southeastdistrict

ED Blog: “Cup of Jo” – Refresh, Restart & Rejuvenate Programming!

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“Design programs with a diversity lens!”

Last month, I delivered a webinar focused on new ideas and trends in sport, culture and recreation programming. I researched and compiled best practices from various municipalities across Canada and found that there is so much opportunity for creativity. I am going to share some of the things I discovered to help you refresh, rejuvenate and restart programming in YOUR community!

These five (5) tips really stood out for me in my review of program guides and municipal strategies:

  1. Focus on Accessibility & Inclusion: Intentionally consider how barriers might be minimized or eliminated in the development of each new opportunity, and design programs with a diversity lens!
  2. Enhance Outdoor Recreation/Culture Opportunities: Improve opportunities to connect with nature and outdoor recreation through a network of park-oriented developments; and link arts, culture, health and fitness with outdoor recreation in program development. If indoor space is a challenge – there are mounds of opportunities outdoors for programming!
  3. Focus on Family Leisure Time & Unstructured Play: Families are always so busy running with hockey, dance, etc. Why not offer welcoming spaces for families to drop in at their leisure to play together – families that play together, stay together!
  4. Foster Creativity & Experimentation: Foster a culture of ideas, experimentation, and creativity in the development of new programs, services and opportunities. Allow new or unique programs and services to develop and gain momentum overtime; follow a process to consult, collaborate, develop, evaluate, adjust and improve.
  5. Coordination & Collaboration: Facilitate regular opportunities to communicate, collaborate and coordinate services across different local groups and committees (i.e. neighbouring communities, seniors centre, library, school, rink, museum)

The number one question we get asked is, “Where do we find instructors and artists for programs?”. My answer: Look within your own community – you would be surprised at how many people have talent to contribute! Create a Call for Instructors through the library, rink or school! Get the word out on social media on what you are looking for – whether it is a person who is passionate for fitness, or someone who is an excellent photographer, or an individual who loves working with youth or knows how to knit! Well, there you have it – some tips to offer fresh sport, culture and recreation programs! Happy Programming!

If you would like to receive my programming pack which is full of ideas and tools, email ed@southeastdistrict.ca to request a copy! You can also visit our Resource Hub for additional information at https://southeastdistrict.ca/resources/programming-for-sport-culture-recreation. Check out the GROW Your Community Grant which supports programming and equipment.

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National Volunteer Week 2022 is April 24 – 30!

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Volunteers Bring Heart To Canada’s Communities!
The National Volunteer Week theme for 2022, Volunteering Is Empathy In Action, affirms the strong connection between volunteerism and empathy. This profoundly human connection is at the heart of healthier individuals and stronger communities.

During National Volunteer Week 2022, we celebrate the contributions of Canada’s millions of volunteers: their actions, their understanding, and their genuine concern for the world around them. South East Sport, Culture & Recreation District encourages communities to participate – below are some ideas of how to get involved:

Use the hashtags #NVW2022 #EmpathyInAction #VolunteersBringHeart during the week!

To access additional volunteer resources, tips and tools click here.

Final Reminder: to apply for our inVest in your Volunteers Program to celebrate and create volunteer management plans for your organization! Deadline is April 15.

Take this opportunity to celebrate volunteers in your community! Whether it is sending thank you messages to your volunteers during the week or sharing photos of your volunteers in action on social media!

Cheer Story: Indigenous Walk & Run Initiative

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South East Sport, Culture & Recreation District has been working with community to promote physical activity, particularly walking and running! We teamed up with Fitness2J2, a health and wellness company based out of Saskatoon, to provide functional fitness education and mentorship. Owner, Joel Pedersen, delivered a one-day education session on March 20 at Kahkewistahaw First Nation focused on giving local leaders the confidence, skills and knowledge to lead and deliver a walk or run program/club in their community.

Joel shared his expertise on how to encourage and inspire the community to move more, and tips and tools for warm-ups, injury prevention, modifications and planning! Participant, Josephine Kaysaywaysemat, expressed, “A walk and run program will help our youth develop healthy minds and healthy bodies”. The purpose of the training day was to build capacity of local leaders to create fun, engaging walking clubs/programs in their communities. Six (6) leaders from White Bear and Kahkewistahaw First Nations participated.

The initiative is about walking and running which are a wonderful way to spend time with family and friends, and to be re-connected to the land while getting active! It is designed to help participants of any age (youth, adults, elders) gradually build fitness levels and increase their stamina in preparation for a 5K running or walking event. Community Walk & Run Leaders lead participants in a 6-WEEK training program (two-three times per week), preparing for a 5km walk or run event. 

