ACADIA RECREATION CLUB (ARC)
The first student organization, called the Acadia Recreation Club (ARC), was established in 1973 by a group of 2nd year students including Bill Reeves, Jim Campbell, Steve Stairs, Terry Moore, Tony Martin, and Brenda Robertson. Much of the effort in the initial year was spent on structural development and planning for the 1974-75 year. During the initial year of operation, the club hosted a few events, two of the largest being an End of Year Banquet, and a Booze and Blues social called Last Tango at Acadia.
1974-75
1974-75 was the first fully functioning year of the Acadia Recreation Club. There were 103 students in the program and 67 of them were ARC members. In addition to working to ratify the ARC constitution, the club was engaged in a wide variety of activities. From a curriculum development perspective, students gave input into the existing curriculum, provided suggestions for curriculum development, and weighed in on the creation of a Master’s program. The ARC inaugural executive was made of the following individuals: Steve Stairs-President, Rick Creamer-Vice Pres and Publicity Coordinator; Janet Bartlett -Sect/Tres; Bill Reeves-1975 Rep and Professional Development Coordinator; Lyle Davis-1976 Rep and Fund Raising Coordinator; Raff Henderson-1977 Rep; Janice Howell-1978 Rep; Bob Suffron-Social Coordinator. Examples of the types of initiatives that ARC members engaged in during the initial year included:
ARC WORK FORCE
This was an initiative headed by Bob Suffron which made use of the knowledge and skills of ARC members to undertake initiatives such as the operation of the old Acadia arena. Students undertook a variety of jobs including selling and collecting game tickets, time keeping at hockey games, and assisting the public during free skates.
WINTER CARNIVAL
The Student Representative Council contracted ARC to put on the campus wide winter carnival in February 1975. The theme that year was Acadia Presents…the Movies. Cynthia Stacey headed the working team and the events included the following:
This was an initiative headed by Bob Suffron which made use of the knowledge and skills of ARC members to undertake initiatives such as the operation of the old Acadia arena. Students undertook a variety of jobs including selling and collecting game tickets, time keeping at hockey games, and assisting the public during free skates.
WINTER CARNIVAL
The Student Representative Council contracted ARC to put on the campus wide winter carnival in February 1975. The theme that year was Acadia Presents…the Movies. Cynthia Stacey headed the working team and the events included the following:
Concert by the band Liverpool
Skating Party Movie nights in the MacKeen Room Soda Shop at the AXE Super Sub Snow Frolics |
Variety Show at U Hall
Casino night Curling Bonspiel Bubble Battle at the pool Kings County car rally Martock ski night |
Horror show beer garden
Frenzy Booze and Blues Street Parade Jesus Festival ‘World Premier’ Formal with Canadian Conspiracy ‘Academy Performance’ w Clary Croft and Friends |
OTHER INITIATIVES OF THE CLUB THAT YEAR
- Established a newsletter entitled the ARChive
- Coordinated Big Brother/Sister mentoring program matching new students with ones already in the program
- Representation at the Western Canadian Student Conference in Edmonton (Steve Stairs)
- Representation at the Urban Development Symposium
- Representation at the Recreation Association of Nova Scotia (RANS) conference in Sydney (Tom Rae, Glenda MacKinnon, Doug MacKenzie, Trish Miller)
- Representation at the Atlantic Provinces Health, Physical Education, and Recreation Association (APHPERA) conference at St FX by 20 Recreation students. Speakers included John Hudson, ED of Canadian Coaching Association; Bill Hallett, Canadian Association of Health, Physical Education, and Recreation President, and Russ Kisby, founder of PARTICIPACTION
- Representation by 20 students at the National Recreation Student Conference in Trois Riviere Quebec (students travelled through a major snowstorm to get there in two very bright orange Avis rental vans)
- Friday Happy hours at the AXE lounge
- ARC members ran the Acadia women’s hockey team
- Organized family Halloween skating party (committee headed by Suzanne Creelman)
- Ran a Christmas party with Wolfville Nursing Home
- Facilitated participation in a variety of workshops including: rhythmic gymnastics, developmental drama, cross country skiing, first aid training, learn to swim, jazz dance, music, and low budget crafts
- Organized an overnight winter camping trip to Cape Split
- Attended NS Voyageurs hockey game
- Organized first Christmas Formal with the PE Society…music by Integrated French
- Intramural Teams: table tennis, hockey, volleyball, floor hockey, curling, waterpolo, softball, and ringette
- Students lobbied for evening hours at the Centre of Leisure Studies and organized a work force to cover the desk duties
- Held a celebration of Honours students (all As/Bs): Brenda Robertson, Cynthia Stacey, Dana Dolson, Dorothy Marks, John LeDuc, Ron McCarville, Steve Stairs, and Trish Miller
- Worked with Centre of Leisure Studies to obtain 20 sets of x country ski equipment (rentals)
- Established Acadia Water Safety Instructors Club (Bruce Holmes)
- Fund raising basketball game featuring Harlem Stars
- ARC tee shirts and jackets
- Helped construct Wolfville Creative Playground
- Promotion of summer job Opportunities in the field (80 positions sponsored by NS Dept of Recreation, 230 sponsored by NS Dept Community Services)
- Representative on the Acadia Student Representative Council (Anne Creighton)
- Organized the end of year banquet and formal
- Lobbied for the establishment of spring and summer course offerings-Sport and Society delivered by Bill White, and Parks and People delivered by Glyn Bissix and Brenda Robertson.
