RENFREW — Recreation staff, community volunteers, students, committee members and those interested in physical activity and community development will meet at the Rural Ontario-East Active Recreation (ROAR) Conference in Calabogie September 22-25.
With most resort rooms booked and conference spaces taken, the inaugural conference is attracting delegates from across the county including towns from Deep River in the west to Arnprior east, but also communities outside Renfrew County including Mississippi Mills, Perth, Embrun, South Dundas and even further away such as Selwyn, Georgian Bay and Innisfil. The goal is to unite employees, volunteers and community champions from rural towns and small cities to share concepts and ideas to overcome challenges and barriers and also to share success stories.
The week will kick off with a golf tournament sponsored by Cimco Refrigeration, an afternoon paddle on the Madawaska River and an evening to settle in and socialize. The second day of the conference is filled with opportunities to learn and share with others connected to the industry in various ways. Hands Fireworks, Canada’s oldest fireworks company, will provide a fireworks show in the evening. They will demonstrate how added effects can wow an audience. Anyone in the vicinity of Calabogie Peaks will be able to see the show which will be fired from the ski hill. Wednesday will continue with interactive sessions and also a trade show that the public is invited to attend between 10:00am-4:00pm. For those wishing to try a new sport or activity, each day will have a number of options including pickleball, dragon boat, Stand Up Paddleboarding and aquafitness. The week is rounded out with group activities to continue the social aspect of the conference and encourage comraderie. Groups will try orienteering, team events and have a chance to be a kid again when RYJ’s bring their inflatable games to the resort. The entire conference will be informative, engaging and active.
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