Saskatchewan Parks and Recreation Association

This long weekend, celebrate everything that makes Canada awesome in parks and recreation spaces!

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The participant list for the 2024 Communities in Bloom Saskatchewan program is available on our website.

Check it out and see who your community will be competing with this year!

https://www.spra.sk.ca/programs-services/communities-in-bloom/

We are so proud to support the important work of SaskOutdoors through education and programs made possible by funding from Sask Lotteries.

Their work inspires us all at SPRA! ❤️

Thank you to Saskatchewan Parks and Recreation Association for providing funding and support to SaskOutdoors as we continue working to connect people to the outdoors and inspire curiosity and play in nature by passionately delivering programs and services that promote ecological understanding and environmental responsibility 🌲🐞🪵🌱

Parks and Recreation Month might be coming to a close this weekend, but our Connect on Common Ground campaign continues!

We’re encouraging people in Saskatchewan to connect this summer and celebrate the inclusiveness and diversity of our parks and outdoor recreation spaces.

We want people from all walks of life to connect outside with their families and friends in parks and recreation spaces.

Resources to support the campaign are available on our website! https://www.spra.sk.ca/news-events/parks-and-recreation-month/

Congratulations to Dana Stefanson, Saskatchewan's top voted Recreation Professional!

Thank you for all of your votes and support in this fun competition and every day.

Today is your last chance to sign up for CPRA - ACPL's Measuring Impact webinar!

Learn how data-driven decision making can drive your work in parks and recreation!

🚨 Last Day to Sign Up for the Measuring Impact Webinar! 🚨

Today is the last day to register for our Measuring Impact webinar happening tomorrow. Don't miss out on this incredible opportunity to enhance your data-driven decision-making skills!

🗓️ Date: Tomorrow, June 26th
🕛 Time: 12 PM EST

Join experts Mike Roma from RC Strategies and Dr. John Spence from the University of Alberta's Faculty of Kinesiology, Sport, and Recreation as they explore the initiative's research methods and results. Learn how this valuable data can improve recreation initiatives in your community and get an exclusive preview of the Measuring Impact calculator, launching this fall.

Presented by the Canadian Fitness and Lifestyle Research Institute (CFLRI) and the Canadian Parks and Recreation Association (CPRA), this webinar will empower you to assess the impacts of recreation and parks infrastructure across Canada.

Don't wait—register now before it's too late! Sign up today: https://buff.ly/3KDAKMM

✨Meet Our Team!✨

Meet Karen House, our Leadership, Evaluation and Human Resources Consultant!

Karen is our behind the scenes RECstar – always supporting organizational planning ✅, developing policies ✅, analyzing data ✅, and managing our Human Resources ✅!

Over the years, Karen has led many of our services - from HIGH FIVE® coordinator and trainer, SaskFit and SPRA Conferences, to our scholarship program. A key highlight in her career was her involvement in the ParticipACTION Teen Challenge program, which granted Karen the opportunity to be Torchbearer for the 2010 Vancouver Olympics!

When not at work, Karen enjoys walks in Wascana Park with her greyhound Duncan, gardening, playing disc golf, attending concerts, quilting, reading, and being volunteer with 4-H Saskatchewan and her community!

Karen enjoys working in parks and recreation because of the relationships she's made with the passionate and hardworking people who make it great!

Congratulations Karen on 15 years with SPRA! 🙌

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Today on National Indigenous Peoples Day, we recognize and celebrate the history, diversity and resilience of First Nations, Inuit and Métis peoples from across Canada.

Each year on June 21st, organizations and communities host events to showcase the rich, cultural stories and experiences of Canada’s Indigenous peoples. We encourage you to check out what’s happening in your community!

Visit the Office of the Treaty Commissioner's website to find an event near you: https://loom.ly/Dyn9GI0

Meet Dana Stefanson!

