Tracking the History of Recreation in Canada

Where is recreation in Canada going?
There has been a renewed focus on recreation with the National Recreation Summit in Lake Louise in the Fall of 2011 and the National Recreation Agenda gathering in New Brunswick in Spring 2013.

What came out of these gatherings? Were we rehashing old ground....

Maybe we need to walk through the electronic archives at the Leisure Information Network and begin piecing our history together. (That may also be a call for the government and association folks to contribute some of their archived materials to LIN to help the historians get the story straight or maybe just less cloudy)

Sport & Politics in Canada Federal Government Involvement Since 1961


Fitness and Amateur Sport Act 1961 (TBF)

Address by Walter H. Kaasa Re Arts and Recreation Policy - 1974










Towards a National Policy on Fitness and Recreation (1978) 


Picture of CAMPAGNOLO, The Hon. Iona, P.C., O.C., O.B.C.
Iona Campagnola
Minister of State Fitness & Amateur Sport
1976 -79

 






 

Minister of State for Fitness and Amateur Sport
Iona Campagnola






























In 1983 an Interprovincial Provincial Recreation Statement was tabled.
The table of contents of that paper is below:

1.       THE CONTEXT
a.       Recreation Grows
b.      Recreation Contributes
c.       This Paper is Commissioned by Recreation Ministers
d.      Background – Recreation Defined 1974
e.      Background – Provincial Primacy Recognized 1978
f.        Ministers Act to Develop a National Recreation Framework – 1980
g.       Government and the Private Sector
h.      Community – The Core Concept
2.       THE PROVINCIAL AND TERRITORIAL ROLE
a.       Recreation a Medium for People Development
b.      Provincial & Territorial Roles
c.       The Municipality – The Prime Agency
d.      The Municipal role Defined 

3.       MECHANISMS OF INTER-GOVERNMENTAL COOPERATION
a.       Benefits of Cooperation
b.      Inter-provincial cooperation
c.       Benefits of a Strong Interprovincial Position
d.      Ministers’ Role
e.      Deputy Ministers’ Role
f.        Inter-provincial Sport and Recreation Council Role
g.       Creation of a Three Year Issue and Action Program

Communique on Quebec 1987 Meeting of Ministers Responsible for Sport and Recreation

National Recreation Statement 1988

The National Recreation Database


Sport Plan for Canada: Communiqué from Canada's Ministers for Sport and Recreation - 1993

Fitness and Amateur Sport Act 2003 (TBF)

PRESS RELEASE - FEDERAL, PROVINCIAL AND TERRITORIAL MINISTERS ENDORSE CANADIAN SPORT POLICY AND RENEW COMMITMENT TO SPORT, PHYSICAL ACTIVITY AND HEALTHY WEIGHTS IN CANADA June 27, 2012

National Recreation Summit  October 23-26, 2011 Lake Louise
 

Towards a National Recreation Agenda 2013

National Recreation Round Table 2013 (agenda)

National Recreation Agenda The Documents

FEDERAL, PROVINCIAL AND TERRITORIAL MINISTERS ADVANCE ACTIONS TO SUPPORT SPORT, PHYSICAL ACTIVITY AND HEALTHY WEIGHTS August 2, 2013

The above resources are only a sample of benchmark material that documents the evolution of Sport, Fitness & Recreation in Canada. Each province has their policy documents that fill in the provincial perspective and municipalities from coast to coast to coast have recorded their policy path in Council minutes.

Sport and Fitness sectors also have detailed documentation of their policy evolution.

A key resource for Canadian recreation has been The National Benefits Hub....yes it is still active and valuable to decision makers. 

Will champions for recreation in Canada appear in 2014 as Ontario takes on responsibility to look at next steps for Recreation in Canada?

What are the questions that need to be asked as we move forward?




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