DIRECTION - Summer 2018

SUMMER 2018 | VOLUME 9 | NUMBER 4

S A S K AT C H E W A N PA R K S A N D R E C R E AT I O N A S S O C I AT I O N

Managing Risk in Parks and Recreation

SUMMER 2018 | VOLUME 9 | NUMBER 4

SPRA BOARD OF DIRECTORS

CEO’s Report

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Get to Know Our CEO

03

Summer and Sportsfields - Are You Ready, Willing and Able?

04

The LAW of Managing Risk

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Insurance Coverage for Fitness Leaders

07

With Water Comes Risk

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Agreements to Operate Recreation Facilities - Who Owns the Building?

09 What Happens to Your Rink in the Summer? 10

Safe Places - Youth Certified 11 Managing Social Media Risk 13 CPSI Training Coming to Moose Jaw 14 Community Gathering Place 15 Governance Training 16

DIRECTION is published four times a year (December, March, June and September). The publication is provided to members of the Saskatchewan Parks and Recreation Association. Direct all communications to: Editor, DIRECTION #100 - 1445 Park Street Regina, Saskatchewan S4N 4C5 You may also send letters or comments to Lori Ross, Communications Consultant, at 306.780.9370, by fax at 306.780.9257, or by email at lross@spra.sk.ca.

Articles within this magazine are the opinions of the author(s) and do not necessarily reflect the policies or opinions of SPRA. Articles in DIRECTION may be reprinted, provided that full credits are shown for the author and the magazine.

Supported by:

President Coralie Bueckert

Director for Villages Taylor Morrison

Director at Large Jody Boulet

Director for Cities Ken Ottenbreit

Director at Large Chrisandra Dezotell

Director at Large Chris Keleher

Director for Towns Jaime Helgason

Director at Large Guylaine Green

Director for the North TJ Biemans

SPRA STAFF MANAGEMENT Chief Executive Officer Todd Shafer Program Manager John Firnesz Field Services Manager Randy Durovick Communications, Information and Research Manager Chantel Doerksen RECREATION CONSULTANTS Information and Research Services Nancy Young Communications Lori Ross Christian Bates-Hardy Grants and Funding Andrew Millard Parks and Open Spaces Andrew Exelby Physical Activity and Fitness Wendy McKellar Leadership, Evaluation and Human Resources Karen House Facilities and Training Tim Hanna

Youth Engagement Kelsey Michaluk

FIELD CONSULTANTS/ ADMINISTRATION

Inclusion and Access Audra Isaac

Swift Current Jaclyn Davis Phone: (306) 778-1093

ADMINISTRATION

Rosetown/North Battleford Kerry Bailey Phone: (306) 882-6607

Consultant - Finance Mark Sather Executive Assistant Lois McNaught Administrative Technician Ryan Monks Administrative Assistant II Kayla Lazeski Administrative Assistant I Mary Anne Schuweiler Fitness/Administrative Assistant II Lynn Bradley

Regina Office: Phone: (306) 780-9231 or 1-800-563-2555

Prince Albert Rob Boulding Phone: (306) 953-0052 Weyburn Dan Gallagher Phone: (306) 848-0274 Yorkton Darren Spelay/Tracy Malayney Phone: (306) 782-1072 Humboldt Clint McConnell Phone: (306) 682-5265 La Ronge Daniel Longman Phone: (306) 425-1910

CEO’S REPORT What is Risk Management, and what makes it so vitally important to the parks and recreation sector? Risk Management is the process of identifying risk, assessing consequences and taking appropriate steps to minimize or eliminate those risks.

For most of you, mitigating risk is primarily focused on providing safer facilities for users and customers; and reducing the impact of incidents and legal liability on those facility owners and managers. However, it is also likely that you’ve considered and are regularly working on managing risk as it pertains to your relationship with volunteer boards, and also within the growing realm of social media.

Therefore, in this issue of DIRECTION, we will provide you with some resources, thoughts and best practices that we have uncovered related to risk management, and how it pertains to the topics of facility maintenance and pool safety. We will shine a spotlight on the importance of training, certification and insurance, and lastly will share with you what we’ve learned about the risks associated with social media, and how they may pertain to your organization.

As you are all aware, SPRA offers a variety of programs and services to its members that relate to support for your risk management plans and activities, whether it is our courses for Pool/Arena Operators or Parks Worker, Governance and Recreation Board Training Workshops for non-profit boards or quality assurance programs such as HIGH FIVE®.

Please reach out to the SPRA office with any questions related to our programs and services, or to check out other resources we have within our Resource Library, that can help you stay on top of the ever changing world of risk management.

Todd Shafer SPRA CEO

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GET TO KNOW OUR CEO On May 1, 2018, the Saskatchewan Parks and Recreation Association ushered in a new era with Todd Shafer taking on the role of CEO. Todd has a passion for leadership and learning and a fundamental belief in the importance of recreation and its role in the development of people, communities and environments.

Over the past month, he has been busy getting to know the organization, its members and staff. And if you didn’t have a chance to meet Todd at the Framework for Recreation in Canada Forum or our Strategic Plan focus groups in May, this is the perfect opportunity to get to know a little more about him.

