Progress Report from the CPRA

In October 2011, the CPRA launched a bi-monthly newsletter as a means to improve communication to its members and partners. Please see below for links to the current newsletter as well as past updates.

Current Newsletter

Previous Updates:

-January 2011-

Update on the Canadian Parks and Recreation Association

On November 16 and 17, 2010 the CPRA Board met in Halifax for its semi-annual face-to-face meeting.

Four priorities were set for the meeting:

  1. To share knowledge & experience about effective CPRA governance
  2. To refresh our common understanding of the roles and responsibilities of our board and members
  3. To review goals and expectations and update and realign if necessary
  4. To identify new areas of focus

A large focus of the meeting was on reviewing the strategic plan that was approved this spring, to ensure the structure and future actions continue to align with the Association’s goals. Great progress was accomplished over the last several months by the committees in carrying out the strategic plan under the distributed leadership model.

Most significant was the eradication of the CPRA’s accumulated deficit. In the last year the CPRA’s operations and accounting practices were streamlined in order to meet the new strategic direction and to ensure a secure financial future.

Through half day meetings each committee further had the opportunity to review and identify additional actions specifically on their strategic areas. The results of each committee meeting were presented back to the board and added to the strategic plan for clarification or expansion.

Additional highlights of the two-day discussions included:

  • Roundtable discussions presented by each provincial/territorial association which provided an opportunity to share initiatives of national interest. Actions coming out of any of these discussions were directed to one of four committees to ensure continuity.
  • The CPRA Board considered the upcoming BCRPA Conference and National Exchange sessions and the 2011 National Recreation Forum agendas and opportunities for advancing the work of parks and recreation in the next year. A recommendation was put forward to investigate a new award for potential presentation at the National Exchange.
  • Information about the LIN network was shared with board members - this exciting new development will provide CPRA with an opportunity to continue to ensure the research and education needs for parks and recreation is relevant and accessible to all.
  • The CPRA Board approved the strategy for recruiting and hiring an Executive Director.
  • The CRPA now has a virtual office but can be reached by mail at:

    1180 Walkley Road
    PO Box 83069
    Ottawa ON
    K1V 2M5

    The telephone number and email stay the same

In summary, the CPRA Board continues to focus on the direction set out in the strategic plan. It has been able to position the association for future activities without a deficit, and looks forward to making significant strides in their new focus areas over the next year.