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Framework for Recreation in Canada 2015:Pathways to Wellbeing

March 27, 2015

A joint initiative of the Interprovincial Sport and Recreation Council

and the Canadian Parks and Recreation Association

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What is the Framework for Recreation in Canada 2015?

• Co‐ledbyprovincialandterritorialgovernments(exceptQuebec)andtheCanadianParksandRecreationAssociation.

• TheFrameworkforRecreationinCanada2015(Framework)will:

1. ProvideanewvisionforrecreationinCanada.

2. Inviteleaders,practitioners,stakeholdersandvolunteerstocollaborateinpursuitofcommonpriorities.

3. Aimtoimprovethewellbeingof:• Individuals• Communities• Builtandnaturalenvironments

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Andthisiswhereitallbegan….

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What has the process been to date? • October2011‐ NationalRecreationSummit,Alberta.

• June2012– Federal‐Provincial/Territorial(F‐P/T)Sport,PhysicalActivityandRecreation(SPAR)MinisterssupportedthedevelopmentofaNationalRecreationFramework.

• ProvincialandTerritorialconsultationstookplaceleadinguptoaNationalRoundtableontheFramework thattookplaceinNewBrunswickinApril2013.

• InAprilandMay2014,consultationsessionswithgovernmentofficialsandsectorrepresentativestookplacethroughoutthecountrytobuildconsensusandreflectonimplementation.

• The2014NationalRecreationSummitwashostedinToronto,OntarioinNovember.

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Framework Endorsement 

• TheFrameworkhasreceivedformalendorsementfromtheCanadianParksandRecreationAssociation.

• ThefinalizedFrameworkwaspresentedtoandendorsedbytheProvincialandTerritorialMinistersofSport,PhysicalActivityandRecreationonFebruary13,2015inPrinceGeorge.

• TheGovernmentofCanadasupportedtheFramework.

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Why Develop a Recreation Framework for Canada? 

• Recreationhasincreasinglybecomeanindividual‐based,facility‐focused,anduser‐paidservice;

• Rapidtechnological,economic,environmental,demographicandsocialchangesrequirenewwaysofworkingtomeetemergingneeds;

• CostsrelatedtohealthandwellbeinghasbeenapersistentchallengeinCanada;

• ExpertsfromacrossCanadaagreedthatthesectorwouldbenefitfromaguidingdocumenttoleadeffectiveandcoordinatedpoliciesandpracticesinrecreation;and

• TheRecreationFrameworkaimstoprovideanalignedandefficientfocusofeffortsacrossCanadaandtoidentifyconcretewayswecanworktogethertoenableallpeopletoenjoyrecreationinsupportiveenvironments.

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How will the Framework be used? 

• ItisanticipatedthattheFrameworkwillbeutilizedbytherecreationsectorandgovernmentsinavarietyofdifferentways,whichcouldinclude:

• Toguidedecision‐making,planningandresourceallocationforrecreationleaders;

• InthedevelopmentofProvincial,MunicipalandCommunityplanning;

• Tocontinuetofosterpositiverelationshipsbetweenthesectorandallordersofgovernment;

• AsamechanismtooutlinetheimportanceofrecreationtoallF‐P/Tjurisdictions;

• Toinformthedevelopmentofconsistentandcoordinatedactionstoaddressemergingtrendssuchasphysicalinactivitypandemic;and

• Tocontributetoactiveandhealthycommunitiesandcitizens.

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The Framework: What are the Challenges to Recreation? 

• Demographicchanges • Challengestohealth• Economicinequities • Socialchallenges• Threatstothenaturalenvironment

• Newandemergingtechnologies

• Infrastructuredeficit

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The Framework: What are the Benefits of Recreation? 

• RecreationprovidesmultiplepathwaystowellbeingforallCanadians.Ithasthepotentialtoaddressavarietyofchallengesandtroublingissuessuchas:

• RiskstoMentalandPhysicalWellbeing

• SocialIsolation

• FamilyandCommunityConnectednessandResiliency

• EconomicDevelopment

• DisconnectwithNature

• Integrationofnewimmigrantpopulations

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The Framework – Diagram

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The Framework – Definition and Vision 

DefinitionofRecreation

Recreationistheexperiencethatresultsfromfreelychosenparticipationinphysical,social,intellectual,creativeandspiritualpursuitsthatenhanceindividualandcommunitywellbeing.

