Our Vision
Outdoor play is a valued part of daily life for all people living in Canada.
Outdoor Play Canada serves to build and support the growing network of leaders and organizations working together to galvanize an outdoor play movement across Canada.
Our Mission
Outdoor Play Canada is a national organization that brings together advocates, practitioners, researchers and partner organizations to promote, protect, and preserve access to play in nature and the outdoors for all people living in Canada. Outdoor Play Canada provides leadership to galvanize the outdoor play movement across Canada to promote the health and wellness of Canadians and the environments in which we live.
We have a strong commitment to promoting and supporting equity, diversity, and inclusion (EDI) efforts in outdoor play. We commit to applying an EDI lens and a continuous improvement approach to our work. This is in alignment with the action items identified within the Outdoor Play in Canada: 2021 State of the Sector Report priority on Advocating for Equity, Diversity, and Inclusion in Outdoor Play.
Our Team
OPC Board of Directors
Mark Tremblay, Ph.D., President
Senior Scientist, Healthy Active Living and Obesity Research GroupBio
Heather Cowie, Vice President
General Manager, Community and Protective Services at City of Fort SaskatchewanBio
Matt Leung, Treasurer
Program Manager, Communities ChooseWellBio
Eun-Young Lee, Ph.D., Secretary
Assistant Professor, School of Kinesiology and Health Studies, Queen’s UniversityBio
Kelly Arbour-Nicitopoulos, Ph.D., General Member
Associate Professor within the Faculty of Kinesiology and Physical Education, University of TorontoBio
Mariana Brussoni, Ph.D., General Member
Professor, The University of British ColumbiaBio
Jane Cawley, MEd, General Member
Educational ConsultantBio
Kim Hiscott, General Member
Executive Director, Andrew Fleck Children's ServicesBio
Richard Larouche, Ph.D., General Member
Associate Professor, The University of LethbridgeBio
Raktim Mitra, Ph.D., General Member
Director and Associate Professor of Urban and Regional Planning and co-Director of TransForm Research Laboratory, Toronto Metropolitan UniversityBio
Frank Welsh, Ph.D., General Member
Retired, Former Directory of Policy, Canadian Public Health AssociationBio
Trevor Zahara, General Member
Owner and Operator, Peak Play Consulting CorpBio
OPC Staff
Louise de Lannoy, Ph.D., Executive Director
Bio
Mallory Donaldson, RECE, Canadian Centre for Outdoor Play Fellow
Bio
*NEW* We now deliver outdoor play workshops to support advocates, practitioners and organizations in their outdoor play work.
Our Champion Members
Katy Cameron, Carleton University MSc HSTP student with the HALO Research Lab
Laurel Donison, RECE, PhD Student, Brock University Faculty of Social Sciences Child and Youth Studies Department
Ryan Francis, Manager, Provincial Outreach & Coordination, Government of Nova Scotia
Margaret Fraser, Co-founder and Co-director of Metalude
Tanya Halsall, Institute of Mental Health Research, University of Ottawa
Jennifer Leo, Director, The Steadward Centre, University of Alberta
Shelagh Pyper, BSc, Principal of Fuse Consulting
Stephanie Rivera, Waste Reduction Manager with Ecosource
Kimberly Squires, PhD, RECE, OCT, Assistant Professor at the University of Guelph
Mark Tremblay, OPC President and Senior Scientist, HALO Research Lab
Our Supporter-Level Members
Mike Arthur – Retired, Manager, Physical Activity, Government of Nova Scotia
The history of outdoor play advocacy, practice and research in Canada is diverse and strong. Recently, there has been a marked increase in multi-sector efforts to align our work and build a movement together. This timeline captures only some of the pivotal way points and events that are contributing to our momentum. It is important for the outdoor play story in Canada to honour the work of leaders who have paved the way, to build on each other’s work and respect the cultural and historical relevance of all of our work.
September 28, 2023
The 2023 Outdoor Play Canada Awards are awarded: (1) Honour Award: Dr. Beverlie Dietze, (2) Dr. Mariana Brussoni Award: Megan Zeni, (3) Policy Award: Laura Molyneux and Cloudberry Forest and Nature School, (4) Practice Award: Dorothy Penner (5) Research Award: Dr. Mariana Brussoni (6) Youth Award: Xandria Reece.
September 27, 2023
The 2023 Breath of Fresh Air Outdoor Play Summit hosted by Outdoor Play Canada is held at Wesley Clover Parks in Ottawa, ON.
October 18, 2022
Outdoor Play Canada in collaboration with the CHEO Research Institute, Andrew Fleck Children's Services, and Algonquin College are awarded $2.1M in memory of John and Susanne Graham to launch the Canadian Centre for Outdoor Play.
