July ACE update

Posted on: Aug 05 2010 | Posted in: ACE Announcements


In this issue:
1. KEEP VOTING FOR ACE COMMUNITIES’ PEPSI REFRESH PROJECT!!
2. 100 DAYS TO CHANGE A LIFE
3 .  BABY WISHES
4. WELCOME TO SHIREEN LEWIS
5. BENEFITS DATABANK UPDATE
6. WITH RECKLESS ABANDON
7. FUNDING OPPORTUNITIES FOR RURAL COMMUNITIES
8. REMINDER ABOUT THE ARPA 2010 CONFERENCE
9. RECREATION IN ABORIGINAL COMMUNITIES
10. BLOGGER HIGHLIGHTS
11. COMMUNITY ACHIEVEMENTS
12. NEW RESOURCES
13. FEATURED RESOURCE OF THE MONTH
14. UPCOMING ACE WORKSHOPS IN THE FALL
15. DEADLINE FOR NEWSLETTER SUBMISSION

A.C.E. COMMUNITIES HAS BEEN MADE POSSIBLE AS THE RESULT OF FUNDING FROM RURAL ALBERTA’S DEVELOPMENT FUND, ENCANA, CENOVUS ENERGY, AND CANWEST

1.  KEEP VOTING FOR ACE COMMUNITIES’ PEPSI REFRESH PROJECT!!

ACE Communities’ idea for a series of music and dance projects in Albertan Aboriginal communities has quickly moved up the ranks for a $100,000 prize from Pepsi but we need your help!  We now need everyone to both vote AND to spread the news. You can vote for the project ONCE A DAY, EVERY DAY, until August 31, 2010. So BOOKMARK this link: http://ab.yace.ca/artstour

Note:  You will have to login to vote but once you do it, it’s easy for future logins. This would be a HUGE win for Alberta’s arts scene and an even BIGGER WIN for our Aboriginal communities.  Contact Janet Naclia, Creative Cultural Liaison, with any questions at jnaclia@aceleaders.ca and see her recent blog: http://artsandculturewithace.blogspot.com/2010/07/vote-for-us-and-for-our-aboriginal.html

2. 100 DAYS TO SAVE A LIFE

Geared to serving as inspiration for summer recreation practitioners at camps, playrounds, swimming pools etc., ACE Ambassador Ian Hill has made a valuable video available FREE. Apply named 100 DAYS TO CHANGE A LIFE, this 10 minute video educates staff and volunteers about the personal role they can make in changing a child or youth’s life. Please view and share this video however you deem appropriate
http://www.viddler.com/explore/aceleader/videos/40/ It ma.y be especially valuable as a mid season motivator.

3. BABY WISHES

The stork has been busy this month! ACE technology contractor, Chris McCreery and his wife Nancy welcomed baby Emilia. Gender balance was achieved when Steve Allan, Finance and Operations Manager at ARPA, and his wife Rachel recently welcomed baby Noah to the ARPA family. 

4.. WELCOME TO SHIREEN LEWIS

As of July 5, ACE welcomed a new summer intern.  Shireen Lewis has been sponsored through the Alberta Community Cooperative Assn (ACCA.)  She will primarily help us with the archival process of information and admin support for the upcoming ARPA conference.  Welcome Shireen!

5.  BENEFITS DATABANK – UPDATE
http://benefits.acecommunities.ca/

“LEISURE ACTIVITIES, PARKS AND GREEN SPACE ARE ESSENTIAL TO OUR PHYSICAL, MENTAL , SOCIAL WELL-BEING and TO OUR QUALITY OF LIFE, ENVIRONMENT AND ECONOMIC SUSTAINABILITY “

Research recently added (be sure to check regularly to see all the new additions):

‘Outdoor Recreation Health and Wellness: Understanding and Enhancing the Relationship’. Research has confirmed a link between physical activity that takes place outdoors and positive health outcomes as well as an association between an indoor, sedentary lifestyle and negative health consequences.  There is also evidence that both being outdoors and viewing natural scenes can reduce stress. The links are strong enough that researchers and practitioners in health related fields are now beginning to identify parks and recreation as a health service.

Please tell us about new research so we can add it!  http://benefits.acecommunities.ca/index.php/benefits/researchcomments/share-research-here

6. WITH RECKLESS ABANDON

Congrats goes out to ACE Coach Karen Driedger who recently hosted the Calgary launch of her new book: ‘Reckless Abandon’.  This is the first in a series of books that help people discover creative approaches to leadership, development, and quality of life issues.  Way to go Karen!  For more info see Karen’s recent blog: http://karendriedger.blogspot.com/2010/07/celebrating-with-reckless-abandon.html

7. FUNDING OPPORTUNITIES FOR RURAL COMMUNITIES

Check out this recent funding opportunity for rural communities. ‘The Rural Community Adaption Grant Program’ has $15 million funding to: 1) increase the capacity of rural communities and regions, 2) to help communities transition and adapt, resulting in greater resilience and new, more diverse economic opportunities. Due December 31, 2010.  http://www1.agric.gov.ab.ca/general/progserv.nsf/all/pgmsrv366/$file/rcap_guidelines.pdf?OpenElement

8. REMINDER ABOUT THE ARPA 2010 CONFERENCE

The next ARPA Conference and Energize Workshop: Renaissance 2010 – Endless Possibilities will take place October 21-23 at the Fairmont Jasper Park Lodge.  Planning for the educational and social portions of the 2010 ARPA Conference and Energize Workshop is well underway, and the Organizing Committee would like to offer you a sneak peek into some of the highlights…  Jim Carroll and Bruce Kirkby have been confirmed as keynote presenters. There will also be sessions on: Community Building, Sponsorships and Partnerships, Risk Prevention and Management, Tips for Healthy Communications, Regional Land-Use Planning- Tools for Communities, and Experiential Learning Sessions including outdoor activities.  Visit http://www.2010.arpaonline.ca for additional program and accommodation reservation details.

