Canadian Parks and Recreation Association
Everybody gets to play™ - Recreation without barriers
A Position Paper
Quality recreationx opportunities are vital to the health and personal development of all children and
youth. The Canadian Parks and Recreation Association (CPRA), through its members, partners, and
allied organizations, have made a commitment to make recreation more accessible to families with lowincome and their children in Canada.
Through the Everybody gets to play™ national initiative, CPRA has demonstrated its leadership in
addressing this fundamental issue. CPRA endorses the research that clearly demonstrates that recreation
interventions are an effective and economical strategy to improve the lives of low-income families and
their children. CPRA is committed to increasing awareness and understanding of this important issue and
building partnerships committed to action.
The roots of the Canadian public recreation system stem back to the early
1900’s where playground programs were provided for underprivileged
children – the Playground Movementxi. Over the years, the focus changed
and in many communities, municipal recreation became the domain of the
middle class. As a result, many programs are unaffordable to low-income
families.
In Canada, almost one in six or 1.1 million young children live in povertyxii.
Research indicates that poverty hampers the development of healthy children
– they are often born with low birth weights, are prone to hyperactivity and
are twice as likely to drop out before finishing high school.xiii The face of
poverty differs from region to region and community to community.
Although all children and youth have the right to engage in play and
recreation opportunitiesxiv, the (social and systemic) barriers faced by
children and youth in families with low-incomexv means the population that
could most benefit from participation are the least likely to participate.
Statistics show that children in low-income families are much less likely than
children living in high-income families to participate in organized sports (25
per cent as compared to 75 percent) as well as arts and cultural activities (19
per cent as compared to 32 per cent).1 A national survey of 167 municipal
recreation facilities revealed that over 90 per cent charge user fees for
aquatics, athletics, and arts programs1
Low-income families face many barriers that prevent their children from
participating in quality recreation programs - user fees and equipment costs;
lack of transportation, family support and awareness of opportunities;
isolation; inadequate or no facilities in their communities and lack of safe
places to play.xvi
Canadian Parks and Recreation Association – Position Paper
Although the Statistics
Canada Low-Income CutOff (LICO) is often
recognized as the unofficial
definition of poverty,
poverty often means
different things to different
people.
KIDS SAY - Poverty is:
Not being able to play
soccer or hockey, take
swimming lessons, or go
on school trips or to camp.
Being teased about
clothes, being afraid to tell
your mom or dad you need
gym shoes or not buying
books at the book fair.
Not getting to go to
birthday parties or have
your friend sleep over.
Not having breakfast, or
pretending your forgot your
lunch
Being ashamed when your
dad or mom can’t get a job
or when you get a basket
from the Santa Fund
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Municipal recreation departments do provide reduced or no fee options, but even these programs can
further exacerbate barriers by requiring families to prove financial need. Findings from focus groups of
low-income persons conducted by Hughes and Griffiths revealed that participants felt embarrassed by
having to identify themselves as being poor and having to prove their status. xvii
Why recreation matters
Research indicatesxviii that participation in quality recreation opportunities enables children to:
• develop skills and competencies;
• be exposed to program leaders and positive adult role models;
• achieve better physical and emotional health;
• develop psychosocial skills;
• improve self-esteem, academic performance, peer and family relationships;
• acquire pro-social values and develop life skills such as leadership, decision-making and problem
solving;
• form healthy habits that can be transferred into their adult lives;
• participate and take pride in their community; and most of all
• have fun, learn new skills, and be with friends.
When low-income families and their children participate in recreation as part of an integrated community
strategy to deal with issues resulting from poverty, they show a marked improvement in many areas of
their development. In fact, research has shown that recreation pays for itself through reduced use of
social and health services such as probation, child psychiatry and other physical specialties, child
psychology and social work.xix
Creating a preferred future for our children
Improving the quality of life of low-income families and their children is a shared responsibility.
Removing barriers to recreation means creating change throughout communities. It requires cooperation
from governments, recreation and social service organizations, schools, the justice system and the
business community.
For the recreation sector, removing barriers for low-income families and their children means a
reassessment of traditional parks and recreation systems, a review of policies which remove financial
barriers, and the creation of an organizational culture that understands the needs of low-income families.
CPRA is committed to doing its part to remove barriers to recreation opportunities for low-income
families and their children by creating awareness and understanding of the importance of access to
recreation opportunities and building partnerships committed to action.
