ST. PAUL – The Town of St. Paul will send a representative to the annual Alberta Recreation and Parks Association (ARPA) annual conference Oct. 26 to 28 at the Fairmont Chateau Lake Louise.
As per previous recommendation from the March 16 Committee of the Whole Meeting, Town Council decided to send one elected official as opposed to two, due to previous ARPA conferences having an urban focus, said CAO Steven Jeffery, presenting the item.
Due to the urban focus of ARPA conferences, Jeffery explained it would be beneficial to still have rural voices be heard.
It will cost approximately $3,857 to attend the conference. The Town’s budget for conferences in 2023 is $25,000 and so far councillors have expensed $8,946.
Coun. Gary Ward said the conference offers networking opportunities among other benefits and, “There’s definitely some things that I think would benefit our community.”
ARPA’s 2023 theme is “Inspiring Creativity and Community,” and will have a focus on art, culture, and community development, as recreation and parks are not just about programs, places, and activities, according to the ARPA website.
“This conference is a platform for recreation, FCSS, culture, and park professionals, elected officials, and others within our sector who have an interest in recreation, parks, art, culture, and community development to come together and share their experiences, knowledge, and ideas,” reads the event web site.
Ward motioned to send a councillor to the conference. The motion passed.
