ACE Announcements http://acecommunities.ca/announcements en jnaclia@aceleaders.ca Copyright 2012 Fri, 03 Feb 2012 22:24:27 GMT Upcoming ACE Webinars! http://acecommunities.ca/announcements/upcoming-ace-webinars http://acecommunities.ca/announcements/upcoming-ace-webinars#id:5528#date:22:24 Well, the EXCITING news is that ACE Communities will soon be launching it's MASTER Community Building Certificate Programs. We hope that you will continue to explore your love of learning with us and sign-up for future sessions through the ACE virtual learning centre. So keep an eye out for more information on this upcoming learning opportunity.

This means, however, that ACE Communities will be charging a fee for our webinars as of February 29th. So take advantage now and register for any of these remaining FREE sessions as outlined below:

]]> Fri, 03 Feb 2012 22:24 GMT ACE Communities February 2012 Newsletter http://acecommunities.ca/announcements/ace-communities-february-2012-newsletter http://acecommunities.ca/announcements/ace-communities-february-2012-newsletter#id:5527#date:18:11 Check out the recent addition of the ACE Communities newsletter for news and resources re: community building in rural Alberta!

]]> Fri, 03 Feb 2012 18:11 GMT VISIT ACE AT THE AG SOCIETY CONVENTION! http://acecommunities.ca/announcements/visit-ace-at-the-ag-society-convention http://acecommunities.ca/announcements/visit-ace-at-the-ag-society-convention#id:5519#date:16:15 Come visit ACE Communities at this year's Alberta Association of Agricultural Societies Convention. This event will take place from February 3 - 5 at the Mayfield Inn and Trade Centre (16615 - 109th Avenue) in Edmonton.

As part of our participation in the Convention, ACE will be hosting a Community Building Workshop on Friday the 3rd from 9:00 am to 12:30 pm. ACE will also be taking part in the Trade Show on Friday from 12:30 - 3:30 pm and then Saturday from 10:00 am - 4:00 pm.

So pop by and say 'hi!" For more information see this link.

]]> Fri, 03 Feb 2012 16:15 GMT ACE’s KEY LEARNING #1: Albertans Want to Make a Difference http://acecommunities.ca/announcements/aces-key-learning-1-albertans-want-to-make-a-difference http://acecommunities.ca/announcements/aces-key-learning-1-albertans-want-to-make-a-difference#id:5507#date:18:42 ACE Communities has identified and tapped into a hunger and desire among many rural Albertans who want to serve the public good and ultimately make a difference in their communities.

Motivated by deep collective values and a desire to be part of something meaningful, relevant, and greater than themselves, there is also a sense that the current system isn‘t working and that as Albertans, "We can do better".

The stories of ACE Communities reflect new ways of leading and working together, new understandings and beliefs, new ways of knowing and learning, breaking down old ways of doing things, and opening new avenues for solving problems.

When citizens are invited and empowered to participate through ACE Communities, new, thoughtful and deep ways to collaborate are found, and smart and different action results. Most importantly, citizens accept that they have a responsibility to work together with government, business, non-profits, and elected officials to co-create a better future.

A retiree from Carstairs who first got involved after attending an ACE Communities ignite event put it this way, "Hearing about, and being invited to participate in making our community a better place, was a reminder that none of us can ever retire from being a citizen".

The local leadership team from the town of Trochu shared one of their key learnings at an ACE Communities retreat when they summed up their unparalleled success in facilitating community change. They explained that they had engaged citizens, organizations, and businesses with what has become their new mantra, "Because it never hurts to ask!"

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Watch this spot for further mini bulletins on ACE Communities' KEY LEARNINGS!