Through the Everybody gets to play™ Initiative CPRA is:
• Working with key partners, members and allied organizations at the national, provincial/territorial,
municipal and community level to develop and implement new ways of including low-income
families in recreation services;
• Assessing community recreation practitioner and volunteer needs to gather their perceptions and
concerns regarding municipal recreation programs and policies;
• Identifying and facilitating research that examines the impact of recreation participation for children
and families with low-income;
• Supporting and examining through four pilot communities’ efforts to address issues of equity and
access that affect the participation of children in low-income families;
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Conducting focus groups to examine the day-to-day realities of low-income families and their
children, the constraints they face, and changes needed in municipal recreation;
Conducting focus groups to gather the concerns of recreation service providers including their
perceptions regarding poverty, how they ensure access, and how they attract this target group;
Developing user-friendly tools and resources that will assist community recreation practitioners and
volunteers deliver inclusive services;
Preparing communication tools to change attitudes of community leaders on the important role of
recreation as a positive strategy for enhancing the quality of life of low-income families and their
children; and,
Sharing stories of successful initiatives and communities that have made a difference.
A Call to Action
Poverty is a health issue, a family issue and a community issue. Opening doors to quality recreation
opportunities for low-income families and their children requires passion, focus and long-term
commitment.
The Call to Action section identifies actions that will lead to positive change. These actions are focused
at three levels:
1. What CPRA commits to do and will encourage partners at the national level to undertake.
2. What Provincial/Territorial Parks and Recreation Association partners can do based on their capacity
to influence political decision making and local practitioner action.
3. What communities can do to expand opportunities and supportive environments for low-income
families and their children.
What CPRA will do
Confirm its Commitment
•
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Continue to take a lead role through the Everybody gets to play™ Initiative in advancing the issue and
creating positive change for low-income families and their children, as reinforced by the resolution
approved at the 2002 Annual General Meeting (AGM).
Formally adopt by resolution a National Policy on recreation for low-income families at the 2005
CPRA AGM.
Support and Expand its Partnerships
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Encourage Provincial/Territorial Parks and Recreation Association partners to formally adopt a
similar policy and to include the issue of access to recreation for low-income families as a priority
within their strategic plans and actions.
Develop policy templates that can be used by national, provincial/territorial, and community
organizations in their own policy development.
Maintain, expand and strengthen alliances with stakeholder organizations identified within the
Everybody gets to play™ Initiative, including governments through Health Canada and the Interprovincial Sport and Recreation Council (ISRC).
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Advocate for a Coordinated Approach by Governments
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Advocate that Federal government departments take a coordinated approach in addressing the issue,
in conjunction with national stakeholder organizations.
Advocate that any new Federal-Provincial/Territorial (F-P/T) Infrastructure programs develop project
eligibility requirements that include community recreation facilities that support participation by lowincome families.
Encourage the Federation of Canadian Municipalities (FCM) to make low-income families a priority
for their member communities, and to support the inclusion of funding community recreation
facilities in F-P/T Infrastructure programs and other “New Deal for Cities and Communities”
initiatives.
Develop a stronger link with Sport Canada and National and Multi-Sport Organizations to encourage
them and their P/T affiliates to create greater access and funding for developmental sport programs
for low-income children and youth.
Facilitate research and develop tools
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Advocate that key research topics in this area be identified and undertaken by universities and other
research bodies.
Ensure that future plans and initiatives initiated through CPRA and the Everybody gets to play™
National Task Group continue to be focused on outcomes and have a strong evaluation component.
Develop and disseminate, in conjunction with P/T Parks and Recreation Association partners,
program development tools, resources and guides that can be effectively used at the community level
to address the issue, including the ongoing sharing of best practices and successful strategies.
Communicate
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Ensure awareness of the issue for political decision-makers in federal, provincial-territorial and
municipal jurisdictions is raised and maintained at a high level.
Continue to implement and update the Everybody gets to play™ communications plan to raise the level
of awareness of the issue and ensure it remains a “front-of-mind” issue for all stakeholders.
What Provincial/Territorial Parks and Recreation Associations can do
Adopt a resolution
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During Provincial /Territorial Annual General Meetings, adopt a resolution that demonstrates access
to recreation opportunities for low-income families and their children as a key priority area. Consider
using the CPRA National Policy on Recreation and Physical Activity for Children and Youth Living
in Poverty.
Identify municipal elected officials who are “champions” and will sponsor a resolution at Provincial
or Territorial municipal government association Annual General Meetings (e.g.; Alberta Urban
Municipal Association) to give priority to community-based initiatives to increase access to
recreation for low-income families and their children.
Encourage municipal elected “champions” to sponsor a similar resolution at the Federation of
Canadian Municipalities Annual General Meeting.
Communicate with members and partners
•
Share the CPRA Everybody gets to play™ National Position Paper with partners, allied agencies, and
members.
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Include articles in newsletters or on your websites about the CPRA Everybody gets to play™ Initiative.
