Are We Ready? Recreation & Sport Ministers Meeting Feb 12/13

Are we ready for the Ministers Meeting February 12/13 in Prince George.

We have followed through on a process that started in 2011 with the National recreation Summit, followed in 2013 with the New Brunswick Roundtable and this past Fall with the National Recreation Framework gathering in Toronto.

A visual timeline

The Pathways to Wellbeing document was endorsed with five key priority areas to recommend to the Provincial Ministers.

Was that the end of it? 

No the working group went back and incorporated the feedback provided by Toronto delegates and a new draft of Pathways to Wellbeing was crafted.

Staff of Ministries drafted briefing documents for their Ministers and an overall briefing document was developed for Ministers & Deputy Ministers.

Now what did we do? Did we send letters to the Minister, did we meet with the Minister, did we call our elected officials to provide background and materials they could use with the Provincial Minister. Did we meet with our Councillors to bring them up to speed?

This is our opportunity!! Let's not sit back and wait and see what happens!!

As a profession we have been spoiled by having some outstanding leadership that produced the world recognized Benefits of Recreation Catalogue (The Benefits Hub) and the Leisure Information Network (LIN).

We have great leadership with our Provincial Associations and CJ Noble has done a marvellous job with CPRA/ACPL.

BUT we tend to approach things on our own.....this is the time to come together around a COMMON AGENDA we can't let this opportunity slip through our fingers!!

We all know we have significant challenges and now is not the time to let up.

Public Servants can't keep trying to carry OUR BALL! They need us to be showing our support for the new proposed directions for recreation by being active advocates.

We still have a few days to make calls get on Twitter and Facebook. Twist a few arms buy a few coffees get off the "bench".

Ministers MUST do more than endorse the paper they MUST make the document come to life and set some targets.

This is not a time to tell the Minister what we think he/she wants to hear. We need action!!

Make those calls!!!!!!

This is not about the price of oil this is about taking action on obesity, inclusiveness, sharing resources, training, volunteers, infrastructure and getting INACTIVE CANADIANS moving!!