October Update

Posted on: Nov 09 2009 | Posted in: ACE Announcements


In this issue:

1. ALBERTA’S FIRST ABORIGINAL RECREATION DIRECTORS SUMMIT
2. HIGHLIGHTS FROM FLIGHT THREE LEADERS RETREAT
3. INTRODUCING OUR NEW EVALUATION COORDINATOR
4. ACE COMMUNITIES AT THE ARPA CONFERENCE
5. COMMUNITY BUILDING WORKSHOPS
6. A PICTURE IS WORTH A THOUSAND WORDS
7. THE BENEFITS CATALOGUE – THE POWER AND POSSIBIITY OF OUR FIELD
8. NEW ARTS & CULTURE BLOG
9. THE ACE COMMUNITIES ARTS TOUR
9. BLOGGER HIGHLIGHTS
10.COMMUNITY ACHIEVEMENTS
11.NEW RESOURCES
12.IGNITE TOUR DATES
13.YDRS SYMPOSIUM

1. ALBERTA’S FIRST ABORIGINAL RECREATION DIRECTORS SUMMIT

ARPA and ACE Communities, in partnership with the Indigenous Sport Council of Alberta, hosted Alberta’s first Aboriginal Recreation Summit in Sylvan Lake. Over 25 recreation directors, from all across the province, attended the 2-day meeting October 15-16th. Key issues raised included recreation issues related to 1) youth participation, 2) declining volunteerism especially among parents of participants, 3) financial cutbacks, 4) facility maintenance, and 5) isolation. For Brenda Herchmer’s personal reflections see http://brenda.herchmer.net/index.php?/site/comments/aboriginal_learnings/
For photos from the Summit see: http://acecommunities.ca/main/gallery/P12/

2. HIGHLIGHTS FROM FLIGHT THREE LEADERS RETREAT

Held this September in Sylvan Lake, the theme of the first ACE Communities Flight Three Leaders Retreat was ‘Discover!!!’.  Participants learned, discussed, and applied information about ACE Communities, personal and community leadership, community development, and many other topics. Each of the session titles: explore, discern, dig out, unwrap, bring to light, learn about, get wise to, reveal, and sniff out, were words or phrases synonymous for ‘discover’. A total of twenty-one community leaders from ten rural communities across Alberta participated in the first Flight Three ACE Community Retreat.  For photos from this retreat see:  http://acecommunities.ca/main/gallery/P60/

3. INTRODUCING OUR NEW EVALUATION COORDINATOR… HEATHER O’HEARN

Many might already know Heather O’Hearn from her previous role as the ARPA Community Resource Coordinator. Heather has now taken on a new role as the Evaluation Coordinator for ACE Communities. Heather was born and raised in Edmonton and graduated from the University of Alberta with a Political Science Degree as well as a second Degree in Recreation and Leisure Studies with a specialty in Community Development. A world traveller, she has had opportunities to work and/or volunteer in communities around the world as the Youth Leadership Program Coordinator in a Canadian Arctic Community, Teacher/Librarian/Community Track Team Coach in Swaziland, Africa, and Kindergarten Teacher in Korea and Taiwan. More recently, Heather has settled into Alberta with her husband Paul and 2 year old daughter Megan, and has returned to her Alberta recreation roots. For more info on Heather’s diverse and impressive background, please see: http://acecommunities.ca/about/ace-team/

4. ACE COMMUNITIES AT THE ARPA CONFERENCE

At this past week’s ARPA conference ACE team members were responsible for the Pre-Conference training session entitled “Inform, Consult, Empower!(Tool Kit Training), the preview launch of the Benefits Catalogue, From Youth at Risk to Kids at Hope, Trends that Matter, Community Development in Action – Flight Two storytelling, and Moving Research into Action. Despite the economy, an attendance record was set and some powerful learning took place.

5. COMMUNITY BUILDING WORKSHOPS

Recently you may have noticed the request for communities interested in holding a workshop on Community Building that would introduce the Community Leaders Toolkit as well as other ACE and ARPA resources and programs. The goal is to have a regional approach that could potentially involve other nearby communities. Final dates are being confirmed shortly. Please email Carolyn Mead, Community Liaison, with any questions or interest:  cmead@aceleaders.ca See also:  http://acecommunities.ca/announcements/seeking-hosts-for-a-community-building-workshop/

Confirmed community building workshps to date include Camrose – November 26, Okotoks – January 2010, Red Deer County & City of Red Deer – January 2010, Airdrie & Irricana (co-host) – March 2010, Kitscoty & Mannville (co-host) – March 2010, Drumheller – March 2010, Fort Saskatchewan – March 2010, Special Area 3 Consort – March 2010, Jasper (TBD), Wood Buffalo (TBD) and St. Alberta (TBD).