Dana is a passionate advocate in Wynyard who has led 2️⃣ impactful community initiatives recently:

✨ Wynyard Skatepark Revitalization: Concerned about the declining use and safety, Dana secured CIF Summer Program funding to hire Quinn Burns as a Skatepark Ambassador. Transforming the park into a safer, more inclusive space.
✨ Culture Planning Research: With SaskCulture Funding, Dana initiated a project to identify Wynyard's cultural assets. Setting the stage for a comprehensive Culture Plan to guide future development.

Dana Stefanson's initiatives highlight her dedication to enhancing cultural understanding and community recreation in the Town of Wynyard.

Our second Recreation Rumble round matchup is Donna Boser-Kelly VS Dana Stefanson with voting open until midnight tonight.

Vote ⬇️
https://woobox.com/w3w9o2

JUNE IS PARKS AND REC MONTH!
Leisure, Parks and Recreation are truly the backbone of so many communities - helping us learn, play and grow!
Foam Lake is certainly the envy of many in the province - thanks to the investments by Town Council into our recreational spaces and places!
Go find some fun this month!

The Saskatchewan Association of Recreation Professionals (SARP) are hosting a number of online events in celebration of Recreation Professionals Week!

Check out the events happening below and reach out to S.A.R.P. for the registration links:

The Importance of Nature-Based Recreation on Health and Well-Being w/ Kris Garner from The ELM - The Emotional Literacy Movement
Wednesday, June 19
12:00 p.m. - 1:00 p.m.

Are We Getting to Inclusion? A Reflection on Recreation, Inclusion and Access Provisions w/ Dr. Jackie Oncescu from UNB Faculty of Kinesiology
Thursday, June 20
12:00 p.m. - 1:00 p.m.

S.A.R.P.'s Recreation Happy Hour
Friday - June 21
3:00 p.m. - 4:00 p.m.

Saskatchewan Association of Recreation Professionals (SARP) The S.A.R.P. Office is open Monday to Friday, 9:00am to 4:00pm.

Recreation Professionals Week continues, and Rosthern Recreation is here to tell you why a career in recreation rocks! ❤️🤘

💥 June 17th - 23rd is Recreation Professionals Week! 💥

📣Throughout the week we are going to showcase the faces of the Town of Rosthern Recreation Department, share some information about them, and what a career in the recreation industry is all about!

First up is the Recreation Administration team:
🔺Recreation & Community Development Manager, Tonya McEachern
🔺Recreation Programmer, Vanessa Atkins

🎓Tonya attended the University of Saskatchewan and obtained a Kinesiology degree, majoring in Sport & Recreation Administration.

👩‍💻She has experience working in Municipal departments as a summer student and also programming for the Saskatoon Rec League and Canlan Sports.

💜When Tonya isn't working, she enjoys spending time with her family, relaxing at the lake, cheering on Usask sports, participating and volunteering in community events!

🎓Vanessa received her Recreation & Tourism Management Diploma from SIAST (now Sask Polytech) and has experience working in various Municipal and event planning positions since 2013.

👩‍💻She has been working for the Town of Rosthern for the last 8 years starting as Finance Clerk, Recreation Manager, and now Recreation Programmer.

💜When Vanessa isn't at work, she enjoys spending time with her 2 year old son, husband, and Bernese Mountain Dog, catching up with friends & family, doing yoga, and gardening.

Here are a few of the main responsibilities of the Recreation Administration team:
▪️Developing & overseeing the recreation budget
▪️Supervising the Valley Aquatic Centre & Summer Program seasonal Staff
▪️Scheduling of all town-owned recreation facilities & administration of agreements
▪️Operational & Capital Grant Applications
▪️Administration of the Saskatchewan Lotteries Community Grant Program
▪️Management of Town of Rosthern, Recreation & Valley Aquatic Centre pages and Instagram
▪️Development of Policies and Standard Operating Procedures
▪️Planning & executing Community Events and programs as well as working alongside local sport, culture & recreation groups to fulfill their events

📸 Here is a photo of Tonya & Vanessa in action at the Rosthern Community School's career fair this past May!


