where he would take it. We did invest some dollars to provide him with the tools necessary to do his job, but all the programs provided to the community were paid for by grants and donations. The first year was spent organizing, meeting with local groups,

getting familiar with the facilities, developing programs, applying for grants, promoting recreation facilities and making contacts. It was a learning curve for everyone in the community. It had to be made clear to a number of local groups that it was not this person’s mandate to replace minor sports associations or local fundraising groups, but to work with them.

In a short time we had numerous community members giving compliments and expressing appreciation and praise for the new Recreation and Community Development Manager - the person providing programs and opportunities for kids and adults.

In creating this position, we have noticed the following:- An increase in community volunteering- An increase in recreation facility rentals- A decrease in internal issues at the recreation facilities- A decrease in facility maintenance costs- More opportunities for children at risk- More opportunities for the community as a whole- A positive attitude within the community

In the past year, besides what I just mentioned, 12 additional recreation programs were held and over $200,000 in grants and donations were received for recreation facilities and programs. For a community of 1,600 people, this is huge!

I once thought it would be a challenge for a community our size to justify this position - but in reality - we needed it. Again, hiring a professional was an important part of this decision. The edu-cation our employee obtained at his two-year diploma program included marketing, programming, leadership classes, account-

With 23 years of working in three different municipalities, it has only been in the last two and a half years that I have had the good fortune of having a Recreation and Community Development Manager on staff. However, it was a long road in getting to this point.

DECEMBER 2013 05

LOTTERY LINGO$14.7 Million LOTTO 6/49 Prize Claimed by Eagle Ridge Resident! Donald Worme knew he had won a LOTTO 6/49 Jackpot a couple of weeks after the August 31st draw, but he man-aged to keep the secret for a while longer. The Eagle Ridge resident has now claimed his $14,797,843 prize, putting an end to almost two months of speculation about who held the winning ticket purchased in Saskatoon!

Donald bought his ticket from Fas Gas, located at the junc-tion of Highways 5 and 41 in Saskatoon. Rather than choos-ing his own numbers, he opted for randomly-generated selections, asking for five Quick Pick lines and one EXTRA on the $11 LOTTO 6/49 ticket.

Donald didn’t check the ticket immediately, but it wasn’t long before he heard that a ticket purchased in Saskatoon had won the Jackpot. He checked the winning numbers posted at another local lottery retailer while he was out with his son a couple of weeks after the draw.

“I saw that the numbers matched, and I went to tell my son,” he recalled. “He didn’t believe me, so I insisted that he go check the numbers himself. He wrote them down on his hand, then came back and looked at the ticket. He looked at me and said, ‘It’s a bingo!’”

That ticket was the only one sold across Canada to exactly match all six winning numbers drawn on August 31st - 5, 6, 24, 29, 35 and 39.

“It’s very exciting,” he said, “but it takes a while to really sink in.” Donald said he waited a few more weeks to claim the prize to give himself time to make his plans and arrange-ments for the windfall.

“I know what money can do for you, and I know what it can’t do,” he said. “I have my dreams already, I have my family, and I have everything I need.”

Donald’s win is the largest lottery Jackpot prize ever won by a ticket purchased in Saskatoon, narrowly surpassing a $14.6 Million SUPER 7 prize won in the city in February 2006.

ing, computer technology, business management, sports management, public relations, legal aspects, community and economic development and organizational structures. These are all important aspects of his job. The knowledge, training and personal qualities of our Recreation and Com-munity Development Manager make him an asset to our staff and community.

Council, as well, has become aware of what our Recre-ation and Community Development Manager should focus on and loaded him with excessive responsibilities and duties. This is an ongoing issue, as it is with all employ-ees, alongside the struggle of determining salary. What is this type of position worth? Currently, there is no wage schedule for this type of professional and when survey-ing other areas of the province, it is clear that there needs to be some sort of guideline in order to pay these people what they are worth.

I have always been of the opinion that we need to maintain a balance of services to make our communities sustainable. Therefore, I would urge every municipality to seriously consider this type of position for the better-ment of their own communities, even if it means working together with another community to make the position a feasible one.

Nicole J. Lerat, CAOTown of Rosthern

Featured in the photo (Left to right): Don Greve - Parks Chairperson, Andrew Crowe - Recreation and Community Development Manager, and Andrew Exelby - SPRA.

