Shared Strategy for Advancing Recreation in Nova Scotia After 2-3 years of development, it was launched at RNS conference in October 2016

Shared Strategy for Advancing Recreation in Nova Scotia Shared between: Communities, Culture & Heritage (CCH) (provincial government) https://cch.novascotia.ca/ @NS_CCH & Recreation Nova Scotia (RNS) (the recreation sector) www.recreationns.ns.ca @recreationns SHARED IS IN THE TITLE ON PURPOSE. Its not just a govt strategy. It is SHARED with the SECTOR. SHARED RESPONSIBILITY, SHARED LEADERSHIP That is why you see the RNS logo on each slide! Recreation sector includes predominantly Municipal Recreation Depts, PRO’s (Hike, NS Trails, Duke Of Ed…Bike NS), community and volunteer organizations and other local partners. Written with and by and the RECREATION sector. October 2015 – Endorsed by RNS & Province November 2015 – Endorsed by UNSM

It is based on this document – the national Frame work for Recreation in Canada – Pathways to Wellbeing. The FIVE goals of the FRC, with NS specific priorities and areas of focus -in essence the SS is NS’s way of implementing the FRC in NS; - Nova Scotia is the FIRST Province to do this. February 2015 -P/T Ministers endorsed FRC, supported by the federal government This was both partly by design and partly by good timing and forethought by the Sector. Consultations for the SS, which were happening at the same time as consultations for the national framework resulted in a clear message from the sector: WE DO NOT WANT TWO DOCUMENTS!!!

Both FRC and SS contain these five GOAL AREAS There are 5 goals in both documents In the Shared Strategy there are: 14 NS specific Priorities 47 Areas of Focus

Goal #1: Active Living. Foster active living through physical recreation Nova Scotia Priorities: 1.1 Nova Scotians have the recreation competencies and physical literacy to be active for life 1.2 Children and their families are physically active every day, playing in a variety of settings with an emphasis on engaging in the outdoors 1.3 Older adults are regularly engaged in recreation

Goal #2: Inclusion and Access Goal #2: Inclusion and Access. Increase inclusion and access to recreation for populations that face constraints to participation Nova Scotia Priorities: 2.1 Constraints to participation in recreation experiences are eliminated for all children and youth 2.2 Participation in recreation by Nova Scotians from diverse populations, communities, and cultures is free of constraints and significantly expanded. 2.3 Equitable participation by all women and girls

Goal # 3: Connecting people and nature Goal # 3: Connecting people and nature. Help people connect to nature through recreation Nova Scotia Priorities: 3.1 The number of Nova Scotians recreating outdoors is significantly increased 3.2 Recreation policies and practices minimize negative impacts on the natural environment

Goal # 4: Supportive environments Goal # 4: Supportive environments. Ensure the provision of supportive physical and social environments that encourage participation in recreation and help build strong, caring communities Nova Scotia Priorities: 4.1 Built and natural environments inspire and support recreation in communities 4.2 Social environments encourage participation in recreation and build strong, caring communities

Goal #5: Recreation Capacity Goal #5: Recreation Capacity. Ensure the continued growth and sustainability of the recreation field Nova Scotia Priorities: 5.1 Professionals and volunteers excel as leaders in the sector 5.2 Recreation is contributing in substantive ways to the public good and is therefore recognized as essential for healthy, vibrant communities 5.3 Strengthened alignment of priorities, collaborations and sharing of resources within recreation and across other sectors 5.4 Improved access to quality information that supports evidence based planning and decision making

New Definition of Recreation The experience that results from freely-chosen participation in physical, social, intellectual, creative and spiritual pursuits that enhance individual and community wellbeing. So what is contained in the Strategy? Both FRC and SS contain this new definition of recreation Historically, the concept of recreation has been presented through a concept of TIME = Leisure time or spare time or FREE time. This NEW definition focuses on the EXPERIENCE and the satisfaction that results from an experience….. NOT ALL RECREATION IS ACTIVE! **Sport, culture, physical activity, arts can likely all be captured as recreation BUT not all recreation is ACTIVE - sport, culture, PA or Arts.

