| 1. | Practice: | Freeride Park  |
| Contributor: | North Saanich (District) |
| Description: | The concept of a bike park in the District of North Saanich had its humble beginnings with the passion of a couple of local bike enthusiasts, who with the support of the community, were able to form a Society to partnership with the District of North Saanich to create its first bike jump park. The objective of the District and the Society was to bring a community together to create a world-class venue to promote environmentally sound recreational activity. The District was able to reclaim land that had previously been a retired sand quarry and transform it into a productive community gathering place. The greatest hurdle for the new bike park to overcome was establishing the benchmarks of safety standards to be incorporated into the track designs which would ensure minimizing risk to all cyclists enjoying the park. The current approach to the bike jump park design is to keep it "organic" in nature and to allow for features to change, grow and expand as the riders' needs dictate. The continuing development of the bike park with plans of adding features to challenge the most experienced of bike jump riders, promises to attract world-class events to be hosted at this facility, bringing with it opportunities to promote the region's cycling and hiking trails and the many other outdoor recreational activities offered throughout the community.
This project won the 2009 UBCM Community Excellence Award for Partnerships. |
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| 2. | Practice: | Tournament Capital Facility Expansion Project  |
| Contributor: | Kamloops (City) |
| Description: | On 2003 November 1, the referendum for the Tournament Capital Facility Expansion project was successful on its first attempt. This referendum approved municipal borrowing up to $37.6 million for the development of improvements, renovations, and new construction of Tournament Capital of Canada facilities, as outlined in the Facility Expansion Project. Construction commenced in 2004 and continues today. The innovation is the strategy that was used by local business individuals, City politicians, and staff whose vision was to make this project move forward in a successful manner. This has led to the successful development of the facilities. This project is not the sole work of one individual, but multiple individuals who have worked on making a common objective a reality.
This project was nominated for the 2006 UBCM Community Excellence Award for Leadership & Innovation, Large Community.
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| 3. | Practice: | Stanley Park Restoration |
| Contributor: | Vancouver (City) |
| Description: | In December of 2006 a devastating windstorm struck Stanley Park, leveling more than 40 hectares of forest, causing extensive damage to its Seawall, and closing one of the main roads into Vancouver. For the first time in over 40 years the entire park had to be closed. This crisis presented incredible challenges but also unexpected opportunities. The Park Board was able to harness the considerable public outpouring of concern for the park and effectively channel it into financial and in-kind support that would make the restoration achievable. Governments, organizations, businesses and the public contributed funds to restore the park while staff set out to enlist the help of experts. Creative partnerships were formed and leaders from a broad range of fields were recruited to assist in developing and implementing a restoration plan. Eighteen months later, Stanley Park is well on its way to recovery and the organization has learned important lessons on topics ranging from forestry to fundraising that will have long-term benefits and value. In the future, the Park Board, as well as other organizations and agencies, can apply these approaches to similar challenges.
This project won a special 2008 UBCM Community Excellence Award for Community Stewardship.
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| 4. | Practice: | Peace Island Expansion Project (Recreation Site Development) |
| Contributor: | Taylor (District) |
| Description: | The parameters of the project are described in the attached Softwood Industry Community Economic Adjustment Initiative (SICEAI) application. While recognizing that the project itself may not be extra-ordinary, the application for the award is being submitted for the leadership displayed in bringing a number of diverse groups together to develop a facility that was needed to serve the region. The constructed facility provides much needed access to the Peace River and promotes regional tourism due to the close proximity to the Alaska Highway.
This project was nominated for the 2005 UBCM Community Excellence Award for Leadership & Innovation, Small Community.