Walking and running are the best ways to exercise and move the body for tons of wellness benefits! If your community is seeking resources to create a walking or running program, contact South East District by email at ed@southeastdistrict.ca, or visit our resource hub at www.southeastdistrict.ca for other physical activity tools and tips!

Cheer Story: Whitewood Public Library Hosts Winter Community Fun Day

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The Town of Whitewood is one of several communities that have benefitted from the GROW Your Community Grant funding this year. This winter, the Whitewood Public Library applied to purchase outdoor equipment to host a “Winter Community Fun Day” in partnership with Whitewood School.

Whitewood community members had the opportunity to take part in several physical activities outdoors. “Activities included snowshoeing in a large park area, snow bowling/golfing (when weather permitted), snow squirt art, playing with horseshoes, playing with snowballs, and using hula hoops as an obstacle/racecourse,” explains Erica Duncan, Branch Librarian.

All these activities had a focus on using physical and cognitive skills to take part in the activities as individuals and in teams while making it fun and accessible for all participants of all ages.

“When using the snowshoes, participants were able to view deer tracks in the park and see the deer in the distance. Children also brought back some ‘treasures’ they found on their walk to play with (such as fallen sticks) and to talk about what they saw during their walk.”

Duncan explains, “Participants were able to attend an event at no cost and provide an opportunity to complete in activities in winter as a family that they may not otherwise have the opportunity to do so in a small community. They were also able to gain ideas about how they could access low-cost materials to encourage outdoor activity.”

“Using funding to purchase materials has been a huge boost. The library is a non-profit organization and relies on fundraising, donations, and funding from other groups to be able to provide programs that the community wishes to access. The resources that we have purchased using this funding can be used year after year, can be loaned out to people, and can provide programming delivery year-round to maximize healthy and activity opportunities for people of all ages in the community.”

Photo Credit: Whitewood Public Library

Cheer Story: Recreation Director Profile – Sarah Van Eaton

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What is the position responsible for and how long have you been at it?
This is a brand new position here in Maryfield (Population: 348.) Thanks to our Recreation Board, Village Council, and RM Council this position was created. These groups saw the need for an organizational focal point for community activities and groups. So, my journey into this job began at the start of January 2022. The goal of this position is to create and oversee new programs and activities, as well as upkeeping existing ones we have now, and attain grants wherever possible. I’m very excited to get this job up and running and see it take off towards opportunities in our area!

What drove you to choose your career path?

I am already enjoying this position as the creative possibilities are really endless and that’s very appealing to me. I am a crafty/DIY person and seem to always have a project on the go. When the opportunity to further that into my career path came up, I jumped at the chance. I am very grateful to have been chosen to be our first Recreation Director here in Maryfield!

What impact or benefits has the position had on the community thus far?
My first task was getting a free snowshoe rental program up and running here. I have taken on planning a Winter Fun Fest in March, initiating fitness classes, and have really tried to inform our community that this position now exists. I truly hope this job benefits our community members as much as it has already benefited me. I’m already seeing the community involvement in the few activities that are running.

The pandemic has brought us many challenges and opportunities – what has this meant for recreation (now and in the future) in the community?
I know a lot of people felt the lull in activities due to living a pandemic life. We all lost a lot of the simple joys we were used to. Getting out and about has been a lot harder for everyone. As such, planning any kind of gathering, activity or program seemed near impossible. A lot of our regular programs had to be put on hold here, and I do believe everyone in our community felt that.

One opportunity that came about was this position. So I believe there’s some light in all of this. I have the privilege to get things going again wherever possible. I hope to get our community together safely and still have fun and create some activities that appeal to a vast array of people.

What’s the most enjoyable part of the job?
Getting out into the community, being involved, and trying to get others out and about is enjoyable! It’s also being able to create and come up with ideas. I love when life brings things like this my way. I am able to take my creative side and put it into my work. I am grateful that we have a group of wonderful volunteers who are so willing to help, they have and continue to make my job fun!

Sarah Van Eaton, Maryfield Recreation Director

New Recreation Facility Wows in Weyburn

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On October 16, 2021, the City of Weyburn officially opened their new multi-purpose sports, culture and recreation facility, the Credit Union Spark Centre. To learn more about this facility, I spoke with Andrew Crowe, Director of Leisure Services for the City of Weyburn.

