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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

ANNIVERSARY ISSUE

th

SPRA STAFF

MANAGEMENT

Chief Executive Officer Norm Campbell

Program Manager John Firnesz

Field Services Manager Randy Durovick

Communications, Information and Research Manager Chantel Doerksen

RECREATION CONSULTANTS

Information and Research Services Nancy Young

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

Youth Engagement Desirea Weninger

Assistant Consultant Carla Allen ADMINISTRATION

Business Administrator Anita Ehman

Executive Assistant Lois McNaught

Administrative Technician Ryan Monks Administrative Assistant II Kayla Schreiner

Administrative Assistant I Tamara Goebel

Administrative Assistant (half-time) Maria Ananos

Fitness/Administrative Assistant II Lynn Bradley

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

FIELD CONSULTANTS/ADMINISTRATION

Swift Current Jaclyn Davis/Carol Stork 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 Sean Hanlon Phone: (306) 848-0274

Yorkton Darren Spelay/Tracy Malayney Phone: (306) 782-1072

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

La Ronge Daniel Longman Phone: (306) 425-1910

SPRA BOARD OF DIRECTORS

President Dawna Nielson

Director for Cities Ken Ottenbreit

Director for Towns Jaime Helgason

Director for Villages Clive Craig

Director at Large Marvin Sanderson Director at Large Guylaine Green

Director at Large Dylan Czarnecki

Director at Large Coralie Bueckert

Director for the North TJ Biemans

DECEMBER 2015 | VOLUME 7 | NUMBER 2

President’s Report 02 2019 SPRA Rebrand - Out with the Old and inWith the New! 03ParticipACTION Teen Challenge - Investing in our Youth 05SPRA Awards Gala - Walking the Red Carpet 07Age-Friendly Communities 09Funding 10 Changes, Achievements, Challenges - Five Years in Parks and Recreation 11Rural Saskatchewan - The Rise of the RecreationDirector 13 Saskatchewan in motion - Getting More Kids, More Active, More Often 14Take the Lead!® 15Commercial Ads 16

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.

Supported by:

PRESIDENT’S REPORT

I am excited and honored to begin my two-year term as Pres-ident of the Saskatchewan Parks and Recreation Association (SPRA). On behalf of the Board of Directors, I would like to thank the City of Yorkton and Parkland Valley Sport, Culture and Recreation District for hosting the 2015 SPRA Confer-ence. The Conference was well organized, providing excel-lent educational sessions, good food and great fun. We are fortunate to be able to to share ideas, learn about developing trends in our field, meet new people and visit with friends.

As members of SPRA, we all share a common goal of devel-oping or improving our communities through recreation. We now have a strong tool that will assist us in establishing a stronger sector - providing a shared vision, values and goals. Four years ago, SPRA delegates participated in the 2011 Na-tional Recreation Summit. The Summit identified a need to establish a renewed vision for recreation in Canada and the National Framework Working Group was developed. After three years of consultations, discussions and debating at a provincial, territorial and national level, three key messages emerged:■ High quality, accessible recreation opportunities are integral to a well functioning society■ The recreation sector can be a leader in addressing major issues of the day■ All people and communities deserve equitable access to recreational experiences

The National Framework Working Group focused their efforts to ensure the key messages were addressed and that com-mon priorities were established. In 2015, Pathways to Well-Being – A National Framework for Recreation in Canada was endorsed by the Provincial and Territorial Ministers and the Government of Canada. The Framework is a call to action that invites leaders, practitioners and stakeholders in a variety of sectors to collaborate in the pursuit of common priorities, while respecting the uniqueness of individuals and communities across Canada. I would encourage each of you

to become familiar with the Framework. Use the Framework to guide your community or association’s planning, decision-making and resource allocation and utilize the document to educate and foster positive relationships with other sectors - to build an active and healthy community and citizens. Own this Framework! Use this Framework! Share this Framework!

Dawna Nielson SPRA President

Featured right are the Board of Directors for the Saskatchewan Parks

and Recreation Association. New SPRA President, Dawna Nielson, shares some

words of wisdom!