October 6, 2021
The 2021 Outdoor Play Canada Awards are awarded: (1) Honour Award: Child Nature Alliance of Canada, (2) Dr. Mariana Brussoni Award: Brenda Simon and Linda Naccarato, (3) Policy Award: Mike Arthur, (4) Practice Award: Janna Sullivan, Aleesha Bird, Joanne Dunn, Meera Bandechha (5) Research Award: Dr. Trish Tucker.
October 6, 2021
The Outdoor Play in Canada: 2021 State of the Sector Report is launched at the 2021 Breath of Fresh Air Summit.
October 6-7, 2021
The second biennial Breath of Fresh Air Summit is held online with only the OPC Leadership Group convening at Wesley Clover Parks.
April 2021
OPC receives funding from the Social Sciences and Humanities Research Council Connection Program to translate all elements on the website including the Outdoor Play in Canada: 2021 State of the Sector Report into French.
January 19, 2021
The Lawson Foundation invests $4.95 million in eight outdoor play projects, including OPC.
June 2020
OPC receives funding from an anonymous donor to develop the Outdoor Play in Canada: 2021 State of the Sector Report.
March 2020
The World Health Organization announces a global pandemic. OPC publishes the statement 'Should I go outside in the COVID-19 era?' leading to a 100-fold increase in visits to the OPC website.
Winter 2020
As part of the process of developing the application for Phase Two of OPS, OPC determines the following strategic priorities: 1) provide leadership and strategic direction for the outdoor play sector; 2) serve as a central portal of credible information on the outdoor play sector in Canada; 3) amplify efforts and successes related to outdoor play; and 4) convene and facilitate collaborations among members of the outdoor play movement.
Winter 2020
The Lawson Foundation announces Phase Two of their Outdoor Play Strategy (OPS) and their plan to fund projects focused on building capacity to implement and support outdoor play in early childhood.
September 28, 2019
The inaugural Outdoor Play Canada Awards are awarded: (1) Honour Award: The Lawson Foundation, (2) Dr. Mariana Brussoni Award: Dr. Mariana Brussoni, (3) Policy Award: The City of Calgary, Parks and Recreation, (4) Practice Award: Maple Ridge Environmental School, (5) Research Award: Dr. Ian Janssen, (6) Youth Award: Chloe Dragon Smith.
September 27, 2019
Outdoor Play Canada is launched at the Breath of Fresh Air Outdoor Play Summit in Ottawa.
September 27-29, 2019
The first Canadian Outdoor Play Summit takes place at the Ottawa Forest and Nature School, and Wesley Clover Parks Campground.
October 24-26, 2018
Lawson Foundation hosts the Outdoor Play & Early Learning Policy Research Invitational Symposium in Toronto.
June 1, 2018
The Council of Chief Medical Officers of Health (CCMOH) Statement supports and endorses the Position Statement on Active Outdoor Play developed by a coalition of organizations in 2015, which states: ``Access to active play in nature and outdoors-with its risks-is essential for healthy child development. We recommend increasing children's opportunities for self-directed play outdoors in all settings-at home, at school, in child care, the community and nature.``
May 30, 2018
A Common Vision for Increasing Physical Activity and Reducing Sedentary Living in Canada: Let’s Get Moving is released in May, 2018 by the Government of Canada.
May 8-10, 2018
Gathering Strength: Framework for Recreation in Canada Forum, Regina - May 8-10, Canadian Parks and Recreation Association.
Parks for All
Parks for All, An Action Plan for Canada’s Parks Community embeds outdoor play within some strategic action items as an essential part of strengthening children’s connection to nature. Canadian Parks Council and Canadian Parks and Recreation Association.
#Nature4All
#Nature4All in Canada was formed as a collaborative of partners working together to advance the #nature4all movement in Canada. Outdoor Play Canada is a contributor to this collective impact model.
September 13-16, 2017
Unleashing the Power of Play 20th International Play Association (IPA) Triennial World Conference, Calgary - Sept. 13-16
June 26-28, 2017
Moving Research to Action for Healthy Kids Children’s Health and the Environment Workshop and Symposium, London, ON - June 26-28
April 18-21, 2017
Children Need Nature, Nature Needs Kids, Child and Nature Network International Conference, Vancouver, B.C.
March 8-11, 2017
Parks, Protected Areas, Open Spaces and Public Places, Canadian Parks Conference - Banff, AB. Keynotes and workshops focused on health, nature and play.
February 2017
Formation of Outdoor Play Canada, a growing network of multi-sector leaders working collaboratively to grow the outdoor play movement in Canada.
December 2016
Ontario Trillium Foundation invests in the development of Outdoor Play Canada through the collective impact stream of funding.
Fall 2016
Initial development of the Outdoor Play Strategic Impact Plan.