In our conversation, he shared background information with me about the new facility, the significance of having a facility like this in Weyburn as well as advice for other communities planning a similar project.

What was the Vision behind the facility?

The vision behind Credit Union Spark Centre was to create a multi-generational, multi-purpose sports, culture and recreation facility to offer important healthy and accessible opportunities to every demographic of our community.

The facility was looked at to be a progressive step forward for the City of Weyburn. The Credit Union Spark Centre is completely accessible with barrier-free access points to the building and interior features including the art gallery, pottery studio, multi-purpose rooms, indoor track, simulator room, mini gym, multi-use synthetic field, children’s play space and outdoor ice surface.

What are some of the features of this new facility?

The Centre is located within Jubilee Park and acts as a great addition to the already existing opportunities located there, such as:

  • Weyburn Leisure Centre with indoor and outdoor pools;
  • 1.5 km of tree-lined paved walkways;
  • Six ball diamonds, specifications of which vary in order to accommodate all levels of minor ball;
  • Multi-use sport fields and several smaller pitches for soccer and football;
  • Three tennis/pickleball courts equipped with lighting;
  • Outdoor rink, and;
  • Playground area.

What does it mean to you to see the facility open in the community?

Seeing this facility become a reality and watching the faces of individuals light up with excitement when they first enter the facility has been an amazing experience.

The City of Weyburn is so extremely fortunate to have such an amazing community facility offering great sport, culture and recreation programming, rentals and events. The new facility has provided countless new opportunities to members of the public and has given residents that opportunity to participate in activities they enjoy 12 months of the year.

Watching how the facility has been enjoyed by the public since opening its doors has been a reminder of how important Sport, Culture and Recreation are to the Community. The positive feedback lights that ‘fire’ within to continue pushing as a Professional to provide superior leisure services opportunities to the community.

Seeing the facility open to the community also brings along with it great pride. For a city of under 12,000 residents, it is truly unique to offer such a diverse and loaded facility. The facility is another great attraction to host events, bringing with them athletes, participants and spectators.

The opportunities that come along with the new facility adds even more value to the quality of life available in our small prairie City and provides just another reason for individuals and companies to relocate to Weyburn.

What kind of activities can visitors participate in at the Spark Centre?

“The opportunities are endless at the Credit Union Spark Centre. Every area of the facility was designed in a way to be multi-purpose and accessible, maximizing each space to its fullest potential.”

The facility includes:

  • An indoor playground and wall climbing (for ages 0-12)
  • Weyburn Art Gallery
  • Pottery Studio
  • 3 multi-purpose rooms
  • Joint use kitchen and commons area
  • Indoor ½ FIFA sized synthetic turf field with divider curtain
  • Indoor baseball / softball pitching & hitting tunnels
  • Outdoor NHL sized outdoor rink / multi-use sport pad
  • 220M indoor exercise track
  • “Mini-Gym” with space to support Pickleball, Badminton, Volleyball, Basketball courts and more.
  • Multi-sport video simulator room, featuring:
  • 4 screens; 80+ Championship Golf Courses; 35 sports games; Hunting & Shooting package (i.e. Buck Hunter, target shoot), and;
  • Access to a full-sized athletic gym through the joint use agreement with the Legacy Park Elementary School

What feedback have you received from the community about this new facility?

Feedback from the community has been outstanding. People of all ages are thoroughly excited about what they are able to participate in at the facility. There is a lot of general excitement about a facility where people can participate in a diverse array of activities 12 months of the year.

Senior citizens and the running community now have an indoor facility to make use of during the long winter months. Local ‘fair weather’ user groups such as soccer, baseball, lacrosse, football players and more are very excited to participate in camps, leagues, training exercises and more all year long.

I’ve been hearing, “It doesn’t feel like we are even in Weyburn when we walk through the front doors.”

What advice would you give to other communities planning a similar project?

The project does not take shape overnight. You need to plan, plan, and plan some more. Prepare and forecast expected operating costs to determine that the project is sustainable so you can establish your long-term budget plans. Ensure you have adequate funding in place before putting shovels in the ground.

You cannot rely on grants and community contributions to complete a project of this magnitude. Prepare to make high-stress, high-cost decisions as they arise throughout the project, and make sure you have the proper contingency funds in place.

Hiring an experienced, qualified Project Manager is so important, and will make the entire process much more manageable. Especially if you still have your “regular job” on the go throughout the duration of the planning and construction phases. Keep your project team small, educated and coordinated. Too many voices will cloud judgment and create the opportunity for more challenges.