Q: What are you most excited for in your new role as CEO? A: The opportunity to join SPRA, an organization with such a solid reputation in the recreation field, is a dream come true for me. I am excited to return home to my roots here in Saskatchewan after living in the Northwest Territories for the past 16 years and be in position to make a very good organization even better. Recreation leaves a positive and lasting impact on the lives of people across this province and I look forward to playing a significant role in its continued development.

Q: You have been involved with the recreation sector for over 25 years, what keeps you motivated?

A: There are three things that continue to drive my involvement in the sector: 1. The people – I’ve had the pleasure of meeting and col- laborating with some of the most energetic, fun, talented and open-minded people in Canada. Recreation attracts this type of personality and it seems as though on a daily basis, I’m reminded of how many incredible individuals we have working in the sector from across the country.

2. Change – I love new challenges and throughout my career I’ve had the chance to prepare for, or respond to, some element of change. I’m an analyst by nature and love the opportunity to find fresh, new ways to address changes.

3. Making a difference – The recreation sector has provided me with the opportunity to both help develop leaders and impact communities. At the end of every day, I feel as though I’ve had a chance to make a difference in some one’s life, as a result of the work I am privileged to do.

Q: What do you see as the greatest challenge facing SPRA moving forward? And how do you intend to overcome it?

A: There has been tremendous growth in the parks and recreation sector over the past few years. The Framework 03

for Recreation in Canada (2015) has set the foundation and articulates the essential nature of the role that recreation plays in the development of people, communities and environments. The greatest challenge for SPRA now is to build on this foundation and to find ground-breaking ways of impacting the wellbeing of the people in Saskatchewan. I believe that SPRA is well-positioned to provide the type of leadership that will stimulate creativity and innovation, challenge the status quo and provide support to those organizations who are committed to getting everyone in this province engaged in meaningful parks and recreation experiences.

Q: Tell us a bit about your personal interests and recreation activities.

A: When I am not at work, I enjoy any time that I get to spend with my family - walking, cycling, fishing, exploring new places and trying new activities – I’ve recently taken up Stand-up Paddleboarding and am loving it! And even though I’m getting older, I still enjoy any opportunity I have to get out on both a volleyball court or baseball diamond, as either a player or coach.

Q: And finally tell us what your ideal day would be like?

A: My perfect day starts early in the morning with a really good cup of coffee, and breakfast with my loved ones, followed by a 45 minute walk or cycle, preferably through some type of wooded environment. I appreciate some quiet time for reflection or future thought, along with some reading that stimulates and inspires me. My interactions with others throughout the day are a combination of gathering knowledge and information on key topics facing the sector and coaching conversations that make a difference in someone else’s day, work and/or life. The evening begins with a barbeque dinner eaten with family and/or friends while sitting on a deck (in the shade though, because I sunburn easily), finished off with a chance to play or watch a movie or baseball game, before getting a restful night’s sleep.

SUMMER AND SPORTSFIELDS

ARE YOU READY, WILLING AND ABLE? After a long winter, which dragged on much past its welcome this year, recreation programs swiftly turn to outdoor sports like baseball, softball, soccer and others. With the overlap of winter and spring seasons, it is very difficult for recreation practitioners to make a smooth transition. How are you suppose to put the rink to bed for the offseason and suddenly be expected to have sportfields ready to play even before Mother Nature cooperates? Well, it is a regular and ongoing challenge to say the least.

There are a few things you can do to prepare for this inevitable “surprise” of spring. In the fall, once the arena is operational, a thorough inspection of your outdoor facilities should take place. There are many benefits to this approach but two standout. First, major issues can be identified and possibly corrected that season, which may mean utilizing any unspent operating funds. Second, it provides a way to develop a list of priorities that can be discussed at budget time to help allocated operating or capital fund to your facilities.

If you conduct regular facility inspections during the season, you should be able to keep track of what your facility needs are on an ongoing basis and the priority of these repairs. One of the critical aspects of both the regular monthly inspections and a more thorough fall inspection, is to manage your risk. Your inspections must look through a risk management and due diligent lens. Yes, you need to cover your assets.

The users and stakeholders rely on councils and recreation practitioners to provide safe facilities. Often we rely on the hardworking efforts of volunteers to make our sportsfield come to life so the onus is greater to ensure they have the “tools” to keep our facilities programed and maintained.

According to Barry Ault, Instructor of the Ball Diamond Maintenance Course with SPRA, there are many things to inspect with your facilities but some of it boils down to playability. The major cause of injury on sportsfields according to Barry is playing when conditions are too wet. Not only will this increase the risk of personal injury, the turf, which is the heart of the outdoor facilities, can be damaged beyond repair. Barry recommends that we treat our ball diamonds, soccer pitches, and other facilities like our indoor facilities with the same high degree of care, inspection and public safety.

In the Ball Diamond Maintenance Course, Barry talks about weekly walk throughs to check for potential risk hazards on backstops, fences, dugouts, goal areas and outfield and infield conditions. Any problems with the fencing? Protusions? Are

the benches in good repair? These are only a few of things you should have on your inspection list. The Course also talks about the second leading cause of injuries on sportsfields, uneven turf. This situation can cause bad bounces in baseball and turned ankles in soccer. Being able to properly maintain the outfield lip on a ballfield or gopher holes on a soccer pitch will go a long way to help reduce the risk of injury.