December 2015 02

03 December 2015

2009 SPRA REBRANDOUT WITH THE OLD AND IN WITH THE NEW!In 2009, SPRA contracted Brown Communications Group to conduct a brand review of the association. “Brand” is defined holistically as a set of experiences and associations evoked from the interaction with an organization, its products and services. It is the result of every point of contact between an organization and its audiences. A great brand is inspired from within. It lives throughout the organization, and is consistent and authentic at every touch-point.

Brown worked with SPRA to create a powerful brand that positioned SPRA as the leader in the provincial recreation and parks sector, committed to a better quality of life. This brand is articulated by the brand advantages, which describe the desired relationship between a brand and its audiences, its traits, which describe the brandʼs character, and its brand promise, which succinctly describes the ultimate net benefit of the brand.

OUR BRAND

BRAND ADVANTAGES■ progressive leadership ■ a network – weʼre the hub ■ focus on service – approachable and inclusive ■ diverse programs and services ■ through our services, youʼll realize huge benefits for you and your communities

BRAND TRAITS■ professional■ knowledgeable■ innovative■ approachable/collaborative■ vibrant/energetic/playful

BRAND TRAITSA Better Quality of Life

NEXT STEPSOnce the brand was developed, the next steps in the rebranding strategy included:A. Logo RedesignB. Tagline DevelopmentC. Redesigning SPRA’s organizational newsmagazineD. Applying the Brand

BRAND TRAITS■ professional■ knowledgeable■ innovative■ approachable/collaborative■ vibrant/energetic/playful

December 2015 04

A. LOGO REDESIGNHere is a glimpse into how the SPRA logo has progressed across the years:

Pre-1987 1987 - 2009 2010 -

So what does our current logo mean? Our 2010 logo uses the shape of the province to form a structure for a stylized human figure. The logo was chosen for the energy portrayed in the human form, the forward motion and the clear recreational or sport feel. The east-west lines can be interpreted as important provincial pathways: major highways, the Saskatchewan River, or the Trans-Canada Trail. The circle can be seen as the sun, a sports ball, or as the head of the stylized person. In the coloured ver-sion, the various swatches of colour can be interpreted as the sky, land and water of the Saskatchewan landscape.

B. TAGLINE DEVELOPMENTSPRA and Brown held a brainstorming session in search of a new tagline that reflected the brand strategy and was an optimis-tic, exuberant and energizing invitation to the audience. The tagline Recreation: An Investment for Life had been used in the past and was determined to be the best option into the future.

C. REDESIGNING SPRA’S ORGANIZATIONAL NEWSMAGAZINEThe rebranding process also led to changes to SPRA’s Newsmagazine, RECREATION WORKS, also previously referred to as Recreation Saskatchewan. The goal was to enhance the value of the magazine by having a greater focus on strategic, issue based content and by redesigning the layout. The new magazine which you are having the pleasure to read right now, was named DIRECTION and the first edition, themed “Being an Active Role Model - Healthy Lifesytles and Great Life Choice” was launched February 2010. The focus of the magazine moved from program related information to specific themes of interest to the parks, recreation and facilities sectors and showcases issue-based cover stories and feature articles. The magazine contin-ues to be distributed quarterly in September, December, March and June.

D. APPLYING THE BRANDThe new brand was applied and continues to be applied to all SPRA promotional and marketing materials including the SPRA website. Rebranding SPRA was an incredibily rewarding experience. The desired brand was built on the strengths of knowl-edge, expertise, resources and the organizationʼs approachable and friendly nature. It brought a renewed connection to our audiences celebrating the vitality, energy and playfulness that is at the heart of SPRA. We saw new life breathed into the orga-nization and we offically escaped what I called the “era of green”. Our look now visually reflects who we are as an organization - professional, knowledgeable, innovative, approachable, vibrant, energetic and fun!

Happy five year branding anniversary SPRA. If I do say so myself, you are looking pretty good!

