Sparks 2025

Sparks 25 is your go-to event for networking and inspiring the continuous growth and education of the parks and recreation industry.

So, whether you are working or volunteering in the parks and recreation industry or are connected to the industry as an ally in health, community development, or tourism, join in the invaluable conversations and learning opportunities centered around creating a better quality of life through parks and recreation!

Why attend?

• Build meaningful connections – Network with peers from across the province who share your passion for improving quality of life through parks and recreation!
• Inspire continuous learning and growth- Gain insight, tools and ideas to take back to your communities and organizations.
• Engage in the latest industry research, trends and advocacy efforts – Leave equipped with resources and messaging that can help you demonstrate the impact of our collective work.

We’re excited to partner with the Saskatchewan Association of Recreation Professionals, to curate your Sparks experience! Check out the detailed schedule and sessions here!

Add on to your Sparks Experience:

• Recreation Practitioner’s Innovations Meeting - October 7

Registration deadline is September 29.

Questions? Email Chantel Doerksen, Communications Manager at [email protected].

Info: The Provincial Recreation Practitioners Innovations Meeting (*free* but separate registration required) is an opportunity for peer-to-peer learning and discuss solutions, challenges and innovations to what you are facing in the parks and recreation industry.

The Rec Room Happy Hour will follow. This is a chance to continue the day’s conversations in a relaxed, casual setting...like the Rec Room!

Info: Communities today face a web of complex and interconnected challenges—from climate change and wildfires to homelessness, aging infrastructure, reconciliation, loneliness, artificial intelligence, and deepening social inequalities. Navigating this unknown requires more than just updated policies or programs—it calls for a fundamental shift in how we think, relate, and respond.

Today’s topics will challenge our assumptions, have us thinking about our responsiveness, resilience and the role that parks and recreation plays in promoting belonging.

Info: Get ready for an evening of connection, laughter, and a little friendly competition! On Wednesday night, SARP—partnering with the talented students of the SaskPolytechnic Recreation & Tourism Management program—will host a networking event like no other. You’ll team up with old friends and new faces for an activity that’s guaranteed to break the ice—literally.
Expect food, drinks, and a good time! Come experience the fresh ideas of the next generation of recreation professionals and show your support for their hard work—you won’t want to miss it!
*offsite event. Transportation provided to and from host hotel

Info: The learning and connecting continues! We’ll be focused on advocacy and the journey to finding and embracing our collective voice in the parks and recreation industry. There will be discussions on promising practices around inclusion and group dialogue that will help us activate what we have learned and influence what the future of parks and recreation looks like in Saskatchewan!

Host or Publisher Saskatchewan Parks and Recreation Association