Avalon recreation forum scheduled for November 9 Kathy Dunderdale, Minister
responsible for the Rural Secretariat, announced today that the Rural
Secretariat Steering Committee, Avalon Region, will host a recreation forum
on November 9.
The purpose of the forum is to
broaden awareness of the recreation resources available in the region and to
promote the importance of recreation and leisure to social and economic
development.
"One of the priorities
identified by the Avalon Steering Committee was recreation, and the need for
recreation to be easily accessible to all citizens," said Minister
Dunderdale. "The theme of the forum, Fostering Healthy Communities
Through Recreation, really reflects how important healthy lifestyles for
individuals are for the development of strong and vibrant communities."
The recreation forum will be
open to all recreation partners and providers in the rural Avalon region,
including representatives of recreation committees, municipalities, health
and community services agencies, school districts, government and the
general public.
The day-long event will feature
emerging trends in recreation and leisure in the region. It will provide an
overview of recreational facilities available within the region, discuss how
greater use can be made of existing facilities, identify potential gaps, and
determine opportunities for collective approaches to addressing recreation
and leisure on the Avalon. As well, there will be an exploration of how
these facilities can position the region for new economic and social
development activity through the hosting of an Avalon Games.
"The forum builds on the
recreation inventory that we completed in the fall of 2003," said Des
Linehan, chair of the Avalon Steering Committee. "Now that we have
identified what is available, the next step is to partner with communities
to identify how we can use the facilities to enhance economic and social
growth and enable individuals to participate. I am enthusiastic about
working with communities to address recreation and leisure on the
Avalon."
"I am excited and looking
forward to having the opportunity to discuss recreation in detail with those
directly involved," said Margaret Drover, chair of Mariner Resource
Opportunities Network. "It offers an excellent opportunity not only to
identify our resources, including human resources, but also an opportunity
to work together in partnership to move this initiative forward to the next
stage. It is indeed an excellent opportunity to showcase our facilities and
to focus our efforts."
The planning committee for the recreation forum includes: the Rural Secretariat � Avalon Region; Department of Innovation, Trade and Rural Development; Department of Education; Department of Tourism, Culture and Recreation; Avalon Gateway Regional Economic Development Inc.; Mariner Resource Opportunities Network; Irish Loop Development Board; Newfoundland and Labrador Federation of Municipalities; Avalon Health Care Institutions Board; Eastern Wellness Coalition; Health and Community Services � Eastern Region; Health Canada; and the Labour Market Development Agreement. The Rural Secretariat Avalon Region covers: the Southern Shore (Bay Bulls to Trepassey), St. Mary's Bay (St. Vincent's to Colinet), the Cape Shore (Branch to Little Barasway), Placentia, Long Harbour, and Conception Bay North. For more information on the Rural Secretariat, Avalon region, visit www.gov.nl.ca/rural/regions/avalon.asp For information on how to
participate in the forum call Derek Drover at (709) 596-6217 or Jamilee
Fitzpatrick at (709) 227-1322.
Media contact: Lynn Evans, Rural
Secretariat, (709) 729-4570 or (709) 690-6290
2004 10 28 2:10 p.m. |
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