And what about portable soccer nets? Are yours properly anchored and are you checking them as part of your weekly maintenance? And don’t forget that your inspection needs to include storage buildings, concessions, field lighting, parking lot, parking curbs, etc. The list can get long but it is all part of the “facility”.

There are definitely some important takeaways: make risk identification and mediation a priority, perform regular inspections, document your inspections, prioritize the work, complete the work, budget accordingly and be proactive.

And remember, now it is your time to get out and enjoy the nice weather. The outdoor season is short – get a tan while you can.

Tim Hanna SPRA Consultant, Facilities 04

THE LAW OF MANAGING RISK At the risk of exposing my own wisdom, let me start by saying that managing risk is easy! If we stick to the goal of providing a reasonably safe environment in our parks and programs, it is not difficult to effectively manage risk. Unfortunately, far too often people make the mistake of focusing on escaping liability instead of using common sense and “doing the right thing.”

The term risk management is interpreted in a variety of different ways. Some risk managers are insurance buyers and spend the majority of their time focusing on that activity or on researching other risk financing schemes. Others spend their time developing programs to improve occupational health and safety initiatives and/or to ensure that adequate employee benefit programs are in place to protect the employee should they suffer illness or injury. While these risk management efforts can be of great value to an organization, they don't help manage the day-to-day risks in our parks and facilities.

Insurers sometimes help manage parks and recreation risks; however, too many insurers think risk avoidance is the best way to handle all risks.

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There is supposed to be risk associated with many recreational activities. Finding the balance between risk and reward is the true goal of risk management for parks and recreation.

Our efforts are concentrated on preventing accidents and injuries in our communities and providing protection to those who provide services, against the rising tide of litigation. Our focus is therefore on the “loss prevention” and “loss control” steps required to affect sound risk management for parks and recreation risks. Risk management can be defined as a process of protecting you and your organization by minimizing accidents and their adverse effects.

To help parks and recreation departments properly manage their risks I have developed some simple, effective steps that is my LAW of Managing Risk.

LOOK

■ Physically look at your skate park... (Regular, documented inspections).

■ Review your past accident/injury/claims experience to learn where the losses are coming from.

■ Signs need to be looked at, as well. Are they visible? Easy to understand?

ASK

■ Users are in your parks daily...you aren't. Ask for their help in making sure things are safe.

■ Insurers should be asked to provide benchmarks. "We are a City of 5,000 and 36% of the claims are against the parks department. Is that good or bad?" If you are worse than

average, you might want to use that information when asking for money in your budget for staffing and/or new equipment.

■ Insurers should be asked to provide information on claims.

The true test of how you’re managing risks show up when someone submits a claim for damages. They are alleging that they suffered harm because you didn’t do as you should have done. Was the claim paid? Why?…”how were we negligent?”. If you won, it reinforces risk management efforts. Learn from success and failure.

■ Your peers. Learn from their experiences.

WATCH

Waivers are most effective when used as an informed consent form. Make sure that users know the risks they are about to experience. The waivers that try to absolve departments of all responsibility often fail. You have to meet your obligations.

Lastly let’s look at insurance. There is a reason that I put it last. It’s important that your municipality has insurance but that doesn’t reduce your need for risk management programs.

When it comes to insurance, many municipalities demand too much from their users. Your facilities were built with tax dollars and insured with tax dollars. When a taxpayer wants to use a facility that his or her dollars have built, most times additional insurance need not be required. If the requested use is a higher risk than the normal use of the facility, then it is reasonable to ask for users to provide their own coverage.

Parks and recreation departments exist to provide valuable services to their community. Due to the nature of sport and recreation some injuries will occur. It is your job to ensure that such injuries take place in spite of your best effort, not due to the lack of your best effort.

It is my true pleasure to work with associations such as SPRA and with municipalities across North America to improve safety for those enjoying recreational activities. I welcome any questions or requests for assistance to help achieve this goal.

Doug Wyseman, President Municipal Risk Services Limited Phone: (519) 537-7239 Email: dwyseman@rogers.com

■ Keep an eye on your experience and any trends.

Risk Management Tools

Signs, waivers and insurance policies can all be helpful in developing sound risk management programs, but none of them are as important as you doing the best you can to make sure that users of your parks and programs avoid injuries.

Too often departments feel a false sense of security because they put up a “use at your own risk” sign. Signs are simply a tool of communication. They are virtually useless if they are not read. Far too often departments fill a piece of metal with verbiage that nobody reads, but the department thinks it has somehow protected itself. There are some legal responsibilities on departments to provide reasonably safe premises and programs. That duty does not go away simply because you erected a sign saying you don’t want to be responsible!

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INSURANCE COVERAGE FOR FITNESS LEADERS This article will shed light on a few key areas to get Fitness Leaders and facilities asking questions and thinking about liability insurance coverage.

These days it seems like we have insurance for everything.

The need for Fitness Leaders to have their own policy is very important. It’s essentially insurance for the services Fitness Leaders provide to the class. As a professional, it is their responsibility to protect themselves with adequate insurance to provide coverage if they were to be sued by a class participant’s injury resulting from a class they were instructing.

The bottom line is that every Fitness Leader, whether they are employees or independent contractors, need insurance to protect themselves from liability exposure. Having their own insurance policy is as important as keeping their certification status current. The good news is that it is relatively inexpensive and easy to obtain, as long as they hold a recognized certification.

