Diversified Leisure Services Inc.
mailing: 81104 - 755 Lake Bonavista Dr. SE T2J 0N3 Calgary, AB, Canada

Join us in wishing Spruce Meadows co-founder, Marg Southern, a very happy 90th birthday. Her love of the horse, commitment to the community and motto welcoming... the world with open arms helped shape Spruce Meadows into the beautiful, world-class facility it is today. #SpruceMeadows #ShowJumping #HappyBirthday See more

Dear Mr. Mayor Nenshi, I am a Recreation Therapist providing an essential health service to young Calgarians experiencing mental illness. Recreation Therapy is ...a healthcare profession that utilizes a therapeutic process, involving leisure, recreation and play as a primary tool for each individual to achieve their highest level of independence and quality of life (Canadian Therapeutic Recreation Association, n.d.). On February 23rd, you provided a COVID-19 update on the extending of the State of Emergency in Calgary and suggested that opening recreation and cultural services will not make a significant difference in people’s mental healthit’s not going to help those who are really in trouble or who have really been traumatized. If your comments were true, then healthcare providers across the world would not employ Recreation Therapists in mental health programs, rehabilitation programs, housing-first programs, youth programs, and long-term care centres (to name a few). Your comments are undoubtedly false and contribute to the harmful minimization of the tremendous and scientifically proven benefits that recreation and leisure provide us, particularly when we might find ourselves the most unwell such as experiencing trauma or a physical injury. Research has well established that leisure can be a stress-buffer and reduce the negative effects of stress on people’s mental and physical health (Iso-Ahola & Parks, 1996; Iwasaki & Mannell, 2000). Adults in high stress roles, such as healthcare workers or essential service providers, who engage in relaxing and social forms of leisure, like attending the Chinook Blast event or visiting their local public library, can experience immediate positive physical and mental health outcomes (Smale & Butcher, 2005). Trauma of any kind has significant impact on overall health and wellbeing, and recreation and leisure activities play a significant role in allowing individuals who have experienced trauma to cope with their trauma associated stress, to heal their spiritual, social and psychological wounds and to become more present and engaged in living (Hutchinson, Bland & Kleiber, 2008). Through our most meaningful activities, whether it be meditation or prayer, exercise, creative arts or social connections with our loved ones, we are provided with buffers and opportunities to heal. We also know that lack of access to these activities or the centres provides ample opportunity for engagement in maladaptive leisure choices like the overuse of substances or electronics and contributes to negative health outcomes, particularly in adolescents (Hutchinson, Bland & Kleiber, 2008). Healthy leisure engagement and access to activities is what supports adolescents in building resilience, reducing psychological distress and reduces the risk of developing mental illness. While I agree, young Calgarians are some of the most resilient in our city, let us not forget those that might not be able to attend your virtual visit because of their current health experiences. I ask that you don’t paint an inaccurate picture of adaptability and resilience when there are new findings being published daily about the negative effects of covid on the mental wellbeing of children and youth, long term care residents, those living alone, those experiencing mental illness, and healthcare and essential service providers. If reopening recreation and cultural centres throws off the balancing of public health, mental health and economic health and could detrimentally impact the progress our province has made, then just say that. But don’t falsely spread misinformation while simultaneously advising the provincial government to be evidence-based. COVID-19 is one of the most traumatic events that many of us have experienced in more ways than one and it will be through leisure and recreation that we will heal the wounds from it. Sincerely, Brandie Magee, BSRS Recreation Therapist Alberta Therapeutic Recreation Association: www.alberta-tr.ca Canadian Therapeutic Recreation Association: www.canadian-tr.org. Research Links: https://www.bctra.org//uploa/tr_journals/926-3619-1-PB.pdf https://www.bctra.org//uploa/tr_journals/928-3627-1-PB.pdf

Finding your voice again after a #stroke or a spinal cord injury can be a difficult journey, but #musictherapy is helping patients even during COVID restrictions. #wellnesswellplayed CBC Alberta Health Services JB Music Therapy

I am so proud of the work that the Community Partners in Action are doing in Innisfail. Glad to be part of this amazing group. We were recognized on the 5 pm and 6 pm Calgary CTV news cast today.

Nothing goes better together than songs and stories. On Feb 27 at 1:15 pm, join the Calgary Philharmonic Orchestra for a musical Family Storytime, featuring a live violin performance and instrument fun facts: https://bit.ly/2Qtu7Aw

Check out this great podcast PowerHockey Canada has started!

Tell Tuesday! It is the responsibility of each of us in the field to be articulate advocates for clients, for the value of leisure, and for the role of TR in s...upporting living well with disability and illness Dr. Colleen Hood, co-author of the Leisure and Well-being Model #TRinthistogether #CTRA2021 #trmonth2021 @atrainaction

Wonderful idea!