In recent years recreation scholars and professionals began calling for a return to municipal recreation's historical roots as a "public good." Blaming ongoing funding cuts (at all levels of government) for the current pay-per-use model, these calls for a more inclusive recreation system have suggested the sector's "business-like" practices should be of concern because they are in direct opposition to the field's historic mandate of "equal opportunity."

A central assumption underlying these calls for the recreation profession to return to its "historical roots" is that municipal recreation services, until the late 1980s and early 1990s, were available to all members of society. This narrative is, however, a romanticized account of recreation's history.

Through a historical re-reading of 'public' recreation, this workshop challenges the often-repeated narrative of a more inclusive era in recreation's past. Tracing some of the conditions that have given rise to our current recreation systems, Dr. Tink will demonstrates how recreation has by design, always been an exclusive environment targeting white, able-bodied settlers. Afterwards, she will guide participants through a critical dialogue intended to explore what is inherently problematic, difficult and dangerous in the discourses, practices, and policies that guide their day- to-day work as recreation programmers and policy-makers.

Following this morning workshop participants will be led through a Blanket Exercise with the Mi'kmaw Native Friendship Centre

Lunch will be provided.

Register here: https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLSdiIHoRzR7D2UKWe0rdVzEdv0E8Y9BHTbagE3HPYHOkUfQEcA/viewform