Some Fitness Leaders are under the impression that the insurance policy of the facility will cover them, if they are ever sued.

This is not always the case, and it’s something that all Fitness Leaders need to be aware of.

SPRA Fitness Leadership certification provides Commercial General Liability Insurance coverage for $2 million. For example, if a client is injured and sues you for liability, this coverage will pay to defend you in court and will pay the settlement if you are found liable. As a fitness leader, your registration and renewal fees automatically pay for your insurance. As long as you keep your registration current, you will automatically be covered.

Often there are inquiries asking if Fitness Leaders are covered under the insurance policies of the Municipalities or fitness centers where they teach. If a Fitness Leader is an independent contractor and teaches in a facility owned by someone else, then they are mostly likely NOT covered by the general liability or professional liability policy of the facility. Facilities may require proof of the Fitness Leader’s insurance before teaching in the facility.

If a Fitness Leader is a direct employee or owner of the facility where they teach, then they are most likely covered by that facility’s general liability insurance. Fitness Leaders always need to verify this with the facility. In turn, the facility operator needs to determine if their insurance policy covers Fitness Leader liability as well. As a municipality or organization there are many things to think about to run effective and valued fitness classes, including insurance and proof of a current fitness certification.

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For facilities, SPRA Fitness Leaders in good standing also reduces liability risk for your organization.

Having insurance helps Fitness Leaders do what they do best – help community members become more active and healthy!

Wendy McKellar SPRA Consultant, Physical Activity and Fitness

WITH WATER COMES RISK Summer is coming and our community pool will be open soon. For the recreation practitioner, this can be the start of another exciting, albeit short, summer season. However, the operation of the swimming pool has considerable risks. Let’s have a quick look at facility and program risks.

From a facility perspective, some areas that need your attention and inspection include diving apparatus, starting blocks and diving boards. Make sure to inspect the nonslip surfaces and check for structural stresses in the diving board and handrails.

to maintain a safe environment and are ready to react if an incident arises? Each pool is required to have a pool manual.

When is the last time yours was updated? Aquatics is a close knit community, so ask around for other examples to find ideas on how to update your pool manual.

Fencing is extremely important for overall site security.

Make sure you can secure the fence and that there are proper locks on gates.

You have partners to assist with your risk management process at your pool. Use them. The local health authority is a great resource and is responsible to ensure your pool meets and exceeds the pool regulations. Do you have a copy of the pool regulations at your fingertips? Have you read it lately?

Never a bad idea to read it. As an affiliate, don’t forget the valuable resource that the Red Cross and Lifesaving Society can be. Reach out to your local representative as they are a great resource to help you manage your pool facility. And remember, information and resources available through the Internet.

Signage is one of the most important risk avoidance steps at a pool. Ensure you have proper signage around the deck to indicate unsafe diving areas, pool depth, no running, etc.

Signage is a great way to highlight the pool rules and assist with their enforcement. Don’t forget about ‘slippery when wet’ signs in your change rooms.

Entrapment was a major concern with pool operators several years ago. At that time, did you install a vacuum release on your pool or change the covers on your main drains?

When is the last time you checked the vacuum release?

And don’t forget to check your filtration and chemical feed systems to make sure they are working effectively. Chlorine can be hazardous, like other chemicals, so make sure you and your aquatic team know how to handle them.

From a program perspective there is more risk avoidance steps to cover before you take the plunge. Check the condition of your lifesaving equipment – first aid supplies, AED, spinal board, buoys, reaching poles, etc. – and do you have enough of each in case of an emergency?

The Lifeguards/Instructors must have minimum qualifications to supervisor the pool. Do you have a copy of their certifications on file? Do you have regular in-service training for your aquatic team to make sure they know how

Finally, make sure you have your logs and records in order.

For example, do you have your filtration logs, water quality test logs, daily/weekly/monthly checklists and others? Make sure these logs get completed and kept as required. Daily checklists are a great way to identify and correct a problem before it becomes a serious incident.

There is no better feeling as a pool operator then sitting back and enjoying the completion of another successful and safe swimming season. You and your aquatic team identified and minimized risks all season long so your community could safely enjoy the pool. Well done. Just think, winter is coming… and it’s time to put the pool to bed.

Tim Hanna SPRA Consultant, Facilities

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AGREEMENTS TO OPERATE RECREATION FACILITIES

WHO OWNS THE BUILDING? At the 2018 Convention of the Urban Municipal Administrators Association of Saskatchewan (UMAAS), the Saskatchewan Parks and Recreation Association (SPRA) was invited to speak on the topic of municipal responsibility in the operation of recreation facilities. The biggest question to answer is ‘who owns this facility or property?’

From a historical perspective, recreation in ‘Small Town Saskatchewan’ has been run by volunteers. Recreation Boards were formed, and the responsibility for the operation of recreation facilities remained with the volunteers.

But is there a disconnect between Council, administration and volunteers? Not every municipality is fortunate to have a Recreation Director or Facility Manager. The Municipal Administrator or CAO has other responsibilities. Systems that functioned 30 years ago may not be the most effective means of operation today. Often the recreation volunteers are left on their own.

