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Everybody gets to play™ Initiative wins the 2008 World Leisure Innovation Prize. Announced on July 1, 2008 CPRA is one of three winners invited to to receive its Award at the 2008 World Leisure Congress, October 6-10th in Quebec City.
" The World Leisure International Innovation Prize seeks to recognize organizations that have implemented creative solutions that foster local, national, or international leisure opportunities for the benefit and development of individuals and communities. The major component that sets the World Leisure International Innovation Prize apart from the myriad of similar awards given is that this Prize focuses on the social, cultural and economic aspects of leisure as an aspect of the lived experience for individuals in a community and for visitors to the community. This Prize represents the use of leisure as a creative solution to enhancing collectively the social, cultural, environmental, and economic quality of life in an area."
- taken from the CPRA website (www.cpra.ca)
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BCRPA is excited to be part of the CPRA initiative Everybody gets to play™. This program is focused on ensuring that economically disadvantaged children and families have access to quality leisure experiences. Because everybody needs to play, but not everybody has the chance.
Recreation is essential for building strong bodies, healthy minds, self esteem, social skills, and community values. It can improve family interactions, and academic performance and reduce depression, stress, loneliness, and self-destructive and anti-social behaviour. But many kids in low-income families do not have the chance to participate. They may not:
- be able to afford user fees or equipment
- have safe places to play in their neighbourhoods,
- be able to travel to and from facilities,
- feel welcome because they do not conform to social norms, or
- be aware of existing programs.
There are many barriers that stand between kids in low-income families and recreation opportunities.
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