06 DECEMBER 2013

PROMOTING PROGRAMS ON SOCIAL MEDIA Are you trying to reach a wider audience and market parks and recreation pro-grams in your community? Here are the top 5 steps to successfully promote your programs on social media!GET ORGANIZED

Before you write up a social media plan (and you will need a plan - see Step 2), you need to get organized. Start by deciding who is going to manage your social media profiles and share your content. If possible, choose more than one administrator for your social profiles. Next, think about what you want to achieve through social media. Are you trying to increase awareness of your program, improve enrollment, or share success stories? If you have money to spend on social media, budget accordingly. Decide what kind of statistics and metrics you’re going to monitor and record before you begin posting. Once you know what you want to achieve, then you can strategize and develop a plan to reach that goal.

HAVE A PLAN

If you don’t have a plan, then you’ve already failed. Okay, maybe not, but you should have a Social Media Strategy in place before you start promoting anything on social media. It doesn’t have to be a long, exhaustive document, but it should define your goals and objectives and list the tools and techniques - including the social platforms like Facebook, Twitter, Pinterest, etc. - that you’re going to use to achieve measureable success.

CREATE AND SCHEDULE CONTENT AND POSTING

Set aside time to create content for posting on social media. The reality is that social media success does not happen overnight. It takes time to establish a presence and a follow-ing on social media. With that in mind, take the time to write strong key messages to promote your programs, look into low-cost online tools like Hootsuite and Tweetdeck to help schedule your posts in advance, and engage in real-time conversations throughout the day to establish your voice and personality on social media. Don’t rehash the same messag-es over and over. Try to keep things fresh. Most importantly, be yourself. No one wants to read posts that sound like they were written by a robot.

THINK VISUALLY!

When they first debuted on the web, Facebook and Twit-ter were mostly about posting status updates and crafting the perfect 140-character tweet. Now, photos get the most likes, comments and shares on Facebook, and Twitter has just introduced massive changes to the way pictures are displayed in your feed. This means you’re going to need a lot of pictures in order to engage your audiences. If you don’t have a graphic designer on staff, you’ll have to come up with the visual content yourself. Luckily, websites such as www.shutterstock.com, www.istockphoto.com, and www.sxc.hu of-fer free or low-cost stock photos that you can use to promote your programs. Or, take pictures with your digital camera or smartphone and upload them to the social web. People love photos that motivate and inspire them, so inspire your audi-ences with photos of programs that promote physical and mental well-being in their community.

MONITOR AND MEASURE SUCCESS

Remember when you created your Social Media Strategy? If not - go back and read Step 2. What goals did you set for yourself in your initial strategy? Did your achievements on social media match your original expectations? If you didn’t manage to reach your goal, analyze your social data and adjust your strategy. There are any number of reasons why your social strategy didn’t perform as expected. The social media landscape and people’s usage habits on social media are in a constant state of flux. Therefore, monitoring and measuring your success, and then adapting your strategy as needed, is key to successfully promoting your programs and engaging your audiences using social media. Christian Bates-HardySPRA - Communications Consultant

DECEMBER 2013 07

SIAST ANNOUNCES PROPOSED CHANGES TO RECREATION AND TOURISM MANAGEMENT PROGRAM

The point of a name change and curriculum change is to reflect what was going on in the industry. So, once again, we are embarking on a proposed name change and the corre-sponding change to course content. At this time, it is only in the proposal stage and we hope to be approved in the spring of 2014.

A curriculum validation for this program cluster was done in the 2011-2012 academic year as part of the SIAST Educa-tion and Training Framework. In 2012-2013 RTM, with the assistance of Saskatchewan Parks and Recreation Associa-tion (SPRA), embarked on a data collection project to look at the jobs available in the field. The results were more than we expected. From June 2012 to May 2013, there were 308 recreation programming positions with an additional 25 positions in programming management. Furthermore, there were 20 community development consultant positions and 11 com-munity development management positions. In total, over all the categories tracked (programmers and management, community development consultants and management, aqua and management, parks and management, facilities/arena and management, sport and fitness positions and manage-ment, and frontline and labour), there were 571 positions posted across the province. There were 308 positions in urban centres and 263 positions in rural centres. These numbers show the need for recre-ation and community development professionals in Sas-katchewan. In the past year, there were 139 full time jobs with the SIAST program graduating only 20 students. There is a clear need for more professionals in the field.