Today’s reality has changes in legislation that have lead to a focus on risk management with employee and volunteer safety becoming a high priority. There is an increased emphasis on insurance and liability. Training and competence must be proven for employees and volunteers. Log books and documentation have become best practice. The Saskatchewan Health Authority requires a pool safety plan be approved before allowing a Municipality to operate a swimming pool.

The Technical Safety Authority of Saskatchewan has standards for the operation of artificial ice plants in skating arenas and curling rinks.

With the volunteer Board, it is important that Council approve a Bylaw that outlines the purpose and powers of this Board.

Are there any partnering Municipalities or other organizations? Council must also pass a motion regarding committee appointments that will provide these volunteers with the status of ‘agents of the municipality’. While acting on behalf of the Municipality, appointed volunteers will have the protection of municipal insurance. It is important that these volunteers are protected and know their role in the operation of a Municipal asset.

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There is another scenario where the Municipality would enter into an agreement with a non profit group that may not be a committee of Council. Please be aware of the difference. In working with a registered non profit corporation, it is important that the Municipality enter in to a formal lease agreement. This lease agreement will outline the responsibilities of both the owner and operator of the facility. As owner of the facility, the Municipality cannot absolve themselves of all legal responsibilities by transferring operating responsibility to another entity.

The local service club that installs a playground in a Municipal Park does not own that equipment, nor has responsibility for ongoing maintenance. This land is owned by the Municipality and the asset also becomes property of the Municipality. Best practice is to work with this service club in advance to ensure that all legislative requirements for playground installation and fall protection are followed.

Another model for facility operation is the staff supervision model, where you have an Administrator or Recreation Director that will hire and supervise facility staff. There are benefits to this approach as you have trained professionals responsible for staff supervision and monitoring. These professionals are expected to be current and aware of changes in legislation.

There are other more complicated land arrangements that could involve School Divisions, Regional Parks or Exhibition Associations. In order to proceed with an agreement, it is essential to know who owns the property and who owns the building or facility.

SPRA Field Consultants are available to meet with your Municipality and discuss options and best practices that will meet your community’s needs.

Rob Boulding SPRA Field Consultant

WHAT HAPPENS TO YOUR RINK IN THE SUMMER? The typical arena manager is torn between being sad the season is over and the joy of getting a summer hiatus to accomplish other important tasks. Think twice.

Summer is a great time to complete a thorough rink inspection and start making sure all the safety deficiencies are completed and ready for the doors to reopen in the fall. What are some of the items you are looking for? Well, there are several items but here is a short top-5 list to keep your risk in check.

First, what needs to be done in the refrigeration room? Get this work scheduled and done now so you are more than ready for the fall. The refrigeration room can be a ticking time bomb, so stay on top of the necessary repairs and maintenance. This is good way to relieve some stress, also. Nothing worse than losing your ice.

Second, your board system likely has some issues. Make sure the dasher board system doesn’t have any loose screws.

Ensure doors open and close properly, glass and netting are properly secured along with the flooring in the players boxes and penalty benches. Here you are trying to identify and reduce the likelihood of any injuries to users.

A third concern would be your ice resurfacer. Is it tired and in need of some TLC? Summer is a good time to get those repairs done. When is the last time you had the machine tuned up and the emissions tested? Air quality is greatly impacted by the flooding process. Make sure your machine is purring like a kitten and the mechanical system is working well. Your ice machine, and how it is operated, greatly contributes to having either poor ice or good ice. Your risks will be reduced if you maintain a great sheet of ice.

Fourth, are your dressing rooms. Check the benches, showers, coat hooks, flooring, etc. to make sure that there are no safety issues. If you have stairs leading to your dressing rooms, what is the condition of the risers? Do you have any covering that needs to be replaced?

Fifth, would be public spaces like washrooms and lobby areas. Check the doors, lighting, flooring, fixtures and all those bits and pieces. Make sure you identify and address any safety issues you find.

Of course the list is longer as risk assessment, management and mitigation should be done for the entire facility and grounds. The point is, don’t wait until mid September to start getting your ‘risk-ducks’ in a row and your rink repairs underway. Start now!

When the outside temperature reaches 30+ degrees with a UV Index of 10+ and the mosquitos won’t leave you alone, you will find relief being inside and working on getting your rink ready for the fall. And your stress level will be … well, back to normal as your rink will be safe for the users to return.

Bonus point: Make sure you document what you have completed regarding risk management. These records will be your saving grace if something happens and there are investigation and law suits. SPRA has log books to help you or can provide advice to get you started.

Tim Hanna SPRA Consultant, Facilities

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SAFE PLACES

YOUTH CERTIFIED Are the children in your community as safe as they should be?

Two years after our launch of Safe Places – Swift Current, over 1,500 people in our community are Youth Certified, with neighboring communities and organizations within Canada now beginning to adopt our prevention model.

Safe Places aims to increase the safety and quality of service given to the youth in our community as well as raising the awareness and communication we have as a community around the areas of bullying, abuse, harassment and discrimination (BAHD).

Through training and education offered by Respect Group and demanding criminal record and vulnerable sector checks, we are limiting the opportunities that abusers have to infiltrate our systems and develop inappropriate relationships with youth. We’re empowering adults in positions of trust with the knowledge to recognize signs of child abuse and to act upon suspicious behaviors.

Did You Know?