Lori RossSPRA Consultant, Communications

"Thank you for your support of the Ehrlo Outdoor Hockey League. Your contribution helped 330 youth to participate without barriers." – Community Organization

“With a grant from ParticipACTION Teen Challenge we were able to purchase some much needed equipment for our sports program offered at Camp Easter Seal. As one of the only wheelchair accessible camps available in Sas-katchewan, this gave participants an opportunity to be active without any barriers, as well as, play with people of equal abilities.” – Community Organization

“It’s no secret that the ever increasing registration rates are beginning to affect many children’s chance to play the best sport in the world. After receiving the ParticipACTION grant, we were able to secure some ice time after school so that less fortunate children could come out and play shinny or simply skate with their friends.” – Community Organization

In 2008, recognizing that Canada was in the midst of an “in-activity crisis,” Coca-Cola Canada partnered with ParticipAC-TION to develop a national program called SOGO Active. With the 2010 Vancouver Olympics looming on the horizon, and Coca-Cola’s long history with the Olympic Games, it was the ideal time to create a movement for movement. Inspiration for physical activity was driven by the incentive to become a torchbearer in the Vancouver 2010 Olympic Torch Relay. $5 million over 5 years was invested to assist youth ages 13-19 to motivate their peers to get up and get active.

At the initiation of SOGO Active, thirteen Provincial/Territo-rial Coordinators were mobilized to administer the program; of these SPRA is one. Proudly showcasing our investment to recreation and physical activity, 20 individuals whom were

PARTICIPACTION TEEN CHALLENGEINVESTING IN OUR YOUTH

Reducing barriers, and getting teens more active, the ParticipACTION Teen

Challenge, sponsored by Coca-Cola and supported by the Saskatchewan Parks and

Recreation Association (SPRA), has changed lives since it began in 2008.

part of the Roman Catholic Ministry in Prince Albert were chosen as Saskatchewan’s SOGO Active Team Torchbear-ers and participated in the Vancouver 2010 Torch Relay as it passed through Saskatoon.

While SOGO Active leveraged the Olympic movement to en-tice youth towards physical activity, the torchbearer incentive was not the only way the program was promoted. Funding was also made available to organizations that provided youth with opportunities to get active, promoting a “by youth for youth” approach.

In 2012, Coca-Cola extended the partnership for another $5 million over 5 years. 2013 brought the rebranding of SOGO Active to the ParticipACTION Teen Challenge - to reflect the underlying strength and commitment of ParticipACTION. SPRA continues to act as the Provincial/Territorial Coordina-tor of the ParticipACTION Teen Challenge.

With help from ParticipACTION and Coca-Cola, SPRA has been able to support 175 physical activity grants totalling over $80,000 since SOGO Active/ParticipACTION Teen Challenge’s inception. Funding opportunities continue to be available with a deadline of the 15th of every month. Interested community organizations can register for the Teen Challenge at www.participaction.com/teen-challenge. On-going events are eligible for a maximum of $500, whereas, one-time events are eligible for a maximum of $250.

Desirea Weninger SPRA Consultant, Youth Engagement

05 December 2015

SPOTLIGHT ON

07 December 2015

SPRA AWARDS GALAWALKING THE RED CARPETOn October 23, 2015 over 350 people gathered in Yorkton to celebrate individuals, groups and organizations that have made significant and meaningful contributions to the recreation and parks field. Read on to learn more about the 2015 SPRA Award Winners!

SPRA VOLUNTEER OF THE YEAR - ADAM FETSCHThe Volunteer of the Year Award is presented to a volunteer to recognize outstanding achievements in the improvement of recreation opportunities at the local level.

Adam truly embodies the spirit of volunteerism through his involvement with numerous organizations, clubs and causes in the community of Yorkton that are dedicated to recre-ation, sport and culture. Through his involvement with these organizations, Adam encour-ages participation, promotes the benefits of active living and advocates and assists in expanding recreation and competitive programs in the community of Yorkton.