]]> Wed, 01 Feb 2012 18:42 GMT Bill Wells Announced as New CEO of ARPA http://acecommunities.ca/announcements/bill-wells-announced-as-new-ceo-of-arpa http://acecommunities.ca/announcements/bill-wells-announced-as-new-ceo-of-arpa#id:5462#date:21:35 The Alberta Recreation and Parks Association (ARPA) is excited to welcome Mr. Bill Wells as their new Chief Executive Officer. Bill is the former Executive Director of the Saskatchewan School Boards Association (SSBA), where his leadership was critical to the school board in anticipating trends and issues that impacted the field, as well as the development and maintenance of many critical relationships with organizations that were key partners within the education community. His focus on communications strategies with media, business, and government with the SSBA will greatly assist ARPA as we continue to improve these critical relationships as well.

Bill also was a member of Regina City Council for over 18 years, elected in six consecutive elections, serving the second longest term in city history. While on council, he served on many council committees and was the chair of several, and was involved in a number of provincial, national and international councils in the area of recreation, arts and culture, transportation, and environment.

"We are thrilled to have Bill join the ARPA team," says Terry Welsh, ARPA President. "His experience and expertise are valuable assets for our organization moving forward, and his perspective from the education field and his experience in the political environment will help to shape a new path forward for the Association. Our organization is at a critical point in its growth and sustainability, with our involvement in developing the outcomes of the National Recreation Summit and our involvement with the Tripartite Group which involves the Faculty of Physical Education and Recreation at the University of Alberta and the Ministry of Alberta Tourism, Parks and Recreation to name just a couple of the Association's critical partnerships."

Bill Wells will officially become the CEO on March 1st, replacing Stephen Allan, who has been Acting CEO since ARPA's long-term CEO, Rick Curtis, retired after the ARPA Conference in late October this past year.

The Alberta Recreation and Parks Association is a provincial, not-for-profit, charitable organization made up of volunteers committed to building healthy citizens, communities, and environments in Alberta through recreation and parks. Serving Albertans since 1951, ARPA members include municipal and public recreation agencies, educators, corporate, elected members, volunteers, and student members.

For more information on ARPA, please visit http://arpaonline.ca.

]]> Wed, 18 Jan 2012 21:35 GMT Communities ChooseWell 2012 Registration http://acecommunities.ca/announcements/communities-choosewell-2012-registration http://acecommunities.ca/announcements/communities-choosewell-2012-registration#id:5430#date:17:41 Registration is now open for the 2012 Communities ChooseWell year! Register your community online for FREE! 

Communities that participated in 2011 can renew their registration here.

New communities can register here.

Register before the early-bird deadline of January 31 and be entered to win prizes, such as an ARPA Conference registration, a $500 community development grant, a SOGO grant opportunity and more.

Register before the end of February to receive a Communities ChooseWell toolkit full of healthy eating and active living information and promotional items.

The 2012 Communities ChooseWell program includes forums to share ideas, opportunities for seed grants for community development, and will be bringing back challenges from 2011, including the ChooseWell Iron Chef, Acts of Random Physical Activity and 21 Days to Healthy Eating.

Contact Damien Traverse at DTraverse@arpaonline.ca with any questions.

]]> Wed, 11 Jan 2012 17:41 GMT FREE Upcoming ACE Communities Webinars http://acecommunities.ca/announcements/free-upcoming-ace-communities-webinars3 http://acecommunities.ca/announcements/free-upcoming-ace-communities-webinars3#id:5425#date:22:04 Check out these FREE webinars from ACE Communities. There is still time to sign up and start off your New Year with some fantastic learning opportunities!

Please note: ACE Communities will be charging a fee for our webinars as of February 29th. So take advantage now and register for any of these remaining FREE sessions as outlined below. More info on each session can be found at: http://recc.arpahub.ca/

]]> Mon, 09 Jan 2012 22:04 GMT ACE Communities January 2012 Newsletter http://acecommunities.ca/announcements/ace-communities-january-2012-newsletter http://acecommunities.ca/announcements/ace-communities-january-2012-newsletter#id:5410#date:22:40 The January issue of the ACE Communities Newsetter is now out and is even looking a little snazzier for the New Year.  We've now added some more visuals to the newsletter for your viewing pleasure! Check it out for news and resources pertaining to community building, parks, recreations, arts, culture and heritage in rural Alberta.