Make presentations at allied organizations’ annual conferences about the benefits of recreation for
low-income families and their children.
Support the efforts of the CPRA Everybody gets to play™ Initiative by sharing information with
respective members, providing ongoing feedback and input to CPRA, and promoting the goals of the
initiative.
Support professional training opportunities
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Support opportunities for professional staff and volunteers (e.g. local recreation advisory boards or
councils) to increase their understanding of the realities of low-income families and the benefits of
recreation.
Create opportunities at annual conferences for speakers, sessions, or institutes addressing the benefits
of recreation for low-income families and their children.
Assist recreation professionals at the community level to develop initiatives and strategies to increase
access to recreation for low-income families and their children through the creation of templates and
the promotion of successful initiatives.
Develop strategies for recreation professionals to examine their community access policies and their
impact on low-income families who are affected by them.
Create new partnerships
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Partner with allied organizations (e.g. poverty groups; social service agencies; provincial/territorial
and federal government departments) and promote a multi-sector approach to develop joint strategies
to increase access for low-income families and their children.
Increase awareness and create opportunities for communities and academic institutions or private
research companies to partner and conduct research.
Be an advocate
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Advocate the necessity of investing in the total recreation delivery system by supporting facility and
open space development as well as community engagement projects that provide recreation, sport,
and physical activity opportunities for all citizens.
Advocate the need for safe municipal parks and outdoor play spaces throughout the community,
including areas where there are large numbers of low-income families (data available through
census).
Advocate the necessity of equitable service provision for all citizens – don’t let the goal of increasing
revenue (through fees and charges) override the concept of public good and access for all
Meet with provincial/territorial government elected officials and staff as well as Federal Cabinet
members and encourage them to support the goals of the National Children’s Agenda and the work of
the CPRA Everybody gets to play™ Initiative.
Advocate for increased funding to support the integration of low-income families and their children in
local and regional “active school community” initiatives.
Create and promote resources
•
Promote the availability of user-friendly tools, information and resources that have been developed
through the CPRA Everybody gets to play™ Initiative.
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Be a clearinghouse of information through the collection and dissemination of success stories and
initiatives that are occurring in your jurisdiction and are making recreation more accessible to lowincome families and their children.
Develop templates for the development of community-based leisure access policies that eliminate
barriers to participation and increase access to free or low-cost recreation programs.
What communities and municipalities can do:
Learn about poverty in your area
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Research local poverty conditions (i.e., compile census data and existing research, ask key informants
and get information directly from people living in poverty).
Examine what possible barriers may exist in your community that may prevent low-income families
from accessing recreation.
Examine your personal assumptions and organizational values as they relate to poverty issues.
Find out what other recreation programs are offered in your community and who delivers them.
Determine where gaps in recreation services exist.
Take inventory of the poverty-related organizations and community groups in your area.
Partner with others - people living in poverty and community organizations
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Ask people living in poverty about what can be done to improve recreation access.
Identify and establish partnerships with other agencies in your community (i.e. Provincial/Territorial
ministries responsible for children and families; Community Schools, RCMP/municipal police;
school district; health authority, etc.).
Work with school districts to provide community-use of school facilities for conveniently located and
accessible recreation.
Work with principals and teachers to link low-income children to recreation (i.e., share information,
encourage participation and provide positive alternatives for kids in need).
Work with multi-sectoral partners to:
• create community awareness about the importance of recreation for everybody
• create awareness about barriers faced by low-income families;
• strategize about how to resolve issues together;
• establish pilot activities to test and evaluate strategies; and
• create programs with long-term sustainability.
Facilitate and support research about poverty and the benefits of access to recreation for everyone.
Advocate for issues and secure sustainable funding
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Educate elected municipal officials about why recreation is important for everybody including lowincome families and their children.
Create awareness about poverty and the importance of access to recreation for everybody utilizing
publications such as program brochures to educate the community.
Share success stories with other local communities as well as your provincial/territorial and national
parks and recreation associations.
Communicate with Federal-Provincial/Territorial MP’s about the positive impact and benefits of
recreation for all children and youth. Encourage them to support goals and objectives of improving
access.
Encourage municipal and provincial/territorial governments to provide sustainable funding for
programs and services that open doors for low-income families and their children.
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When elections are called, ask federal, provincial/territorial and municipal candidates for their
position on programs and services for low-income families.
Advocate the right of each child/youth to develop his or her unique potential through access to
recreation.
Policies
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Develop access policies that:
• acknowledge the benefits of recreation for low-income families and their children;
• reduce financial barriers to participation;
• ensure confidentiality; and
• maintain the dignity low-income families (i.e., avoid intrusive questions and a prerequisite that
forces participants to prove financial need).
