Beginning in 2002, individuals and organizations involved in the parks and recreation sector have been working on the development of a Canadian Vision for our sector – a description of the reality we would like to work together to create.

A Canadian Vision for Parks and Recreation, was launched at the National Parks and Recreation Conference and Trade Show in Edmonton, Alberta October 2005.  It is currently undergoing endorsement processes in each of the provincial and territorial associations.

For those in Québec, the vision you created over two years of in-depth consultation continues to be the driving force in your region.  However, our Quebec provincial partner has endorsed the Canadian vision as harmonizing with its own vision.

The national, provincial and territorial associations are now embarking on the process of developing a collaborative Canadian agenda – the things we are going to try to do together -- to bring us closer to our vision. 

Now that the vision has been unveiled, take a minute to think through whether this vision is something that you personally can endorse and have an appetite to achieve.  What are you personally going to do to make our vision a reality?

A Canadian Vision for Parks and Recreation downloads:

8 page designed booklet format (311 K PDF)

11 x 17 poster format (55 K PDF)

12 x 24 poster format (listing participating organizations) (55 K PDF)

Canadian Vision Task Group

The task group that worked on the development of the Canadian Vision represented all regions and most provinces and territories in Canada.  Working from first principles, the group went through extensive and successive rounds of consultation and development – nine rounds over the course of two years.  In 2004, the Task Group ran a “World Café” consultation with members, recreation directors, students and others to collect a wide range of responses and input from the sixth version.

In addition, many of the provincial/territorial associations undertook consultations within their own memberships and among external partners in their province or territory.

Many thanks to the perseverance and personal vision of this great group of volunteers:

Agnes Szilos, British Columbia

Rob Smyth, Alberta

Norm Campbell, Saskatchewan

Theresa Ross, Northwest Territories

Claire Tucker-Reid, CPRA (and Ontario)

Dave Saad, Ontario (and CPRA)

Rick Gilbert, Nova Scotia