Click here for the newsletter!

]]> Wed, 04 Jan 2012 22:40 GMT ARPA Emerging Leaders Program http://acecommunities.ca/announcements/arpa-emerging-leaders-program http://acecommunities.ca/announcements/arpa-emerging-leaders-program#id:5408#date:20:49 What is an Emerging Leader?

An emerging leader is a student, recent graduate, or professional entering the Quality of Life Sector.  This individual is perceived by his employer (paid or volunteer) or peers to have strong core competencies that, with support over time, will lead them to become a dynamic leader within the Sector.

Due to the general scarcity of support, funding and direct mentorship, these leaders may feel that they are stifled, overwhelmed, or generally not supported within the Sector, and take their talents and abilities to other sectors where they anticipate that they will receive greater recognition or support.

Emerging Leaders Supports

Fundamentally, Emerging Leaders need support.  This may be formal or informal, structured or unstructured, periodic or ongoing, and will generally fall into four categories:

  • Recognition - Early and Ongoing

An Emerging Leaders Task Group, under the guidance of the Education & Professional Development Committee, will work within core (ARPA members) and non-core (Communities in Bloom, AARFP, ATRA) networks to have employers (paid and volunteer) identify and put forward candidates for Emerging Leaders Programming.

  • Formal Education Opportunities

The Emerging Leaders Task Group will work with a variety of agencies to consider opportunities to meet the needs that are identified by the Emerging Leaders Programming, either by the candidates or through the networks.

  • Networking and Interconnectedness

The Emerging Leaders Task Group will work to create connections through a variety of means - regional face-to-face networking and educational opportunities, digital connection (website, facebook, twitter, etc.)

  • Coaching

The Emerging Leaders Task Group will work to identify and provide coaches for program participants.  In addition, it will work to develop programming that enriches the capacity of the coaches to provide quality supports to the participants.

To nominate someone - click here (pdf)

For more information please email eleaders@arpaonline.ca.

]]> Tue, 03 Jan 2012 20:49 GMT Register Now for the 2012 Youth Development through Recreation Services (YDRS) Symposium http://acecommunities.ca/announcements/register-now-for-the-2012-youth-development-through-recreation-services-ydr http://acecommunities.ca/announcements/register-now-for-the-2012-youth-development-through-recreation-services-ydr#id:5389#date:19:08 Registration is now open to attend the 2012 Youth Development through Recreation Services (YDRS) Symposium. The 2012 YDRS Symposium will be held at the West Edmonton Mall's Fantasyland Hotel from March 11-13, 2012. This year's conference focuses on the advancement of knowledge surrounding children and youth development through recreation. 

Attendees will hear thought-provoking keynote addresses from recognized leaders in children and youth development, participate in informative, practitioner-focused sessions and workshops, and learn firsthand about children and youth development and its application in recreation. The event will focus on:

  • Highlighting the value of partnerships in children and youth development
  • Promoting the concept of shared responsibility in children and youth development
  • Promoting the Symposium to non-traditional partners in children and youth development
  • Promoting youth involvement
  • Ensure opportunities for networking are created

Rick Miller, the Founder and President of the international initiative Kids at Hope, is this year's main keynote and will be addressing YDRS delegates at the Sunday night banquet. Rick has spent 44 years education, advocating, caring and support the futures of all youth. His wit, humor and story-telling abilities captivate the imagination leaving everyone who hears him believing that all children are truly capable of success-no exceptions!

For details about the 2012 YDRS Symposium or to register online, please visit:
www.arpaonline.ca/events/ydrs-symposium/#symposium

For more information contact:

Lisa Tink
780-415-1745
ltink@arpaonline.ca

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