A document outlining the issue of low-income access to Vancouver Community Centres and an advocacy process for Vancouver Coastal Health employees.

1. Making the Connection Between
Low-Income, Public Recreation and Health:
Advocating for Access to Vancouver
Community Centres
Healthy Living Program 604.267.4430
Purpose of this Document:
To inform VCH staff about the link between poverty and chronic disease.
To inform VCH staff about barriers to public recreation in Vancouver and the role of public recreation
in health promotion.
To provide VCH staff with a process to advocate for low-income Vancouver citizens to access to
public recreation services.
The United Nations c) a minimum of involuntary social role obligations;
Universal
Declaration of d) a psychological perception of freedom;
Human Rights states
e) a close relation to values of the culture;
that leisure is a
fundamental right. f) an inclusion of an entire range from
Canadian laws state inconsequence and insignificance to weightiness and
that everyone has the importance; and
right to enjoy quality parks and recreation services.
Quality recreation opportunities are vital to the g) often, but not necessarily, an activity
health and personal development of all Canadians. characterized by the element of play (Kaplan, 1975).
Leisure is uncoerced activity engaged in during free Individuals living in poverty have physical, social,
time. Leisure is activity that people want to do and, economic, or cultural barriers that prevent them from
in either a satisfying or a fulfilling way (or both), accessing the leisure they require for productive,
uses the individual’s abilities and resources to healthy and active lives. People living in poverty do
succeed. Leisure can also be viewed as a personal not have access to the same services, facilities,
state consisting of seven essential elements: equipment, and transportation options. This may be
because of stigma, costs, lack of time (many work
a) an antithesis to “work” as an economic function; two jobs), and location of affordable housing.
Limited access to leisure means limited access to
b) a pleasant expectation and recollection;
physical activity opportunities.
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2. Poverty Is:
Not being able to afford Being told by the doctor to get some exercise
a pair of proper shoes in but not having the time or energy after working
order to walk 30 two jobs to make ends meet.
minutes a day.
Having a free pass to swim, but not being able to
Knowing that I Should use it because I can’t pay for the bus, babysitting,
be physically active , but knowing that I wouldn’t a bathing suit or a lesson to learn how to swim.
be accepted or welcomed by others at the gym.
Adapted from Access to Inclusion, BCRPA
Chronic Disease, Poverty Material Deprivation Participating in quality recreation
and Recreation opportunities also enables people
Living with Excessive Stress to:
As the prevalence and related
costs of chronic diseases Developing Health Threatening develop skills and competencies;
increases, it is important to focus Behaviours
achieve better physical, psychosocial and
on prevention initiatives, emotional skills;
Currently, 26% of Vancouver
particularly among the most
residents are living in poverty. improve self-efficacy, academic
vulnerable. Many studies have
Those groups of people most performance, peer and family
shown that lower income is relationships;
affected by poverty are: women,
associated with most chronic
people with work-limiting acquire pro-social values and develop life
diseases and is also a risk factor
disabilities, recent immigrants, skills such as leadership, decision-
for physical inactivity. making, social connections, and problem
unattached individuals, single
solving;
In fact, poverty is a more reliable parents, and Aboriginal peoples.
predictor of poor health and form healthy habits;
Active recreation/physical activity
chronic disease than factors such reduce isolation;
is widely known to protect against
as high cholesterol, high blood
a number of chronic diseases such participate and take pride in their
pressure, and smoking. The three
as diabetes, heart disease, community; and most of all
conditions of poverty that
hypertension, obesity, and some
contribute to poor health are: have fun and be with friends and family
cancers. (CPRA 2009).
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3. Stanley Park Children’s Farmyard and
Reducing the barriers to recreation Many low-income Miniature Railway
and physical activity for low- Vancouver citizens
income individuals saves money Bloedel Conservatory and VanDusen
for health care system, the school are excluded from Botanical Gardens
system, the criminal justice recreation and leisure
pitch and putt golf courses, and the
system, and in many areas of the services at many Vancouver Aquarium
economy, including productivity Vancouver
costs. Poverty is a health issue, a However, eleven of the fitness
Community Centres centres and all of the health and
family issue and a community
issue. Opening doors to quality fitness classes are operated by
recreation opportunities for low- local Community Associations.