AWARD OF MERIT - PAUL MCGONIGALThe Award of Merit is presented to an individual, group or SPRA member organization for significant and distinguished contribution at the local, district or provincial level.

Paul started in the recreation department in Warman just over eleven years ago, with three employees. Today, Paul has thirty employees and his responsibilities continue to grow. In his role as Recreation and Community Services Manager, Paul has embraced the chal-lenges of his ever changing department and as a result, he has planned, developed and managed several innovative recreational programs and facilities.

SPOTLIGHT ON

December 2015 08

CECIL NOBES FACILITY AWARD OF EXCELLENCE - FOAM LAKE WATER PARKThe Cecil Nobes Facility Award of Excellence is presented to an individual, group or SPRA member organization for significant and distinguished contribu-tion at the local, district or provincial level.

The Foam Lake Water Park includes a junior olympic sized pool, 128 foot waterslide, vortex, children’s tug boat slide, splash park, hot tub and a swim area with a beach level entry. The facility was built to increase energy efficiency, reducing the cost of operation on an ongoing basis. The facility incorporates energy saving features such as pumps, heaters, water recycling and heat retention. The facility is equipted with a custom built pump system that allows water to be recycled - reducing the amount of water needed to operate. The system also features automatic temperature controls, which increases the ease of operation for staff.

FACILITY OPERATIONS AWARD - DON WOLFEThe Facility Operations Award is presented to a long-term practitioner whose leadership in the facilities sector demonstrates extraordinary achievement in the enhancement and operation of a recreation facility in Saskatchewan.

Don is the Plant Operator with the City of Lloydminster - under the blanket of Community Services, Parks and Recreation. Don is responsible for day-to-day mechanical and opera-tions in three arenas. Having worked 29 years with the City of Lloydminster Arenas, Don Wolfe is an individual that has consistently given the arena community of Lloydminster 110% above and beyond!

FITNESS LEADERSHIP AWARD - RACHELLE FULLERThe Fitness Leadership Award is resented to an individual in the fitness industry in recognition of their outstanding work motivating and encouraging others to live a healthy lifestyle.

Recognizing the need for physical activity in her com-munity of Strasbourg, Rachelle set out to become a SPRA certified fitness instructor - and with help from the Recreation Board and the Town of Strasbourg, she secured a location for classes. Rachelle now offers fit-ness classes three times a week to individuals ranging in age from 25 - 70. Her ability to share her passion for fitness and healthy living has assisted others in adopt-ing regular physical activity into their lives.

For additional information on the SPRA Awards, visit www.spra.sk.ca/awards.

DALMENY LIKES TO MOVE IT, MOVE IT!AGE-FRIENDLY COMMUNITIES

Have you heard the news? Saskatchewan Communities are

becoming Age-Friendly!

09 December 2015

You may be thinking that this is nothing new – our Saskatch-ewan communities take pride in being friendly to everyone! However, until recently, we haven’t been actively involved in the global Age-Friendly Communities movement started by the World Health Organization (WHO) in 2006.

In 2012, the Saskatchewan Seniors Mechanism (SSM) decided it was time for Saskatchewan to get more involved with an exciting initiative. Prior to that, work had begun on Age-Friendly Saskatoon and some specific initiatives were happening in Regina, but little else was happening in Sas-katchewan.

The Government of Canada, through the Public Health Agency of Canada and in partnership with the provinces and territories, has played a lead role in the development and promotion of the Age-Friendly Communities initiative across Canada. There are currently communities all around the world and across Canada participating in the Age-Friendly movement. While Age-Friendly Communities start from the perspective of older adults, it is really about creating commu-nities that are better, healthier and safer places for all people to live and thrive. Saskatchewan has been slow to embrace this global initiative, but we’re onboard now!

Age-friendly Communities are communities where policies, services, settings and structures support and enable people to age actively. Age-Friendly means all individuals are welcome to be full and meaningful participants in their community.