After such an active and successful inaugural year of operation, the following year (1975-76) was every bit as productive. The key ARC leaders: Lyle Davis served as President, Carroll Randall-finance, Ron McCarville-PD, Suzanne Creelman-Community Volunteer Services, Rick Creamer-Winter Carnival, Doug MacKenzie-Conferences, and Heather Hickman-Communications.
1976 - 1977
The first ARC conference was held on campus the Fall of 1976, with a registration fee $1.00. The program schedule was as follows:
8:30 Opening remarks by President Lyle Davis
9:00 Concurrent sessions
3:45 Concurrent Sessions
8:30 Opening remarks by President Lyle Davis
9:00 Concurrent sessions
- Recreation for the Disabled-Renee Lyons, Dalhousie University
- Understanding Athletics-Ken Bellemare and Bill Spurr, NS Dept Recreation
- Effective Public Relations -Bill Boyd, Kentville Rec, Jim Campbell, Kings County Rec
- Running Community Centres-Pierre Gauthier, Fairview Community Centre
- Budgeting Principles and Practices-Howard Oehman, Halifax Recreation
- Aquatics Management-Jude deGuerre, Bruce Holmes, & Lyle Davis of Red Cross
- Outdoor Recreation Programming-Bob Cameron, Moncton & Bill Reeves, Wolfville Recreation
- Successful Summer Programming-Penny Tobin, Halifax Recreation
- Planning Principles-Susan Markham, Halifax Planning Dept
3:45 Concurrent Sessions
- Senior Citizens Programming-Brenda Robertson, Wolville Recreation
- Effective Recreation Programming-Geri Kaiser, Dartmouth Rec & Tony Martin, Cape Breton Co
- Community Use of Schools-Linda Cody, Oxford St Community School & Gary Balcom, Kings Co Vocation School Recreation Coordinator
Other Initiatives during 1976/77 year:
- Recreation Society of Atlantic Canada sponsored a $100 bursary for a deserving student
- Big Brother/Sister mentor program
- Intramural teams-basketball, hockey, volleyball, floor hockey, rifle shooting, swimming
- Professional Speaker series established-speakers were John Disley, Tony Richards
- Organized Patti Participation Program offering womens intramurals
- Fri happy hour at AXE with PE Society
- Coordinated Old Orchard Inn Pool Parties
- Organized a campus wide pool tournament
- Halloween family skate party at rink
- Attended 2nd annual RANS conference in Sydney
- Attended APHERA conference in PEI
- Participated in modern gymnastics clinic in Halifax and Jazz dance workshop in Wolfville
- Put on Arts and Crafts workshop and Rec music workshop
- Soda Shoppe fund raiser
- Organized a Bomb the Bridges challenge against PE society
- Engaged in a curriculum evaluation process with faculty
- Formed Water Safety Instructors Club
- Put on a Soccer coaching clinic
- Hosted a Christmas Party at the local Nursing Home
- Organized a Christmas Formal with the PE Society
- Carroll Randall coordinated the sale 52 cases of chocolate bars-raised $550
- The year end formal organized by Jude deGuerre featured the music of the band Nirvava
- Suzanne Creelman coordinated ARC members assisting Brenda Robertson of Wolfville Recreation Department to run a casino night for area seniors at Wheelock Hall on April 30th. A seniors club entitled Wolfville Silver and Gold Club was established as a result (still in operation today).
- In his closing remarks as ARC President, Lyle Davis encouraged “Work hard, Keep smilin’, and above all be able to laugh at yourself”.