Vancouver has twenty-three
income families requires passion, The Joint Operating Agreement
community centres that are jointly
focus, and long-term commitment. between the Vancouver Park
operated by the Vancouver Park
Improved health outcomes can be Board and Community
Board and a local Community
achieved by building supportive Associations allows the
Association.
community environments, healthy Community Association to
policy, and having an activated Low Income Vancouver citizens develop programs and set fees as
community. Part of the process is who have met the requirements for they deem appropriate. This
ensuring access to public a Vancouver Park Board Leisure means that they can choose to
recreation for all members of our Access Card (see http:// reject the Leisure Access Card
community. Improved access vancouver.ca/parks/rec/lac/ from low-income individuals and
benefits everyone. See Appendix 1: index.htm) are given free refuse any requests for discounts
Expanded Chronic Care Model. admission for: to programs and services. See
Appendix 2 for requests that have been
denied. See Appendix 4: Table of Community
The roots of the Canadian public pools and skating rinks, Centres and Access Practices.
recreation system stem back to the use of skates
early 1900’s where playground In some cases, a low-income
programs were provided for The Leisure Access Card also citizen is asked to present their
underprivileged children – the gives a 50% discount to: case for subsidy to the Board of
Playground Movement. Over the the Community Association. This
years, the focus changed and in the drop in fees or monthly “Flexi- process is difficult for most low-
Passes” at Vancouver Park Board owned
many communities, municipal income citizens to do, and is often
and operated fitness centres. See Appendix
recreation became the domain of 3: Table of Community Centres and Access felt to be demeaning. The
Practices. Community Association Board has
the middle class. As a result, many
programs are unaffordable to low- Park Board swim lessons the authority to reject the
income families. application after the presentation.
racquet court admissions
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4. Why Does this matter?
Public community recreation centres exist to provide Vancouver Coastal Health supports healthy lives in
“an important fundamental public service”*, and healthy communities. As part of the organization’s
represent the communities of which they are part of. mandate, it is vital to support the people we work
If there are barriers to low-income citizens to using with and to ensure they have access to the services
these services, these citizens are being excluded that will help improve their health and prevent
from public services. chronic disease. VCH is focused on reducing the risk
for our most vulnerable residents and reducing
Public community recreation centres have an health gaps. At the Provincial level, the ActNow BC
important role to play in mitigating the negative Framework has recognized the need to increase
effects of poverty. Services offered at community access to recreation centres for low-income
centres can reduce the risks for chronic diseases, individuals.
promote social inclusion, and increase levels of self
efficacy and self confidence: all building blocks for
life-long health.
Why should citizens who have low-incomes be excluded
when they may be the ones that need it the most?
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5. The Stories of Two
Vancouver Citizens:
Bill
Bill hasn’t been able to work because of a back injury. He has to use a
wheelchair to go long distances. He lives in a basement suite 2 blocks
from the Killarney Community Centre. He receives about $800 a month
from social assistance. Bill has a Leisure Access Card and uses the pool
at Killarney to help with his pain. He would like to use the fitness centre
but can’t afford the fees. He has talked to the staff and they told him to
go to Riley Park or Champlain because they are Vancouver Parks Board
run facilities and will discount the fees. He was told that sometimes
people send a letter to the Board asking for a fee reduction but the Board
has never accepted any requests. Traveling to Riley Park or Champlain
would mean taking two buses an additional 30-45 minutes one way. Bill doesn’t understand why he just can’t
use the fitness centre at his local community centre.
Cathy
Cathy is a single mom with two kids. She rents a ground floor suite near
Dunbar Community Centre and works 2 jobs to make ends meet. After
she enrolls her kids in their school programs and after school activities,
she doesn’t have money left over for her own physical activity needs.
She would like to take a yoga class at the local recreation centre so she
could meet others and learn a way to cope with her stress. She saved up
$60 of the $100 fee then asked the staff if she could apply for a fee
reduction to help her make up the rest. The staff told her to make a
presentation to the Board. She wrote a compelling letter but the Board
turned down her request for $40 assistance. One of the staff members
and a Board member decided to pay the $40 out of their own pockets. Cathy pays taxes and can’t understand
why the local programs are out of her reach. “Aren’t they supposed to be meeting my needs?”
These stories are based on real people. Names and circumstances have been adapted slightly.
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6. What CaN we do to Support Change?
Advocate for: All local Community Associations to honour the Leisure
Access policy and apply it to their programs and fitness centres.
