Preserving Kerrobert's Volunteer Legacy

In the spring of 2020, the SPRA Framework in Action Grant awarded nearly $50,000 to support community initiatives that showed alignment with one of the five goals of the Framework for Recreation in Canada 2015 – Pathways to Wellbeing. The town of Kerrobert was one of 12 communities that received funding from the Framework in Action Grant.

Through funding from the SPRA Framework in Action Grant, the Town of Kerrobert created a resource for volunteers to help manage and maintain the community’s parks and green spaces. This project aligned well with the fifth goal of the Framework: Recreation Capacity.

Kerrobert’s parks and green spaces are managed and maintained by multiple volunteer groups, all of whom do an outstanding job! However, many volunteers are aging and once they leave, so does their knowledge. As a result these volunteers leaving, some maintenance of the community’s parks and green spaces may become neglected, and the knowledge lost can contribute to a lack of vision for these outdoor places.

Funding from the Framework in Action Grant enabled the town to reach out to these volunteer groups to gather and collect their knowledge, and preserve it in one resource. The project strengthened relationships between the town and volunteers, while demonstrating the town’s commitment to supporting the work they do for the community. It also encouraged collaboration among the groups while the information was being collected.

Reaching out to these organizations opened the door for many great conversations, which provided the town with insight into the challenges and concerns volunteers are facing. Now, the community has a resource that will provide a foundation of knowledge for future generations of volunteers. 

“This document will provide the Recreation Department with information that will assist us when various grants become available so that we can forward the information to the organizations that may be interested, said Brennan Murphy, Chairman of the Kerrobert Recreation Board. "As well it will assist us during budget time as we have a more of a broad picture of the goals and future projects of local volunteer organizations,” Murphy said.

This new resource will provide the town of Kerrobert with a living report they can pull information from and add to as they continue to gather and update feedback from their volunteer organizations that oversee their parks and green spaces. 

The Framework for Recreation in Canada

The Framework for Recreation in Canada is the guiding document for public recreation providers in Canada.  

You can download the Framework in English and French here.

The SPRA Framework in Action Grant

Supported through funding by Sask Lotteries, the Framework in Action Grant aims to support SPRA member initiatives that advance the goals and priorities identified within The Framework for Recreation in Canada 2015 – Pathways to Wellbeing. Initiatives will show alignment with one of the goals of the Framework and can be local, regional or provincial in scope.

The next round of applications open February 18, 2022. To learn more and to apply please visit: https://www.spra.sk.ca/funding/spra-grants/

For more information, contact:

Dan Gallagher
Field Consultant
Saskatchewan Parks and Recreation Association
dgallagher@spra.sk.ca
306-780-9218