Some of ARC highlights of the 1976-77 year included:
- Students were involved with faculty reviewing the curriculum and establishing guidelines for labs and practicum. Students wanted to ensure the degree was kept liberal arts based with the possibility of adding a 4th year to include more recreation content. They lobbied to increase that management content with greater focus on office management, budget, marketing, communications. Tourism was not considered by students to be a core requirement. They valued the summer practicum experience but expressed concern over needing to pay additional fees for the credit. Concern was also voiced over the impact upon undergraduate resources should a Master’s degree program in Recreation be established. Other concerns raised by the students included: continuity of program delivery with faculty turnover, the need for uniforms for PE labs, and why ARC members, rather than the professors, were organizing workshops for lab credit
- Jude deGuerre and Cliff Redman organized an orientation camp for first year students
- During Fall term, ARC crested clothing was sold: Tee shirts saying “Let’s Park and Recreate” $4.00, Ponchos $22.00, and zippered jackets $24.00.
- A large contingent attended the RANS conference
- ARC assisted with the Homecoming parade
- A group ran a swim program for patients at the Kings County hospital
- ARC coordinated the Acadia Winter Carnival
- A drama workshop was coordinated for lab credit run by Bruce Tubbe
- Prior to the end of Fall term, ARC members along with PE Society members held a Christmas formal
- President Bill Garland encouraged frosh to seek exam preparation advice and support from their Big Brother/Sister mentor
- Terry Moore, a 1974 Graduate, who had established an outdoor shop in town called the Happy Hiker advertised in the ARChive newsletter.
- In his final statement to the membership, President Bill Garland stated “May the great A&W root bear spread happiness all over your stomach which SAGA foods has so generously upset”.
1977 - 1978
ARC 1977-78 Highlights:
- Bill Bradley served as ARC President and Steve Gould as ARChive editor
- The orientation camp was entitled Contact 77 and was held at Kingswood camp
- ARC members ran Winter Carnival
- Intramural teams in hockey, basketball, and inter tube water polo
- Kate Friars organized a field trip to Halifax
- Deb Ryan organized a series of movie nights
- Socials included a pool party, sleigh ride, St Patrick’s day disco, formal, and banquet
- ARC held a folk and square dancing party with Dal students
- The ARChive ran a column where students had to guess the identity of professors from a set of information as follows:
PROFESSOR #1
Born 1935 in Mass Interests: photography, flying, 4 kids Fav saying: There is no heavier burden than great potential Fav food: Lobster This was Dave Joos who taught Leadership, programming, outdoor recreation, badminton, soccer |
PROFESSOR #2
Born 1952 in Toronto Graduate of the Acadia Recreation program Always wanted to be a teacher Interests: folk singing, arts/crafts, swimming, camp Fav saying: Whats for dinner Fav food: every food This was Jude deGuerre who taught outddor rec, outdoor ed, recreational aquatics, dance, arts/crafts and outdoor labs |
PROFESSOR #3
Born 1938 in PEI First grad of the UNB Recreation program Worked for government for 13 years Fav saying: Hi folks Fav food: meatloaf and sandwiches This was Jim Bayer who taught foundations, organization and structure, design, and aquatics administration |
Spring camp was held at Sherbrooke Lake April 25-29. The following poem, written by 2 of the participants Janet Stevenson and Neil Kinsmen, was printed in the ARChive:
Well I’m on my way to Sherbrooke Lake
For a week of comfort, hiking, and steak We’re going to learn how to boat, hike, and climb We’re all going to have a damn good time We broke into groups to do odd jobs To sling burnt toast in great big gobs To play some great games both quiet and rough Like baseball, Frisbee and other cool stuff On Thursday night we got to sleep in the woods A spot is picked out, now carry in your goods There are solos, duals, triples, and canoe trips too You just got to pick the one that interests you |
Now I did a dual with this girl right here
When we found each other we let out a cheer Now I don’t envy people who did the solo When not around people my spirits get low And when I’m by myself I am scared of the dark And in terms of food, I don’t like birch bark We picked out a place we thought would be great It had brook running out of a lake We got out our stove and fiddled with it It started with some trouble and a few “O shits” It cooked up our spaghetti on that little fire So we could warm our tummies before we retire |
We got into our beds and put plastic on our boots
Just to get settled in on a rechum brechum root It stuck in my side the whole damn night I woke up in the morning with a pain o so slight On the way home Janet lead the way please Pick a wide path so I can squeeze through the trees We saw, duck, deer, and Bun Dant None too deep so it must have been a runt All in all our little trip was a success But being wary of the boggie man, Neil lost some rest |
Conclusion
By the late 1970s, the Acadia Recreation Club had become a popular, productive, and powerful group on campus with a number of established traditions such as the orientation camp, the Big Brother/Sister mentoring program, formal dances, intramural teams, sponsorship of a series of professional development workshops, attendance at the RANS conference, and the years end banquet. As a means of fund raising, ARC ran a number of campus wide events such as winter carnival, making good use of the knowledge and skills learned about programming and event in their classes. Moving into the 80s, interest began to wane and although still a presence on campus, the club membership grew smaller and with less hands to help, the numbers of activities grew fewer.