MUNICIPAL RECREATION
In the early years of the Acadia Recreation degree program, municipal recreation was considered to be a desirable profession for graduates. At the time, the Recreation delivery system was being developed and Municipal Recreation Director positions were plentiful. With so few degree programs yet established in the country, Acadia Rec Grads were highly sought after and many were the first person to serve in the role in the community. As such, they very much influenced the direction in which those departments developed and the types of programs and services that they provided.
Taking the province of Nova Scotia as an example, the following are communities in which Acadia Recreation Graduates are known to have served as Director of the municipal recreation department:
Amherst
Annapolis County Annapolis Royal Argyle Baddeck Barrington Berwick Bible Hill Canso |
Chester
Clare Colchester County East Hants Greenwood Guysborough County Kentville Kings County Liverpool |
Lunenburg
Lockport Louisbourg Lunenburg County Mahone Bay Middleton Mulgrave New Glasgow Parrsboro |
Port Hawkesbury
Queens County Sackville Springhill Truro West Hants Windsor Wolfville Yarmouth |
Similar lists could be generated for many parts of Canada given that the Acadia Rec Program attracted students from across the country, and graduates often returned to their home provinces to pursue their careers. The responsibilities of Municipal Recreation Directors and staff vary somewhat from one municipality to another but fundamentally the job is to ensure that the recreation needs of all residents are known and addressed through the provision of a broad range of programs and services, made accessible to all. There are a number of volunteer and for-profit groups in communities that provide recreation. Tax supported municipal services should not duplicate the offerings of others but rather work to ensure that a comprehensive system of recreation provision exists. In some cases, depending upon capacity, this involves coordinating the efforts of other groups. In other cases, it means the direct provision of programs. The main task is to know the needs of constituents and work to ensure that as many as possible can be addressed within the community.
Research shows that a myriad of benefits accrue from participating quality recreation in ones’ community. This includes such factors as holistic individual development, increased mental and physical health and wellness, decreased anti social behaviour, overall enhanced quality of life, and increased family and community cohesion. Access to quality recreation is also known to be a key economic factor in attracting businesses to a community, as well as tourists. Municipal Recreation Directors and staff are the individuals within municipalities working to ensure that as such benefits are realized greatly enhancing the quality of life for citizens and their communities.
Research shows that a myriad of benefits accrue from participating quality recreation in ones’ community. This includes such factors as holistic individual development, increased mental and physical health and wellness, decreased anti social behaviour, overall enhanced quality of life, and increased family and community cohesion. Access to quality recreation is also known to be a key economic factor in attracting businesses to a community, as well as tourists. Municipal Recreation Directors and staff are the individuals within municipalities working to ensure that as such benefits are realized greatly enhancing the quality of life for citizens and their communities.
ALUMNAE CAREER PROFILE
Kate Friars ’80 has devoted her career to working in Municipal Recreation. She held key roles in the recreation departments in North York and Vancouver, before becoming the Recreation Director for Burnaby BC, serving a population of over 200,000. She later served as Director of Parks, Recreation, and Culture for Victoria, BC., a position she held for 6 years before retiring and moving home to her native Nova Scotia. Seeking one more professional challenge, Kate accepted the position of Director of Recreation and Culture for the Municipality of East Hants where she oversaw the development and construction of a new aquatic complex. She currently serves as Deputy Chief Executive Officer for the Municipality.