Leisure

Goal Two: Edmonton celebrates life!

Edmontonians love to celebrate!

Edmonton is a fun city, bustling with arts, theatre, retail and entertainment districts and sporting events. Whether participant or spectator, amateur or professional, Edmontonians celebrate the full spectrum of choices when it comes to enjoying life to the fullest!

From the everyday enjoyment of Edmonton’s outstanding parks, natural, green and public spaces, to our local arts, cultural, sports and local celebrations, Edmontonians live large. They value active, healthy lifestyles and want their municipal government to work with them to create invigorating leisure, social and recreational opportunities accessible to the widest range of abilities, ages and incomes.

Edmontonians love to play! On the sports field or the stage, the ice rink or the swimming pool, the dance floor or the games table, the residents of this city have a healthy appreciation for physical movement and fun.

They welcome the opportunity to celebrate and make opportunities to host celebrations. Edmontonians are proud of their internationally renowned facilities and keep them full with local, national and international events that draw the applause of a global audience.

This is a city that honours its natural and civic history and the histories of its diverse populations. Edmontonians come together often to celebrate community and individual milestones and accomplishments.

Community organizations partner with the City of Edmonton to enliven public spaces with events and activities that appeal to, and attract, people of all ages and abilities.

Edmontonians see their city as one renowned for its rich and diverse arts and cultural community; respected for its athletic accomplishments at all levels of endeavour and appreciated for how it honours and preserves its multi-faceted heritage.

They look to their municipal government to join them in promoting healthy lifestyles and to continue to create a culture of fun, play and celebration!

2.1 The City of Edmonton celebrates and promotes healthy living.

Strategic Policy Directions

The City of Edmonton:

• Provides, partners and advocates for leisure, social and recreational opportunities.
• Provides recreation, leisure and social programs to meet the diverse needs of Edmontonians.
• Provides infrastructure and public spaces to promote and encourage healthy and active living¹.
• Promotes the importance of recreation, play, walking, cycling and other forms of active living in all of its people services.

2.2 The City of Edmonton provides for the well-being of its citizens through outstanding parks, natural, green and public spaces.

Strategic Policy Directions

The City of Edmonton:

• Provides access to its parks, natural areas² and green spaces for the enjoyment of Edmontonians.
• Provides, maintains and promotes public spaces for the enjoyment of Edmontonians.
• Builds and maintains a connected system of shared use trails, green and natural spaces.
• Promotes, protects and maintains the North Saskatchewan River Valley as the centerpiece of an integrated regional parks system.
• Partners with community organizations to enliven, enhance, maintain and protect parks and green spaces.
• Promotes the use of its parks, green spaces and natural areas.

2.3 The City of Edmonton is a diverse, creative city with a rich and vibrant arts and cultural community.

Strategic Policy Directions

The City of Edmonton:

• Provides resources to, and partners with, organizations to nurture a flourishing arts community.
• Encourages the creative expressions of Edmontonians in all aspects of community life.
• Advocates for innovative and sustainable investment in the cultural sectors.
• Advocates for a creative city³.

2.4 The City of Edmonton has a vibrant, diverse sports sector for all Edmontonians.

Strategic Policy Directions

The City of Edmonton:

• Partners with the sport community, post-secondary education institutions and other stakeholders to develop a sports strategy.
• Partners with community leagues, school boards and organizations to build neighbourhood and community based sports.
• Partners with sports organizations and individuals to provide opportunities for all Edmontonians.
• Encourages sports development through play.
• Encourages best practices in sports development.

2.5 The City of Edmonton promotes the celebration of diversity, milestones, achievements and festivals.

Strategic Policy Directions

The City of Edmonton:

• Builds upon its tradition of festivals and events for all seasons and ages.
• Creates opportunities for celebrations.
• Partners with businesses, community organizations and other orders of government to celebrate milestones and achievements.
• Promotes and preserves its history at city-owned attractions and facilities.

2.6 The City of Edmonton hosts world class arts, cultural, sports and entertainment events at venues that attract a local, regional and global audience.

Strategic Policy Directions

The City of Edmonton:

• Uses its infrastructure and public spaces to host events and performances.
• Partners to build and maintain venues that serve as a legacy for Edmontonians.
• Partners with other organizations to host events and performances.
• Engages and partners with stakeholders and other orders of government to host national and international events.

Glossary

1. Active Living

• A way of life in which physical, social, mental, emotional and spiritual activities are valued and are integrated into daily living. (World Health Organization)

2. Natural Areas

• Space acquired for, and dedicated to, the preservation of natural heritages.

3. Creative City

• Creative cities are vibrant, social places:
  • nurturing personal growth.
  • generating cultural and technological breakthroughs
  • producing jobs and wealth and
  • are accepting a variety of lifestyles and culture.
    (City of Toronto, Creative City Planning Framework)

For More Information

Kate Gunn

Title	Director, Community Strategies and Development
Telephone	780-442-5441