New Home at CCH Mandate The Department of Communities, Culture and Heritage is responsible for contributing to the well-being and prosperity of Nova Scotia's diverse and creative communities through the promotion, development, preservation and celebration of our culture, heritage, identity and languages, and; by providing leadership, expertise and innovation to our stakeholders. Vision A Province which enhances pride in our creative and diverse communities and people, allowing us to embrace our past and influence our future. Mission The Department of Communities, Culture and Heritage supports our internal and external stakeholders and communities with best practice services, programs and policies that preserve and provide access to Nova Scotia's life- long learning, culture, heritage, identity and languages. ON April 1, 2016, moved from an smaller branch of a HUGE department -- To a larger, more integral part of a smaller department

Significant to note that the Shared Strategy is specifically mentioned in the CCH Business Plan for 2016-17 – SPECIFICALLY UNDER PEOPLE (item #4) ON PAGE 3 - and also in the Ministers Message at the beginning of the document. When we moved from Health & Wellness to CCH on April 1st, efforts were made to integrate our work into that of our new home. This is one significant area that was included in the Business Plan

Communities, Sport and Recreation Division (CSR) In CCH there are six divisions plus a Policy Secretariat We are now part of the CSR division Other divisions are: Culture and Heritage Development (CHD) Archives, Museums, Libraries (AML) African Nova Scotian Affairs (ANSA) Gaelic Affairs Acadian Affairs

Communities Nova Scotia Communities Nova Scotia serves established and emerging not-for-profit organizations that represent Nova Scotians, including those which represent traditionally marginalized groups. Programs offered by the unit encourage and enable more participation by all Nova Scotians Investing in our Future: https://cch.novascotia.ca/ Diversity and Community Capacity Fund (DCCF) Mi’kmaq Cultural Activities Program (MCAP) Diverse Communities Operating Fund Community Facilities Improvement Program (CFIP) Legions Capital Assistance Program (LCAP) Community Facilities Improvement Program (CFIP) invests in community projects initiated by local not-for-profit organizations which enhance existing cultural facilities within Nova Scotian communities. An organization may be eligible if it: is a registered not for profit organization in good standing with the Nova Scotia Registry of Joint Stock Companies; Community Facilities operates primarily for community, culture and heritage benefit; and provides programs that serve a broader community and not strictly the organization’s membership. Is publically accessible. Karen Parusel - Karen.Parusel@novascotia.ca (link sends e-mail) - (902) 424-1723 Legions Capital Assistance Program (LCAP)

Promising Practises Promising Practices page on the RNS website:

Highlights The Shared Strategy is shared with the recreation sector NS is the first province to advance the national framework with a provincial strategy Alignment for recreation: nationally, provincially and locally Great synergy between our work and our new home in CCH Great enthusiasm, support and momentum with the sector

Questions? Comments?

Communities, Culture & Heritage Thank you Communities, Culture & Heritage Communities, Sport & Recreation Division https://cch.novascotia.ca/ @NS_CCH Recreation Nova Scotia www.recreationns.ns.ca @recreationns

Things to know Culture Action Plan F/P/T Ministers Priorities Sport and recreation infrastructure Accessibility Legislation Built Environment -includes all buildings and infrastructure: publicly owned buildings; privately owned buildings; publicly owned pedestrian rights-of-way; recreational facilities such as ball fields, pools, and parks; and privately owned homes Culture Action Plan The Department of Communities, Culture and Heritage has been gathering input from the broad culture community and from Nova Scotians for the past several months to help create the province’s first comprehensive Culture Action Plan. The input and feedback is being synthesized into a final report that will help us create Nova Scotia’s Culture Action Plan. The final document will outline the value and importance of Nova Scotia’s culture, identify opportunities and recommend concrete actions for the growth and continued development of culture in Nova Scotia. FPT Priorities: Increase Physical Literacy Increase opportunities for Children & Youth Increase opportunities for women and girls Relationship with Education Increase interdepartmental collaboration Sport and recreation infrastructure Accessibility Legislation In the Speech from the Throne there was a vague reference to this: This coming session, our government will put forward a progressive legislative agenda that will strengthen protection of pension benefits, increase economic development tools for Halifax Regional Municipality, improve accessibility for those with disabilities, and enhance protections and access to child support payments. If /when legislation is passed a committee will be formed to assist with the development of Standards.  Anne expects this will take a year to create. Standards once created, will be phased in over time, one standard at a time (see list of Standards below)   List of recommended areas for Standards (details on each of these is found on Page 8 and on Page 21): Accessible Information and Communication Client Services (Customer service) Public Transportation Employment Built Environment - All Nova Scotians should be able to access the built environment, which includes all buildings and infrastructure: publicly owned buildings; privately owned buildings; publicly owned pedestrian rights-of-way; recreational facilities such as ball fields, pools, and parks; and privately owned homes Educating and Training and Health Services First standard to be created will be Client Services Governments (both provincial and municipal) are expected to lead by example and be compliant