Parks and Recreation Endorse True Sport Movement

(Ottawa) The True Sport Secretariat is pleased to announce that the Canadian Parks and Recreation Association (CPRA) has recently joined a growing list of organizations who are lending their support to the True Sport Strategy.  The CPRA Board of Directors endorsed the Strategy in July and formally announced the partnership to their partners and members at their annual conference in Halifax, October 20-23, 2004.

"We are very pleased to work with the True Sport Secretariat to help ensure that sport and recreation programs promote positive values for children and youth in communities across the country," said Pierre Morin, CPRA President. "It's our belief that CPRA and its network of leaders will provide the True Sport Movement with a network of community champions to help contribute to healthy and vibrant communities."

In recognition of its valuable contribution to vibrant and healthy communities, CPRA was also invited to join the True Sport Secretariat's Steering Committee.  "CPRA is a recognized leader amongst its extensive network of partners and community members and will contribute immensely to the work of the Strategy in engaging communities across the country to help seed, feed and grow the True Sport Movement," said Dina Bell-Laroche, Director of the True Sport Secretariat.

The True Sport Strategy is a coordinated and collaborative initiative to ensure that values-driven sport becomes central to the experience for participants in sport and recreation.  The Strategy lives within the Building Capacity pillar of the Canadian Sport Policy and has been endorsed by Federal-Provincial/ Territorial Ministers responsible for sport, recreation and fitness. 

The True Sport Strategy is a collaboration of governments and members of the sport, recreation and physical activity communities committed to the belief that values-driven sport can make a powerful, positive contribution to the development of individuals, communities and Canadian society.  The True Sport Strategy is working to engage sport, recreation and physical activity organizations in the areas of research, community engagement, communications, education, and policy development, all in support of the True Sport Strategy. 

The True Sport Strategy is led by a Steering Committee and supported by a number of organizations including the Canadian Centre for Ethics in Sport, Athletes CAN, Sport Canada, Hockey Canada, Skate Canada, Sport Alliance of Ontario, Sport Matters Group, Sport Officials Canada, Canadian Parks and Recreation Association, Canadian Professional Coaches Association, Sport Manitoba, Direction de la Promotion de la sécurité - Secrétariat au loisir et au sport and the Canadian Olympic Committee.

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