Community and user group needs assessments are extremely important to ensure you provide what is needed. Be sure to listen to their requests. Take cost savings on building finishes to ensure you are investing in high quality amenities (I.e., turf quality, track quality, technology, etc.).

This will result in an enhanced user experience and usually a more durable product. Residents will never know if you took a different ceiling tile than the one specified in the original architectural drawings. Lastly, you can never have enough storage!

Where can people find more information on this new facility?

More information on the Credit Union Spark Centre can be found here: https://weyburn.ca/credit-union-spark-centre/

Article Courtesy: Dan Gallagher, SPRA Field Consultant

(Director of Leisure Services with the City of Weyburn, Andrew Crowe, left, and Manager of Leisure Services with the City of Weyburn, Ryan Dale. Photo by Denis Conroy, DiscoverWeyburn.com. Used with permission).

 

Cheer Story: Vibank’s Collaborative Community Wings Project Takes Flight!

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The Village of Vibank is one of several communities that have benefitted from the GROW Your Community Grant funding this year. This fall, the Village of Vibank applied to create a collaborative outdoor mural project called “Vibank Community Wings.”

Community members had the opportunity to create feathers that were collected and pieced together to form a set of wings. “Participants created feathers that both showed their level of creativity but also represented multiple important issues to them. There were feathers that were created in support of national Truth and Reconciliation Day, other feathers included inspirational messages or symbolized what was important to them, such as farming, family, and their community,” explains Dagmar Crumley, Village Administrator.

366 feathers were created for this project. Although some participants did create multiple feathers, it is estimated that over 250 people were involved in this project. Participants ranged from daycare children, local students, Vibank residents, and family and friends of residents.

All of the feathers created were gathered to create a one-of-a-kind mural that currently sits out front of the Vibank Heritage Building. Participants have already been witnessed going to the mural to find their own feathers. The program brought together individuals of different ages, backgrounds, and locations to create something beautiful together.

Crumley explains, “The funding received supported the entire project, including all materials and time. It would not have happened without the financial support. Art is often not a community’s number one priority for funding. Councils have important issues and concerns to deal with and although art is often seen as important, it rarely is allotted the funding necessary. This funding has allowed this program to take place.”

Photo Credit: Village of Vibank

ED Blog: Become A “Winter Town” And Embrace The Cold!

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“To appreciate the beauty of a snowflake it is necessary to stand out in the cold.” – Anonymous

I have been doing a lot of reading lately on the winter strategies that local governments are creating to try to get people outdoors more in the winter season – and to embrace and celebrate winter instead of hiding from it. Many municipalities are taking action. They are looking at their infrastructure, outdoor spaces, and programs; and considering how to create a vibrant and active community in all four seasons!

Why become a town that embraces winter, you ask? There are so many benefits!

  • Transform your community into an inviting, vibrant and prosperous place for residents and visitors throughout the winter months enhancing quality of life
  • Look at winter as an asset that offers great social and economic value to the community
  • Work together to support an active winter lifestyle that is inclusive and accessible for all

The concept of designing a “winter town” is about drawing focus and access to the wonderful things winter brings while reducing the barriers. The outcome can be a more accessible, inclusive, active, prosperous and livable community during the coldest months of the year. How can we celebrate the inviting and fun quality of life we have in town, even in the coldest months of the year? How can we make it easier for families, youth, older adults to go “play outside”?

Making the most of the winter season requires thinking differently. South East District is currently offering the WINTER TOWN INITIATIVE. This is aimed at providing a forum for leaders to come together to brainstorm approaches and actions to enable and promote positive winter experiences. So, put on your thinking toques and apply a “winter lens” to your town! We also have our GROW Your Community Grant – Embrace the Outdoorswhich supports outdoor sport, culture and recreation projects and events. The deadline is December 31, 2021.

Contact our office at 306.842.2188 or email ed@southeastdistrict.ca to learn more about these services!

Check out this Design Guide for Winter Placemaking! There are lots of ideas such as Snow Lanterns, Cozy Fest: Street Sweaters (bringing colourful textiles into public spaces), Community Firepits, Snow GlobeShake Up (life size snow globes on main street), Light & Bites (decorating contest and chilli cook off), and Electric Forest (a forest of pool noodles arranged in groves).

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Cheer Story: Radville Makes Facility Inventories a Priority

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Radville Laurier Regional Park (RLRP) participated in South East District’s 2021 Facility Inventory Champions (FIC) Program. The purpose of the program is to help groups who own recreation facilities to kick-start the asset management process by completing facility inventories. Tools, funding and training are provided as part of the program to help a local champion complete their inventories.