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| 5. | Practice: | Partnership with School District in Sports Activities for Youth |
| Contributor: | Abbotsford (City) |
| Description: | The rapid population growth in Abbotsford has created a significant shortage of lit sports fields for youth soccer. The result is severe overuse of existing fields during the season. Funding for land acquisition and capital work is available, but there is a shortage of appropriate flat land for field development on the market. School District No. 34 has had significant funding cuts which have resulted in money for sports fields and related programs being re-directed to educational items. The School District has several fields that are in poor condition due to lack of maintenance funding. In the spring of 2005, the Abbotsford Sports Field Advisory and Field Allocation Committee recognized that a solution to the problem had to be found for the fall 2005 season. The recommendation was to identify appropriate school fields and have the City take over management and upgrade them. This was beyond previous partnerships where the City merely took over maintenance of some school fields.
This project was nominated for the 2005 UBCM Community Excellence Award for Partnerships. |
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| 6. | Practice: | Partnership to Expand the Ladner Leisure Centre |
| Contributor: | Delta (District) |
| Description: | The fitness facility at the Ladner Leisure Centre, Delta was undersized relative to the demand and population it served. A new or expanded fitness facility was not within the Five Year Financial Plan and would not be an option for at least five years. In 2005, the Corporation of Delta entered into a partnership with the Vancouver Giants to develop a two-storey addition to the existing Leisure Centre to provide training facilities for the Vancouver Giants on the lower floor and a new 7,760 sq. ft. fitness facility on the upper floor for public use. Construction was completed early in 2006 with the new weight room and fitness area opened in March 2006. Overall, the partnership project has benefited the broader community by supporting physical activity and healthy living, and tripling fitness facility usage. The former fitness space was leased out to a physiotherapy operator, thereby providing further health benefits for the South Delta community, while at the same time offsetting the Municipality's rent for the new public fitness facility.
This project was nominated for the 2006 UBCM Community Excellence Award for Partnerships.
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| 7. | Practice: | Partnership Agreements: Facility Use and Community Preschool |
| Contributor: | Taylor (District) |
| Description: | The District of Taylor and School District enjoy a very positive working agreement based on mutual respect and cooperation. At the core of this working relationship are two formal agreements: a Facility Mutual Use Agreement, and an agreement to provide a community preschool.
This project was nominated for the 2005 UBCM Community Excellence Award for Partnerships. |
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| 8. | Practice: | North Shore Walks |
| Contributor: | North Vancouver (City) |
| Description: | North Shore Walks is a grassroots, community based active living initiative developed by North & West Vancouver municipalities in conjunction with the Active North Shore Network. The goal of the program is to get active and non-active residents and employee groups of all ages walking and discovering the diverse selection of walks and pathways in North and West Vancouver. North Shore Walks provides physical, social and community building benefits for the entire community at no additional cost to the Municipality or taxpayer. The initiative is supported by the Active North Shore Network, a community based group of committed organizations that leverage resources and corporate sponsorships to create a vibrant and sustainable initiative - a model of excellence the Municipality can be proud of.
This project was nominated for the 2007 UBCM Community Excellence Award for Best Practices. |
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| 9. | Practice: | New West Walks |
| Contributor: | New Westminster (City) |
| Description: | The City of New Westminster, Parks and Recreation Department is submitting the New West Walks Active Community Program for consideration for the UBCM Community Excellent Awards. New West Walks has been developed as a solution to the problem of physical inactivity within the community and province in general. It was originally developed to improve the profile of our fledgling Active Communities program and over the past year has far-surpassed goals and expectations. New West Walks is an independent walking program that uses web-based technology to track steps, distances, and activities. Motivation and encouragement is built right into the program through incentives and events. To date, we have well-over 1100 registered participants, including residents, employees, and students. The program clearly exemplifies excellence in community programming and already has been a model for others to follow and learn from.
This project was nominated for the 2008 UBCM Community Excellence Award for Best Practices. |
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| 10. | Practice: | Greenbrook Kids Clubhouse |
| Contributor: | Surrey (City) |
| Description: | The Greenbrook Kids Clubhouse, simply known as the "Clubhouse", is an initiative proudly undertaken in October 2005. The Clubhouse is currently located in the community building at Greenbrook BC Housing Complex in Surrey's Newton Town Centre. It provides many of our underprivileged youth, between the ages of 6 and 13, with a wide array of social and recreational opportunities that they would have not otherwise been able to access due to various economic and social barriers.