ARenewedVision• WeenvisionaCanadainwhicheveryoneisengagedinmeaningful,accessiblerecreationexperiencesthat

foster:

• Individualwellbeing:Individualswithoptimalmentalandphysicalwellbeing,whoareengagedandcontributingmembersoftheirfamiliesandcommunities.

• Thewellbeingofournaturalandbuiltenvironments:Naturalandbuiltenvironmentsthatareappreciated,nurturedandsustained.

• Communitywellbeing:Communitiesthatarehealthy,inclusive,welcoming,resilientandsustainable.

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The Framework – Values and Principles 

Values• Publicgood

• Inclusionandequity

• Sustainability

• Lifelongparticipation

Principles• Outcomedriven

• Qualityandrelevance

• Evidencebased

• Partnershipsandcollaboration

• Innovation

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The Framework – Goal 1 

Goal1:ActiveHealthyLiving.Fosteractive,healthylivingthroughrecreation.

Priorities

1.1 Enableparticipationinphysicallyactiverecreationalexperiencesthroughoutthelifecourse;

1.2 Incorporatephysicalliteracyinactiverecreationprogramsforpeopleofallagesandabilities;

1.3 Supportthechild’srighttoplayandtoparticipatefullyinageappropriaterecreationalexperiences;

1.4 Informrecreationleadersabouttheimportanceofreducingsedentarybehaviours,andenabletheimplementationofstrategiesandinterventions.

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The Framework – Goal 2 

Goal2:InclusionandAccess.Increaseinclusionandaccesstorecreationforpopulationsthatfaceconstraintstoparticipation.

Priorities

2.1ImplementstrategiesandpoliciestoensurethatnofamiliesorindividualsinCanadaaredeniedaccesstopublicrecreationopportunitiesasaresultofeconomicdisadvantage;

2.2Enablepeopleofallagestoparticipateinrecreation;

2.3 Buildtrustandparticipationthroughtheprovisionofrecreationalopportunitiesadexperiencesthatarerespectfulandappropriateforvariousethnoculturalgroups;

2.4 RecognizeandenabletheexperienceofAboriginalpeoplesinrecreationthroughtraditionalvaluesandculture;

2.5Enableandencouragewomenandgirlstoparticipatefullyinalltypesofrecreation;

2.6 Enactpoliciesofnondiscriminationonthebasisofgenderidentityandgenderexpression;

2.7 Facilitatefullparticipationinrecreationbypeopleofallabilitiesacrossallsettings;

2.8Addresstheuniquechallengesandcapacitiesinruralandremotecommunities.

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The Framework – Goal 3 

Goal3:Connectingpeopleandnature.Helppeopleconnecttonaturethroughrecreation.

Priorities

3.1Providenaturalspacesandplacesinneighborhoods,communitiesandregionsthroughtheretentionandadditionofnaturalareas,forests,parks,trailsandrecreationalwaters;

3.2Workcollaborativelyatalllevelsofgovernmenttomaintainacoordinatedandcomprehensivesystemofparksandprotectedareasthatallowyear‐roundaccesstonature;

3.3 Developpublicawarenessandeducationinitiativestoincreaseunderstandingoftheimportanceofnaturetowellbeingandchilddevelopment;

3.4 Ensureoperationalpoliciesandpracticeslimittheuseofnon‐renewableresourcesandminimizenegativeimpactsonthenaturalenvironment.

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The Framework – Goal 4 

Goal4:Supportiveenvironments.Providesupportivephysicalandsocialenvironmentsthatencourageparticipationinrecreationandhelptobuildstrong,caringcommunities.