6. A PICTURE IS WORTH A THOUSAND WORDS
A friendly, little reminder to communities that we need those photos so keep them coming!  We can’t stress enough the IMPORTANCE of documenting the activities and initiatives in your communities. To see current examples of photos, please visit the ACE Digital Gallery: http://acecommunities.ca/main/gallery

7. THE BENEFITS CATALOGUE – THE POWER AND POSSIBIITY OF OUR FIELD

ACE Communities to pleased to have previewed the new online Benefits Catalogue on Friday at the ARPA Conference. This living resource summarizes evidence that services – for recreation, parks, sports, fitness, active living, arts and culture – really do make a difference.  Validation is provided for 49 benefits or outcome statements organized around the eight marketing messages listed on The Benefits Portal. The intent has been to provide users with an invaluable resource for policy development, planning, marketing, program/service development and/or evaluation.We are in the process of adding facts and trends for each benefit statement to help you make a case for expanding related programs and/or services. See: http://benefits.acecommunities

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8. NEW ARTS & CULTURE BLOG

At ACE Communities, we believe that every community is a creative community and that arts, culture, and heritage vastly impacts quality of life for everyone.  We’ve decided it is so important that we are now dedicating a whole section on the ACE Communities homepage to the resources are available for rural Alberta communities looking to enhance or develop their arts and cultural activities. See: http://acecommunities.ca/ and then scroll to the ‘Arts & Culture’ section.For more information on arts, culture, and heritage resources also see Janet Naclia’s, our Creative Cultural Liaison, ongoing blog: http://artsandculturewithace.blogspot.com/2009/10/pasos-what-they-can-do-for-you.html

9. THE ACE COMMUNITIES ARTS TOUR

Be first to launch the groundbreaking ACE Communities ARTS Tour – Celebrate and Grow Your Community’s Local Musical & Dance Talent! Have you ever marvelled at the musical talent in your community?  Or wondered how to tap the artistic potential of children and adults and grow it for the future? Do you value the contribution arts makes to your quality of life and want more of it in your community?  Then apply for the ACE Communities ARTS Tour!  More info on this amazing initiative can be found at: http://acecommunities.ca/arts-and-culture/be-first-to-launch-the-groundbreaking-ace-communities-arts-tour/  Contact Janet Naclia, Creative Cultural Liaison, for an application or to answer any questions: jnaclia@aceleaders.ca

10. BLOGGER HIGHLIGHTS

The theme of the importance and diversity of play has been highlighted by many of our ACE bloggers lately. For fascinating insight into this theme see bloggers Brenda Herchmer’s ‘The Fun Theory’: http://brenda.herchmer.net/index.php?/site/the_fun_theory/ Carol,yn Mead’s ‘City Boy Meets Country Girl’: http://rollinghillsalberta.blogspot.com/2009/10/city-boy-meets-country-girl.html Barb ,Pedersen’s ‘Facilitate with … Fun!’: http://barbpedersen.blogspot.com/2009/10/facilitate-with-fun.html and B,eth Sanders’s ‘The Art of Professional Practice’: http://populus.ca/plan/2009/10/14/the-art-of-professional-practice/

11. COMMUNITY ACHIEVEMENTS

ACE leaders from DIDSBURY hosted a very successful 2-day workshop on volunteerism this October. Presented by Linda Graff, an international authority on volunteerism, this conference offered much needed advice and insight on the issue of Rural Volunteerism.  For pics from the event see:  http://acecommunities.ca/main/gallery/P36/

Building a community-driven plan together with Council is setting the platform for sustainability in KITSCOTY. Kitscoty has been working with their ACE Coach to build a community Municipal Sustainable Plan (MSP). Even though this is a necessary requirement of the federal grants program, Kitscoty is making sure their citizens will be heard and engaged in the solutions. For more info:  http://acecoaches.blogspot.com/2009/10/kitscoty-focuses-on-leaders-of-today.html

SANGUDO is on the move again!  After the success of their playground build, they have now formed an arts planning committee to go forward with the creation of a Sangudo arts co-operative and possible arts center. This plan includes the implementation of arts-related workshops and a possible arts cafe. To see pics from these meetings see:  http://acecommunities.ca/main/gallery/P48/

PADDLE PRAIRIE has developed an inventive way of dealing with both declining volunteerism and accessibility to sports like hockey. As part of their new program, they are allowing family members (not necessarily just parents…) to volunteer their time in lieu of paying expensive fees.  Because of this, more children have access to sports and Paddle Prairie is better able to keep their facilities maintained.

12. NEW RESOURCES

ACE Communities is diligently adding new resources for community development on our website. Check out these resources at: http://acecommunities.ca/main-links/

13. IGNITE TOUR DATES

Flight Three ACE communities have now chosen their Ignite Tour Dates! Entwistle – November 30, Trochu – December 1, Chestermere – December 2, Nanton – December 3, Killam – December 4, Vulcan – January 19, Longview – January 20, Alexis Nakota Sioux Nation – January 21, Cold Lake – January 22 (tentative). Congratulations and welcome again to our third flight of communities!

14. YDRS SYMPOSIUM

ARPA’s next Youth Development through Recreation Services (YDRS) Symposium has been scheduled for March 15 – 17, 2010.  It will be held again at the Banff Centre with a theme of ‘Creating Youth Friendly Communities’. The YDRS 2010 Provincial Symposium is your opportunity to come together as practitioners involved in the delivery of youth programs and intiatives. Come hear from both front line staff and youth policy makers about their unique youth programs.

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