This project was nominated for the 2006 UBCM Community Excellence Award for Partnerships. |
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| 11. | Practice: | Greater Victoria Inter-Municipal Recreation Managers Committee |
| Contributor: | Saanich (District) |
| Description: | The Greater Victoria Region is comprised of thirteen local governments operating seven parks and recreation departments. Each department has a mandate for recreation service delivery for their respective community. However, residents look beyond local government boarders for recreation opportunities and a mechanism was needed to more effectively coordinate services common to the region and to create needed new public opportunities typically beyond the resources of a single department. To address this challenge the Greater Victoria Inter-Municipal Recreation Managers Committee was established. The original mandate was to explore service partnerships with the regional health authority and to initiate a common recreation fee subsidy program in the region for low income residents. The fee subsidy program Leisure Involvement For Everyone (LIFE) has been implemented and numerous program partnerships established with Vancouver Island Health Authority. Since then many other valued regional programs have been created through the cooperation and shared resources of the Committees member organizations.
This project was nominated for the 2007 UBCM Community Excellence Award for Best Practices. |
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| 12. | Practice: | Garden City Park |
| Contributor: | Richmond (City) |
| Description: | Garden City Community Park in Richmond, B. C. is twenty acres of a diverse mix of park, arboretum, playground, lake, and wetland. It provides the City's 181,000 residents, as well as its visitors, the opportunity to experience the great outdoors right within the heart of the city. The vision for the site is to combine a traditional park like atmosphere provided by pathways, playgrounds, formal lawns and specimen trees, with the more "natural" character of the native deciduous, birch-dominated forest that comprises much of the park area. Sustainability goals have consistently been key factors during the duration of this project, from conceptual planning in which community residents provided significant input, through to the recent completion of a combined storm detention/recreational pond and wetland system.
This project was nominated for the 2006 UBCM Community Excellence Award for Leadership & Innovation, Large Community. |
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| 13. | Practice: | Douglas Park Community-Build Fully Accessible Playground |
| Contributor: | Langley (City) |
| Description: | The Douglas Park Community-Build Fully Accessible Playground was constructed to promote Physical Activity and Healthy Living and enhance the social well-being of present and future residents of our community. The City of Langley partnered with the "Rick Hansen Wheels in Motion Foundation", Home Depot, KaBOOM, The Communities in Bloom Committee and two hundred volunteers to create the first fully accessible KaBOOM playground in Canada. This innovative project has given members of the community an opportunity to experience physical activity and healthy living through play. The pursuits of partnerships with community groups and business' to promote healthy lifestyles are important components of the City's Strategic Plan and follow the direction of the Official Community Plan.
This project was nominated for the 2006 UBCM Community Excellence Award for Partnerships. |
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| 14. | Practice: | Crown Park (Community Park with Sustainable Design Principles) |
| Contributor: | Coquitlam (City) |
| Description: | Crown Park is a new community park in the City of Coquitlam that uses several innovative design functions that adhere to principles of sustainable development. It is designed and constructed to
meet recreation program needs while protecting the ecological integrity of the natural environment and demonstrating innovative Low Impact Development technology.
This project was nominated for the 2005 UBCM Community Excellence Award for Leadership & Innovation (Large Community). |
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| 15. | Practice: | Centennial Activity Centre - Shared Recreation Space |
| Contributor: | Coquitlam (City) |
| Description: | Centennial Activity Centre is a partnership project between the City of Coquitlam and School District 43 (Coquitlam) designed to leverage shared recreation space and gymnasium facilities. Completed and opened in the Fall of 2003, the new facility is a large dry-floor space/gymnasium which serves both the School population and community.
This project was nominated for the 2005 UBCM Community Excellence Award for Partnerships.
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