June 4, 2020 - COVID discussion with MIABC and Sport BC. Recording can be viewed here.

May 20, 2020 - BCRPA-RFABC jointly hosted Re-opening Pools webinar with Dale Miller of the Lifesaving Society - BC & Yukon on their Re-opening BC’s Pools & Waterfronts Guideline.

BCRPA has also been pleased to partner with RFABC to provide a number of educational opportunities for our joint membership in response to the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on our facilities, including a series of webinars for the COVID age. The first, was held on Friday, May 8 to a full virtual house of 265 attendees and focused on cleaning our recreation facilities to the new pandemic standards.

View a recording of the webinar.

The BCRPA created and implemented the Active Communities Initiative to raise physical activity levels in British Columbia by 20%. Funded through ActNow BC, the initiative mobilized and collaborated with communities, local governments, Aboriginal and partner organizations to promote healthy lifestyles choices, increase accessibility to physical activities and build supportive community environments.

Although we are unable to offer the full Active Communities Initiative now that funding is no longer available, the BCRPA continues to offer components such as HIGH FIVE^®. We are also continuing to offer resources and opportunities to our BCRPA members and registered Active Communities.

Throughout the Active Communities initiative, there have been significant achievements. Highlights include:

• 226 registered Active Communities throughout BC (as of August 31, 2009).
• Over $935,000 in grants awarded to communities throughout the province to support physical activity programming, the building of trails and walkways, and active events.
• Support for 237,391 people across the province to get active on Move for Health Day.
• The creation of numerous resources for communities to use to promote physical activity and plan community events, including event evaluation tools.

We are grateful to ActNow BC that we were able to help communities across BC raise their physical activity levels awareness and improve the quality of life for all British Columbians.

Resources

Through the Active Communities Initiative, the BCRPA produced the Active Communities Marketing Toolkit. This toolkit is a comprehensive guide to creating, executing, and evaluating marketing and promotions programs.

 

The M.A.P. (Marketing Action Plan) toolkit was created through the BCRPA's Community-Based Awareness Initiative, a program of the Physical Activity Strategy. The toolkit helps communities promote awareness of the benefits of and opportunities for physical activity at the local level. It includes a full range of ready to use and adaptable tools and templates that promote physical activity.

Evaluation Tools

The BCRPA offers several tools that communities can use to reflect upon progress, highlight needs, and inform next steps:

• Walkability Assessment tool
• Active Neighbourhood Checklist
• Built Environment & Active Transportation (BEAT) Neighbourhood Assessment Tool
• Self Assessment Checklist and Planning Guide
• Event Observation sheet
• Flow of Activity Information in your Community sheet

Active Transportation

The BCRPA recognizes the importance of the built environment and active transportation in helping communities be more active. Active Transportation includes promoting walkability in your community and enhancing the design of your community so there are accessible greenways, bikeways and blueways to allow citizens to move easily, actively and car-free in your community.

New Report - Physical Activity and Transportation Benefits of Walkable Approaches to Community Design

A study from the BCRPA calls for municipal governments to make walking and cycling the top priority in their transportation plans, rather than cars. The study, entitled "Physical Activity and Transportation Benefits of Walkable Approaches to Community Design in British Columbia", found that designing neighbourhoods where it's easier to walk and bike can actually influence people to do those activities more often, benefitting their health and enhancing the community.

Focusing on Metro Vancouver, the study found that adults are 2.5 times more likely to walk when they live in well-connected neighbourhoods with features that are pedestrian-friendly.

It also found that adults who live in walkable neighbourhoods drive 58% less on average than those who don't.

The study also calls for communities to increase the level of public transit service. It notes that people in areas well-served by transit generally do more walking. The study is the first of its kind in BC.

• Download the full report here
• Read BCRPA's news release announcement here

This report was released at the ' Shifting Gears' lecture on June 8: Walking Around the World: Innovation and inspiration for Designing, Engineering and Planning our Cities.

Built Environment and Active Transportation Initiative (BEAT)

The BCRPA led the Built Environment and Active Transportation (BEAT) Initiative - an initiative of the BC Healthy Living Alliance's Physical Activity Strategy. Check out the BEAT website for information on past infrastructure and planning grants, summits and for more information on building a more active environment in communities

Additional Resources

Check out walkability and bikeability expert Michael Haynes' active transportation blog for research, stats and ideas from across Canada.