June 2016
Canadian Outdoor Play Working Group transitions to design a collective impact model and process with national scope and provincial application in Ontario.
April 2016
Ontario Trillium Foundation funds an initial stage of an Outdoor Play Collective Impact project.
April 2016
Canadian Parks Summit - Canmore, AB - Parks for All document drafted. Canadian Outdoor Play Working Group provides input to include the role of outdoor play as integral for building a child’s connection with nature.
March 31, 2016
Standing Senate Committee on Social Affairs, Science and Technology released the report, Obesity in Canada - A Whole of Society Approach for a Healthier Canada, including a few recommendations to encourage and enable outdoor play.
January 2016
Lawson Foundation Outdoor Play Strategy launched, with an initial investment of $2.7 million between 2013-2018 in outdoor play initiatives across Canada. The Lawson Foundation's total investment in outdoor play has now reached almost $5 million.
September 2015
Supreme Court of British Columbia accepted the Position Statement on Active Outdoor Play and 2015 ParticipACTION Report Card as ‘social fact’ and ‘authority’ evidence and ruled in favour of the District of Saanich that it was not negligent in a case involving a child and outdoor play (a game of grounders).
June 2015
Position Statement Strategic Planning Meeting - Ottawa, ON. Position Statement on Outdoor Active Play partners and community experts identified stakeholder gaps & a dissemination strategy.
June 9, 2015
Release of the Position Statement on Active Outdoor Play.
June 9, 2015
Release of the ParticipACTION 2015 Report Card on Physical Activity for Children and Youth.
February 12-13, 2015
Provincial and Territorial Ministers endorsed and the Government of Canada supported the Framework for Recreation in Canada 2015. The announcement took place at the 2015 Conference of Federal-Provincial-Territorial Ministers responsible for Sport, Physical Activity and Recreation.
January 2015
Position Statement Working Group initiated the Position Statement draft process at Evergreen Brickworks in Toronto, lead by Dr. Mark Tremblay and the CHEO-HALO research group.
November 2014
Recreation Framework Summit - Toronto. Endorsement of A Framework for Recreation in Canada 2015 – Pathways to Wellbeing.
Spring 2014
Systematic reviews initiated to gather evidence: 1. What is the relationship between outdoor time and physical activity, sedentary behaviour, and physical fitness in children? 2. What is the relationship between risky outdoor play and health in children?
February 2014
Canadian Parks Council releases the report, Connecting Canadians with Nature.
November 5-7, 2013
Canadian Injury Prevention & Safety Promotion Conference – Montreal - pre conference workshop Risky Play Symposium, As safe as possible or as safe as necessary - can injury prevention include healthy risk promotion? The resulting paper was published, Can child injury prevention include healthy risk promotion?
May 2013
Active Canada 20/20 National Roundtable - New Brunswick. Active Play Action Group formed.
April 17, 2013
Committee on the Rights of the Child provides General comment No. 17 (2013) on the right of the child to rest, leisure, play, recreational activities, cultural life and the arts (art. 31).
2012
Right in Principle, Right in Practice, Implementation of the Convention on the Rights of the Child in Canada, Canadian Coalition for the Rights of Children.
2012
Active Canada 20/20, the national physical activity sector strategic plan, was launched and includes references to the need for ‘spontaneous’ play within the context of physical activity.
May 29, 2012
Is Active Play Extinct?, Active Healthy Kids Canada 2012 Report Card on Physical Activity for Children and Youth includes the outdoor and nature indicator and highlights play as an essential part of child and youth physical activity levels.
September 2011
Healthy by Nature Conference - multi-sector dialogue to support the connection between human health and nature. Vancouver, BC.
November 2010
Healthy Children Healthy Spaces Conference - Ottawa, ON. Hosted an indicator workshop for the development of an outdoor and nature indicator to be included in the 2011 Active Healthy Kids Canada Report Card.
December 13, 1991
Canada ratifies United Nations Convention on the Rights of the Child (UNCRC).
Goals
Provide leadership and strategic direction for the Outdoor Play sector.
Serve as a central portal of credible information on the Outdoor Play sector in Canada.
Amplify efforts and successes related to Outdoor Play.
Convene and facilitate collaborations among members of the Outdoor Play movement.
With support from the Lawson Foundation and the Ontario Trillium Foundation, Outdoor Play Canada was formed as a collaborative multi-sector network of researchers, practitioners, leaders, educators and advocates committed to increasing opportunities for outdoor play.
Our founding partners include:
BC Injury Research & Prevention Unit
Best Start Resource Centre, Health Nexus
Canadian Parks and Recreation Association
Canadian Public Health Association
Child and Nature Alliance of Canada
Healthy Active Living and Obesity Research Group
IPA – International Play Association Canada