The NWT Recreation and Parks Association (NWTRPA) elected and acclaimed a new executive at its annual general meeting last week in Hay River.
Cynthia White of Fort Smith was acclaimed to her third year as president.
Three directors were elected to two-year terms: Mary Gordon as a director at large, Derek Squirrel as regional director for the Beaufort Delta, and Kyla Lesage as the director for Yellowknife.
Paul Bickford/NNSL photo
Tim Van Dam was acclaimed to a one-year term as South Slave regional director and Kristen Tanche was acclaimed to a two-year term as Dehcho regional director.
Two other regional director positions were not up for election this year. They are currently filled by Betty Ann Drybones in the North Slave and Rena Chapple in the Sahtu.
White is pleased with the makeup of the new executive.
"It's great," she said. "All strong people in the sector. We have people in health, we have people in municipal government or band government. So I think we have a really great cross-section of people."
White is also pleased to be returning for another year as president.
"I love this organization," she said. "This organization serves a broad spectrum of people in our territory and identifies recreation beyond sports, which I think for me is incredibly important."
White is the director of community services with Town of Fort Smith, which is a position that includes recreation.
About 110 people registered for the get-together of the NWT Recreation and Parks Association, which included a conference, annual general meeting and awards banquet.
It was the first time since 2011 that the meeting has been held in Hay River.
The event, which ran from Oct. 8 to Oct. 10, brought together recreation professionals, youth centre workers, health-care workers, educators, elders and volunteers.
White presented a positive president's report to delegates.
"The NWT Recreation and Parks Association had a strong 2018-2019 year that ended March 31," she said.
The president noted there was a lot of work on the 2018-2021 strategic plan, which aims to advance decolonization and reconciliation, understanding of recreation, on-the-land programs, active living, and recreation training.
"For 2019-2020 and beyond, the NWTRPA will continue to work on our strategic priorities," said White. "We have created a new staff position that is focused on increasing our research capacity."
Over the next year, the association will review its board positions, along with the nomination and election processes to improve board representation.
It will also be working on an action plan to reduce its environmental impact, such as by not using disposal plates and cutlery.