The industry validation identified the need to modify the curriculum in several areas, including the enhancement of

community development components. In order to reflect this, the proposed program name will be Recreation and Commu-nity Development, as recommended by the Program Advi-sory Committee. This new program is intended to prepare graduates for an employment market in both rural and urban communities. SIAST is dedicated to producing quality graduates that will enhance our communities and we would like to thank everyone for the support shown to our program throughout the years. We would like to put a call out to the industry at this time by asking for letters of support. The course pro-posal would be enhanced by letters indicating the need for educated recreation professionals in the field. At this time, it is only a proposal and may not be approved. For additional information please call 1-866-467-4278.

Vickie Clarke (1987 Rec Tech Grad)SIAST - Program Head of Recreation and Tourism Management

Many of us remember the Rec Tech program at Kelsey Campus, which started in 1969, oh the memories - ‘Lets Re“create”’. Our proud program took on its first name change in the 1990s to Recreation and Leisure, then in 2000 to Recreation and Tourism Management (RTM).

08 DECEMBER 2013

THE TOWN OF ALLANRESPONDING TO CHANGE

Saskatchewan provincial parks offer free entry into Provincial Parks, for Saskatchewan resident

seniors, who are or turning 65 years of age at any time during the current operating year. More information on this and other promotions are

available at www.saskparks.net.

In the face of population growth and changing demographics, the Town of Allan took advantage of the opportunity to hire a Recre-ation Director to meet the recre-ational needs of the community.

When the Allan Town Council took a close look at the invest-ment they were putting into their recreation facilities, they quickly realized that these facilities were complicated and a recreation practitioner was needed to compliment the work that was being done by volunteers. The Allan Town Council wanted to ensure these facilities were being run efficiently and effectively and that they were being utilized to the fullest extent possible.

Allan Town Councillor, Corey Church, also explained that the Town Council recognized that their demographics were changing with more and more young families and young couples moving into the community of 700. Combining that observation with the reality that many of the residents of Al-lan commute to Saskatoon to work, the Allan Town Council made the decision to hire a Recreation Director. This would allow the Town to provide more services to the new, younger demographics in their community and assist in getting people who commute back in Allan, after the work day is over, to partake in programs.

In May 2013, Vanessa Burlack became Allan’s first ever Recreation Director. A graduate of SIAST’s Recreation and Tourism Management Program, Vanessa jumped into this challenge with a positive attitude and a willingness to work with the community and determine how the Recreation Direc-tor position would best work for the community.

Having worked as a Summer Playground Programmer in her hometown of Rosthern, Vanessa had some ideas and experi-ences working in a municipal setting. She also was able to draw upon the experience of Rosthern’s current Recreation Director, Andrew Crowe, for direction on being a Recreation Director in a rural Saskatchewan community.

When asked how her first six months on the job has gone, Vanessa simply flashed a great big smile. She was quick to point out that there are some challenges and that the community is “keeping her on her toes”. However she also noted that people have been extremely supportive and their willingness to be involved in some of the different programs she has been trying to establish in the community gives her a strong sense that people are accepting the newly created position.

Further to the comments made by Councillor Church, Van-essa also noted that the young families and young couples in the community want to enjoy their leisure time where they live. They don’t want to have to get in their cars and travel to the neighbouring communities to enjoy their free time.

Councillor Church felt one of the biggest benefits he has noticed with hiring a Recreation Director is the improved communication that has taken place. He applauded Vanes-sa’s efforts in promoting the many events and programs that are taking place in Allan, using a variety of media outlets. He is also getting the sense that people now have one contact point if they have questions related to recreation.

As Vanessa continues to settle in as an employee and resident of the Town of Allan, she wants to work as hard as possible to communicate the many opportunities to be active. Councillor Church is realizing quickly that creating the Recre-ation Director position is doing just that and having someone with Vanessa’s energy and passion in that position makes it all the more evident.