97% of child abuse victims know their abuser COMMUNITY IMPACT

Beyond our sport and recreation groups, local businesses like MNP and Innovation Credit Union have become supporters of the Safe Places program, inviting their staff to become Youth Certified, recognizing that all employees know or come in to contact with youth as a family member or friend or through work and volunteering.

Recognizing that this initiative extends to vulnerable people as much as it does youth, organizations such as SaskAbilities have implemented Safe Places by requesting that their employees across various departments − from support workers to recycling staff to bus drivers − become Youth Certified.

DUE DILIGENCE

Organizations can check if an adult is Youth Certified by calling our information line. The benefit of making this enquiry available, is that if a person pretends that they do have certification or that they lost their details, we can confirm this. The parent or organization that is requesting the validation then have peace of mind and ensure the right person is working with their kids.

Did You Know?

1 in 3 Canadians report experiencing some form of child abuse Demanding that this become a requirement eliminates the unknown. In a small or local community where we all think we know our friends and neighbours, we would never think of questioning someone’s behavior, intentions or integrity, but the truth is we don’t really know. Abusers do become masterful at manipulating people and situations to their benefit. Swift Current has determined that we are not willing to take the risk. Creating a community-wide expectation, that adults who work with children should become certified, mitigates the risk and, furthermore, eliminates the need for parents to ask other adults if they are suitable to work with children, which can be awkward.

Did You Know?

49% of reports of maltreatment were substantiated by the investigating worker Our RCMP detachment processes all of the information required to become Youth Certified. Should a person have a criminal record, then their application requires our review committee to determine if the offences deem them appropriate to become Youth Certified. We have denied eight people certification in the last two years.

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designated advisor who acts as a representative on our committee. They are experts in their field, and their motivation to protect youth and encourage people to act is something we should all admire and be ready to stand by their side.

City Council and our community take the safety of our children seriously, and as a result, have recently appointed a Safe Places Manager who oversees the development of the program.

100th Person Youth Certified GRANT PROGRAM We understand that in some circumstances, in order to obtain Youth Certification there are costs associated with the online Respect Group training as well as obtaining criminal record checks that may be a deterrent to participating in the program.

“I am so proud of Swift Current for taking such a leadership role by implementing Safe Places. It’s easy to talk about protecting kids, it’s another to actually do something about it and make it stick. Safe Places will ensure that those working with kids are educated and fully understand their responsibilities when it comes to their duty of care. That is important.

I applaud Swift Current’s willingness to act.”

Sheldon Kennedy, 2018

For this reason we offer a grant that allows individuals and groups to apply for training codes to complete the online Respect training at no cost. Our City has also waived the fees associated with criminal record checks for local residents applying to become Youth Certified to ensure the program is accessible for all.

Sheldon Kennedy (left), Past Mayor Schafer CALL TO ACTION We invite more communities to explore the possibility of implementing Safe Places. Our committee has developed various policies and procedures, as well as community implementation and branding guides, that would support others adopting this program.

Anchor Dental Group Youth Certified RESPCET GROUP PARTNERSHIP Respect Group have been integral in the implementation of our initiative. Sheldon Kennedy and his team at Respect Group not only educated us in the areas of BAHD, but actively helped us establish our Safe Places committee. They provided the expertise and knowledge that we needed to take action at a local level and guided us through the logistical and legal areas of our initiative.

To learn more about the initiative please visit our website www.SafePlacesSK.ca or email safeplaces@swiftcurrent.ca or contact (306) 778-2777.

Respect Group is happy to work with other communities that wish to implement Safe Places. Should you want to take this step, please contact Mark Allen by telephone at (705) 300-2120 or by email at mallen@respectgroupinc.com.

Respect Group developed a City of Swift Current training forum and database within their system, which allows us to track and manage all training related to our initiative. We continue to receive one-to-one support from Respect Group through a 12

MANAGING SOCIAL MEDIA RISK Social media can empower recreation practitioners, professionals and volunteers to promote programs and services, and showcase the impact of parks and recreation in communities. The recreation and parks field needs to establish and maintain a greater presence online, but inexperienced social media managers need to be aware of the issues that can arise because of social media. Knowing these risks can help you mitigate their damage, or prevent them from happening in the first place.

When it comes to social media, your first concern should be your reputation. It’s important to be fun, friendly and engaging on social media, but know that what you say or share might be received by your followers in ways you never intended.

What you say on social media as a representative of your organization, recreation board, community, etc. will be taken as an official statement. So whatever you share or say on social media, make sure it is consistent with your brand, message and voice.

How do you keep from saying the wrong thing? The first step is to pick someone to manage your social media accounts who you trust to speak for the organization. This person should be familiar with your brand, know what kind of voice you want to have on social media and set the right tone with their posts. If the social media manager is new to the position, have them script messages before posting and vet them through a manager or experienced team member. It never hurts to have a second pair of eyes read your message before you share it.

While saying the wrong thing can hurt your reputation online and in the real world; saying nothing at all can be just as damaging. Don’t ignore people who engage with your content.

Instead, be as responsive as possible. Try and reply to your messages within 24 hours. Most people who ask questions on social media expect a response within one hour or less.

Network security is another thing that should be top of mind when considering the risks of online communication. Though it is less common than with email, hackers and scam artists may attempt to send virus-infected messages or phishing links to your social media accounts. The easiest way to protect yourself from hackers is to choose a strong, unique password for each social media account and enable two-factor verification for your login.