Test, evaluate and revise policies and practices as needed over time and as new information becomes
available.
Create accessible programs
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Research, develop and test low-cost programs by considering examples of best practices from the
CPRA pilot communities.
Conduct in-service training with staff/volunteers to increase sensitivity within your organizational
culture. Explore what it means for people in your community to live in poverty and the barriers to
participation in recreation services. Strategize together about ways to improve service.
Develop and test free/low cost recreation programs.
Plan activities that provide transportation or are accessible by public transit.
Youth are very interested in jobs! Provide youth from low income families with sport and recreation
skills such as swimming and skating in conjunction with leadership training and certifications (e.g.
NCCP, Refereeing, Bronze Medallion) at no charge, so these youth will have the skills and
qualifications needed to access to recreation jobs (Toronto Parks and Recreation is currently doing
this in skating and aquatics).
Youth need time to gain the skills, experience and qualifications to apply for jobs in Parks and
Recreation. Parks and Recreation should work with social assistance offices, schools and other youth
employment organizations to introduce parks and recreation leadership training and employment
opportunities to youth in advance of hiring processes. In this way, youth can have the chance to
volunteer, sign up for a leadership course, and/or take a certification program well in advance of the
date when applications are due (Toronto Parks and Recreation is doing this presently).
The challenge is ours
Everybody gets to play™, but the reality is that many children in low-income families are denied the
opportunity to enjoy recreation activities that are vital to their health and personal development.
Removing barriers to access, and creating the opportunities and conditions where all children can thrive is
a shared responsibility. The CPRA is committed to actions that will make a difference, but real change
can only occur at the community level. The challenge is for stakeholders at all levels to embrace this vital
issue and accept that the status quo is not acceptable. It will take a coordinated approach by CPRA and
Provincial/Territorial Parks and Recreation Associations to support community leaders; it will require
community leaders to build partnerships at the local level to remove barriers and create opportunities.
Investing in the future of all children will ensure that Everybody gets to play™.
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Background
CPRA Everybody gets to play™ Initiative 2000-2004
Where it all began
In 1997, Federal-Provincial/Territorial (F-P/T) Ministers of Sport, Recreation and Fitness identified poverty as a
barrier to participation and discussed ways of addressing the issue. In response, a National Recreation Roundtable
hosted by Health Canada, the Inter-provincial Sport and Recreation Council (ISRC) and the F-P/T Advisory
Committee for Fitness and Recreation was held to present recommendations for removing barriers to participation
experienced by children and youth living in poverty. At the conclusion of the Roundtable, CPRA was identified as
the lead agency to work in partnership with Health Canada and the ISRC to move these strategies into action.
In March 2000, CPRA hosted a National Forum, “Recreation and Children and Youth Living in Poverty”, to
develop action-orientated work plans around four key strategy areas: Strategic Partnerships, Community Tools and
Resource Development, Communication and Information Exchange, and Research and Evaluation. National,
federal, provincial/territorial, municipal and community leaders representing social services, justice, crime
prevention, education, health, recreation and poverty groups from across Canada participated.
A national, multi-sector Task Group was struck and continues to oversee and provide leadership, support and input
into the four major strategy areas. The Task Group also promotes the tools, information, and resources developed
for the initiative.
References:
x
For CPRA, the term “recreation” includes those activities in which an individual chooses to participate in their
leisure time including sport, physical activity, arts and cultural activities.
xi
xii
Elsie McFarlane. The Development of Public Recreation in Canada. CPRA. 1970. page 19
Campaign 2000, Report Card on Child and Family Poverty in Canada, 2002.
Canadian Parks and Recreation Association, Recreation and Children and Youth Living in Poverty: Barriers,
Benefits and Success Stories, 2001.
xiv
United Nations, The Convention on the Rights of the Child (Article 31), 1990.
xiii
xv
While Canada has no official, government-mandated poverty line, the Statistics Canada Low Income
Cut-off (LICO) is often recognized as Canada’s unofficial poverty line.
xvi
Canadian Parks and Recreation Association, Recreation and Children and Youth Living in Poverty: Barriers,
Benefits and Success Stories, 2001.
xvii
Hughes, C and S. Griffiths, No Level Playing Field: Recreation and Poverty in Scarborough – A Community
Report, 1992.
xviii
Canadian Parks and Recreation Association, The Benefits Catalogue, 1997.
xix
Browne, G.C., et. al, Within our Reach: A RCT of the two-year Effects and Expense of Subsidized Versus NonSubsidized Quality Child Care/Recreation for Children on Social Assistance (McMaster University), 1998.
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