• Active transportation grants are available to organizations through Transport Canada's Moving on Sustainable Transportation program. Click here for more information.
• HASTE (Hub for Action of School Transportation Emissions) has developed resources on planning walking school buses and bicycle trains.
• Cycling Infrastructure Partnership Program (CIPP) grants are available where the Government of BC will partner with local governments in the construction of new transportation cycling infrastructure. Submission deadline is September 30, 2014. Click here for more information.

The BCRPA recognizes the important role that work environments play in the physical activity levels of British Columbians. Healthy workplaces benefit organizations and individuals alike and result in improved productivity, fewer insurance and worker compensation claims, reduced absenteeism, and improved staff attitudes towards the organization.

[Source: Active Communities Active Workplace Workbook]

Some of our Active Communities are workplaces while other communities have developed strong and successful workplace wellness programs.

The BCRPA uses a comprehensive approach to a healthy workplace that addresses:

• Voluntary health practices
• The physical environment and
• The social environment and personal resources

Tools and Resources

The BCRPA has developed an Active Workplace Workbook, to assist registered Active Communities and workplaces in the public, private and not-for-profit sector with developing a workplace wellness program.

• The workbook covers:
  • Benefits of an active workplace - facts & figures
  • Comprehensive healthy workplace planning
  • Getting started - an 8-step formula
  • Recommended practices

Walk BC is a joint initiative between the Heart & Stroke Foundation of BC & Yukon and the BCRPA. Walk BC encourages individual and group walking to increase overall health in communities through a range of programs that promote walking including Workplace Walking. For more information on developing a workplace walking or physical activity program, please check out:

• Step-by-Step: A Workplace Walking Resource
• Step-by-Step: Resources 

Healthy Workplace Month

Healthy Workplace Month (October) encourages workplaces and communities to create and implement healthy workplace strategies.

For more information about Healthy Workplace Month, please contact the BC Recreation and Parks Association at education@bcrpa.bc.ca 

The Stay Active Eat Healthy® program encourages individuals to make healthy choices when purchasing food or beverage products where they live, work, learn and play.

The Stay Active Eat Healthy^® program is an evidence-based capacity building initiative developed in BC. Stay Active Eat Healthy® aims to increase the provision of healthy food and beverages while restricting unhealthy options in municipal and community recreation facilities.

The objectives of the program are to: 

• support recreational facilities to take a leadership role within the community to promote a healthy, active lifestyle;
• support recreational facilities and to take a leadership role within the community to promote a healthy, active lifestyle by providing healthy choices in vending machines, snack bars, food concessions, programs and events to benefit both workers and the public;
• facilitate collaborative approaches between industry and recreation facility staff to provide and promote a wider range of healthy choices.

The program is designed to provide easy access to a full range of information, tools and resources for municipal recreation facility staff, industry and consumers.

Visit the website to learn more.

The BCRPA, with funding from ActNow BC, developed informative and user-friendly walking program resources to guide communities, worksites and individuals implementing or reviewing current walking programs. The walking program resources are relevant province-wide and offer useful ideas, easy-to-use tools and practical strategies to consider as walking programs are designed, implemented or revised. These resources were part of the Active Communities Initiative.

The key components of the guide include the resources listed below.

For additional resources and walking program ideas visit WalkBC.

The Ministry of Health has established generally accepted minimum standards of safe practices for the construction and operation of public and commercial pools and hot tubs in BC in the Pool Regulation under the Public Health Act. New regulations came into effect in October 2010.

Along with the Pool Regulation, guidelines were developed with input from various stakeholders, including the BCRPA and Lifesaving Society.

The Ministry of Health Pool Regulation Resources: 

• Pool Regulation
• Pool Regulation Amendments - August 2012
• Guidelines for Pool Operation Version 2 (January 2014)
• Guidelines for Pool Design Version 2 (June 2014)
• Pool Safety Plan

The BCRPA is soliciting your help in gathering sample documents to be posted on the BCRPA website. Examples of files may include: sample timesheets, orientation manuals, special event descriptions, public session activities, job descriptions, staff daily log books, policy statements, etc.

