PRO Statement - Ontario's After School Program Funding Increase
On October 19, 2023, Minister Lumsden, Minister of Tourism, Culture, and Sport, announced an additional $1.1 million in provincial funding to support Ontario's After School Program. Ontario's total investment is $14.6 million for the 2023-2024 school year. Read PRO's full statement here. 

2024 PRO EX Sponsorship and Trade Show

Do you want to showcase your brand at the largest gathering of parks and recreation professionals in the country? Consider becoming a sponsor or exhibitor at the 2024 PRO Expedition! From April 17th to 19th, 2024, more than 500 delegates from the parks, recreation, and aquatics sectors will converge in Blue Mountain, Ontario for a unique opportunity to connect, learn, and discover outstanding companies and products.

2024 PRO EX Call for Presenters

Present at the 2024 PRO Expedition! We're on the hunt for passionate session leaders and inspiring keynote speakers who are driving change in the world of parks, recreation, and aquatics. Have a unique presentation idea to share? Submit it here by October 15, 2023, and be part of the adventure! 

 2024 PRO EX Call for Committee Members
Join our team for the 2024 PRO Expedition! We're assembling a diverse committee of visionary individuals to help shape this extraordinary event for parks and recreation professionals. If you're passionate about pushing boundaries, fostering innovation, and creating a platform for cutting-edge ideas, the PRO EX Committee is the perfect opportunity for you. Follow this link to learn more and apply.

Welcome Sarah Ane!
PRO is pleased to welcome Sarah Ane to the team as Director of Policy and Partnerships. Sarah has spent the last 15 years working in parks, recreation, community development and engagement, parkland planning and leadership in a public service environment. A proud Brock University alumna, Sarah remains actively involved in research efforts with the university. As a staunch advocate for the vital role the sector plays in communities across the province, Sarah believes parks and recreation are essential services for all Ontarians.  Welcome, Sarah!

Membership Survey 

Complete the 2023 PRO Membership Survey by July 15th for your chance to win a free iPad. This is an opportunity to share your thoughts on PRO's membership benefits and services, training and events, and communications. Your response will help ensure we can continue to serve our members and lead the sector for years to come. This survey includes 55 questions and takes approximately 10 to 15 minutes to complete.  Note that you must be a PRO member to complete the survey and enter the prize draw.  The survey and prize draw will close on July 15, 2023. Thank you for your response and valuable feedback!

Launching a Learning Management System for Parks and Recreation Ontario 

On Tuesday, May 23, 2023 Dr. Adil Shamji, MPP met online with the team at Parks and Recreation Ontario’s (PRO) as their Annual General Meeting was getting underway and for the launch of PRO’s new learning management system.  MPP Shamji also formally congratulated the group on the work it’s done since receiving a $149,800 Resilient Communities Fund grant from the Ontario Trillium Foundation in 2022 to update the technology required to offer virtual professional development opportunities that are vital to the recreation and sport sector. READ MORE

2022 Annual Report

2022 was a year of growth for PRO. From increased training offerings and a national campaign on gender equity on sport to provincial wide advocacy and youth employment, PRO build capacity in the sector and advanced the benefits of high quality parks and recreation.  READ MORE

Aquatics Wage Survey Report

The aquatics sector has long faced issues with the recruitment and retention of qualified staff to lifeguard and deliver programming. In the fall of 2022, Parks and Recreation Ontario released the Aquatics Wage survey to gather data on staff recruitment and retention in the aquatics sector. The survey sought information on wages, other forms of compensation, job titles, and descriptions. READ MORE

2023 Camp Provision Survey

In the summer of 2022, Parks and Recreation Ontario (PRO) released the

Camps Survey to gather data related to issues of staff recruitment and

retention. This reports summarizes these findings and highlights recommendations for future advocacy. READ MORE

Announcement: Incoming CEO

Parks and Recreation Ontario (PRO) is pleased to announce the appointment of Kim Gavine as Chief Executive Officer, effective May 8, 2023. READ MORE