The Active Living Alliance for Canadians with a Disability

By Ted Wall

Allow me to introduce you to the Active Living Alliance for Canadians with a Disability. After three years of planning, the Alliance became a reality on December 8, 1989, in Ottawa by a unanimous vote of the founding partners. The overall purpose of the Alliance is to facilitate and develop collaboration among organizations, agencies and individuals, in order to positively effect the physically active lifestyles of Canadians with disabilities in all communities. Before discussing some of the objectives of the Alliance, it might be of interest to share with you some of the steps leading up to its creation.

In October 1986, Fitness Canada in cooperation with the Adapted Programs Committee of the Canadian Association for Health, Physical Education and Recreation hosted the Jasper Talks Symposium. This landmark event brought delegates from across Canada to Jasper Park Lodge in the beautiful Rockies where they examined the current state of participation of Canadians with disabilities in physical activity and provided recommendations that would encourage and facilitate increased participation opportunities in the future.

Immediately following the Symposium, Fitness Canada established a National Advisory Committee on Physical Activity for Canadians with a Disability, under the honourary chairmanship of Rick Hansen, to examine the recommendations made by the delegates. In addition to identifying needs in the areas of leadership and program development, advocacy and public awareness, the delegates indicated that there was a need for a national coordinating mechanism that would link together individuals and agencies involved in the field. A major recommendation of the Blueprint for Action on Physical Activity for Canadians with a Disability, produced by the above National Advisory Committee, focused on this need for such a co-ordination mechanism. The Active Living Alliance was established in response to this recommendation in the belief that communication, cooperation and collaboration among individuals, agencies and governments would enhance physical activity opportunities for individuals with disabilities in communities across Canada. When one notes that Alliance Partners include such national organizations as the Canadian Red Cross, the Y.M.C.A., the Canadian Intramural Association, The Canadian Parks and Recreation Association of Health, Physical Education and Recreation as well as organizations like the Canadian Wheelchair Sports Association, the Special Olympics, the Canadian Association for Community Living, the Canadian Federation of Sport Organizations for the Disabled and the Canadian Deaf Sports Association one can readily appreciate the potential for co-operative action created by the formation of the Alliance. Alliance partners have already met on several occasions to develop objectives and to work on a number of important initiatives.

A major objective of the Active Living Alliance is to support and assist in the development of a national vision and strategic plan to foster physical activity among Canadians with disabilities. Members of the Alliance have been involved in the development of the Blueprint for Action that has been circulated across Canada for feedback. They will also be involved in evaluating and updating the Blueprint on a regular basis. The broad base of representation and close contact of Alliance partners with individuals with disabilities in communities across Canada should ensure that our national vision and strategies are realistic and on target.

Another major objective of the Alliance is to facilitate increased public awareness and advocacy. The Alliance will strive to identify the needs and concerns of participants, encourage the development of effective advocacy and support opportunities to increase public awareness.

Recent initiatives in this area include the development of an excellent book entitled Advocacy…The Process: Workbook for Canadians with a Disability who Wish to Become More Physically Active developed by a sub-committee of the Alliance From British Colmbia, Anne Morrison, Geri Paterson and Dianne Pendray with the assistance of Dr. Don Hunter. Another group of volunteers under the co-chairmanship of Anne Merklinger and Janet Connor have published a superb booklet entitled: Positive Images: Guidelines for the Appropriate Image Depiction of Canadians with a Disabibility. Fitness Canada will make both of these resources widely available across Canada in the near future.

Delegates to the Jasper Talks were unanimous in their call for improvements in the delivery of programs and services at the community level. In response to this call, an important objective of the Alliance focuses on the means to facilitate the development and distribution of program and leadership resources at national, provincial and local levels.

A Leadership Development Model has been developed by volunteers with expertise in physical education and recreation under the chairmanship of Dr. Greg Reid. The philosophical basis underlying the model is the concept of self-empowerment of the individual with a disability and the value of incorporating of active living. The model identifies the following types of leaders: participants and caregivers, activity faciilitators, activity leaders, program planners and policy planners/administrators. It then describes the knowledge and skills that each of these leaders require and provides specific suggestions on means to train them. It has been well received by participants, advocates and leaders and will form the basis for the development, collection and distribution of leadership materials across Canada.

A final objective of the Alliance addresses the question of ongoing communication among individuals, agencies and governments in the field. A national network of people an groups dedicated to the enhancement of active living among Canadians with disabilities is currently being developed. Information on such topics as community programs, leadership training, advocacy and policy development will be circulated to members. Those interested in becoming part of this network or obtaining more information on the Alliance should contact: Jane Arkell, Program Manager, Active Living Alliance for Canadians with a Disability, 1600 James Naismith Drive, Gloucester, Ontario K1B 5N4. Phone 613-748-5747. FAX: 613-748-5734. Dr. Ted Wall is a Professor and Chairman of the Department of Physical Education at McGill University. He co-chaired the Jasper Talks Symposium with Dr. Robert Steadward and chaired the National Advisory Committee on Physical Activity for Canadians with a Disability that led to the establishment of the Alliance.

Alliance Spring Forum 1990

The Active Living Alliance for Canadians with a disability is pleased to be hosting its inaugural Spring Forum. With the sponsorship of Fitness Canada, The Forum will be held in Ottawa at the Venture Inn, commencing the evening of May 31, through to June 2, 1990.

For more information about the Spring Forum, please contact Conference Coordinator,, Kathleen Fernandez at:
Tel: (613) 748-5736;
Fax: (613) 748-5745 or write:
Alliance Spring Forum
Attn: Kathleen Fernandez
Suite 312,
1600 James Naismith Drive
Gloucester, Ontario K1B 5N4