It is about creating inclusive communities where people of all ages, abilities and cultures are:■ Part of the decision-making process on matters that affect their life■ Treated with dignity and respect■ Valued■ Able to access community programs, services and supports to meet their diverse needs■ Open to new ideas and to listen and learn from each other to benefit their communities■ Able to work together to achieve intergenerational, healthy, safe communities■ Aging well

A number of communities are already actively seeking to achieve many of the above. The Age-Friendly Communities initiative provides a framework and resources to assist them. It also offers the potential for official recognition for commu-nities that achieve specific milestones and are intentionally working towards making their communities places where all people can thrive.

Age-Friendly Communities isn’t just a project to be com-pleted. It is an ongoing process that comes from using an ‘age-friendly lens’ to assess everything we do. ■ It involves some actions that can be taken very quickly and with very little cost■ Other actions are long term and may involve costs associated with municipal planning■ All actions are ongoing ways to promote inclusion of all people in the life of the community

DALMENY LIKES TO MOVE IT, MOVE IT!

December 2015 10

As the percentage of older adults in our population increases over the next several years, creating Age-Friendly Communi-ties is the key to addressing the changes this population shift will create. As communities become more inclusive, isolation is reduced. This reduces mental and physical illness and creates healthy, lively communities. Inclusive communities have healthier, happier people and are better able to meet the needs of all residents. It’s up to all of us to make Sas-katchewan one big Age-Friendly Community! To learn more about the Age-Friendly movement and how your community can get involved, contact the Saskatchewan Seniors Mechanism:Phone: (306) 757-1898 Email: program@skseniorsmechanism.caWebsite: www.agefriendlysk.ca

Holly Schick Executive Director, Saskatchewan Seniors Mechanism

Saskatchewan

Seniors

Mechanism

Seniors Working Together

FUNDING The SPRA Leadership Development Grant Application Deadline: February 1, 2016 This grant encourages members to develop human re-sources needed to continue building community capac-ity that will advance recreational opportunities.

SPRA Métis Recreation Development Grant Application Deadline: February 15, 2016 This grant assists SPRA active members to develop recreation opportunities for Métis people in Saskatch-ewan.

SPRA Community Diversity Inclusion Grant Application Deadline: February 15, 2016This grant assists SPRA active members in offering recreation programs or events that target the diverse popu-lations within the member’s community.

Forever...in motion GrantApplication Deadline: February 15, 2016 This grant supports communities in the development, implementation and/or delivery of Forever...in motion program in Saskatchewan.

ParticipACTION Teen Challenge Grant Application Deadline: 15th of every monthThe ParticipACTION Teen Challenge sponsored by Coca-Cola Canada encourages community organiza-tions who serve teens aged 13-19 to register at www.participACTION.com/teenchallenge. Once approved, the local community organization works with teens to design a program and then applies for Teen Physical Activity Grants of up to $500 to support a local program or event.

Take the Lead!® Training Assistance ProgramApplication Deadline: February 29, 2016This Program is available to any school or community organization in Saskatchewan that is dedicated to implementing Take the Lead!, and supporting individuals interested in becoming trained or maintaining their work as a Take the Lead! Leadership Coach. Funds will be administered up to a maximum of $500.00 per applicant.

These grants are available at www.spra.sk.ca/grants.

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11 December 2015

The past five years has been a period of rapid and profound environmental, social and economic change of greater com-plexity than the Saskatchewan recreation and parks field has ever experienced. There has been a rapid increase in rural to urban shift with the greater population going to the major cit-ies. There has been an increased use of social media and its capacity to connect. Blogs, Facebook, Twitter, Skype, Cloud and numerous other digital platforms have changed not only how we communicate but also what we do in our leisure.

Population demographics have changed. There is a larger gap between the wealthy and the poor with a shrinking mid-dle class. The number of volunteers, coming primarily from the shrinking middle class, has declined significantly and paid staff has increased as recreation organizations respond to the changing economic and social realities. Immigration and changing racial and ethnic backgrounds are increas-ing faster than many communities can adjust. Tensions and conflicts need to be addressed. Social structures are also changing. Team sport and club activities are declining as the amount of leisure decreases for many and the costs of the activities increases.