Saskatchewan Association of Recreation Professionals (SARP)

June 17-23 is Recreation Professionals Week in Saskatchewan!

This June marks the 7th consecutive year in which Recreation Professionals have been highlighted during Parks and Recreation Month ❤️

Saskatchewan Association of Recreation Professionals (SARP)

June 17-23 marks the seventh annual Recreation Professionals Week in Saskatchewan. In recognition, we're profiling Nathaniel Carrington, the Recreation Director for the Town of Stoughton!

https://southeastdistrict.ca/blogs/post/cheer-story-celebrating-recreation-professionals-week-nathaniel-carringtons-impact-in-stoughton

Hello Hepburn Community, I am doing "A Day in the Life of a Rec Professional" Takeover!

All day tomorrow, on Tuesday, June 18, thanks to the nomination of a colleague of mine from the Sask Association of Recreation Professionals Network.

Follow along and find out what I am up to, on INSTAGRAM at: https://www.instagram.com/saskrecprof/










Heritage Common
Flowing Well Cafe
Town of Hepburn
Hepburn Parks & Recreation

Feeling some major Friday gratitude for our friends at the Canadian Mental Health Association Saskatchewan Division 🥰

Through your mental health services and advocacy, you contribute to meaningful solutions which lead to a better quality of life for everyone in our province!

We are proud to support you and all of our Provincial Recreation Associations through funding from Sask Lotteries.

Thank you to the City of Warman for proclaiming June as Parks and Recreation Month! 🥳

Warman Recreation & Community Services

Has your community proclaimed June as Parks and Recreation Month?

Download and sign the proclamation today! https://www.spra.sk.ca/news-events/parks-and-recreation-month/

Saskatchewan Parks and Recreation Association We provide leadership, support & services that contribute to recreations’ impact on quality of life.

In our most recent newsletter, we included the wrong month for this upcoming event. The correct date is below:

Irrigation Systems and Turf Management
July 15-16, 2024 Moosomin, SK

Hosted by the Town of Moosomin with industry expert Dennis McKernan. The first day of the course will focus on irrigation including large-scale system components, piping, valves, sprinklers, controllers, design concepts and more! Day two will focus on turfgrass species, particularly drought-tolerant species, turfgrass density strategies, as well as fertilizing, mowing and aeration programs.

Don’t miss this rare opportunity to learn from a leading expert!

Register by contacting Mike Schwean at 1-306-436-7578 or [email protected].

🚨 Last Day to Nominate a Rec Pro for Recreation Rumble! 🚨

Don’t miss your chance to shine or to highlight a standout individual making a difference in our province!

The Recreation Rumble is a fun, friendly challenge where we celebrate and vote for the best in our field.

Amazing prizes await:
✨ A Recreation Rumble Champion Belt
✨ A $100 gift card to your favorite spot to celebrate with your team
✨ Ultimate bragging rights as the 2024 Rec Prof Week Champion!

Nominate someone (or yourself) now: https://www.sarponline.ca/recreation-professionals-week-2/

We are so proud to support the Canadian Mental Health Association Saskatchewan Division with funding from Sask Lotteries.

Their work truly improves the quality of life for everyone in our province ❤️

🎶🎶🎶Welcome to the jungle, we got fun and games!!!

In celebration of upcoming Rec Professionals week our pals at Saskatchewan Association of Recreation Professionals (SARP) are hosting a "Recreation Rumble! (insert cheering here🤣)
Don’t miss your chance to shine or to highlight a standout Saskatchewan Recreation Professional making a difference. The Recreation Rumble is a fun, friendly challenge where we celebrate and vote for the best in our field.🦬🥊

Amazing prizes await:
✨ A Recreation Rumble Champion Belt
✨ A $100 gift card to your favorite spot to celebrate with your team
✨ Ultimate bragging rights as the 2024 Rec Prof Week Champion!

