Recreation leaders from across the Yukon celebrated excellence in community recreation and active living at the territory’s annual recreation gathering held in Dawson City from October 4 to October 6.
At this year’s gathering, the Government of Yukon presented its annual community recreation leadership award to Caroline Sparks. This award recognizes those who have made an outstanding contribution to community recreation in the Yukon. Caroline was honoured for her nearly 30-year career of providing planning, evaluation and leadership development and training with the Recreation and Parks Association of the Yukon (RPAY). Since 2003, Caroline has coordinated conferences for RPAY, led special projects and developed resources like the Community Recreation Leaders Guide and the Community Recreation Planning Toolkit.
The Government of Yukon and the Recreation and Parks Association of Yukon co-host the annual recreation gathering every year. This year’s event also included sessions on physical literacy, evidence-based decision making, COVID-19 recovery research and the role of leisure.
The annual recreation gathering provides an opportunity for our territory’s recreation leaders to network, foster their skills and further their knowledge. I congratulate Caroline Sparks for her outstanding contributions to the quality of community recreation in the Yukon.
It is an honour to be able to hold our annual recreation gathering on the traditional territory of the Tr’ondek Hwech’in First Nation . The City of Dawson Recreation Department has been an outstanding host. With representation from 11 Yukon communities, the recreation gathering provides a networking and learning opportunity that will help our practitioners support healthy, active living through recreation and parks.
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The Government of Yukon first created Yukon’s Active Living Strategy in 2000 and renewed the strategy in 2012. The strategy supports the quality of life of individual Yukoners and healthy and sustainable Yukon communities through the promotion and support of recreation, physical activity and sport. The Yukon’s annual recreation gathering is one initiative established under the Active Living Strategy and has been held since 2002.
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This award has been presented annually since 2000 to individuals who have made an outstanding contribution to Yukon community recreation.
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Caroline Sparks was instrumental in the design and delivery of a remote training program for recreation leaders across the North for which the Recreation North team received the prestigious Arctic Inspiration Prize in 2015.
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The Recreation North Training Program has developed to where participants can earn several certifications and pursue a northern pathway to the Canadian Parks and Recreation Association’s Professional Development Certificate.
Jacob Wilson
Cabinet Communications
867-332-7627
jacob.wilson@yukon.ca
Odile Nelson
Communications, Community Services
867-332-0886
odile.nelson@yukon.ca