There is a growing concern about having a healthy envi-ronment. High on the list of concern by citizens is climate change and addressing Green House Gas emissions. Also high on the list is source water protection and pesticide use reduction. This is a new and significant challenge for many of the recreation and parks facilities. Most of the current facilities are both energy and water intensive users. Retrofit-ting and adapting to a new approach is not easy. Again there

CHANGE, ACHIEVEMENTS, CHALLENGES

FIVE YEARS IN PARKS AND RECREATIONThis is a snapshot, looking back over the last five years, at the Saskatchewan recre-ation and parks field. It includes examples of the changes, the achievements, and the challenges. It is interesting and informative to take a few minutes to look back to see how far we have come. It is even more important to use that information to build on the next five years.

are many tensions in the community as small groups chal-lenge any new approach. And larger groups are demanding changes. The recreation practitioner is caught in the middle.

Change is inevitable. It is how we respond to change that is important. From my perspective the recreation and parks field has responded well under difficult circumstances. This doesn’t just happen. It takes leadership and that means risk.

The Saskatchewan Parks and Recreation Association (SPRA) Board and staff deserve a lot of credit for taking the initiative in working with the field to respond. That is worthy of celebration and support. I think the Summit at Lake Louise in 2011, will be recognized as the most significant event in-fluencing the direction in the province for the foreseeable fu-ture. At the Summit, evidence based presentations indicated that the changes were real and they needed to be addressed with new approaches if the field was to stay relevant. Using those discussions, SPRA became a key participant in the de-velopment of the 2015 Framework for Recreation in Canada. This is a huge achievement. At the same time, SPRA and the Saskatchewan Urban Municipal Association signed a letter of agreement to cooperate in recreation and parks planning and development. These are both key bridges to the senior levels of government that have been really lacking in Saskatch-ewan. They are also foundational if there is to be continued progress in recreation and parks.

At the community leadership development level, the last four SPRA Conferences have focused on building capac-ity for members to network and to share methods they can

December 2015 12

apply to their issues and problems using quality research. The programs have been a balance of technology, research papers on trends, academic input on issues and input from senior parks and recreation practitioners on leadership and management, all delivered in a positive and respectful format. The level of participation has been building and every year the participants have become more engaged in the discussions. There is also an increasingly wider range of participants at the Conference, both urban and rural, as well as from First Nations and Métis communities and from the North. This is a positive sign.

However, this can’t be taken for granted. The field has pro-gressed because a lot of people have done a lot of hard work. It will only continue if others step up and continue. It can’t be left to the same people all the time and if there isn’t a coherent and agreed upon succession plan in place that supports the rationale for the direction taken, then it just ends up starting back at square one. It seems fairly clear that we must change even more and even faster than we have been.

Of particular significance for me, from the Lake Louise Sum-mit, was a paper presented by Ruben Nelson, “New Maps for New Times”. He introduced it as a paper that explores the not-yet-common response to the question “Why have we in parks and recreation failed to fulfill the deepest aspirations that fuel our movement?” As part of the answer he noted:

1. We will discover how poorly supported this work is in the early 21st Century, and

2. We will be in a position to work with others to develop the ongoing support systems of research and citizen dialogue that our conscious evolution as a whole civilization requires.

Val Sluth’s research, presented at the 2015 SPRA Confer-ence in Yorkton, showed that citizens in Saskatchewan valued economics and business as the highest priority and recreation and parks as the lowest. How prophetic she was in validating Nelson’s concern number 1, five years earlier.

At the same Conference both Dr. Jackie Oncescu and Cath-erine Gryba presented research that the gap between the wealthy and poor was creating gaps in the poorer citizens’ ability to participate. They both indicated a need to expand the opportunities. Responding to the presentations an observation from a First Nation’s participant noted that there were compet-ing concerns such as food and housing and that we needed

to work together. A participant from Habitat for Humanity echoed the same observations. This is consistent with Nel-son’s concern number 2.

