News
Missed The Measuring Impact Webinar? Watch it Here!
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On June 26, 2024, CPRA hosted a webinar on the Measuring Impact project. This unique research project, conducted by the Canadian Fitness and Lifestyle Research Institute (CFLRI) and CPRA, quantifies the social, health, environmental, and economic benefits of Sport, Physical Activity, and Recreation (SPAR) in Canada. This research is invaluable for decision-makers and policy professionals concerned with Canadians' mental and physical health, environmental sustainability, climate change, and community infrastructure needs. The webinar also discussed the upcoming calculator tool (coming Fall 2024).
Or learn more about the research here.
Working in and outside of the box: Fostering meaningful relationships with equity deserving communities
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For National Indigenous Peoples Day, I had the pleasure of volunteering at the third annual Freedom Day in March in Sipekne'katik (Shubenacadie). This event was created to honour the legacy of Indian Residential School (IRS)* victims, commemorate the 215+ children discovered in unmarked graves, and advocate for further investigations across IRS sites.
This event was organized and led by Tara Helen Lewis – whose father inspired her leadership – Joey Brooks, and partners of Mawikuti'k - Growing Together. This event was self-governed as a way to promote indigenization and community healing. They brought survivors from PEI, recruited volunteers, fed 100+ participants and used the networks of elders and councillors to build capacity around the event. When approached, they accepted support from the Municipality of East Hants and Lighthouse Ministries, who knew of this event and saw its importance.
On a personal level, this event showed me the power of leadership that stems from within a community because of local knowledge and self-determination. For example, the exact location and path of the Freedom Day Walk were symbolic. The route started at the Residential School's original location and finished at the train station many victims used when they arrived or departed. This route made this walk meaningful; it made one reflect on the journey and emotions victims may have felt as they became immersed in the collective experience.
Throughout the day's events, I fostered relationships by taking leadership from others and offering support where needed. The hours of meeting individuals, problem-solving together and listening to the experiences of IRS survivors were invaluable. There is only so much you can read about and much more you can learn from experiencing and feeling. The ability to be present, listen and learn was a privilege.
But how does this experience apply to the recreation sector? Recreation Nova Scotia gets asked how best to reach equity-deserving groups for programming and collaboration. There are toolkits and research to help answer this question, but sometimes the best way to start is simply by being present, showing up as yourself, and being humble enough to know if your help is wanted or needed in the first place. Being present in a community with its members and leaders is the best way to ignite a spark for collaboration because it is about making genuine connections. There is no quick fix for creating relationships with any community. It takes time and work, just like any relationship we encounter in life.
Find opportunities to volunteer, celebrate or commemorate in the communities you're trying to reach. Attend, support and learn from their self-influenced events. Take time to reflect on the event's objectives, who is involved and if you see a way you could support a similar initiative in the future. But remember that not all spaces are meant for you or your organization, so communication and insight are key. If you are invited or find open opportunities, however, showing up is just one piece of the puzzle; show up as yourself and be humble.
There are times within the recreation sector when projects get created without considering their true impacts on the community because of variables like timelines and meeting grant objectives. This becomes problematic. Without regional and cultural knowledge of a community, we, as recreation professionals, sometimes dictate the wants and needs of these communities. For those of us who work within institutions, albeit non-profit, government, or business – sometimes our best attempts can do more harm than good. As individuals and professionals, we need to understand where the community is coming from and why those we invite to our spaces may not appear. For example, unless the networks are built, we cannot simply post an event catering to X online and hope X folks show up. To have the proper insight, we must show up as ourselves in these communities to learn from them, see their needs, and challenge our complacencies in how our work hinders or helps a community's objectives.
By actively engaging with those we want to serve, we can learn how to enhance our programming, foster inclusivity, and create meaningful experiences that resonate with the diverse populations of Mi'kma'ki. Showing up also helps establish trust, credibility, and rapport. These connections are crucial for successful collaboration, as they facilitate a deeper understanding of the community's needs, preferences, and aspirations. If we foster these meaningful relationships, recreation becomes a catalyst for positive change and social connections and contributes to the overall well-being of all communities. In short, show up, be present, make genuine connections and reflect on where you can support. Most importantly, be humble enough to know if your services are needed or not.
* IRS stands for Indian Residential Schools. Please refer to the history of the terminology for more insight: visit Historical Background: The Indian Act and the Indian Residential Schools *
On Track for Change: The Upsides and Downsides of BIPOC-focused Recreation Programming
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On March 11, 2024, RNS, in solidarity with the Anti-Racism Charter, supported Electric Wheels Jr. Roller Derby Team to offer an introduction to roller derby for BIPOC folks ages 8-17, followed by a free open skate for all.
In a world where diversity and inclusion are increasingly recognized as pillars of a healthy society, the issue of racial marginalization within recreation has come to the forefront. The concept of creating BIPOC (Black, Indigenous, People of Color) specific programs within the realm of recreation to address different forms of discrimination has sparked a significant debate; the idea hinges on whether such initiatives serve as a leap forward in the fight against racism or if they inadvertently segregate and reinforce tokenism. The following article will delve into the nuanced pros and cons of these initiatives, exploring their effectiveness in promoting anti-racism within the recreation sector while giving insight into BIPOC-specific programming using our recent collaborations with one of our Signatories of our Anti-Racism Charter in Recreation.
To foster a collaborative environment, it is crucial for the recreation sector to adopt and reinforce values of diversity and inclusion before we can even begin tackling anti-racism. Addressing the lack of diversity and inclusion in certain recreation spaces requires a multifaceted approach, including acknowledging historical contexts, promoting diversity in leadership, and ensuring that the narratives of all communities are represented and honoured in collaboration.
