June 17-23 was slated Recreation Professionals Week in Saskatchewan for the seventh consecutive year!
We’re extending the celebrations throughout June with the Canadian Parks and Recreation Association and the Saskatchewan Parks and Recreation Association’s, highlighting their Parks and Recreation Month initiatives!
During the month, we’ll be launching our first-ever Recreation Rumble, a friendly challenge inviting nominations and votes for Saskatchewan Recreation Professionals who have made significant contributions to the field and province.
View the proclamation form here.
View the news release here.
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.
Contact our Communications Consultant here for any campaign resources you wish to share.
CELEBRATE WITH US
This year, our central theme is “The Backbone of Your Community”, highlighting the vital role recreation professionals play in Saskatchewan communities.
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.
Get involved in the excitement of the month by:
- Participating in our first-ever Recreation Rumble
- Attending learning and networking opportunities
Have any questions about how you can participate in the celebrations? Send us an email here. We would love to assist where we can!
RECREATION RUMBLE
We’re excited to launch our first-ever Recreation Rumble, a friendly challenge inviting nominations and votes for Saskatchewan Recreation Professionals making noteworthy impacts in recreation during the last year.
The Recreation Rumble will consist of four phases:
1️⃣ Nomination Phase
2️⃣ Round 1 – Lisa Braun VS Lyndsay Stevenot (Tuesday, June 18 at 9:00 a.m. – Wednesday, June 19 at 11:59 p.m.)
3️⃣ Round 2 – Donna Boser-Kelly VS Dana Stefanson (Thursday, June 20 at 9:00 a.m. – Friday, June 21 at 11:59 p.m.)
4️⃣ Round 3 – Tonya McEachern VS Chelsea Corrigan (Saturday, June 22 at 9:00 a.m. – Sunday, June 23 at 11:50 p.m.)
5️⃣ Round 4 – Finalists Voting (Monday, June 24 at 9:00 a.m. – Tuesday, June 25 at 11:59 p.m.)
6️⃣ Recreation Rumble Winner Announced (Wednesday, June 26)
We will kick off the Recreation Rumble with eight nominees (determined by our Nomination Phase) competing fiercely to reach the finish line. The finalist with the most votes will be crowned the Recreation Rumble Champion!
Finalists will have the opportunity to share a day in their life as a Recreation Professional during Recreation Professionals Week on S.A.R.P.’s Instagram and Facebook stories.
In addition to the fun and recognition, participants will have the chance to win:
✨ A Recreation Rumble Champion Belt
✨ $100 gift card to an establishment of your choice to celebrate with your team
✨ Ultimate bragging rights as the 2024 Rec Pro Week Champion!
We will be sharing pictures throughout the week and the winner will be announced Sunday, June 25.
Nominations Open: Monday, June 3 at 9:00 a.m.
Nominations Deadline: Wednesday, June 12 at midnight
Recreation Rumble Starts: Tuesday, June 18 at 9:00 a.m.
Recreation Rumble Ends: Tuesday, June 25 at 11:59 p.m.
Winner Announced: Wednesday, June 26
Good luck!
Congratulations to Dana Stefanson for being Saskatchewan’s Top Recreation Professional for 2024! 🏆
LEARNING & NETWORKING OPPORTUNITIES
S.A.R.P. is excited to partner and promote the following opportunities:
Share Your Input on Health Food Options in Recreation Facilities (In-Person)!
- Tuesday, June 18, 2024
- 10:30AM - 3:30PM
- Gordie Howe Complex, Saskatoon
- More
The Eat Healthy Play Healthy committee needs your voice to improve the availability of healthy food options in recreation settings in Saskatchewan.
The Eat Healthy, Play Healthy committee aims to support the offering of healthy foods in recreation facilities, so healthy choices are the easy choice.
Recreational Respite and S.A.R.P. Lunch and Learn Time (Virtual)
- Tuesday, June 18 2024
- 12:00PM - 1:00PM
- Meeting ID: 890 5496 6662
- Passcode: 829843
Offers a capacity-building workshop for members of your care team. Respite caregivers, personal care aides, volunteers, leaders, students and family caregivers will learn the fundamentals of recreation in care to develop and deliver engaging and individualized programming.
Recreational Respite promotes inclusion and nurtures social health for children, youth and adults with disabilities, mental health experiences and other barriers to participation throughout Canada. Services include one-to-one supports, group programs (virtual and in-person) and community partnerships that focus on inclusion, connection and participation.
The Importance of Nature and Nature-Based Recreation on Health and Well-Being with Kris Garner (Virtual)
- Wednesday, June 19, 2024
- 12:00PM - 1:00PM
- More on Emotional Literacy Movement
This workshop will explore the profound impacts of nature on health and well-being. We’ll discuss how nature influences our biology through the senses, international initiatives supporting health through nature-based programs, and the importance of early nature experiences. We’ll also address the health benefits of nature, challenges of urban living, and how nature-based programs promote diversity and inclusion for all backgrounds.
Kris Garner is a seasoned educator with over two decades of experience spanning various facets of education, including child care centres, public schools, private schools, and independent educational and alternative programs such as Forest Schools. Her work with The Emotional Literacy Movement revolves around bridging the gap in mental health and emotional literacy education within our existing institutions, with a keen focus on our school systems and not-for-profit organizations serving the community. She firmly believes that an emotionally healthy foundation is the key to mental health, healthy relationships (both within and outside the workplace), increased productivity and focus, physical wellbeing, and a life well lived.
Are We Getting to Inclusion? A Reflection on Recreation, Inclusion and Access Provisions with Dr. Jackie Oncescu (Virtual)
- Thursday, June 20, 2024
- 12:00PM - 1:00PM
- More on Jackie
- Reimagining Access to Sport, Recreation and Leisure NB Project
Research shows that social and economic inequalities prevent equity-owed residents from accessing community recreation and sports, mainly due to the “pay-to-play” model tied to household income. In Canada, stakeholders often use temporary solutions like fee assistance programs and free events, which fail to create sustainable, equitable access. This webinar will share insights from the REimagining Access to Sport, Recreation and Leisure project on true access and inclusion and explore new ways to achieve these goals.
Dr. Jackie Oncescu is an Associate Professor in the Faculty of Kinesiology at UNB. She is a passionate social justice researcher and advocate blending theory with creative community development approaches to support community practice in reimaging and redesigning sport and recreation provisions with and for equity-owed communiteis. Jackie’s projects encompassmany topics, but her primary dedication lies in uncovering and addressing exclusionary mechanisms within community sport and recreation delivery systems. Her approach involves leveraging principles of social justice, community participatory action research methodologies and human-centred and system design approaches to envision and support dignified access and belonging in community sport and recreation.
S.A.R.P.'s Recreation Happy Hour Friday
- Friday, June 21, 2024
- 3:00PM - 4:00PM
Grab a beverage of your choice and join us for an interactive networking session with recreation professionals alike!