Games

• Ice Breakers (743K pdf)
• On The Spot Activities (935K pdf)
• Public Swim Game Ideas (82K pdf)

Aquatic Orientation and Appraisal

• Aquatic Centre Duties (48K pdf)
• FRS Radio Orientation Checklist (55K pdf)
• Interview Score Sheet (22K pdf)
• Performance Management Review Form (110K pdf)
• Principles For Staffing Pool (71K pdf)
• Two Stars and A Wish Appraisal Form (66K pdf)

Communication and Customer Service

• Dealing With Difficult Customers (108K pdf)
• Operators Log (92K pdf)

Lifeguarding

• Water Test Sheet (68K pdf)

Policy Statements

• Aquatic Certification Reminder Memo (79K pdf)
• Aquatic Staff Uniform Policy (73K pdf)
• Aquatics Rules (72K pdf)
• Behavioral Incident Guidelines (107K pdf)
• Blood Born Risks (113K pdf)
• Camera Cell Phone Warning (52K pdf)
• Camera Phones Policy (115K pdf)
• Cell Phone Use Memo (26K pdf)

Swim Instruction

• Lesson Expectations (69K pdf)

Useful Forms

• Accident Incident Report Powel River (59K pdf)
• Employee Timesheet (38K pdf)

Refusal of Treatment 

• Time Off Request Form (60K pdf)

To submit a document, please contact: 

Education and Initiatives Department
Email: education@bcrpa.bc.ca 

Community Facility Inventory Reports are now available for purchase from the BCRPA.

The Community Facility Inventory Reports are the result of the BCRPA Community Facilities Assessment Study, a provincial inventory of recreation facilities, trails, and open spaces throughout BC which involved three phases:

Reports from these studies will assist recreation and parks departments with upgrades, maintenance and replacement of existing facilities.

Acknowledgments and permission for use

Copyright © 2007 British Columbia Recreation and Parks Association. All rights reserved.The authors hereby grant permission to authorized purchasers of data from the BCRPA Community Facilities Assessment Study to reproduce and incorporate the information into subsequent publications provided that copyright notices as well as acknowledgement of the author are retained in all copies.  While every precaution has been taken in the preparation of the data, the originating authors assume no responsibility for errors or omissions, or for damages resulting from the use of the information.

Snapshots of the Summary Findings

These Snapshot documents provide a sneak preview of the full Summary of Findings reports. 

Phase 1: ice arenas, curling facilities, indoor and outdoor swimming pools
Phase 2: parks, open spaces, and playing fields
Phase 3: community centres / halls, youth centres and seniors' centres

To be the 'Best Place on Earth', British Columbia must be the healthiest community on earth. Just as healthy living requires a new focus and on-going commitment, recreation infrastructure urgently needs a steady on-going investment. With sustainable maintenance and renewal funding, recreation facilities are one of the most cost-effective prescriptions for good health and engaged citizens.

“The need for a sustainable recreation infrastructure funding strategy has never been greater, and the BCRPA Recreation Facilities Assessment Study has provided a solid evidence base for the development of such a strategy. This report consolidates the research and makes a clear case for action by the province of BC and its municipalities.”
– DON HUNTER, PRINCIPAL, DON HUNTER CONSULTING

Getting Started: Findings in Brief

1. What is the State of Recreation Infrastructure in BC?
         a.) What did the Assessment Study find?
2. Why is Recreation so important?
3. What trends affect Recreation?
4. What is needed for renewal
5. Investing for today and tomorrow
6. Defining funding priorities

Contact:
Holly-Anne Burrows
Communications and Member Relations Manager, BCRPA
604-629-0965 ext. 233
hburrows (at) bcrpa.bc.ca

A Time For Renewal: Reports

Executive Summary A Time for Renewal: Assessing the State of Recreation Facilities in British Columbia This 12-page executive summary provides a brief overview of the findings outlined in the full report: A Time for Renewal: Assessing the State of Recreation Facilities in British Columbia. Download the Executive Summary Report

Full Report A Time for Renewal: Assessing the State of Recreation Facilities in British Columbia A Time for Renewal is intended to communicate the key findings of BCRPA’s research to date on the status of BC’s recreation facilities and discuss the implications portrayed by the data. This document examines why our recreation facilities are important to the people of BC and builds a valid case, supported by empirical data, for the thoughtful, immediate and on-going renewal of our recreation infrastructure. Download the Full Report

