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OUR INDUSTRY VISION:
Alberta Recreation and Parks Association
(ARPA) envisages
"A province, and
communities within, that embrace and proactively use recreation and
parks as essential means for enhancing individual wellbeing and
community vitality, economic sustainability and natural resource
protection and conservation."
More specifically,
ARPA's vision statement projects a province where recreation and parks
are widely accessible to all and a provincial recreation and parks
industry that:
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focuses on meeting
citizen/consumer/community needs;
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has increased
numbers of citizens valuing and participating in recreation and
parks activities throughout Alberta;
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has sufficient
numbers of skilled, informed and influential people (professional,
elected and lay) delivering, or advocating for, recreation and parks
services throughout the province;
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has safe, high
quality public and private sector natural and built environments in
which people enjoy benefits from recreation and parks participation;
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respects, embraces
and practices preservation and conservation as it relates to parks,
natural areas and open space;
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enjoys broad-based
public and interdisciplinary acceptance and corporate support;
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has a defined
provincial enabling policy and strategic framework for the
interdisciplinary development of recreation and parks throughout
Alberta;
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has well-managed
industry and allied stakeholders working cooperatively to achieve
commonly held objectives and best value for resources available;
and,
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makes a positive
contribution towards ameliorating emergent social, economic and
environmental conditions within the Province.
Our Mission:
ARPA strives to build healthy citizens, their
communities and their environments throughout Alberta.
Our
Values and Guiding Beliefs:
ARPA believes that
recreation and parks provide benefits that are essential to the health
and well-being of individuals, communities, the economy and
environment in Alberta; further, that the lifetime benefits of
recreation and parks are:
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enhanced population
health, individual wellness, healthy lifestyles and lifelong
learning.
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building
communities, social capital and foundations;
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the conservation and
preservation of parks and natural environments; and,
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enhanced economic
conditions in the province and communities.
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that "recreation" is
inclusive of play, physical activity, sports, arts and culture, and
outdoor pursuits;*
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that "parks" are
inclusive of public open spaces, recreation corridors and
environmental stewardship;
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that "recreation" as
a key vehicle for achieving healthy lifestyles, can be accessed by a
variety of disciplines;
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that using a
"community development" approach yields benefits both through the
process and the programs and services which are delivered;
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that working in
partnership with others who contribute to quality of life in Alberta
is essential; and,
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that volunteerism is
fundamental in the delivery of recreation and parks programs and
services in Alberta.
Our Operating Principles:
ARPA's operating
principles are derived from its mission, values and guiding beliefs
and include the following:
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operate for
charitable wellness, educational and societal purposes through, and
for, the promotion of recreation and parks services;
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meeting the
identified needs of ARPA's membership and allied stakeholders is
vital;
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provide objective,
professional leadership to the provincial recreation and parks
industry;
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reinforce the vital
importance of local community delivery systems for recreation and
parks services;
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maximize human and
financial resources directed at creating recreation and parks
opportunities;
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pursue open and
interactive communications and information networking with its
membership and allied stakeholders;
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establish positive,
mutually respected relations with the provincial government (elected
officials, departments and agencies) other provincial organizations,
institutions, enterprises and municipalities;
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be forward thinking,
flexible (adaptable) and undertake strategic planning and
management;
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be an energetic,
enlightened, innovative and entrepreneurial Association;
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embrace and utilize
technology;
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operate with fiscal
responsibility; pursue financial sustainability; and
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develop realistic
expectations and undertake regular performance measurement.
Such operating
principles will guide the actions of the ARPA Board of Directors and
ARPA staff particularly with respect to the internal management and
operations of the ARPA.
Our Strategic Objectives:
The following
represents the strategic objectives to which ARPA will strive to
achieve:
Leadership and
Advocacy:
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to be a leader and
catalyst in advocating the benefits of recreation and parks to
quality of life, general population health and wellness,
preventative social services, lifelong learning, economic
sustainability and the stewardship of natural resources in Alberta.
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ARPA as a
not-for-profit, public interest organization is dedicated to
advancing, among other things:
recreation participation for a full and meaningful life;
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recreation
participation involving the advocacy of safety, fair play and gender
equity;
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recreation
activities that build youth self-esteem and positive self-image;
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play for children as
essential to human development;
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ethnic and cultural
harmony through recreation participation;
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recreation
development as a means of economic growth and corporate wellness;
and,
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open spaces that
bring beauty to an area while conserving natural resources and,
improving our quality of life.
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to advocate for
disadvantaged/disenfranchised/under-represented populations re.
recreation and parks participation and general well-being.
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to position ARPA as
a proactive and highly visible organization through the sponsorship
and/or direct delivery of quality programs and services relevant to
the field and the general public.
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to act as an
advocate and representative body of the Alberta recreation and parks
field to all levels of government, business enterprises and other
leading influential provincial/community figures.
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to encourage the
sourcing and application of appropriate resources (financial, human
and otherwise) towards the planning, development and maintenance of
recreation and parks services across Alberta.
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to develop a forum
framework that encourages and invites special interest
networks/committees/task groups to evolve based on identified
strategic components/issues of the recreation and parks system.
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to monitor federal
and provincial legislative affairs impacting on the recreation and
parks industry; and, establish a clear role for recreation and parks
in public policy.
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to set recreation
and parks relevance within the broader context of Alberta's
political, social, environmental and economic environment.