Clint McConnellSPRA - Field Consultant

DECEMBER 2013 09

JUST THE FACTS SASKATCHEWAN JOB PROSPECTS

FOR THE RECREATION PROFESSIONAL

Number of job opportunities posted (2011 - 2013)

939

270 (29%)Jobs requiring or

requesting postsecondary

Percentage of Job Opportunities by Category

Management

Recreation Practitioners (recreation directors, programmers, community development coordinators )

Facility/Recreation Environments (arenas, pool, parks)

Frontline and Labour

Sport and Fitness

55

14

24

5 2

Ava Kalaschnick is originally from Chateauguay, Quebec. She graduated from the University of Concordia in the spring of 2010 with a Bachelor of Arts and Specializa-tion in Leisure Sciences and moved to Shaunavon in 2010 to become the Director of Wellness and Leisure. In three short years, Ava’s leadership has taken the newly developed Wellness and Leisure Committee to new levels. She has not only introduced new programming to the community, but has promoted the development of new recreational infrastructure including the new Jubilee Park, consisting of a newly developed skate park and play area, as well as reconstructed basketball and ten-nis courts. Ava’s leadership has allowed the newly built Crescent Point Wickenheiser Centre to become more than just a hockey and curling rink, but a community com-plex for all to enjoy.

“What I love most about my job is the ‘action’. I love planning and organizing programs and events that have an impact on the community. I live for the positive and the encouraging emotions and feedback individuals have when partaking in these events or programs.”

Ava’s commitment to the recreation profession is obvi-ous when asked why being a recreation professional is important to her.

“It is important to find things in life that are important to you. Recreation provides meaning for many people. It improves the life of others - whether it is through physical activity, building social relationships, developing cognitive and physical abilities - the list is endless. It is for these reasons, recreation is important.

We improve the life of others, we encourage others, and we put smiles on people’s faces - it is for these reasons, being a recreational professional is important to me.”

SPOTLIGHT ON Ava is the recipient of the Saskatchewan Association of Recreation Professional’s Up & Coming Outstanding Recreation Professional Award for her outstanding contribution in the field of recreation and leisure.

AVA KALASCHNICK

10 DECEMBER 2013

SHELLEY THOEN-CHAYKOSKI AWARD OF DISTINCTION

Shelley was the Foam Lake Recreation/Leisure Services Director for over 30 years. In this role, she was actively involved with anything and everything that relates to sport, culture, recreation and tourism. When Shelley began working in the Town of Foam Lake, she was responsible for three facilities - the pool, recreation centre and ball diamonds. Over time, this changed drastically to include the hall, driving range, campgrounds, tourism centre, international birding area, minor sports and the list goes on.

Some key projects Shelley initiated include:- The creation of the ‘Tri-town Birding Initiative’ – an initiative between the towns of Foam Lake, Wynyard and Wadena to enhance the opportunity of bird watching. - The construction and development of the “Wall of Honour” at the recreation centre. This Wall features any Foam Lake and District resident who has attained Provincial, National or international fame through sports, culture and recreation. - Shelley was also instrumental in the startup of the Active Living Centre in Foam Lake - a fully equipped fitness centre. Shelley applied for and received grants for the fitness centre and during the initial set up, actively helped set up the equipment and made sure everything was in place for the grand opening.

Shelley is described by her peers, co-workers and commu-nity members as an inspiration, mentor and a true community leader - with an amazing sense of humour. Shelley has left - and continues to leave - a legacy in the parks and recreation field. She is a true advocate for parks and recreation and a leader for many recreation professionals and volunteers across the Province.

Shelley was presented the award on October 25, 2013, as part of the SPRA Awards Banquet in Swift Current.

The SPRA President’s Award of Distinction is presented to an individual for their ‘lasting’ achievement that has enhanced the public image and improved the services of parks and recreation at the provincial, district and local level. SPRA would like to congratulate the very deserving recipient, Shelley Thoen-Chaykoski.

Shelley’s Response on Behalf of the 2013 SPRA Award Recipients I am truly honoured to have been asked to speak on behalf of the award recipients. It is a real privilege to be in their company this evening, as well as with all of you, our recre-ation family.

There are some moments in our lives that are humbling. This is one of those moments. Serving our respective com-munities in the field of parks and recreation is a rewarding experience in itself. To be recognized for this service is very, very special. Thank you to the Sask Association of Rec Pro-fessionals and the Saskatchewan Parks and Recreation As-sociation for administering and sponsorship of their awards programs, and also much appreciation to the individuals, and organizations who took the time and effort to complete and submit the nominations.

To use a “sporting term,” the achievements of the award re-cipients are the result of a total team effort. Although awards are designed to recognize individuals and organizations - our overall achievements are definitely the product of a team, which we are all just a part of. I would now like to recognize and thank the members of our teams.

