Recreation and Active Living at Major Alberta Conferences

October 2011 marks an exciting time for people and organizations from Alberta and across Canada who will be converging in the Alberta Rockies for two major conferences, both of which have strong ties to different aspects of wellness, recreation and active living.

• The first event is the 2011 International Action on Wellness Symposium, hosted by Alberta Health and Wellness, which will take place in Banff from October 11-13. The conference theme is “Building a Healthier Tomorrow Together.”
• The second is the 2011 National Recreation Summit, from October 23-26 in Lake Louise. The Summit is a joint effort between the Canadian Parks and Recreation Association (CPRA) and the Interprovincial Sport and Recreation Council (ISRC) along with federal government agencies. The event will be co-hosted by Alberta Tourism, Parks and Recreation and the Alberta Recreation and Parks Association (ARPA). The conference theme is “Recreation, Community and Quality of Life.”

Both events are intended (in different ways) to promote networking, partnerships and collaborative efforts.
For instance, one of the objectives of the 2011 Symposium is to “stimulate new partnerships and opportunities for networking and engagement between multiple sectors (within and beyond the traditional health sector) and at all levels of society that promote wellness.”
The 2011 Symposium follows on the heels of an Action on Wellness Forum hosted by Alberta Health and Wellness in 2010. Due in part to the success of the 2010 Forum, the idea of launching an international symposium gained strength.
Like the 2010 Forum, the 2011 Symposium will approach wellness from four themes: healthy eating, active living, mental well-being and addiction prevention.  More than 100 speakers will be on tap, while hundreds of attendees are expected from Alberta, Canada and around the world.
"Everyone has opportunities to be a positive influence and model healthier behaviour wherever they work, live learn and play,” said Gene Zwozdesky, Minister of Health and Wellness.  “Alberta’s first-ever International Action on Wellness Symposium will bring together wellness experts from around the world to the beautiful Banff Springs Hotel to inspire attendees and give them the tools and strategies to champion wellness in their own communities.”