Recreation and sports

Parks

Alberta has a number of community and provincial parks and two very well known national parks (Jasper and Banff). You can enjoy a variety of scenery from the forests and rivers of the mountain parks to the desert-like badlands, found east of Calgary. Depending upon the kind of park, visitors can:

• Bike.
• Camp.
• Canoe.
• Climb.
• Enjoy the wildlife.
• Fish.
• Hike.
• Ski.

Parks are areas where wildlife, land and water are protected by law. Activities that would damage these natural regions are not allowed. Because parks are protected areas, there are a number of rules for using them.

It is against the law to consume alcohol in public places such as community parks.

In national parks, a small fee for visiting the park is collected when you enter the park.

• For more information about national parks, see the Parks Canada website.
   
• For information about provincial parks, see the Alberta Parks section of the Alberta Tourism, Parks, Recreation and Culture website.

Sports

Students are encouraged to participate in sports at school, and everyone is encouraged to join teams and use community recreation centres such as swimming pools and ice arenas.

If you cannot afford the equipment or fees required for your child's favourite sporting or recreation activity, contact the organization offering the activity and ask about equipment and fee assistance (subsidy) programs. You may be able to get used equipment that is still in good condition or qualify for lower fees.

There are over one hundred provincial sport and recreation associations in Alberta.

For more information:

• Visit the Programs and Services section of the Alberta Sport, Recreation Parks and Wildlife Foundation website.
   
• Look under the name of your community (for example, City of Grande Prairie) in the white pages or blue pages of your telephone book or on the myTELUS phone book website.

Community centres

People go to community centres in their neighbourhoods to participate in social, fundraising or sports events, or take recreational learning classes (for example, to learn how to sew, dance or speak English).

Ethnocultural and religious organizations also provide places for their members to gather and participate in social, learning or religious activities.

Recreational learning

Schools and community leagues often provide evening classes for people interested in learning about a wide variety of subjects, including:

• Baking.
• Chess.
• Dancing.
• Painting.
• Pottery.
• How to stop smoking or drinking alcohol.
• Gymnastics and many other sports.

For more information, contact the Community Adult Learning Council, public school board, separate school board, community league or ethnocultural organization in your area.

Community Adult Learning Councils are listed in the Community-Based Adult Learning section of the Alberta Advanced Education website.

Cultural activities

Alberta has many opportunities for people to enjoy cultural activities such as:

• Museums.
• Ballets.
• Zoos.
• Symphonies.
• Theatres.
• Art galleries.
• Historical sites.
• Libraries.
• Operas.
• Entertainment based on interests of ethnic groups.

Throughout the summer months, there are:

• Rodeos.
• Fairs.
• Farmers' markets.
• Outdoor and indoor concerts.
• Numerous celebrations and festivals such as the Calgary Stampede and Edmonton's Heritage Days.

These events are advertised in newspapers and on radio and television. For more information, see the Enjoying Alberta section of the Alberta Community Development website.

Date Updated: Jul 16, 2008
RDP-608