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to encourage the
creation of more comprehensive strategies and positive policies for
recreation and parks at all levels.
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to protect, create
and foster a meaningful and sustainable "Alberta Advantage/Legacy"
for the recreation and parks industry (public and private sectors).
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to involve a greater
number of interested citizens in advisory, participatory and
volunteer efforts supportive of recreation and parks services and
programs in Alberta.
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to stimulate the
development of service levels within the recreation and parks
industry and the achievement of "best practices".
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to seek to improve
the regulatory frameworks and influence formal policies and plans
which affect the recreation and parks industry's operation and its
continued growth and development.
Partnerships and
Alliances:
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to link recreation
and parks industry stakeholders,
public/not-for-profit/commercial/corporate/private sector
participants, educational institutions and governments, in a
recreation and parks industry driven partnership.
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to actively pursue
alliances (service, opportunistic and stakeholder) with other
agencies in efforts to advance the cause of recreation and parks and
overall contributions to healthy individuals, communities and
environments.
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to position ARPA (as
a key provincial voice for recreation and parks) as a lead agency in
the pursuit of improved individual lifestyles, overall population
health and community living environments in Alberta.
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to expand the
influence and relevance of ARPA to social, environmental and
economic issues and agendas of the new millennium through strategic
alliances with the health, children services, education, justice,
community development, environment and tourism fields.
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to play an active
role in advocating recreation and parks awareness on initiatives
regionally, nationally and internationally in partnership with
agencies such as the Canadian Parks and Recreation Association and
the Pacific Northwest Regional Council of the National Recreation
and Parks Association.
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to create a
province-wide platform from which will grow timely, creative and
quality recreation and parks industry initiatives.
Education and
Professional Development:
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to increase
Albertans' awareness of the significance of recreation and active
lifestyles.
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to foster and
support continuous high quality and cost effective education and
training programs/workshops for practitioners, lay volunteers and
elected officials throughout the province.
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to develop an annual
education and professional development plan based on member and
allied stakeholder needs as well as perceived industry leadership
requirements.
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to monitor and
facilitate the systematic development of formal post-secondary
educational opportunities for recreation and parks in Alberta.
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to promote and
upgrade professional curricula, foster and maintain high
professional ethical standards.
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to host an annual
conference with a conference program dedicated substantially to
education and professional development as well as presenting the
latest trends and future directions in the recreation and parks
industry.
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to encourage
regional training seminars/workshops for members through identified
regional networks/mechanisms.
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to provide
post-secondary scholarships to advance industry-wide professional
training and education.
Marketing and Communications:
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to increase
Association investment in marketing initiatives that concentrate
activities on provincial imaging and "branding" of recreation and
parks benefits, programs and services.
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to actively promote
the recreation and parks profession and the benefits of recreation
and parks throughout Alberta.
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to promote the
benefits of ARPA membership in order to increase membership
involvement and representation.
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through enhanced
external communications, promote positive government, allied
stakeholder and media relations.
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to establish and
oversee an industry excellence program of awards and recognition.
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to foster internal
communications, bringing Board, network/committee/task group
services together; promote electronic transfer of communications.
Information and
Networking:
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to promote the
development and dissemination of the body of knowledge to improve
the delivery of recreation and parks services, increase
understanding of leisure behavior, leisure economics and expand the
body of knowledge relative to natural resources.
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to provide relevant
"best practices" information services to Association members and the
opportunity for members and allied stakeholders to interactively
address common interests and opportunities.
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to establish and
regularly maintain a quality and accessible website with detailed
and user friendly information of interest to the Association's
diverse membership and allied stakeholders.
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to arrange meetings
and opportunities for member information exchange, through formal
and informal forums and conferences, as well as disseminate a range
of published material relating to all aspects of recreation and
parks services.
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to have ARPA members
represented on provincial and national based committees and review
boards so as to provide effective industry input on issues relating
to, and impacting upon, recreation and parks.
Research and
Development:
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to collect, evaluate
and disseminate relevant market research and strategic issues and
opportunities information to the recreation and parks industry.
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to provide
scholarships, loans and research grants for study in recreation and
parks services and related areas.
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to serve as a
recreation and parks information and resource center in
collaboration with other related areas.
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to promote
aesthetic, scientific, theoretical, individual and socio-economic
development and study of all matters related to, and impacting on,
the management and operation of recreation, parks and open space
environments; recreation and leisure facilities, services and
programs.
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to research and
prepare position papers on various issues and topics related to the
recreation and parks industry and its contribution to other public
policy areas.
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to seek improved
planning and strategic thinking at all levels of recreation and
parks with a greater focus on outcomes clearly making a difference
to Alberta and Alberta recreation and parks services; this requires
a shift to longer term planning.
Organizational
Services, Capacity and Sustainability:
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to establish a
consistent approach to member services with representation of all
member networks, committees and task groups.
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to create an
environment that fosters an ‘individual' plus
‘organizational/agency' involvement.
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to support and
expedite Association governance and administrative functions for
member benefit and organizational capacity.
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to ensure that ARPA
has adequate resources to achieve its industry vision, mission and
strategic objectives and, that the Association's financial
activities are fully transparent re. financial accountability.
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to undertake
analysis and pursue opportunities for innovative revenue sourcing
for the Association towards enhanced self-sufficiency. More
specifically, to seek, accept and own funds and other assets in
order to carry out the mission of the ARPA.
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to implement a
performance measurement system according to an "outcomes-based"
model.
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