People

Welcome to the People Pillar! We’ve enhanced the user experience by providing an interactive video and workbook that takes you through this pillar so that you can feel equipped and confident to take action in building healthy places in your community. Remember – This is a ‘choose your own’ adventure so you can choose which tools to use in this journey.

People are the building blocks of our communities. The people in our communities should guide and inform the creation of programs, places, promotions, partnerships, and policies and how participation is encouraged.

Interactive Video
PDF Workbook
Read on the Web

Healthy Communities Workbook People Download

Looking to expand your knowledge of Equity, Diversity and Inclusion (EDI) in recreation settings?

Incorporating strategies that enhance and respect the equity, diversity and inclusion of all individuals is vital to reducing health inequalities and ensuring the benefits of recreation are universal. Our FREE online eCourse aims to teach actionable skills around improving equity, diversity, and inclusion (EDI) in recreation settings.

begin the EDI ecourse now!

ARPA’s Learning Journey

The Alberta Recreation & Parks Association would like to acknowledge that our role in exploring Equity, Diversity and Inclusion (EDI) is one of allyship and not expertise. As an organization, we recognize that we must continually improve to serve Albertans as best we can. Therefore, we are committed to continuing our EDI learning journey and putting our learnings into action.

As part of our commitment to action, we are making EDI information in a recreation context more accessible to our members, champions and partners. We hope that sharing our learnings will inspire others to join us on their allyship journeys.

Defining People

Each pillar of the Healthy Communities Framework (HCF) is grounded in and reflects the concepts covered in the People Pillar.

The People Pillar of the HCF focuses on the importance of Equity, Diversity and Inclusion as a tool to build healthier and more engaged communities.

Why Do People Matter?

As mentioned, People are the unique individuals or groups who form our communities and the organizations that serve them. These are the people we serve through recreation to improve the health and well-being of our communities. However, despite our efforts to improve community health, significant health disparities still affect some marginalized groups such as⁽¹⁾:

Indigenous People
Newcomers
Racial, gender and sexual minorities
People with disabilities or functional limitations
People with low socioeconomic status

Whether historical or current, the social, political and economic environment has and continues to play a role in the ability of marginalized people to access or participate in HEAL initiatives⁽¹⁾. Incorporating strategies that enhance and respect the equity, diversity and inclusion of all individuals is vital to reducing health inequities and ensuring the benefits of recreation are universal.

Canadian Stats on Equity:

Almost 1200 Indigenous women and girls were reported murdered or went missing between 1980-2012⁽²⁾. Due to under or misreporting, the actual number is likely higher. This is a murder rate 4.5x that of all other women in Canada⁽³⁾.

The median income of the Indigenous population in 2005 was only ⅔ of that of the non-Indigenous population⁽²⁾. All Indigenous Peoples, especially those who live on reserve, have lower employment rates than non-Indigenous Canadians⁽⁴⁾. Moreover, Indigenous populations living off-reserve only earn 75-80% of non-Indigenous income. Those living on reserve earn a median income of less than half of non-Indigenous Canadians⁽⁴⁾.

In 2019, the police recorded 263 hate crimes, up 41% from 2018, targeting those with a non-heterosexual orientation⁽⁵⁾. Additionally, 2SLGBTQIA+ are more vulnerable to loss of housing with ⅓ of 2SLGBTQIA+ youth living outside of their parents home in comparison to ¼ of non-2SLGBTQIA+ youth⁽⁵⁾.

Single-Mother led households are 5 times more likely to live in poverty than households with two parents and/or caregivers⁽²⁾.

Housing need is 6% higher for people with disabilities and women make up ⅔ of that⁽²⁾. Moreover, people with disabilities are more likely to experience higher rates of poverty which contributes to the unaffordability of housing⁽⁶⁾.

Only ¼ of Councilors and mayors across Canada are women. The Federation of Canadian Municipalities has set the bar at a minimum of 30% by 2026 to reflect women perspectives⁽²⁾.

Almost ⅓ of the population living in low and very low-income neighbourhoods are racialized⁽²⁾. Between 2019 and 2020, hate crimes against racialized or ethnic groups rose 80% from 884 to 1,594⁽⁷⁾.

Almost ⅓ of seniors live in housing that fails to meet appropriate standards including affordability⁽²⁾.

Video: Healthy Communities Framework – Webinar Series (People)

This webinar features a presentation from Dr. Lisa Tink highlighting her book, Fit to be Canadian? The Recreation Industrial Complex in Canada. Through a historical re-reading of ‘public’ recreation, this presentation challenges the often-repeated narrative of a more inclusive era in recreation’s past. Tracing some of the conditions that have given rise to our current recreation systems, this research demonstrates how recreation has always been exclusionary. This webinar will make you think and reflect while leaving you feeling inspired to do the work in order to make an impact in your community.