Our Team

Starting with our families and friends, your support, love and respect of what we do and why it is so important to us has allowed all of us to give the best we’ve got to give to our communities.

Thank you to our educators and mentors for your knowledge, positive examples, and passion, when it comes to working in and with our communities.

DECEMBER 2013 11

To our co-workers, fellow professionals, fellow volunteers, who share our vision, and work together alongside us to-wards realizing our goals and dreams.

Thanks to the organizations at the community, district and provincial levels, for their assistance and support of the work we do.

Finally, to our municipalities, the RMs, Villages, Towns and Cities, thank you for making Recreation and Leisure Ser-vices a priority, and for allocating the necessary resources to deliver them, so our communities can be great places to live, work and play.

As you can see the awards may be presented to organiza-tions and individuals, but as recipients we accept them with gratitude on behalf of our respective teams!

I came across a Chinese proverb that I thought would be ap-propriate to share with you.

IF YOU WANT TO PROVIDE FOR A YEAR …..PLANT WHEAT

IF YOU WANT TO PROVIDE FOR 10 YEARS …..PLANT TREES

IF YOU WANT TO PROVIDE FOR A LIFETIME …..PLANT PEOPLE

It is very evident to me, that our organizations and the people involved in them, are interested in providing for a lifetime be-cause the work you do by investing in, and “planting” people, shall provide for quality of life for a long time to come.

Top Row (left to right): Shane Sitter - Volunteer of the Year Award; Mayor Bob Maloney and Darcy McLeod representing Yorkton’s Broad-way King Recreation Corridor - Parks and Open Space Award; Shelley Thoen-Chaykoski - President’s Award of Distinction

Front Row (left to right): Jessica Stephanson - SPRA Scholarship, and Friends of the Walkway - Community Achievement Award.

Unavailable for photo: Matthew Okrainec - SPRA Scholarship; Shelby Van De Woestyne - Youth Volunteer of the Year.

Leadership Development Grant Application deadline: February 1, 2014 The 2014 Leadership Development Grant encour-ages members to develop human resources needed to continue building community capacity that will advance recreation opportunities.

First Nation Member's Recreation Grant Application deadline: April 1, 2014 The SPRA First Nation Member’s Recreation Grant as-sists First Nation members to develop recreation oppor-tunities in the First Nation communities within Saskatch-ewan.

Métis Recreation Development Grant Application deadline: April 1, 2014 The SPRA Métis Recreation Development Grant assists SPRA Active Members to develop recreation opportuni-ties for Métis people in Saskatchewan.

Forever...in motion GrantApplication deadline: April 15, 2014 Supporting increased participation in physical activity programs for older adults in Saskatchewan. This grant is available to Active Members of SPRA. Communities must undertake Forever...in motion program implemen-tation between November 1, 2013 and May 31, 2014. SPRA will contribute a maximum of $3000 per Active Member, pending eligibility requirements are met. For information on these grants, visit the SPRA website at www.spra.sk.ca/funding.

GRANTS AND FUNDING

12 DECEMBER 2013

Sheila has been a committed advocate for recreation in her community, as well as provincially. Sheila has served eight years as a Board of Director for S.A.R.P., two of those years as the Chairperson. She was also Chair-person of the SIAST Recreation and Leisure Program Advisory Task Committee and has always been a strong advocate on educating the young professionals in our field. She has given countless hours of her time to support and enhance leisure services in her hometown of Yorkton, Saskatchewan. Sheila has played a huge role in develop-ing the Yorkton Active Transportation Collaborative, which uses a shared approach to increase the opportunities to use human powered transportation. The Collaborative plans and co-ordinates community led initiatives that allow the people of Yorkton to choose Active Transportation to create a safe, healthy and connected community where we live, work and play.

Sheila has worked in the field of Recreation since 1991 and started with the Saskatchewan Recreation Society now known as S.A.R.P. Among other accomplishments, Sheila was also the 2000 Saskatchewan Summer Games Manager. Sheila has always had a passion and commit-ment to the field of recreation and knows the importance it plays in everyone’s life.

In recognition of her contributions to the sector, Shelia was presented the Saskatchewan Association of Recre-ation Professional’s Award of Merit. This award is pre-sented to an outstanding recreation professional that has made contributions to the field locally, provincially and nationally.

