The recreation sector of Nova Scotia was well represented at the recent Canadian Inclusive Green Spaces Symposium hosted in Saskatoon by the Canadian Parks and Recreation Association (CPRA) and the Saskatchewan Parks and Recreation Association (SPRA). The event was organized in partnership with Park People and the Canadian Parks Council, with support from Parks Canada.
The symposium brought together leaders and professionals from across the country to explore strategies and share innovations that ensure everyone can enjoy the benefits of nature. This event served as a catalyst for long-term impact by building a connected national community of practice, supporting the development of a path forward for equitable park access, and setting a forward-looking agenda for the Canadian parks sector. It marks the beginning of an ongoing and collaborative dialogue, fostering a sustainable platform for consultation, partnership, and collective action to centre reconciliation and reimagine urban parks and green spaces across the country.
RNS Executive Director Graham Mounsey attended the event and engaged in strategic meetings with partners from coast to coast. RNS Board Member and Past-President, Rachel Bedingfield, co-hosted the symposium alongside Chúk Odenigbo, while Municipality of Chester's Gord Tate was appointed as CPRA’s new President during the week. This was an exciting milestone for Nova Scotia’s recreation leadership.
Fawn Logan-Young, RNS’s Equity and Anti-Racism Coordinator, made a meaningful contribution by opening the symposium with a powerful African Ancestral Acknowledgment. Adding to the Nova Scotian presence on stage, Dalhousie University MA Leisure Studies student Agustina Cohen presented their master’s research on empowering diverse youth voices to enhance equitable access to nature and well-being in Nova Scotia.
This gathering underscored the importance of collaboration and equity in the design and stewardship of inclusive green spaces, reinforcing RNS’s ongoing commitment to ensuring recreation and natural spaces are welcoming and accessible to all.