Use the VCH Documents and Guidelines:
Please refer to the VCH Population Health Advocacy Guideline and Resources:
http://www.vcha.ca/programs_services/population_health/advocacy_resources/_docs/advocacy_toolkit/
binary_50932.pdf
Using this VCH Population Health Advocacy model may be helpful as you organize your thoughts and action
plans:
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7. Step by step ideas
for your advocacy plan:
• Contact the Vancouver Park Board “Access • the Parks Board Commissioner assigned to the
Services” department at 604.257.8497 and explain community centre in question. Check the
the situation. They may be offer some assistance Vancouver Park Board website for changes.
or guidance. As of April, 2009 they are:
• Speak with the Vancouver Park Board staff person Loretta Woodcock: False Creek Community
at the Community Centre assigned to programs Association and Hastings Community Association
and or fitness and try to negotiate a solution. loretta.woodcock@rogers.blackberry.net
Many staff are aware of issues and will try and
support low-income individuals in their Constance Barnes: Britannia, Mount Pleasant, and
communities. Strathcona constance.barnes@vancouver.ca
• If no reasonable resolution is found, the client Sarah Blyth: Marpole-Oakridge and Ray-Cam
needs to write the first letter, in their own words, sarah.blyth@vancouver.ca
outlining their needs, what they are requesting, and Aaron Jasper: Douglas Park, Kerrisdale, Kitsilano,
the benefits they would have from the fee West End aaron.jasper@vancouver.ca
reduction and participation. Your client may need
assistance with this process. See Template, Stuart MacKinnon: Kensington, Renfrew
Appendix 3. stuart.mackinnon@vancouver.ca
• Write a supporting letter from your professional Ian Robertson: Dunbar, Trout Lake, Riley Park, West
perspective to support the client’s request. Point Grey igrobertson@telus.net
• Send this to the Community Association Board
(find this from the Vancouver Park Board Website Needing to advocate further? Contact:
and the individual community centre). Keep copies
The General Manager of the Vancouver Park Board:
for further advocacy if necessary.
Susan Mundick email: susan.mundick@vancouver.ca
• If refused by the Community Association Board,
ask for reasons in writing.
The City Manager for the City of Vancouver, Dr.
• If you wish to advocate further, the client writes a
Penny Ballem email: penny.ballem@vancouver.ca
new letter outlining their needs. Include their
feelings regarding the process of the application to
the Community Association Board and the denial
of access. Mary Clark, VCH Active Living Coordinator, email
mary.clark@vch.ca
• Write another supporting letter. Put your letter,
the client’s letter and copies of the original
requests and Board refusal in a package and send
it to: Mary is tracking all requests and refusals for VCH.
• the Chair of the Vancouver Park Board: Raj
Hundel email: raj.hundal@vancouver.ca
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8. Other Actions VCH Staff Can Take:
Tell others: Many people in Vancouver don’t know
about the exclusion of low-income citizens from
public recreation programs and services.
Support recreation as a fundamental public service,
not just a “market driven” model.
Call the Vancouver Parks Board elected officials and raise the issue. Ask them to
ensure low-income citizens are welcome at ALL local community centres.
Email the Mayor, the City Manager, the Manager, and the Chair of the Vancouver
Parks Board.
Ask for a “Low-Income Inclusion” policy that applies to all community centres.
Go the Community Association Board meeting at your community recreation
centre, raise the issue and ask for change.
Become a member of your Community Association Board and make the changes
from within.
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9. References:
*Key Operating Principles for Community Centres. From the Joint Operating Agreement. May 2005.
Canadian Parks and Recreation Association. Everybody Gets to Play: Recreation Without Barriers. Position
Paper on Poverty. Retrieved from: http://www.cpra.ca/UserFiles/File/EN/sitePdfs/CPRAPositionPaperFinal.pdf
May 24, 2009.
Kaplan, M. (1975). Leisure: Theory and policy. New York, NY: Wiley.
Leisure Access Card Program. Retrieved Online http://vancouver.ca/parks/rec/lac/index.htm March 17, 2009.
Poverty Matters. BC Recreation and Parks Association, 2008.
ActNow Framework for Action.
Frisby, W. (1988). Leisure Access: Enhancing Recreation Opportunities for those Living in Poverty.