9. RECREATION IN ABORIGINAL COMMUNITIES

We would like to remind all Aboriginal recreation practitioners that this year’s ARPA Conference in Jasper will include a one-day pre-conference session focusing on recreation, arts, culture, and heritage in Aboriginal communities.  This session will be a full day one on Thursday, October 21.  For more info contact Janet: jnaclia@aceleaders.ca

Thank you to those who were able to join us this month for the Aboriginal Recreation Meeting hosted by ARPA and the ISCA. As you will see from the conference call meeting summary at the link below, information and resources relevant to those delivering aboriginal recreation and sports were shared. Please note the next conference call meeting will be held on THURSDAY, AUGUST 5 at 10:00 AM. Call in at 1.888.289.4573 using passcode 9374575#.  ?http://docs.google.com/a/aceleaders.ca/View?docID=0AVC9QlqMOl13ZGQ4N3A3a3RfMjY2Z2o3d2pmY3E&revision=_latest

10.  BLOGGER HIGHLIGHTS
We had a diverse group of blogs this month all focused on how to improve the quality of life in our communities.  This is just a small sampling from our wide selection of ACE bloggers so make sure to include us as part of your summer reading lists.  All blogs can be found at http://acecommunities.ca/

Check out BRENDA HERCHMER’s blog, “Recreation Matters”, on the importance of the work done by the recreation field.  CAROLYN MEAD’s “Garage Sales United” speaks to innovative ways to build community.  Also check out LES BROST’s insightful blog, “The Best Defense”, on his definition of an engaged citizen and DUNA BAYLEY sums up key points for intellectual betterment in “Garbage Bears”.  We would also like to welcome new ACE Blogger Angela Torry who has been writing on the benefits of physical activity.

11.  COMMUNITY ACHIEVEMENTS?For more details go to acecommunities.ca and scroll down to “Community Highlights”.  Here are some highlights from July:

ACE Alumni Communities and youth are in the news! Youth are making a difference by being committed to their communities through volunteerism and leadership. Award recipients in HIGH LEVEL, HINTON, and INNISFAIL were part of a recent ceremony accepting the Queen’s Golden Jubilee Citizenship award from Lieutenant Governor, Ethell. Sidney Lapp of High Level, Evelyn Cranston of Hinton (daughter of two of our ACE leaders), and Kelty Douglas of Innisfail received the honor of meeting Lieutenant Governor and being publicly acknowledged for their important community contributions. All are recent high school graduates.  Congratulations!

CALLING LAKE is organizing a competition in August to celebrate the Cree language.  This competition will have different age categories and test the cultural knowledge of the participating teams.  We would like to acknowledge Calling Lake’s creative celebration of their heritage.  For more info see: http://acecommunities.ca/aboriginal/cree-language-challenge-in-calling-lake-ab/

Amazing what a small community (population just over 1,000) can do when everyone comes together! KILLIAM citizens are working to revitalize their Heritage Park with an outdoor amphitheatre, a bike/skate park, a new walking trail, an outdoor fire pit/barbecue and some beautification. They’ve held a fundraiser (60s dinner and dance) and made $13,000. They’re also selling engraved bricks which will be used to construct the outdoor fireplace/BBQ. School-aged children have decorated coffee tins which have been distributed to businesses for people to leave their spare change and they will be rolling the change for the group. The local group has applied for a number of grants, will hold some additional fundraisers such as a Goat Raffle, a Children’s Festival Day, and will seek corporate donations.

SANGUDO is blazing ahead with an eye on economic impact!  Not only has Sangudo Opportunities Development Coop purchased the Sangudo Custom Meat Packers (they will lease the building out to local entrepreneurs), they have hired a community volunteer coordinator utilizing a CIP grant.  Great work everyone!  And let us know how it went with your Community in Bloom entry… 

12.  NEW RESOURCES

Have you checked out the great new weekly resources at acecommunities.ca?  ACE Communities is diligently adding new resources and training opportunities related to community development to its website.  Make sure to check out: the ‘Resource Links’, the ‘Arts, Culture, & Heritage’ resource section, the ‘Training Opportunities’ section, ‘ACE Announcements’, the ‘Aboriginal Communities’ blog, and our live Twitter feed.

Here is one great example offering rural communities advice on how to set-up fitness centers: http://lin.ca/resource-details/17018

13.  FEATURED RESOURCE OF THE MONTH

It has come to our attention that sometimes we take things for granted like…. the amazing resources available for our ACE Communities and partners!  So, we will be dedicating this space in the newsletter to highlight one of our ACE resources.

This month we are featuring Carolyn Mead, the ACE Community Liaison.  Carolyn is one of the connectors of the team; she connects people and resources in order to have needs met. Carolyn’s background of tourism and recreation, early childhood education, and special needs can help provide a holistic look in the community. Carolyn has worked on tourism and recreation projects in small, rural communities and brings that different perspective to community development. She can help guide you with some of the questions you might have about community building.  To contact Carolyn: cmead@acecommunities.ca

14. UPCOMING ACE WORKSHOPS IN THE FALL

ACE Communities has so far confirmed two more Community Building workshops in the fall!  We will be coming to BROOKS on September 25 and then NANTON on November 4th.  For further details or to inquire about hosting your own community workshop, contact Carolyn at cmead@aceleaders.ca.

15.  DEADLINE FOR NEWSLETTER SUBMISSION

Do you have ACE-related news to share for inclusion in the newsletter?  Please submit any news to Janet Naclia jnacliaaceleaders.ca by the 20th of every month.

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