Aging recreation infrastructure is making it difficult to know what decisions to make for renewal, upgrades, operations, and replacement of facilities. Decision makers are not necessarily making informed decisions about infrastructure costs. Having a clearer picture of the current state of infrastructure can help communities make more informed decisions about facility operations, maintenance, and renewal.

*What is a facility inventory? The infrastructure that you own and manage is documented in a facility inventory, which is the first step to asset management. Inventories document key attributes of each asset including year of construction, type, expected useful life, structural information, building equipment model and serial numbers, photos of building components, and much more.

Radville Laurier Regional Park (RLRP) used the FIC program to create inventories for their Recreation Centre which consists of an arena, adjacent hall, kitchen and swimming pool. An Asset Management Tool was provided which helped with the collection and documentation of the inventory data. Janelle Becker, RLRP Recreation Program Coordinator, shared that a few challenges were faced in completing the inventories. Janelle explained, “One challenge was learning that our refrigeration system is obsolete, and Freon is being phased out. South East District shared a lot of resources and references to begin the steps to make this switch.”

Janelle stated that the inventory tool will be a valuable resource for many years to come. “I do think the Asset Management and Facility Inventory process is something all recreation facilities should do if they don’t already. Without the information contained within the Asset Management Tool, it would be difficult for our Recreation Board to make informed decisions regarding the replacement/repair/renovation of any area of the facility.”

“Completing the inventories was a really good way to get to know the facility and how it runs and operates… Before doing this work, I wasn’t sure where some things were located. The value this project has brought to our board and the money it could save us in the future when making large decisions about renos/repairs is well worth the time. The next steps for our board are to expand and update the inventories completed and continue to complete inventories for other areas of the park, like the campground, playground and baseball diamonds, and ensure updating the Asset Management Tool is written into our policies and procedures.” Janelle has also signed up to take the Asset Management Saskatchewan online course (https://www.assetmanagementsk.ca/) to further her education on this topic.

Asset management is an important tool, as it helps municipalities maintain and operate infrastructure in the most effective way so critical services can be provided to the community. Is your community interested in facility inventories? Contact ed@southeastdistrict.ca to learn how to participate!

Cheer Story: Celebrating Culture Days – Paris of the Prairies Party!

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How did the Paris of the Prairies Party idea come to be?

The program began when the opportunity to apply for the SaskCulture Culture Days Grant came across my email. I took the idea to my Board of Directors, and they immediately were interested, and the planning began! Our local Board Members declared a strong interest in French culture as our town has historical ties to the culture, and we even have an Eiffel Tower! A committee was formed consisting of representatives from the Town of Montmartre, Montmartre Economic Development Committee, Southeast Regional Library Board Members, a local business owner, and a few volunteers who were enthusiastic about French culture in our community. We met a few times prior to completing the application to create an event that would be hard to decline by the Adjudication Committee.

What impact or benefits did the Culture Days event bring to the community and citizens?

This event provided a fantastic opportunity for community organizations to host an event and get people into the library who have never been here before! We received great exposure by having a free raffle table, French materials on hand to check out, a French photo booth, a trip to France slideshow, locally made French cookies, and French-themed crafts and stories for grades 1-6, which were all done in the library. We were fortunate to have a retired French teacher volunteering on our Board, and she engaged the kids by reading and teaching songs in French.

Who were the artists/musicians/dancers that contributed to the party?

All of our presenters were local! We utilized two dance teachers, Courtney Melnychuk and Lauren Kohl to teach a 45-minute dance class to grades 1-8 during school hours. We also hired a passionate artist, Donna MacPherson who shared her knowledge on how to recreate a painting of the Montmartre Eiffel tower onto a canvas. Donna also taught adults at the Senior Center and the grade 8 class at the local school. Grades 1-7 created their own artwork with their classroom teacher using aids from our hired artist. Lastly, we had Donna Turk, a fiddler from Forget, to entertain us with French music at Sisters’ Bistro. Donna and her husband also visited grades 1-6 for 15 minutes playing their instruments and answering questions. All events were free and materials were provided with the financial assistance of the SaskCulture Grant.

What was your takeaway from the Paris of the Prairies Party?

This event was a good opportunity to bring awareness to our French cultural heritage which this community is based on. Each participant took home a French craft, French words, a song in their head, and a dance to share with their family.

Cheer Story Submitted by Angela Englot, Branch Librarian, Montmartre Public Library