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Article by Lori Larsen, Camrose Booster
The City of Camrose has received national recognition as the recipient of the Creative City Network (CCNC) 2023 Cultural IDEA Award for the “Ready, Set, Play!” project that involved a partnership between the City of Camrose Recreation & Culture Department, Action for Healthy Communities and Alberta Health Services “Move Your Mood”.
The project included games painted on picnic tables that were placed throughout the city in City parks during the spring and summer, aimed at engaging families and friends to participate in all types of play.
“We are thrilled and beyond honoured to be receiving the Creative City Network of Canada Inclusion, Diversity, Equity and Accessibility Award,” remarked City of Camrose Recreation and Culture manager Tanya Pattullo. “Our unique approach to engage Camrosians and promote physical activity blossomed into a program far more than we expected with results that were overwhelmingly positive and heartwarming.”
Pattullo explained that the process for “Ready, Set, Play!” began last year at the Creative City Network of Canada Summit hosted in Waterloo, Ontario.
“During one of the public art tours, we saw the fun picnic table games that were incorporated into the city scene. Games like snakes and ladders were there for families to enjoy and have fun. We took this concept home with us with the full intention of implementing them into our city parks and trails system the following spring.”
The “Ready, Set, Play!” program was designed to help cultural groups in the local community feel a sense of belonging through the creation, designing and painting of picnic table games inspired by games played in community members’ homelands that are often passed on to younger generations.
“Generations of families participated, made connections with others, and were proud to write the words ‘welcome’ in their language on their table,” noted Pattullo.
The picnic table project allowed the community to showcase the importance of cultural diversity.
“The project enriched the community by bringing together individuals from various backgrounds, cultures, and experiences,” said City of Camrose Recreation and Culture, Recreation Program coordinator Jayda Calon. “‘Ready, Set, Play!’ proved to be an avenue to embrace differences, learn from one another, unite in the pursuit of shared goals, foster empathy and break down stereotypes.”
The project also opened an avenue for all members of the community to not only learn a variety of fun, family-oriented games but to learn about the rich diversity that exists in Camrose and surrounding areas.
“Cultures included Indigenous, Ukrainian, Filipino, Moroccan, Iraqi, Indian, Mexican, Lebanese and Zambian,” said Calon.
Alberta Health Services Addiction Prevention and Mental Health Promotion facilitator, Community Addiction and Mental Health, Tammy Richard spoke about the important impact the project had on the local community. “By getting active and exploring city parks and picnic tables, program participants and city residents not only had the opportunity to enhance their physical and mental health, but also had the opportunity to learn about different cultures, meet others, and develop a sense of belonging.”
Delighted to be able to partner alongside the City of Camrose and Alberta Health Services in “Ready, Set, Play!” program, Action for Healthy Communities Program manager (Small Centres) Lisa de Gara commented. “In our daily work, we support immigrants and refugees to Camrose. It can be intensely challenging, even isolating, for families to settle in smaller centres–particularly places which have few ethnocultural resources or existing newcomer communities.
“The City of Camrose has taken a bold step in inclusion with the ‘Ready, Set, Play!’ Program and we are very proud to see the City acknowledged with this award. We are excited for what will come next, and look forward to walking alongside the City of Camrose to make this the most inclusive community it can be.”
Nominations for the awards were accepted from all municipalities across the country in May and June, with all submissions being reviewed by a volunteer peer jury that selected the successful candidates and honorable mentions in the summer of 2023. Four awards were handed out to members of the Creative City Network of Canada in returning categories: Cultural Events, Public Art Legacy, Public Art Sustainability, and Cultural IDEA.
“I know I can speak for the rest of City Council when I say that we are immensely proud of our staff and their work, which has been rightfully recognized on a national level,” commented City of Camrose Mayor PJ Stasko. “We acknowledge the importance of arts and culture and as well as working collaboratively to enhance the wellbeing of our residents. Congratulations to all those who participated in this project. It is a true honour to see our hard working employees and their community partners receive this award.
Pictured left to right are City of Camrose Councillor Don Rosland and granddaughter Peyton Paulson, City of Camrose Recreation and Culture Department Recreation Program coordinator Jayda Calon, manager Tanya Pattullo, Mayor PJ Stasko, Camrosian Julieta Ruiz-Garcia with daughter Angela (creators of the picnic table art pictured) and Action for Healthy Communities Leah Stuparyk. Missing from photo was Alberta Health Services Addiction Prevention and Mental Health Promotion facilitator, Community Addiction and Mental Health Tammy Richard.
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