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Be wary when receiving unsolicited direct messages from your followers containing links or media. In these situations, it helps to know how to tell if a message is from a real person, or from a bot or spam account. Typically, these accounts will ask you to click on a link or visit a page outside of the social network.

You can adjust your message settings to stop receiving unsolicited or direct messages. On Facebook, adjust your messaging options under “Settings”; On Twitter, the option to limit direct messages can be found under “Settings and privacy.” If you choose not to adjust your privacy settings, you also have the option of blocking the user.

Many non-profits and community groups lose access to their social media accounts after an employee leaves their organization. To keep this from happening, always require more than one person to have access to your accounts. Access can mean different things for different networks. For instance, your Facebook or Instagram for Business page can have more than one Administrator or Manager. When necessary, logins and passwords should be shared between trusted users. For example, Twitter doesn’t allow for multiple team members to have their own access to the same account, so you’ll have to share logins for a single, branded account. If you have the budget, another option available is to use a social media monitoring dashboard like Hootsuite or Sprout Social that allow for multiple team members to edit and update social media accounts.

These are just a few of the issues inherent to social media and online communication. The best thing you can do to manage and prevent the risks involved with social media is to have a Social Media Policy, outlining how your organization and employees should conduct themselves and what to do in situations where risk is present.

Christian Bates-Hardy SPRA Consultant, Communications

CPSI TRAINING COMING TO MOOSE JAW Moose Jaw Parks and Recreation is hosting a Canadian Playground Safety Institute (CPSI) course in Saskatchewan on September 25-28, 2018 for participants who need to obtain their Canadian Certified Playground Inspector status, or who just want playground safety training.

Professional staff who are responsible for playground equipment have an incredibly important job. They are helping ensure the safety of toddlers, children and youth across this country and in local neighborhoods. If you are one of these dedicated staff, you - and your employer - can be confident in taking on this role by having up-to-date theoretical and practical knowledge about playground safety and by confirming this knowledge through the completion of the Playground Inspector Certification courses.

PLAYGROUND INSPECTOR CERTIFICATE The Canadian Certified Playground Inspector certification program is offered through the Canadian Playground Safety Institute (CPSI) and supported by the Canadian Parks and Recreation Association (CPRA). Certified instructors have developed the Theory and Practical courses, which are offered at classroom locations regionally across the country. The classroom courses include 1 ½ days of training and an exam.

The Theory course is also available online.

Those who complete both the CPSI Theory and CPSI Practical courses, and who receive a passing grade on both exams, achieve the industry-recognized status of Canadian Certified Playground Inspector. The Inspector status is valid for a 3-year period and can be renewed by completing a re-certification exam either online or in the classroom.

THEORY AND PRACTICAL COURSE Playgrounds are fun – but complex – spaces. The Theory course helps individuals thoroughly understand the Canadian playspace safety standard from CAN/CSA Z614 ‘Children’s Playspaces and Equipment’. Individuals who wish to take just the Theory course, which is available online or in a classroom setting, are welcome to do so.

The Practical course is a classroom and playground experience, which provides hands-on instruction on conducting an inspection/audit of a playspace. The Theory course is a prerequisite to the Practical course and must have been taken within a preceding 24-month period.

WHO SHOULD TAKE THE COURSES? This training is designed for maintenance/public works personnel, daycare staff, health inspectors, owner/operators, private inspectors, contractors, manufacturers, installers, parks and recreation staff, and/or insurance agents who work - or support the use of quality playground equipment – in schools, municipalities, housing complexes, condominiums or other areas that contain public playground structures.

RE-CERTIFICATION MADE EASY Inspectors whose certification will soon be expiring can renew their status by taking a recertification exam online or the Practical course and a classroom-based re-certification exam.

Inspectors wishing to re-certify online are asked to contact cpsi@cpsionline.ca for further details.

Saskatchewan CPSI course dates can often be 18-24 months apart. If you or someone in your organization is considering this training, you do not want to miss this opportunity. Course information is as follows: Theory Course – September 25-26, 2018 Practical Course - September 27-28, 2018 Herb Taylor Room, Moose Jaw Public Library 461 Langdon Crescent, Moose Jaw To register for this course using CPSI’s online registration system or to download a registration flyer, visit the course schedule page at www.cpsionline.ca.

Saskatchewan Parks and Recreation Association (SPRA) members receive a discount on registration fees for these courses.

For more information on this course, contact CPSI at cpsi@cpsionline.ca or toll free at 1-877-536-2338. If you would like more information on the Canadian Playground Safety Institute, please visit www.cpsionline.ca.

Successful completion of both courses within a 24-month period is required to achieve the status of a Canadian Certified Playground Instructor.

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COMMUNITY GATHERING PLACE The Community Gathering Place in Humboldt is a hall that provides a small town feel, that becomes an oversize dining room or comfortable dance floor or theatre style stage venue, or even an oversize living room with activities or just visiting. With ongoing upgrades this long standing building has transformed over its years.

In 2015, the Humboldt Senior Citizens Club felt that they were no longer able to carry on with the obligations needed to manage and operate the Seniors Center and all of its assets.

