2025 NWTRPA Conference and AGM

Building Leadership for Sustainability: 2025 NWTRPA Conference Keynote

This October, recreation leaders, health professionals, Elders, students, and community volunteers from across the Northwest Territories will gather in Inuvik for the 2025 NWTRPA Conference and AGM. Taking place October 7–9, the conference will bring together people who share a passion for strengthening recreation and on-the-land programming across the North.

The theme for this year’s conference is “Building Leadership for Sustainable Recreation.” The focus is on equipping leaders with the skills, tools, and strategies needed to ensure programs remain strong and adaptable in a time of rapid change. Climate impacts, shifting funding realities, and demographic change are reshaping the landscape in which Northern recreation operates. To thrive, communities will need resilient leaders who can navigate these challenges and sustain programs that bring people together, foster wellness, and build stronger connections to the land and to each other.

A Timely Keynote: Recreation and Wildfire Smoke

The 2025 keynote session, “Recreation and Wildfire Smoke: Sustaining Programs Through Poor Air

Quality,” could hardly be more relevant. Wildfires across the Northwest Territories have disrupted lives, forced evacuations, and left lingering smoke in many communities. Even as this article is written, fires continue to threaten homes and alter daily routines. For recreation leaders, the challenge is clear: how do we continue to deliver safe, engaging programs in the face of worsening smoke events that may last days or even weeks?

The keynote will address this reality directly. Led by Chirag Rohit, Chief Environmental Health Officer with the GNWT Department of Health and Social Services, along with a panel of local experts, the session will explore both the science and the lived experience of smoke. Attendees will gain a clear understanding of what wildfire smoke is, how it affects health, and what recreation professionals need to know in order to make safe, informed decisions for their participants and facilities.

Practical Learning for Leaders

More than just theory, the keynote is designed to provide practical tools that recreation leaders can apply immediately. Through expert presentations and small-group discussions, attendees will explore:

• Health impacts of wildfire smoke with particular attention to children, Elders, and those with

pre-existing health conditions.

• Existing GNWT tools and guidelines, including how to interpret the Air Quality Health Index and public health advisories in the context of recreation programming.

• Program adaptation strategies, such as modifying activity intensity, relocating programs indoors, or adjusting duration to keep people active without compromising health.

• Indoor air quality solutions, ranging from do-it-yourself portable air purifiers to optimizing

facility ventilation and designating clean-air spaces.

• Preparedness and planning steps that facilities and recreation staff can take in advance of

smoke events, including resource inventories, staff training, and contingency program plans.

Participants will also be encouraged to identify specific action steps they can take back to their

communities. These may be small shifts, like preparing program alternatives in advance, or larger

changes, such as advocating for facility upgrades or community-wide clean air spaces.

Why This Matters

Recreation is more than “something to do.” It builds community resilience, supports mental and physical health, and strengthens cultural connections. But to be effective, programs must be sustainable in the face of new realities. Wildfire smoke is no longer an occasional inconvenience; it is becoming a regular and disruptive feature of Northern summers.

By focusing on wildfire smoke in the opening keynote, the NWTRPA conference is sending a clear

message: sustainability in recreation requires new strategies. It means preparing for disruptions,

safeguarding vulnerable populations, and ensuring that the benefits of recreation remain accessible even under difficult conditions. For conference participants, this session promises insights that are both timely and actionable. The lessons will help leaders protect their communities’ health, maintain continuity of service, and adapt their programs to a changing environment.

A Conference of Value

The keynote sets the tone for three days of learning, sharing, and collaboration. Attendees can expect a program filled with hands-on workshops, inspiring presentations, and opportunities to connect with peers from across the territory. From sessions on artificial intelligence and recreation careers to Elders in Motion training and cultural activities, the 2025 conference will equip participants with knowledge and connections that extend well beyond the event itself.

If the keynote is any indication, this year’s NWTRPA Conference will be an invaluable gathering for

anyone working in recreation, health, or community leadership.

Registration is now open. Join us in Inuvik from October 7–9 to be part of this important conversation and to strengthen your capacity to lead sustainable recreation in the North.