Priorities

4.1Providerecreationfacilitiesinunder‐resourcedcommunitiesbasedoncommunityneedsandresources;

4.2Workwithpartnerstoincreasetheuseofexistingstructuresandspacesformultiplepurposes,includingrecreation;

4.3 Enableallcommunitiestorenewrecreationalinfrastructureasrequiredtomeettheneedforgreenspaces;

4.4Leadandsupportcommunityeffortsandmunicipalplanningprocessesforactiverecreationandpublictransit;

4.5Createsupportivesocialenvironmentsinthesettingswherepeoplelive,learn,workandplay;

4.6Developandimplementtargetedrecreationeducationcampaignsthatincreaseknowledgeaboutthebenefitsofrecreationandhelpwiththeacquisitionofskills;

4.7Developstandardizedassessmenttoolsthatwillhelpcommunitiesmeasuretheirstatusoncommunitywellbeing;

4.8Adoptastrategicapproachtocommunitybuildingthatfeaturesalignmentandcollaborationwithothercommunityinitiatives.

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The Framework – Goal 5 Goal5:Recreationcapacity.Ensurethecontinuedgrowthandsustainabilityoftherecreationfield.

Priorities5.1Increasecollaborativeeffortsbetweenalllevelsofgovernment,voluntaryorganizations,theprivatesector,Aboriginalcommunitiesandrecreationassociationstosupportavibrantrecreationsystem;

5.2 Implementcareerawareness,preparationanddevelopmentstrategiestoattractnewleaders;

5.3 Supportadvancededucationinrecreation;

5.4Implementhigh‐qualitytrainingandcompetency‐basedcapacitydevelopmentprogramsfororganizationsandindividualsworkinginrecreation;

5.5 Developastrategytoenhancecommunity‐basedleadership;

5.6 Updatevolunteerstrategiestoengagevolunteersfromallagesandfromavarietyofethnocultural andracialized populations;

5.7 Supportapan‐Canadian,comprehensiveknowledgedevelopmentstrategythatincreasessupportfor:

o Partnershipsinrecreationresearchanddatacollectiono Thenationalrecreationinformationsystemtoprovideaccesstothelatestevidenceo Collaborativeeffortsamonggovernments,recreationassociations,andcolleges/universitiestodevelopnewrecreationprogramsthatmeettheevolvingneedsofcommunities

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Convergence and Collaboration • In2013,F‐P/TSPARMinistersdirectedofficialstoassessopportunitiesfor

linkagesbetweenActiveCanada20/20(AC20/20)theCanadianSportPolicyandtheFrameworkforRecreationinCanada2015.

• TheNationalWorkingGrouphasundertookavarietyofmeasurestoensurealignmentofthethreestrategies,includinghostingfocusedmeetingswithSportCanadaandParticipACTION.Thisresultedinadditionstothedocument,including: Importanceofaddressingsedentarybehaviours Strengtheningthepresenceofactivetransportation Referencetothe‘RecreationalSport’and‘SportforDevelopment’goalsof

theCanadianSportPolicy

• TheFrameworkhasalsobeenwrittentopurposefullyalignwithanumberofcomplimentarystrategiesandframeworksthataddressinterrelatedpublicpolicies,including: ConnectingCanadianswithNature TheDeclarationonPreventionandPromotion HealthyAginginCanada:ANewVision,aVitalInvestment IndigenACTION

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Government Responsibility  

• TheNationalRecreationStatement(1987)outlinestherolesoffederal,provincial/territorialandmunicipalgovernmentswithrespecttorecreation.

• AccordingtotheStatement,theprovincesandterritorieshaveprimacyofjurisdictionforrecreation(exceptonFirstNationsreservesasdefinedinfederallegislation).

• Thefederalgovernmentplaysaroleinmattersofnationalandinternationalconcern,andmayworkcollaborativelytosupportpoliciesandmechanismsthatenableCanadianstoparticipateinrecreation.

• WhiletheFramework providesguidancetoaddresscurrentrecreationtrendsandissues,itinnowayrescindstheNationalRecreationStatement(1987).

• EndorsementoftheFrameworkforRecreationinCanada2015 istheresponsibilityoftheprovincialandterritorialgovernments.

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The Next Steps:

National Implementation – summit followup

Alberta Implementation‐ today’s discussion

Questions?