Background Reports

	Analysis Phase: BC Recreation & Parks Association Community Recreation Facilities Assessment Study The scope of Analysis Phase of the study was to analyze the eight types of indoor and four types of outdoor recreation infrastructure gathered in the three inventory phases of the study. The Analysis phase provides insights into the age, distribution and quality of our recreation assets and preliminary estimates of BC’s growing facility infrastructure deficit. Download the Analysis Phase Report
	Validation Audit In April 2008, the British Columbia Recreation & Parks Association commissioned detailed assessments of a sample of existing recreation facilities in the Lower Mainland Region. The primary purposes of the assessments were to validate the theoretical assumptions about the condition of the recreation facilities made in the Analysis Phase. Download the Validation Audit Report
	Phase 1: Inventory Ice Arenas, Indoor Pools, Outdoor Pools, & Curling Facilities During the spring of 2003, The British Columbia Recreation and Parks Association commissioned the production of an inventory, in the form of a database, of Ice Arenas, Indoor Pools, Outdoor Pools, and Curling Facilities owned and/or operated by local municipalities in BC. Download the Inventory Phase 1 Report
	Phase 2: Inventory Parks, Natural Areas, Trails & Playing Fields During the winter of 2004, The British Columbia Recreation and Parks Association commissioned the production of an inventory, in the form of a database, of Parks, Natural Areas, Trails and Playing Fields owned and/or operated by local municipalities in BC. Download the Inventory Phase 2 Report
	Phase 3: Inventory Community Centres, Youth Centres, Senior Centres & Community Halls During the winter of 2005, The British Columbia Recreation and Parks Association commissioned an inventory, in the form of a database, of Community Centres, Youth Centres, Senior Centres, and Community Halls owned and/or operated by local municipalities. Download the Inventory Phase 3 Report

 

News release on report

Call for Action: BCRPA is taking action to address the need for recreation infrastructure renewal across BC. Join us in our campaign to turn a pressing need into a public policy priority.

The BCRPA is excited to be part of the CPRA initiative Everybody gets to play™. This program is focused on ensuring that economically disadvantaged children and families have access to quality leisure experiences. Because everybody needs to play, but not everybody has the chance.

Recreation is essential for building strong bodies, healthy minds, self esteem, social skills, and community values. It can improve family interactions, and academic performance and reduce depression, stress, loneliness, and self-destructive and anti-social behaviour. But many kids in low-income families do not have the chance to participate. They may not:

• be able to afford user fees or equipment
• have safe places to play in their neighbourhoods,
• be able to travel to and from facilities,
• feel welcome because they do not conform to social norms, or
• be aware of existing programs.

There are many barriers that stand between kids in low-income families and recreation opportunities. 

Child Care Licensing Regulation
Click here to access the most up to date Child Care Licensing Regulation.

Summary of Changes Specific to Recreation
Click here for a summary of the 2007 changes to the Child Care Licensing Regulations that are specific to recreation settings.

Implications
There are, however, some financial implications of operating a service that is exempt from the Child Care Licensing Regulation. Funding from the Ministry of Children and Family Development Funding is only accessible to facilities that are licensed. This funding includes the Child Care Capital Funding Program, the Child Care Operating Funding Program for emergency repairs, the Child Care Subsidy and the Child Care Resource and Referral Program. Further information on this funding can be found at: http://www.mcf.gov.bc.ca/childcare/providers.htm

For any issues regarding your licensing status please contact the Medical Health Officer in your region which are broken down by region on the following website: http://www.health.gov.bc.ca/ccf/

Background Information

BC-CiB is a not-for-profit program that helps municipalities develop their communities by improving the tidiness, appearance and visual appeal of their neighbourhoods, parks, open spaces and streets through the imaginative use of flowers, plants and tress. An integral part of the success of this program is increased environmental awareness and preservation of heritage and culture.

This program engages the whole community by including citizens of all ages, businesses, local organizations, community groups and municipalities.

Current and past newsletters can be viewed on the BC Communities in Bloom website.

To contribute a community or sponsor story for the next issue, please contact Catherine Kennedy, Program Coordinator at 604-576-6506 or c.kennedy (at) telus.net