Nominate an active S.A.R.P. Member (or yourself) now: https://www.sarponline.ca/recreation-professionals-week-2/

For more information reach out to the team!

There are a number of other unique activities happening from the 17-23 all based around the central theme ...“The Backbone of Your Community”, highlighting the vital role recreation professionals play in Saskatchewan communities.

Saskatchewan Association of Recreation Professionals (SARP)

Recreation Professionals Week Nominations Form - Saskatchewan Association of Recreational Professionals Nominate a Recreation Professional who is an active S.A.R.P. Member today:

🚨Giveaway alert! 🚨 Are you part of an organization looking for a chance to win one of four $750 prizes? Don't miss out on our spirit prize by telling us how your organization is showing your Community Challenge spirit!

Organizations that register their physical activity initiatives, events, programs and/or activities, track the number of participants AND engage with the challenge here on social media will have the chance to win one of four $750 prizes available every week of the challenge!

To participate and be eligible for all prizing, organizations must first register for the Community Challenge on the ParticipACTION website: https://hubs.la/Q02zZgn80

⚠️ WARNING: We will never ask you to click any links or for banking/credit card information. Winners will be posted on our social media channels and contacted directly through the email used to register on the Community Challenge portal.

The prizing period closes Thursday, June 13, 2024, at 11:59 p.m. PT.

We love the outdoors at SPRA!

What's your favorite park or outdoor space in Saskatchewan?

[Pictured: a multi-generational family of four walk through Regina's A. E. Wilson Park on a sunny day.]

Saskatchewan Parks and Recreation Association We provide leadership, support & services that contribute to recreations’ impact on quality of life.

This is how it's done! 😍

➡️ Accessibility & Inclusion Matter! Parks and Rec Board cares about you and the feedback you provide. Please take time to read through this longer post.

🎉New this year:
-Pathways: Improved pathways through the north tree line to the race area - two pathways, one near north court, and one near kidzone, both leveled, widened, and now surfaced with wood chips.

-Sidewalks: The Main Stage area is between North Court, Heritage Lodge, and Main Heritage Common building. This means access to a number of sidewalks into this grass gathering area. Give priority to people who need them for wheeled walkers, carts, scooters, and wheelchairs. Everyone else use the grass.

-Parking: More accessible parking spots along the Heritage Lodge, now the childcare hub parking zone - use for drop off spots, the closest to west sidewalk, and also for all day parking while spots remain.

-Announcements: Listen for announcements from the Main Stage and the Feature Race Event Stage to give time and space for all guests moving from one zone to another zone.

-Washrooms: We added more washrooms. There are 3, including a larger accessible washroom near North Court, and 3 near the kidzone, as well as sink and sanitizer stations at each.

-Indoor Access: Heritage Common main building is also open two windows of time, Friday 5-11pm and Saturday 3-630, 9-11pm. The schedule includes youth room and escape room, which also means access for anyone who needs access to indoor washrooms, diaper change tables, breastfeeding spot, or a quiet place to take a breather.

-Info Booth & Entrance Gate: We moved it onto the gravel parking lot in front of the main building, which is a level surface and near a sidewalk for easier access into the festival site. If you need any assistance or accommodation, please ask a volunteer there and we will do all we can to make your visit better!

❤️Thank you to all the families and care staff who provided thoughtful feedback to us through the past year. We appreciate you.

⁉️Talk to any Parks and Rec member on the weekend if you have questions or comments. We will have a suggestion box at the Parks and Rec MARKET table too.

Registration for the 2024 Fall Facility Leaders Forum is open now!

Join us in the Battlefords on September 9-13, 2024 for 6 different courses offered in-person throughout the week to enhance the skills of front-line facility operators, volunteers and supervisors.

Learn more: https://www.spra.sk.ca/news-events/fall-facility-leaders-forum/

Rivers West District for Sport, Culture & Recreation
City of North Battleford (Official)

2024 Fall Facility Leaders Forum Join us for a week of training, education and collaboration.