Alberta Recreation & Parks Association

‼️ Early bird pricing ends in less than 1 week‼️

Don't miss your chance to save on the ARPA Conference & Energize Workshop 2026! Register before August 31, 2026 to take advantage of our Early Bird rates and secure your spot at Alberta's premier recreation and parks conference.

📍 Fairmont Jasper Park Lodge
📅 October 22–24, 2026

Join colleagues, industry leaders, and partners from across the province for three days of learning, networking, and inspiration.

As we continue celebrating our 75th Anniversary this is a conference you won't want to miss being a part of.

Register now: https://arpaonline.ca/event/arpa-2026-conference-energize-workshop/

‼️We are still looking for donations for our 75th Anniversary Raffle & Auction🎉

We are looking for prize donations - big and small. Whether it's a unique item, experience, travel package, gift basket, or other exciting prize, every donation helps us honour our legacy, while supporting future recreation and parks leaders💚

Make your donation today by filling out our donation submission form: https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLSdietKZibpKgTHLXXB1mj2CijRZxPKGlGpNCzrl1GIiqKlNsg/viewform

‼️Don't miss this FREE learning opportunity!

Join us and Toby Nwabuogor, a certified Artificial Intelligience Governance Professional, as he introduces us to the Responsible AI Governance Toolkit.

Participants will leave with starting points for building internal guardrails around AI use, including accountability, data practices, and transparency in public-facing work.

Register here: https://portal.arpaonline.ca/events/register.aspx?id=2056956

Before recreation was a recognized career path, there were people who believed it should be.

Through advocacy from ARPA and others in the field, the University of Alberta launched one of Canada’s first undergraduate programs dedicated to recreation in 1962.

What started as a small program has evolved over decades, balancing hands-on experience with a deeper understanding of leisure, community, and wellbeing.

Today, its graduates continue to shape recreation and parks across Alberta and beyond.

Help us honour our past, while investing in the future. Donate to our 75 for 75 Fundraising Campaign.

https://arpaonline.ca/arpa-75th-anniversary/

We are grateful to Adrian Goulet, CEO of Mahegun Tails and long time partner of ARPA, for donating a beautifully handcrafted 14-inch elk hide hand drum, made with a hand-scraped elk hide and mounted on a yellow cedar frame, complete with a traditional drum stick. This special auction package also includes a 1.5-hour interactive drumming and singing experience with Adrian.💚

⭐ Interested in donating an item or experience to our raffle and auction? Fill out our donation submission form here: https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLSdietKZibpKgTHLXXB1mj2CijRZxPKGlGpNCzrl1GIiqKlNsg/viewform?usp=dialog

We're excited to welcome an incredible lineup of keynote speakers to our 2026 ARPA Conference & Energize Workshop:
✨ Karen MacNeil
✨ Jackie Oncescu
✨ Sandra Sutter

Each speaker brings a unique perspective and valuable insights that will inspire conversations and leave you energized for the future.

🎉 Register for conference: https://arpaonline.ca/event/arpa-2026-conference-energize-workshop/

P.S. Early bird rates end August 31, 2026 so secure your discounted registration now!

‼️ FREE Webinar

AI is increasingly present in recreation and community services work, from communications and program descriptions to internal planning and reporting.

This session will introduce the Responsible AI Governance Toolkit and share insights from current Alberta municipal policy trends. Participants will leave with starting points for building internal guardrails around AI use, including accountability, data practices, and transparency in public-facing work.

Register here: https://portal.arpaonline.ca/events/register.aspx?id=2056956

A big THANK YOU to the University of Alberta for donating a limited edition Alberta bear statue to our 75th anniversary raffle and auction!🐻

Help us build on this exciting donation by adding even more amazing items and experiences to our auction and raffle.🎉

Donate now by filling out our donation submission form: https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLSdietKZibpKgTHLXXB1mj2CijRZxPKGlGpNCzrl1GIiqKlNsg/viewform

We need your help making our 75th Anniversary Fundraising Campaign one to remember!

There are two ways you can support:

🎉Donate a prize to our anniversary raffle and auction!

💚 Make a special $75 donation - your donation goes towards supporting the next generation of recreation and parks leaders, including the launch of a new bursary.

Make you donation today: https://arpaonline.ca/arpa-75th-anniversary/