The National Recreation Framework Implementation Part 1

It only took four years to move from the National Recreation Summit in Lake Louise to endorsement of the Pathways to Wellbeing document by Provincial/Territorial Minister in Prince George in February 2015.

and that was the easy part!!

The document lays out five GOAL areas and provides some example focus priorities.

 
Now a new journey begins! Bringing the document to life for Provincial Governments, National and Provincial Recreation Associations, Sport, Active living  and Health organizations. It is a BIG tent initiative! (add it other specific groups you feel should be in the tent) ie; Federation of Canadian Municipalities, Provincial Urban Municipality orgs,, School Boards, libraries etc

Needless to say bringing this initiative to life is going to take a great deal of patience, involve pure collaboration at the core, and may not be an initiative for the "old guard" (in their traditional roles) in the Recreation Sector. **

The processes involved will have to be innovative, collaborative, flexible and always have an eye on the big picture. The ability to Connect the Dots will be essential as will the openness to add new dots.

Challenges to be addressed: (Just a first attempt)

•  When all is said and done is the entire initiative to get Canadians more active and healthier?
• Who owns the process?
• Who "controls" the overall process? Provincial/Territorial governments, Sector Representatives ?????
• What are the outcome?
• Who is accountable for the outcomes?
• How is the momentum maintained?
• How are the process monitored and shared across the country (Communications Hub)?
• Who facilitates the roll-out out process in each of the 13 Provincial/Territorial jurisdictions?
• What are the key messages?
• Who is actually on the ground doing what has to be done; what does that process look like?
• Is it feasible to create a common agenda? Is the Pathways document the common agenda?
• The Report on the state of physical activity for Canadian kids shows we have very high marks for physical infrastructure but poor marks on the actual physical activity levels of our kids. Why are we building all of these physical plants if the operators are not, in some way, held accountable for improving the physical activity levels and health of users?
•  Are Canadian Recreation complexes part of the health care costs equation?
•  What are the metrics of building & operating multi million$$ rec complexes in relation to health costs? 
• How do we efficiently integrate the five overall policy initiatives with everyone's strategic initiatives (any and every organization that sees themselves as part of the process)

Don't let anyone tell you this will be easy

    Nelson Mandela said: “it always seem impossible until it’s done”.

more thoughts in Part 2