Unpacking the BC government’s Outdoor Recreation Strategy

Webinar Summary

Background

The Ministry of Environment and Parks released the Outdoor Recreation Strategy in May, at the ORCBC’s 50th anniversary conference. It’s part of Look West, the provincial government’s plan to strengthen the economy, and identifies outdoor recreation (along with tourism) as one of eight priority sectors. Read the full Outdoor Recreation Strategy, and a simplified version is available.

The Outdoor Recreation Strategy includes five Strategic Goals, which are broken down into 29 Action Items.

  1. Inspire action: Setting the table by aligning relationships in and out of government with better data and storytelling.

  2. Deliver experiences: These are the foundational elements, in particular providing exceptional outdoor recreational experiences and making them accessible with functioning resource road network. 

  3. Invest in growth: Create an environment that enables growth in outdoor gear making, Indigenous tourism and other outdoor recreation related businesses with more efficient and transparent permitting and other processes.

  4. Support people: Outdoor recreation relies on the volunteers who make it happen. The government needs to support new innovative and creative ways to support the people and organizations.

  5. Protect what we love: This is about stewardship and conservation and finding new ways to better incorporate outdoor recreation in planning processes. This also includes better enforcement and compliance.

Webinar speaker

John Hawkings, Executive Lead, Recreation Strategy and Service Transformation, Ministry of Environment and Parks

E-mail:  John.Hawkings@gov.bc.ca

Eight Key Takeaways

  1. The Strategy is underway. Fourteen of 29 action items are already being worked on in some form. Some will need to be enhanced or shifted to align with the Strategy. The rest will be actioned depending on priority and the resources required.

  2. We need to find new funding streams. No new funding streams are expected to enable the Strategy in the foreseeable future. Instead, “innovative funding approaches” need to be explored. Already REDIP and the destination development funds have provided a significant portion of new outdoor recreation infrastructure money in recent years. Hawkings expects tourism to contribute more in the future.

  3. Everyone needs to pull in the same direction. By recognizing outdoor recreation as a key sector, the province now manages it with a whole-of-government approach for the first time. Eight government agencies are already working internally to collaborate on their efforts.

  4. The opportunity is for everyone. Outdoor recreation is one of the only industries that is naturally distributed across the province and available to almost every community. Plus, the return on investment is exceptional. The investment required and timelines are more modest than in most other industries. 

  5. It’s natural reconciliation. Thirty First Nations provided input to the strategy. Support for Indigenous involvement appears in many of the action items. First Nations see synergies with their interest in conservation and stewardship, respectful recreation and youth participation. 

  6. An Office of Outdoor Recreation is possible. Many U.S. states have a State Office of Outdoor Recreation a central hub that coordinates the jurisdiction’s approach to outdoor recreation. They have had a significant impact on the growth of the outdoor recreation ecosystem in some states. The closest equivalent in Canada is the Provincial Trails Office in Manitoba. B.C. is unique, but the idea is being investigated.

  7. There’s a recognition of many benefits. The Strategy highlights that there is more to outdoor recreation beyond having fun. It’s a major economic force, for sure. Also, the mental and physical health benefits of time in nature are especially interesting and are being investigated by the province and partners.

  8. New economic statistics are coming. Through the new BC Outdoor Recreation Satellite Account, BC Stats will measure the economic impact of outdoor recreation for the first time. It will report the figures annually, likely starting this year. Watch for an ORCBC webinar on the satellite account when it launches.

Conclusion

John Hawkings says the Outdoor Recreation Strategy was built on community. Volunteers and outdoor recreation clubs are doing critical work that continues to inform the rollout of the Strategy. He urges the public and outdoor recreation clubs to stay involved and engaged - including through regular updates facilitated by ORCBC  

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