(Length: 1hr8min12secs)

What are Equity, Diversity and Inclusion?

Before we define Equity, Diversity and Inclusion, it is essential to remember that these words are not static descriptions but terms requiring action:

Equity: The Goal
Diversity: Recognizing and celebrating difference
Inclusion: Choosing to take action

With those actions in mind, the Canadian Centre for Diversity and Inclusion (2022)⁽⁸⁾, defines Equity, Diversity and Inclusion as:

Where everyone is treated according to their diverse needs in a way that enables all people to participate, perform and engage to the same extent.

Diversity is about the individual. It is about the variety of unique dimensions, qualities, and characteristics we all possess, and the mix that occurs in any group of people. Race, ethnicity, age, gender, sexual orientation, religious beliefs, economic status, physical abilities, life experiences, and other perspectives can make up individual diversity. Diversity is a fact, and inclusion is a choice.

Inclusion is creating a culture that embraces, respects, accepts and values diversity. It is a mindful and equitable effort to meet individual needs so that everyone feels respected, valued, and able to contribute to their fullest potential. Where diversity occurs naturally, creating the mix in the organization, inclusion is the choice that helps the mix work together.

Making People Matter Through Equity, Diversity and Inclusion

The Responsibility:

One of the main goals, as set out by the Canadian Parks and Recreation Associations’ Framework for Recreation in Canada, is to create and deliver inclusive and equitable services⁽⁹⁾. Moreover, the recreation sector is a service provider, employer and advocate that influences several aspects of community life. In this, we are responsible for being leaders and creating positive change⁽¹⁰⁾. By applying an EDI lens, we are keeping with the best practices to ensure that ALL citizens can benefit from recreational and HEAL initiatives.

The Opportunity:

The recreation sector has a unique position to connect with all community residents. Recreation intersects with:

Children and youth after-school and sports programming
Public art and park programming
Community events, festivals and block parties

Applying an EDI lens can help us better reach, engage and connect with all residents during recreation and HEAL programming.

Looking to expand your knowledge of Equity, Diversity and Inclusion (EDI) in recreation settings?

begin the EDI ecourse now!

Continue Exploring People

EDI Definitions

Government of Canada. Key Health Inequalities in Canada: A National Portrait – Executive Summary [report on internet]. Ottawa. The government; 2018 [cited 2022 July 7]. Available from: https://www.canada.ca/en/public-health/services/publications/science-research-data/key-health-inequalities-canada-national-portrait-executive-summary.html
City for All Women Initiative. Advancing Equity and Inclusion: A guide for municipalities. [report on internet]. Ottawa. The initiative; 2015 [cited 2022 July 7]. Available from: https://documents.ottawa.ca/sites/documents/files/documents/adv_equity_en.pdf
Amnesty International Canada [Internet]; c2022. Missing and murdered Indigenous women and girls: Understanding the numbers; Janurary 2021[cited 2022 July 8]. Available from: https://www.amnesty.ca/blog/missing-and-murdered-indigenous-women-and-girls-understanding-the-numbers/
Government of Canada [Internet]. Annual Report to Parliament 2020; November 2021 [cited 2022 July 8]. Available from: https://www.sac-isc.gc.ca/eng/1602010609492/1602010631711
Statistics Canada [Internet]. A statistical portrait of Canada’s diverse LGBTQ2+ communities; June 2021 [cited 2022 July 8]. Available from: https://www150.statcan.gc.ca/n1/daily-quotidien/210615/dq210615a-eng.htm
Statistics Canada [Internet]. Housing Experiences in Canada: Persons with disabilities; June 2022 [cited 2022 July 8]. Available from: https://www150.statcan.gc.ca/n1/pub/46-28-0001/2021001/article/00011-eng.htm
Statistics Canada [Internet]. Police-reported hate crime in Canada, 2020; March 2022 [cited 2022 July 8]. Available from: https://www150.statcan.gc.ca/n1/pub/85-002-x/2022001/article/00005-eng.htm
Canadian Centre for Diversity and Inclusion. Glossary of Terms: A reference tool. [report on internet]. The organization; 2022 [cited 2022 July 8]. Available from: https://ccdi.ca/media/3150/ccdi-glossary-of-terms-eng.pdf
Canadian Parks and Recreation Association. A Framework for Recreation in Canada 2015 Pathways to Wellbeing. [report on internet]. The Association; 2015 [cited 2022 July 8]. Available from: https://cpra.ca/wp-content/uploads/2021/04/FrameworkForRecreationInCanada_2016wcitation.pdf
The City of Vancouver. Getting our house in order: The City of Vancouver’s Equity Framework. [report on internet]. The City; 2021 [cited 2022 July 8]. Available from: https://vancouver.ca/files/cov/equity-framework.pdf

Looking to expand your knowledge of Equity, Diversity and Inclusion (EDI) in recreation settings?

ARPA’s Learning Journey

Defining People