Recreation Print PSA (PDF, 473kb)
Spreading the Message
In consultation with the Board of Directors, members of the Association and stakeholders a 2003 Provincial Election Advocacy Action Plan was developed that highlights the need to attain the following goals in the next four weeks:
- To create awareness and support amongst candidates and leaders, for the values and benefits of recreation.
- To create public awareness and support for the mission, role, programs and services offered by Recreation Nova Scotia.
- For the political parties to commit to supporting recreation.
- To encourage decision makers to increase recreation funding for the physical activity strategy and facility development fund, by com�municating how recreation contributes to reducing health care costs through improved physical and mental health.
- To increase candidates awareness of Recreation Nova Scotia's position on the Role of The Office of Health Promotion.
The key strategies identified to reach these goals are:
- Develop a Question and Answer to RNS membership
- Develop, distribute and follow-up an Advocacy Kit to the political parties
- Prepare advocacy ads for the newspaper
- Coordinate a phone campaign
- Develop a news package: create media interest in the "Case"
- Contact key media who are covering the election/televised debate to discuss RNS platform/concerns
- Make personal contact with media/stakeholders/opinion leaders at local level
- Maximize all speaking engagement opportunities
We will be partnering with Sport Nova Scotia on two initiatives - attending several of the walk-abouts and speaking engagements involving the leader candidates, and hosting a "Round Table" meeting with each leader. We will also be strategically aligning ourselves with other organizations that also believe that accessible, quality recreational opportunities and infrastructure are integral components to the health and wellness of Nova Scotia.
Your Role as an Advocate
We know that advocacy leads to change and that establishing a network of contacts and supporters at the grassroots level is critical to evoking this change. While advocacy is a long-term process, in the next few weeks any initiatives you can undertake in your community will underscore public awareness of recreation as an essential service and the need for increased funding.
The election time frame provides us with the opportunity to unite our efforts to become "active and vocal" supporters for recreation. A few years ago many of you received a Building Healthier Communities Together Information Kit that contains the Recreation Matters message. This kit promotes the importance of healthier lifestyles and discusses the impact it has on health, the economy, education, youth, and the environment and provides you with the tools needed to be an effective advocate. In this kit there is an insert which clearly outlines who you should be speaking to and identifies ways you can effectively move our message forward. If you do not have this kit and would like one, please call Bernie Jollie at the RNS office, (902) 425-1128.
Capturing any and all opportunities in the upcoming weeks will go a long way in helping to link recreation and sport with the Party's agenda and platform. Speak to your local politicians and ask them targeted questions such as:
Q: What is your Party's vision for ensuring the provincial government continues to provide this leadership role in regards to recreation?
Q: What will be you and your Party's level of commitment to increasing the physical activity levels of Nova Scotians and ensuring adequate funds are provided to the Active Kids Healthy Kids Strategy, i.e.: how much funding over what period of time?
Q: How is your Party going to ensure that appropriate and equitable levels of funding is provided to major and minor recreation facility de�velopment?
Q: We want to know what your plan is for supporting volunteerism and the voluntary sector, and what investment is your party prepared to make to this sector?
We have developed a Question and Answer Guide so that you have a response to key questions you may be asked. This will ensure we are all "singing from the same song book."
By Asking Questions our Voices will be Heard
This will be a short and very intense election period. We are competing with many, many others to get the attention of party leaders, candidates and the public. So seize and create opportunities to clarify our beliefs on the many benefits of recreation. The window of opportunity to make additional support for recreation an election issue is very tight. We need you to be ambassadors for recreation and RNS. We are working on a media and political kit this week and will make this information available to you on our web site throughout the election. I ask that you make me aware of any local issues that help or hinder our campaign. While we will have access to a media monitoring service during the upcoming weeks, your feedback is important. We will keep you in the loop as the campaign unfolds. It is sure to be an exciting month one which can have a significant impact on the future of provincial funding and support for recreational opportunities, programs and infrastructure. If you have questions or concerns don't hesitate to call me at (902) 425-1128 or email me at stegenda@sportns.ns.ca
What is your Party's Response to these Issues?
Questions to Political Parties (PDF, 425kb)
Liberal Party Response (PDF, 63kb)
NDP Party Response (PDF, 67kb)
PC Party Response (PDF, 81kb)