We can certainly appreciate the important accom-plishments over the last five years. But we need to continue to strive to do better as we expand out tent. The achievements over the last five years show we can. The results of the next five years will be a mea-sure of our will to carry on. Murray HidelbaughSPRA Past President

RURAL SASKATCHEWAN

THE RISE OF THE RECREATION DIRECTOR

13 December 2015

Since the time that the Saskatchewan Parks and Recreation Association (SPRA) switched from a one-color newsmagazine to one vibrant in colour, the Saskatchewan population has grown at a rate never seen before. Since the time that SPRA went from a single office in Regina to an organization that now has seven satellite offices, the trend shows that the amount of time that people are volunteering in recreation opportunities has lessened. Since the time that SPRA went from 15 employees to over 30, the number of jobs in Saskatchewan has also in-creased and, more specifically, the number of recreation-related job in the province has grown. A number of those recreation-related jobs are being created in rural Saskatchewan.

When the Town of Allan renovated their swimming pool a few years ago, the Allan Town Council took a closer look at the assets their community had related to recreation and made a decision that that they needed an employee on their admin-istration team that had the specialized skills to operate and manage those assets - including the swimming pool, as well as the arena and the sportsgrounds.

Christine Dyck, Allan’s Town Administrator, had this to say when asked about the Recreation Director position. “Allan has had a Recreation Director for a few years now. We’ve found that having a Recreation Director on staff helped with facility management, increased activities and recreation programs, as well as helping our committees keep things together. Council has said that hiring a Recreation Director was one of the best things we’ve done.”

Rosthern hired a Recreation and Community Development Manager within the last five years and that decision is also paying dividends for the community. Rosthern’s Recreation and Community Development Manager, Andrew Crowe, was recently awarded the Saskatchewan Association of Recre-ation Professionals Up and Coming Recreation Professional Award. In a newspaper article which detailed the award and Andrew’s accomplishments, Rosthern’s CAO Nicole Lerat indicated that both herself and the Rosthern Town Coun-cil commend and applaud Andrew for his ability to access grants and funding that have a direct impact of the recreation programs that the people of Rosthern enjoy.

In Dalmeny, former CAO Shelley Funk was quoted in a newspaper article that “Dalmeny has great facilities and a very active bunch of recreation groups like minor soccer, figure skating, hockey and ball, but it’s reached a tipping point now with the growth of the town. There’s a real need now to have a professional person who can coordinate all those different aspects”. In 2014, Dalmeny created the Recreation Manager position and now they do have a professional person in place to coordinate all those different aspects.

In Langenburg, as it relates to the recently created Recreation Director position, Ken Apland, Reeve of the RM of Langen-burg explains, “The creation of the position for a Recreation Director was a joint venture between the RM of Langenburg and the Town of Langenburg. This position was created based on the need to have one central person in charge of all the recreation facilities within the community that the volun-teers can rely on for direction. The Recreation Director is fun-damental in researching and applying for grants to assist the various organizations in funding the needs and requirements throughout the season.”

Apland continues by saying “This venture has proven to be very beneficial for strengthening the overall community spirit through sports and recreation. The residents of the Rural Municipality are very active in each of the sports organizations that are operated under the umbrella of the recreation direc-tor. Therefore, the decision for financial support from the RM to help bring this position to light was an easy one to have passed by the entire RM Council.”

These four examples illustrate how the recreation world is changing. With community members demanding more servic-es and legal requirements for operating specialized equipment becoming more and more of a risk management issue. The need for recreation professionals has increased over the past five years and Saskatchewan communities have responded positively!

Clint McConnell SPRA Field Consultant

December 2015 14

Over 12 years of operation, in motion has grown to include thousands of champions and organizations working together to increase opportunities for kids to be active in our commu-nities, neighbourhoods, schools and homes.

