Sparks 2024

Igniting Parks and Recreation Providers!

We hope you came away from SPARKS 2024 ready to ignite change! For those of you who took time out of your busy schedules to join us - THANK-YOU! And for those of you who missed out, SPARKS will return in fall of 2025 - so pencil that in! 

It was important for us to re-connect in-person, learn from experts and one another, and equip ourselves with new tools and ideas to take back to the communities we serve. The conversations and collaborations explored will help us advance our collective work around wellbeing in this province. 

Carry On Collaborating! 

The networking and learning doesn't end here. Whether you are looking for innovative solutions or are facing a parks and recreation challenge, here are three ways to stay connected:

1. Join the SPRA Membership Community on Facebook
2. Subscribe to our newsletter, Parks & Recreation Connection
3. Reach out to our team for consulting support

Acknowledgements and Gratitude

We are grateful to our funder, Sask Lotteries.

For over 50 years, they have been the main fundraiser for more than 12,000 sport, culture and recreation groups in communities across the province. With their support, we are able to keep our training and educational opportunities affordable.

A special thanks to our facilitators and everyone that played a role in making SPARKS happen: 

• SPARKS Co-design Team: Joni Hagen, Jordan Wall, Murray Hidlebaugh, Liz Weaver, Kristy Wilson, Kristin Bialobzyski, and Chantel Doerksen
• Wanuskewin Heritage Park - https://wanuskewin.com/
• Tamarack Institute - https://www.tamarackcommunity.ca
• Technology Helps - https://technologyhelps.org/
• Lead from Here - https://www.leadfromhere.ca/
• Triple C Consulting
• Mark Anielski - https://anielski.com/
• Canadian Parks and Recreation Association - https://www.cpra.ca/
• Executive Arrangements - https://executivearrangements.ca/

Photo credit: Tourism Saskatoon

What is Sparks?

Sparks 2024 is an opportunity for parks and recreation providers across Saskatchewan to come together and ignite the industry.

Whether you work in parks and recreation as a professional or volunteer, or you're an advocate, ally or decision maker in a related sector, join us for a networking and professional development event that will guide the future of the recreation industry.

Sparks 2024 will focus on:

• Trends and innovation
• The critical role of parks and recreation as a driver of community development, wellbeing and belonging
• The role, impact and future of parks and recreation in Saskatchewan
• Networking to inspire collaboration
• Best practices to activate recreation's potential in your community

We’ve teamed up with Tamarack Institute , specialists in collaborative leadership and community engagement. Together at Sparks 2024, we will provide the kindling to inspire and ignite future opportunities for the industry and its impact on quality of life.

Registration Info

Registration is now closed

Event Schedule

Check out a full schedule of SPARKS 2024 here.

Questions?

For any questions about Sparks 2024, contact: 

Chantel Doerksen
Communications, Information and Research Manager
(306)780-9411
cdoerksen@spra.sk.ca