With that decision made, a new direction commenced for the recreation facility that includes, a hall with a stage, a commercial kitchen and boardroom on the upstairs level, and an open recreation area with pool tables and shuffleboard, and a 2-lane bowling alley in the basement. A registered non-profit organization was formed, a volunteer Board of Directors was elected and a new name, Community Gathering Place, was chosen.

In combination with the new direction, the Board of Directors wanted to ensure that some of the staple programs remained housed in the facility. These programs included regular activities for the Seniors, including cards and bingos, and the Soup Kitchen which offers a meal on a weekly basis to those in Humboldt that are looking for a wholesome meal, along with some fellowship.

The Board of Directors also opened the center up to the entire community. Corporate social events, fundraising events, recreation programming such as yoga classes and Forever... in motion were welcomed. The Board of Directors wanted to introduce the youth to the facility, and so they offered youth drop-in nights. Every Friday night, the youth were invited to the Community Gathering Place to participate in bowling, pool, board games and many other activities in a safe environment.

While the Board and staff of the Community Gathering Place were actively trying to increase the profile of the facility and offer programs that filled a need in the community, they also recognized that the facility needed some significant upgrades to make the building more accessible and appealing. With that in mind, the Board and Staff applied for several grants and reached out to the community for their support. After two years, what was accomplished was impressive.

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The Board wanted the newly named Community Gathering Place to provide space for the community to offer programs and services that encouraged involvement and sharing, as well as encouraged participation in activities that promote health and independent living. They wanted to truly encompass the meaning of the word community that was now a part of the facility’s name.

Because access to the building required you to either immediately go upstairs when you enter the building to get to the hall and kitchen, or you immediately go downstairs to get to the recreation room and bowling lanes, a platform lift was needed.

This $43,000 piece of equipment was purchased and installed with funds obtained through the Federal Government’s Enabling Accessibility Grant.

GOVERNANCE TRAINING

The Community Gathering Place also received grant money through the Community Initiatives Funds and the New Horizons for Seniors Fund, along with donations from many local companies including Nutrien (formerly Potash Corp.) and the City of Humboldt. These additional funds allowed the Community Gathering Place to improve their electrical infrastructure, install new lighting on both levels of the building, renovate the washrooms to make them accessible to people in wheelchairs, improve some of the exterior of the building and much more. These upgrades were significant and vastly improved not only the aesthetics of the facility, but maybe more importantly, improved the accessibility and safety of the building.

On April 25, 2018, the Community Gathering Place held an Open House to show off their improvements and recognize some of the contributors that assisted in making the improvements possible. Saskatchewan Parks and Recreation Association was happy to be able to provide some advice on applying for grants and ensuring the follow-ups were completed, as per the funder’s requirements, and looks forward to providing assistance in the future.

With this new direction, Humboldt will be able to benefit from a quality recreation facility that not only looks great, but is also safe and accessible.

Clint McConnell SPRA Field Consultant

In the fall of 2017, SPRA worked with all Provincial Recreation Associations (PRAs) to complete a self assessment on the operations of their specific organizations (Funding Assessment Report Card). In order to continue to provide leadership to the PRAs, SPRA developed a training strategy that will help the PRAs become more efficient. The strategy revolves around the Funding Assessment Report Card. SPRA is hoping to provide training as opportunities become available.

In the Spring of 2018, SPRA had the opportunity to partner with Saskatchewan Association of Rehabilitation Centres (SARC) to offer training sessions on Governance to Provincial Recreation Associations.

Two - four hour sessions were held in each Regina (May 23) and Saskatoon (May 24). Session topics were: ■ Governance Roles and Responsibility ■ Bylaws and Policies ■ Introduction to Succession Planning and Board Recruitment ■ Financial Responsibilities The PRAs were encouraged to have both staff and a representative of their Board attend the training.

Overall, there were 30 people attend the sessions, 14 staff and 16 volunteers from 16 organizations.

All participants felt that they gained value from the training and were appreciative of the resources that SARC was able to provide them.

I wish I could have convinced more of my Board to attend.

- Participant

This was a timely update for me on governance.

- Participant

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EVENTS SPRA Conference

October 17 - 20, 2018 (Maple Creek and Cypress Hills SK) If you’re a professional or volunteer in recreation, parks, or facilities, this is one event you will not want to miss!

You can expect national caliber keynotes and presenters, connecting with colleagues and experts from the field, timely learning about topics that matter most and entertaining social events. Visit www.spra.sk.ca/conference.

SaskFit

November 2 - 4, 2018 (Saskatoon, SK) Join fellow fitness enthusiasts at Saskatchewan’s Premier Fitness and Health Conference for an outstanding weekend of workshops, lectures and special events to inspire, educate and motivate! Visit www.spra.sk.ca/saskfit.

For information on upcoming events, visit www.spra.sk.ca/events.

SUMMER PHOTO CONTEST Show Us What Recreation Means To You!

The Saskatchewan Parks and Recreation Association (SPRA) invites you to show us “What Recreation Means to You” by participating in our 2018 Summer Photo Contest. This contest is open to both amateur and professional photographers and no entry fee is required.

One winner will be selected for the grand prize: a GoPro Hero! It’s the perfect camera to show off your exciting summer adventures.

Runners up will compete for gift cards to Flaman Fitness and SPRA merchandise, which you can use to show off your passion for recreation and parks!

Contest ends August 21, 2018.

Visit www.spra.sk.ca for details.

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