News
The Nova Scotia 55+ Games Comes to Pictou County This September
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The Nova Scotia 55+ Games brings together individuals (aged 55+) from across the province for a bi-annual sporting event centered around fun, fitness, and friends. At these events, participants engage in games of both physical and mental challenges and lively social interaction. The event is overseen by the Nova Scotia 55+ Games Society, who encourages a healthier and more active lifestyle for older adults in Nova Scotia.
Pictou County will host the games this September and registration is now open.
Deadline to register is June 30, 2023
Register here: https://ns55plusgames.ca/register/
Funding awarded to 36 recipients for RNS' first Equipment Loan Program Grant
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Recreation Nova Scotia
120 Eileen Stubbs Ave., Unit 102
Dartmouth, NS B3B 1Y1
(902) 425-1128
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
May 17, 2023
FUNDING AWARDED TO 36 RECIPIENTS FOR RNS’ FIRST EQUIPMENT LOAN PROGRAM GRANT
Dartmouth, NS: Recreation Nova Scotia has long supported recreation practitioners in navigating the logistics of starting and maintaining equipment loan programs and is happy to award 36 successful applicants across the province with the funds to support their existing or new equipment loan programs fostering more inclusive and accessible recreation opportunities.
"Supporting access to recreation by working with our member organizations has always been a top priority for Recreation Nova Scotia," says RNS president Rachel Bedingfield, "the equipment loan program is one example of the many ways recreation practitioners from across the province are working to ensure every Nova Scotian has what they need to thrive. Communities that play together, grow, and thrive together. This is the power of recreation in our communities".
Recreation Nova Scotia was overwhelmed by the response to this first-time grant. With over 60 applicants and a provincial ask of over $300,000.00, it showed a need for further work around equipment loan programs, inclusion, and accessibility. Recreation Nova Scotia is committed to advocating for future funding opportunities for the sector in recognition of this need.
In support of the Thriving Communities Program, Recreation Nova Scotia launched its first Equipment Loan Program Grant for Nova Scotian organizations, groups, communities, towns, and municipalities, to address the increased demand for equipment loan programs that rapidly increased since COVID-19 to provide self-directed, recreational programming opportunities that are accessible to all.
More information about equipment loan programs, the grant, and the recipients can be found on the Recreation Nova Scotia website.
www.recreationns.ns.ca
About Recreation Nova Scotia:
Recreation Nova Scotia (RNS) is a provincial, not-for-profit organization established in 1998. In partnership with the volunteers and professional recreation community, RNS advocates on behalf of all Nova Scotians for recreation and leisure opportunities to promote the values and personal, social, economic, and environmental benefits of recreation and leisure. For more info visit our website: www.recreationns.ns.ca.
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CPRA Supplement to the 2015 Framework Survey
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On behalf of the Canadian Parks and Recreation Association (CPRA)
The Framework for Recreation in Canada: Pathways to Wellbeing 2015 (the Framework) was developed and endorsed by federal, provincial, and territorial governments in 2015. Significant change has occurred since 2015 in Canada and worldwide. As a result, CPRA is publishing a Supplement to the 2015 Framework that will (i) reflect the current context; (ii) ensure the Framework is relevant to the sector, and (iii) align with other relevant reports and strategies.
The Supplement, which includes a section of practical actions for each of the Considerations for Action (formerly Priorities), is being created with a projected release date of July 2023. A communications strategy and evaluation plan are also being developed to support the Supplement.
As part of the process to complete the Supplement, CPRA is seeking your feedback through a survey that can be accessed between May 23 and June 7.
It will be helpful for you to have both the draft Framework Supplement and a copy of the original 2015 Framework for Recreation in Canada (as reference, if required) on hand while completing the survey. Documents are also linked in the survey.
Questions? Contact Nacy Dubois at
Support needed – help unlock the power of CPRA’s new infrastructure database
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CPRA has launched the Canadian Parks, Recreation and Sport Infrastructure Database, the first database specifically designed for the recreation and parks sector. RNS members can use this database by both entering and accessing essential facility and demographic data to better understand and convey how your facilities contribute to the health and wellbeing of your communities.
CPRA is looking for RNS members to support the project by entering their community's facility data or updating information that is already there.
Benefits of this database inlcude:
- A database that is pre-populated with some facility information made available through Statistics Canada.
- A simple user interface, letting you easily update existing facilities and add new ones.
- Quickly accessing information on key health indicators using built-in demographic data.
- A movement data layer providing a picture of how people use your outdoor parks and facilities hour-by-hour.
- A dashboard allowing you to compare facility provision levels within your community or with communities of a similar size and profile.
- The database being used as an indispensable tool for reports to council, budget and project planning, and feasibility studies.
How to sign up and enter your facility's information:
Click here to sign up for your own account.
Click here for video tutorials.
Register for the webinar on May 18 to have your questions answered and learn how to get started:
https://us06web.zoom.us/webinar/register/WN_51gpL48SRLy-0uGJJBfadw
View detailes of the event here.
Other important links:
- Database site https://cpra.activexchange.ca/login
- Registration page https://activexchange.ca/cpra-database
- How-to videos https://activexchange.ca/cpra-database-tutorials
- Webinar registration https://us06web.zoom.us/webinar/register/WN_51gpL48SRLy-0uGJJBfadw
- CPRA information page https://cpra.ca/canadian-parks-recreation-and-sport-infrastructure-database/
Any technical questions can be directed to
Parks Accessibility Conference is Back!
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The Parks Accessibility Conference is happening for its second year, July 25-27, 2023!
Join others nationwide during the free virtual event to help bring forward a future that sees Canada's National Parks more accessible to those with disabilities.
Register at: https://pac2023.ca/
Intercultural Workplaces in Recreation Workshops
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Recreation Nova Scotia is collaborating with the Immigrant Services Association of Nova Scotia (ISANS) to host educational opportunities on the topic of Intercultural Workplaces. The Intercultural Workplace learning series is an established program offered by ISANS that we have tailored to the recreation sector. Immigrants bring skills, experiences and perspectives that bolster the recreation sector and help us as organizations better respond to the needs of communities in Nova Scotia.
The workshops will be geared towards anyone working or volunteering in recreation, with particular focus and relevancy for those responsible for recruiting, hiring, and managing staff/volunteers. They will be highly interactive, with breakout rooms, Google Jamboards and other activities to engage participants.
The following is the schedule of workshops to take place virtually:
- April 27, 2023, 12-1.30pm - Gateway to an Intercultural Workplace
- May 3, 2023, 12-1.30pm - Intercultural Skill Sets and Organizational Success
- May 10, 2023, 12-1.30pm - Recruitment and Interviews: Intercultural Barriers and Solutions (Part 1)
- May 16, 2023, 12-1.30pm - Onboarding and Retention: Intercultural Barriers and Solutions (Part 2)
Registration for all four workshops is free and now open here. Any questions or for more information contact Graham at
See our events page for more details on each workshop.