In a best-case scenario, you have *folxs who reach out to your organization seeking support with a specific incentive or activity; however, without creating genuine signs of being an anti-racist institution, communities of colour will not likely approach your organization in these ways. Oftentimes, outreach is necessary and can be beneficial when conducted in an informed manner, especially when attempting to build or support communities and diverse-centric events
* Some have adopted the spelling folx as an explicitly inclusive term intended to include groups that are typically marginalized
EDIA Highlight Story: Town of Kentville
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This month's Equity, Diversity, Inclusion, and Access (EDIA) success story comes from the Town of Kentville, highlighting their recently established Diversity and Belonging Task Team (DBTT). The Town's Inclusion and Accessibility Advisory Committee has established this ad hoc investigative/research group, which comprises African Nova Scotian, Indigenous, and racialized Kentville citizens and partners tasked with bringing first-voice and cultural representation to the municipality at its fundamental core.
The DBTT currently consists of 11 members representing these groups and their allies. They meet once a month to explore and identify whether African Nova Scotian, Indigenous, and racialized citizens are adequately represented through town governance, policy, services, and programming and build solutions through a collaborative and first-voice perspective to support council and staff initiatives associated with anti-racism, diversity, and cultural celebration.
The values and expectations of the task team include accountability, integrity, diversity, collaboration, confidentiality, and a commitment to serving the public good. Goals include exploring whether racialized citizens and partners feel adequately represented by the Town of Kentville, identifying any barriers they may face, and working with the Town Council and staff to ensure that members of racialized communities feel welcome and comfortable accessing town programs, events, and services.
The DBTT will work with Roxy Peterson, the Town's Neighbourhood Outreach Program Coordinator, to build strong relationships with African Nova Scotian, Indigenous, and racialized citizens. They will engage with these communities to gather thoughts on the Town's engagement strategies and support grassroots events and groups for these communities.
This project has not been without its challenges. Peterson says there needs to be more awareness and understanding of the contributions of African Nova Scotians and Indigenous people's contributions to the community, which has led to misunderstandings, miscommunications, and a loss of history. Additional challenges for the DBTT have been deep-rooted cultural and structural barriers that exist within the Town, which have hindered EDIA efforts in the past, including ingrained biases, traditional power dynamics, and exclusionary practices.
Peterson has gained valuable insights from this process and is eager to share advice with others considering similar projects. He emphasizes the importance of leaders and elected officials demonstrating a commitment to EDIA efforts through their words and actions. This can be achieved by providing necessary resources and professional development opportunities to help leaders understand the significance of EDIA efforts. Peterson also suggests establishing clear success criteria for the EDIA project and regularly reviewing these goals. Furthermore, seeking input from and engaging with diverse communities is recommended, allowing them to share their lived experiences and historical perspectives. Finally, Peterson stresses the importance of acknowledging and valuing diversity in the workplace and communities. He advocates for celebrating and recognizing various cultures and viewpoints, proposing events, cultural awareness days, and recognition programs to honour and appreciate workers' diverse backgrounds.
The DBTT's ultimate goal is to become a standing committee of the Town of Kentville. Peterson emphasizes the importance of this, stating, "This initiative must be fully incorporated into the Town of Kentville's culture and procedures to avoid the risk of being viewed as tokenistic." He explains that the task team focuses on making meaningful changes and not just appearing diverse or inclusive. The next priority for the DBTT is to review the new anti-racism policy that Peterson has written.
Want to contribute your own EDIA success story? Fill out our Stories From Our Sector Form.
RNS Announces New Executive Director
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The Recreation Nova Scotia Board of Directors is pleased to announce Graham Mounsey as the new Executive Director. Graham has been with Recreation Nova Scotia since 2018 and has led and supported various projects, most recently leading the Anti-Racism Charter in Recreation portfolio. Before this, Graham worked with the Scottish Sport Governing Bodies for Basketball and Snowsport in Sport Development, where he helped build participation and develop the workforce amongst clubs. Graham comes to the position with a BSc (Hons) in Applied Sport Science and is pursuing an MA in Leisure Studies at Dalhousie University.
“We are excited to have Graham step into the role of Executive Director,” said Rachel Bedingfield, President of Recreation Nova Scotia, “It’s a critical time for our sector. Communities across Nova Scotia depend on recreation and leisure services to provide safe spaces that support opportunities for community and individual well-being. These past years, we have especially seen our membership provide emergency responses to pandemic needs, climate emergencies, and the housing crisis. Our members are responsible for public parks and conservation awareness, accessibility planning, skill development, community planning strategies and ensuring that Nova Scotians have everything they need to thrive. I am confident that Graham is the leader who will continue to grow our organization to support our members better as the role of recreation continues to evolve in communities throughout our province.”
“I’m delighted to be taking on this role, and I’m really grateful to Rachel and the Board of RNS for their support as I take this step,” said Graham. “There is such great opportunity ahead for Recreation Nova Scotia as we look to renew our strategic plan and find new and improved ways to support the recreation sector across the province meaningfully. I’m thrilled to be able to contribute and serve our members in the Executive Director role and continue to work with the staff and the Board at RNS.”
The Board wishes to thank Marc Seguin for serving in this position for the past two years and for his dedication and support to the organization. We wish him the best of luck on his next adventure.
Graham will begin his new role on June 17, 2024, and can be reached at
EDIA Success Stories
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Recreation Nova Scotia (RNS) looks to highlight EDIA success stories and best practices. Provincial recreation groups and municipal recreation departments are often leaders in EDIA efforts. We want to share ways the industry is breaking barriers for people to access recreation. Complete a short online form to submit your project or practice here.
We may reach out for more information.
Contact Kerri Jack, Inclusion and Accessibility Coordinator for any questions. i