I’ve heard from many about how important it is for everyone in Edmonton to have equitable access to our amazing recreation facilities and programs. From kids with special needs, challenges with booking, limited ice and field times, etc - there is much demand.
That’s why, in 2022, my motion passed to have the City Auditor’s Office do an audit to understand if the City’s recreation programming is meeting diverse needs associated with age, gender, identity, ability, family status, ethnicity, race, religion and income level.
When this audit came back, it was clear that while the City is aspiring to ensure equitable access for recreation, there still exist inequities in recreational programming (eg; how we’re allotting ice or swim times or even park and green spaces for bookings).
The audit showed opportunities where the City can do better. For example, engagement and evaluation should expand beyond those currently using spaces and programming. By not engaging with those who are not using the spaces, we’re missing voices we need to hear!
The Auditor also recommended that the City also needs to have better processes for prioritization of spaces and bookings. It’s a great point, as the demographics and needs in Edmonton are continually changing we must ensure we’re matching that with our recreation facilities and programming. Doing this can also prove more financially sustainable, as the more we are hitting the mark with programming, the better enrollment and utilization of spaces - improving revenue.
Administration accepted all of the recommendations from the City Auditor and are working through them. Audit recommendations are tracked and reported back to the Audit committee on their status. I look forward to seeing a more robust plan on how the City can make our recreation opportunities more accessible to residents with diverse needs.
What recreation programming do you use? Is there anything that you think there should be more of or considerations for specialized programming?