What was your reaction to receiving the award? I was a little surprised and honoured to receive the Award of Merit from my professional organization.

What do you like about being a recreation professional? I like being in a profession that focuses on encouraging families to play together and people to socialize in recreational opportunities they enjoy for their betterment.

Why did you become a recreation professional? When I was reading the SIAST brochure way back when, I was really intrigued by the variety of opportunities for a career and the variety of course content.

Why is being a recreation professional important to you? Being a recreation professional is important to me because we do get to focus on the “fun” part of life through a serious lens to create opportunities for quality experiences for people to be involved.

What advice can you give to someone entering the recreation profession? My advice would be to get a handle on how important “rec-reation” and “recreational opportunities” are in everyday life. Having recreational opportunities be a part of your every day life is important to creating a healthy person and a healthy community.

SHEILA HRYNIUKAN OUTSTANDING RECREATIONPROFESSIONALSheila has been a dedicated recreation professional for over 20 years. Sheila earned her Recreation and Leisure Diploma from SIAST in 1991, and followed up with a Bachelor of Physical Activity Studies from the University of Regina in 1997.

DECEMBER 2013 13

EMPLOYER WANTSSPRA, in partnership with the SIAST Recreation and Tourism Program, recently con-ducted an analysis of job opportunities collected from the sector from June 2011 to May 2013. Included below are the desired qualifications, skills and abilities as identified by employers.

MANAGEMENT

Desired Qualifications Post-secondary education in Leisure Studies, Recreation, Kinesiology or relevant field

Desired Skills and AbilitiesStrategic PlanningProject Management Financial AdministrationGrant WritingSupervisory SkillsUnderstanding of Occupational Health and Safety Standards

RECREATION PRACTITIONERS (recreation directors, programmers, community development coordinators)

Desired Qualifications Post-secondary education in Leisure Studies, Recreation Kinesiology or relevant field, CPR, First Aid

Desired Skills and Abilities Program Planning and EvaluationNeeds AssessmentsReport/Proposal WritingProject ManagementBudget Administration

FRONTLINE AND LABOUR Desired Qualifications CPR, First Aid

SPORT AND FITNESS

Desired QualificationsCPR, First Aid, SPRA Fitness Leader Certification, NCCP

FACILITY/RECREATION ENVIRONMENTS (arenas, pools, parks)

Desired QualificationsWHIMIS, Arena Operators Certificate, Pool Operators Certifi-cate, CPR, First Aid, Pesticide Applicators License, Horticul-ture Diploma

Desired Skills and Abilities Customer service skillsMaintenance experience

14 DECEMBER 2013

To get started, call your Blue Imp play consultantat 1-877-594-0541 or visit www.blueimp.com

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DECEMBER 2013 19

20 DECEMBER 2013

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DECEMBER 2013 21

MasterPoolsCalgary.com/SPRA

VISIT OUR WEBSITE!

Swimming Pools Spas & Hot TubsWading Pools Water Slides Spray Parks RenovationsRepairs & Service Mechanical UpgradesChemicals & Supplies Maintenance

BEFORE

TOW

N OF RADVILLE - CO

MM

UNITY POO

L RENOVATIO

N - 2013

SWIMMING POOL

Renovations

To learn more about this feature,visit www.waterparks.ca or contact:

Western Recreation & Development, Inc.1-800-781-6041 info@waterparks.ca

Adding a waterslide feature is a great way to attract guests from a wide range of age groups. There are specific slides for each age group that are designedto each unique site. From the Kiddie River Ride to open and enclosed body slides to speed slides, the slope of the ride will determine the user age group. This type of attraction has been known to greatly assist marketing campaigns and draw guests from more distant markets. Its function is to provide a high entertainment value for active swimmers. It occupies a medium to large footprint, and provides a strong capacity / usability per square foot.

This features can be finished by use of a runout lane on deck or a splash bay in the pool, based on space available and preference.

The main advantages are:• very high suitability for active bathers,• easy operation and maintenance.

Western Recreation has had great experience with this type of attraction. It attracts a large number of users and provides increased facility capacity.

Waterslidepassive - activetoddlers - seniors

Publication Mail Agreement #41967532 Return Undeliverable Canadian Addresses to: SPRA • 100 – 1445 Park Street • Regina, SK • S4N 4C5 • email: office@spra.sk.ca