Recreation for Life Foundation

The Recreation for Life Foundation (RFLF) is a provincial not-for-profit, charitable agency that raises funds and whose primary purpose is to receive, manage, distribute, invest, and administer bequests, endowments, trusts, and other financial programs.

The primary purpose of the Foundation is to support the activities of the Alberta Recreation and Parks Association, itself a provincial charitable not-for-profit organization that has existed since 1951.

The Foundation is overseen by a dynamic and influential voluntary Board of Directors and further supported by well respected, trusted Honourary Directors who are committed to support the efforts of ARPA to advance the growth and development of community recreation and parks services.

The four areas of fund development emphasis and priority initiatives for the Recreation for Life Foundation are:

• Wellbeing and development of children and youth

• Greening communities

• Building healthy, vital communities

• Developing and recognizing leadership

Our Vision...

The Recreation for Life Foundation, as a province-wide organization, envisages:

"A province and communities within, that embrace and proactively use recreation and parks as essential means for enhancing individual well-being and community vitality, economic sustainability and natural resource protection and conservation." (Source: ARPA Strategic Business Plan - 2001)

We Believe...

That recreation is "all those things that a person or group chooses to do in order to make their leisure time more interesting, more enjoyable and more personally satisfying. Recreation includes all those activities in which an individual chooses to participate in one's leisure time and is not confined solely to sports and physical activity but includes artistic, cultural, social and intellectual activities." (Source: National Recreation Statement - 1987)

Recreation for Life...

We participate in recreation because of what it offers to our quality of life. It improves our state of health; it reduces the stress we encounter in our day to day lives; it provides social and economic benefits to our communities and province; it empowers us and builds self-confidence; it helps us to reach our potential; it builds solid foundations for families and communities; it promotes harmony between cultural groups; it reduces self-destructive behaviors; it is a catalyst for pride in ourselves, in our communities and province and in our environment. Simply put, recreation is essential to life.

As well, "for life" means that we participate in recreation during all periods of our lives - it is for infants, children, teenagers, young adults, middle life, and older adults - it is for people from all walks of life. It means that no matter what age you are, it is never to late to get involved and add recreation to your life. Recreation is something we incorporate into our lives for the entire duration of our lives.  (Source: Adapted from RPANB)