June 19-25 was slated Recreation Professionals Week in Saskatchewan for the sixth year!
During the week, we will be highlighting a recreation professional each day who has made outstanding contributions that are beneficial to their community through recreation.
#SKRECWEEK2023
What is recreation?
Recreation is the experience that results from freely chosen participation in physical, social, intellectual, creative and spiritual pursuits that enhance individual and community well-being.
Why are recreation professionals important to your province?
Think of your most enjoyable memory as a kid. Odds are, you’re thinking of something outdoors where you were playing with family or friends. This is natural as our connection to play, enjoyment and general happiness is from memories that involved family, friends and playing.
Now that you have these memories going through your mind, do you remember any person(s) in your life who were always around making sure the spaces and places you were playing as a child were safe. Safe, so that you could simply be a kid enjoying life? These people were likely recreation professionals (although they may not hold that title), they were working in the background of your community making parks, open spaces and recreation facilities safe places for you, your family and friends to play. These opportunities and experiences are made possible through the hard work and passion of Saskatchewan’s Recreation Professionals. This diverse group of professionals includes any person working in the field of recreation and parks in a non-volunteer capacity.
Recreation professionals envision a Saskatchewan where everyone is engaged in meaningful, accessible recreation experiences, that foster:
- Individual well-being
- Well-being of natural and built environments
- Community well-being
Programs and services offered by recreation professionals foster:
- Active living
- Inclusion and access
- Connecting people and nature
- Supportive environments
- Recreation capacity
Behind a thriving community and highly valued services are educated, trained professionals that care deeply about the people that they help.
Do you work for a municipality? Please find below some excellent information to share with your administration.
CELEBRATE WITH US
Across Saskatchewan, recreation professionals will be celebrated for the positive impact that they have on our province through their passion, dedication, commitment and hard work.
Show your appreciation of a recreation professional/s in your community by:
- Creating an appreciation post (creative available for download here) on social media and mentioning (@SaskRecProf) on Facebook, Twitter and/or Instagram. Use trending hashtag #SKRECWEEK2023
- Hanging the Recreation Professionals Week ’23 Poster in recreation facilities and bulletin boards
Have any questions about how you can appreciate recreation professionals? Send us an email here. We would love to assist where we can!
LUNCH ON US CONTEST
One lucky workplace will receive a lunch up to $400 for them and their coworkers.
To enter:
- Snap a picture of you and your coworkers
- Tag us on social media (Facebook, Instagram and/or Twitter) at @SaskRecProf
- Share what recreation means to you
We will be sharing pictures throughout the week and the winner will be announced Sunday, June 25.
Good luck!
OUR RECSTARS
Sunday, June 25, 2023 — Mack Klyne
Mack started his career with the City of Regina as a Lifeguard/Instructor in 2017.
In addition, Mack has worked in various casual positions including a Program Coordinator for the City’s Social Inclusion programs.
In 2019, he became part of the Aquatic Supervising team at the Lawson Aquatic Centre, when he started his position as Aquatic Training Specialist and in 2022, he moved into the Fieldhouse Program Specialist position. Shortly after his departure from aquatics, he returned back to the Lawson Aquatic Centre as the Aquatic Program Specialist; where he has a fundamental role in opening the refreshed Wascana Pool.
He has also played a role on the Host Organizing Committee for the 2023 Saskatchewan Winter Games as a Venue Chair for Fieldhouse and Lawson, and the Logistics & IT Committee.
Mack is also in pursuit of a Bachelor of Sport and Recreation Studies combined with a Bachelor of Business Administration.
Saturday, June 24, 2023 — Kristen Christensen
Growing up in several communities throughout Saskatchewan, Kristen Christensen is very fortunate to claim many communities as home. Active community involvement in each hometown allowed Kristen to enjoy a variety of diverse recreation opportunities starting at young age, which fostered her love and value of sport, culture and recreation which lead her to an exciting career journey as a recreation professional.
Kristen graduated from Saskatchewan Polytechnic’s (formerly SIAST) Recreation and Leisure Program and has been in the recreation field for over 20 years. She is currently pursuing her passion in municipal recreation as a Recreation Services Manager with the City of Saskatoon and enjoys her role as a catalyst for enhancing quality of life through recreation. In addition to her current portfolio she has also spent time as an SPRA fitness instructor, SPRA SaskFit committee member, volunteer community coach, High Five facilitator, program coordinator and leader for various children, youth and adult recreational activities.
Kristen values learning and enjoys the quote, “Jack of all trades master of none, though often time better than a master of one,” and finds this perspective to have created well rounded experiences that she is able to draw on for the benefit of her current projects.
Friday, June 23, 2023 — Helen Meekins
Helen started out her career in Community Recreation as a Recreation Director in 2005.
Having the opportunity to gain knowledge in municipal program planning, event management, facility management and many other community recreation experiences prepared her for the shift to Community Consultant. Helen started out working for Prairie Central District in 2009 and then Lakeland District in 2013.
In the last 10 years Helen has had the opportunity to sit on a multitude of boards holding a variety of positions. Helen is currently the Deputy Reeve and Division 5 Councillor for the Rural Municipality of Pleasantdale #398, Chairperson of the Lake Charron Regional Park Board and Vice Chairperson of the LacVert Community Association.
Helen has four beautiful children and enjoys spending any free time they have available outdoors and being active. Winter months ice fishing and tobogganing at the lake, spring brings coaching ball, cheering for ball as well as track and field, summer fun swimming and boating at the lake and the family all partakes in garden harvest and those final fall evening walks.
Wednesday, June 21, 2023 — Jennifer Burgress
Jennifer Burgess has been working in the recreation field since she was a student at the University of Saskatchewan.
She started as a volunteer for the University of Saskatchewan’s Huskie Athletics while she was completing her bachelor’s degree in Kinesiology. This is where she developed a passion for the crazy fast-paced work environment and hasn’t looked back since.
In 2009 she started her career as a recreation technician with the City of Saskatoon and is now the Recreation Programmer.
Since then, she has held various position throughout Saskatoon: leisure centres, outdoor pools, arenas, the summer playground program, Nutrien’s Playland at Kinsmen Park and the Gordon Howe Campground.
From 2015-2020, Jennifer helped coordinate several events, including: the Senior Diving Nationals, Western Gymnastics Championships, Senior Wrestling Nationals and the SaskFit Conference.
But her experience in the recreation field doesn’t stop there. Jennifer’s always looking for ways to grow and develop herself personally and professionally.
She had the privilege of serving three years on the Saskatchewan Parks and Recreation Association’s Board of Directors from 2019-2022 and has since switched gears to support her community association in Saskatoon.
During her spare time she actively volunteers with sports organizations that her children participate in. She recently completed another season as the manager and treasurer of her sons U13 hockey team and is currently the assistant coach to her daughter’s U11 softball team.
Tuesday, June 20, 2023 — Brennen Ronovsky
Brennen Ronovsky is a Community Consultant for the South West District for Culture, Recreation and Sport. He brings a passion for helping others and enjoys working alongside his South West District coworkers to assist communities. Brennen is a part of S.A.R.P.’s Pathway to Professional Status Committee. He graduated with a Kinesiology degree and had previous work experience as a Director of Recreation and Recreation Therapy Aide, as well as worked with Special Olympics and YMCA. His newest experiences were with Team South West at the 2023 Sask Winter Games and then with Team Saskatchewan at the 2023 Canada Winter Games.