“The future of in motion and physical activity in Saskatch-ewan is bright,” says Cathie Kryzanowski, General Manager. “We’re excited to launch our new strategic plan early in 2016, with a fresh spin on what our partners and networks have grown to expect.”

The new strategic plan includes initiatives aimed at:■ encouraging kids and families to go outdoors to play■ inspiring and supporting community action■ increasing physical literacy■ educating parents■ supporting teachers

Saskatchewan in motion has also played a leadership role in the development of a new organization – Active Saskatch-ewan. Launching in early spring, Active Saskatchewan will focus on providing strategic leadership to physical activity strategies across Saskatchewan including, but not limited to Saskatchewan in motion.

“Although grateful for the guidance of Saskatchewan Parks and Recreation Association through our early development, we believe Active Saskatchewan will provide a wealth of pos-sibilities to explore through the next phase of our work with in motion,” says Kryzanowski.

The recreation sector has always played a critical role in the Saskatchewan in motion movement. We invite recreation professionals and volunteers to join us in our new adventure

SASKATCHEWAN IN MOTION

GETTING MORE KIDS, MORE ACTIVE, MORE OFTENSaskatchewan in motion is an exciting movement of parents, leaders, teachers and decision makers taking action to get more kids, more active, more often.

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15 December 2015

In 2010 the Legacy Fund was created when the Province of Saskatchewan developed the Saskatchewan Pavilion for the 2010 Vancouver Winter Olympic Games. A portion of the funding invested in the Pavilion was set aside to develop a Legacy Fund to support youth initiatives in Saskatchewan. The funds dedicated towards the recreation sector were utilized to advance the Take the Lead! initiative across the province.

Take the Lead! is an initiative that increases leadership skills in youth ages 11-14. It was created in partnership between the Regina Qu’Appelle Health Region and the Southeast Connection for Sport, Culture and Recreation, and then later passed to the Saskatchewan Parks and Recreation Associa-tion to administer the initiative provincially.

The infusion of support from the Legacy Fund in 2010 has bolstered Take the Lead! into a vibrant and engaging pro-gram complete with excellent resources, facilitators, and supports. In 2011, the Youth Leader manual was developed. This manuals showcases a variety of games and activities, as well as program planning tools for the youth to refer to when delivering Take the Lead!. Then in 2013 the establish-ment of a Trainer curriculum was underway. Notably, the incorporation of a new module titled “Being the Best You Can Be and Passing It On…” was created emphasizing the importance of self-care, nutrition, and a holistic approach to leadership skill development.

To date there are 14 Trainers with the capacity to deliver Take the Lead! provincially. Beyond this, there are now over 150 Leadership Coaches trained in the principles and foun-dations of Take the Lead!. These Leadership Coaches are able to support the Youth Leaders in delivering the program in their organization. Successful implementation of Take the Lead! is due to the efforts of the Youth Leaders; between 2013 and 2015 over 600 Youth Leaders gained the skills necessary to run the program.

Financial support for those interested in engaging with the initiative is a key factor in the success of Take the Lead!. In 2013 the Take the Lead! Provincial Initiative Grant was es-tablished; thus reducing barriers to any organization wishing to improve the lives of youth through enhanced leadership capabilities. Today the Training Assistance Program contin-ues to support those committed to starting Take the Lead! in their organization.

Inherent in the success of Take the Lead!’s evolution has been the dedicated efforts to the branding and imagery of Take the Lead!. In 2013 the initiative was re-branded to emphasize Take the Lead!’s connection to youth, play and fun. Showcasing the new logo and enhanced superhero im-agery, Take the Lead!’s “look” is one that youth can be proud of, and that highlights their role as leaders of play. In 2015 SPRA was proud to announce Take the Lead! as a registered trademark.

To gain access to this successful program contact Desirea Weninger, Youth Engagement Consultant at 306-780-9219 or dweninger@spra.sk.ca.

Desirea Weninger SPRA Consultant, Youth Engagement

As we look at how the recreation sector in Saskatchewan has evolved over the last five years, consider the progress of Take the Lead!®.

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