Raphael, D. (2001). Inequity is Bad for Our Hearts: Why Low Income and Social Exclusion are Major Causes
of Heart Disease in Canada. North York Heart Health Network.
Reid, C., Frisby, W., & Ponic, P. (2002). Confronting Two-Tiered Community Recreation and Poor Women’s
Exclusion: Promoting Inclusion, Health, and Social Justice. Canadian Women’s Studies. Vol. 21(3). P. 88-94.
Stebbins, R.A. (2005). Choice and Experiential Definitions of Leisure. Leisure Sciences. Vol.27. Pg. 349-352.
VCH Population Health- Advocacy Documents
Photos from:
Pages, Apple.
Canadian Association for the Advancement of Women in Sport
Contact Information:
Mary Clark, Active Living Coordinator,
Chronic Disease Prevention Team
VCH Healthy Living Program
E. mary.clark@vch.ca
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10. Appendix 1: Expanded Chronic Care Model
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11. Appendix 2: Request that has been denied
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12. Appendix 2: Request in Process
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13. 13

14. Appendix 3: Table of Community Centres and Access Practices:
On May 9, 2009, all 23 Community Centres were contacted and the front desk staff asked the following
questions:
Do you honour the Leisure Access Card?
What about for classes like yoga and other physical activity classes?
This was cross-checked with information from the Park Board Website and Access Services.
Access to skating rinks and pools were filtered out as these are provided by the Vancouver Parks Board and are
free with a Leisure Access Card.
Community Centre Run By Community Fitness Centre Leisure Leisure Access Card applies to health, wellness and
Association or Vancouver Honouring Leisure Access physical activity programs/classes
Park Board Card
Britannia Association Yes A subsidy policy is in place for recreation programs for people with
Leisure Access and community residences who are in need of
financial assistance but do not qualify for Leisure Access.
Champlain Park Board yes Depends. If instructor is paid per participant -no.
Coal Harbour Park Board No fitness centre No
Douglas Park Association Yes No
Dunbar Park Board Yes Depends on class size and instructors fees. Person needs to
request assistance through CA Board
False Creek Association No No
Hastings Association No - will give 30% discount No
Kensington Park Board Yes No
Kerrisdale Association No Person must fill out subsidy request form and meet with
Programmer to determine need.
Killarney Association No No
Kitsilano Park Board Yes Yes
Marpole Park Board Yes Yes – 25% off all programs except private music lessons
Mt. Pleasant Park Board Yes Person must apply for subsidy and it is contingent upon class size
Ray Cam Association Yes No
Renfrew Park Board Yes No
Riley Park Park Board Yes Person must fill out subsidy request form. Depends on class size.
Roundhouse No fitness centre Yes- 30% off programs
Strathcona Association Yes For some children’s programs
Sunset Association No No
Thunderbird Association Yes, but – only on monthly passes No
Trout Lake Park Board Yes No
West End Park Board Yes No
Aquatic Centre Park Board Yes No
West Pt. Grey Association Yes Yes, 25% discount on programs
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15. Appendix 4: Sample Templates for letters
Client Letter:
Dear Chair of Community Association Board,
My name is XXXXX and I am writing to request a fee subsidy so I can take the following class/ have access to
use the fitness centre.
I am a citizen of Vancouver, live at ________ , and this is my local Community Centre. Due to my current
financial situation/medical situation I am unable to pay the full price for this program. I am able to pay____ (for
a class) or _____ a month (for the fitness centre) until my financial situation improves. I currently have a
Leisure Access Card (include this line if they do, it shows they have already qualified under the process from the
Vancouver Parks Board).
Have the client list the benefits they would get from participating in the program or at the fitness centre.
Encourage them to include physical, social, spiritual (sense of belonging and worth) and emotional benefits.
VCH Staff Letter:
See Appendix 2 for ideas.
You will find extra information on poverty and recreation at:
• BC Recreation and Parks Association: Everybody Active Initiative – specifically the booklet “Increasing
Access: Poverty Matters”
http://www.physicalactivitystrategy.ca/index.php/everybody-active/about-access/
• BCRPA also has a toolkit for recreation service providers to use to assess their low-income access policy.
Contact Donna Lee at BCRPA.
• City of Vancouver Community Pages: Look up household income stats for any area in Vancouver.
http://vancouver.ca/community_profiles/CommunityList.htm
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