November 1, 2025
For more than 40 years, the ORFA has focused on recreation facility risk awareness and reduction strategies – it is the foundation to most everything we do as an Association.
Under the leadership of ORFA’s Director, Training, Research and Development, a partnership with Intact Public Entities (IPE) has resulted in the first version of the Risk Management Awareness Manual geared to create awareness on subject matter that is applicable in a recreation work setting. In addition to being available to members of ORFA and IPE clients, the resource will support learning objectives delivered in ORFA's Legal Awareness II course - Managing in a Recreation Environment.
The Manual is broken down into the following topics:
- The Recreational Legal Landscape – legal responsibilities and previous legal cases
- The Legal System – from the arrival of the writ to mounting a defence
- Recreational Infrastructure Management – the different codes, Acts and Regulations that directly impact facility operations
- Human Resource Management – roles and responsibilities associated with managing staff
- Legislative Resource Management – all other governance that may impact recreation pending the provided services
- What is Risk Management – a forensic evaluation as to what creating and implementing a risk management plan includes
- Applying Risk Management Principles – a collection of proven risk reduction tools
- Identifying Recreational Risk Exposure – provides a tutorial on how to develop a keen key to high-risk situations
- Reducing Recreational Risk Exposure – how to mediate what has been identified as a high-risk situation
- Proven Risk Controls – a collection of tools from past experiences or proven operational activities
- Recreational Risk Management Challenges – a look on how recreation activities have changed over the years and what risks have been produced and conquered
The ORFA would like to recognize and thank the contribution and support of both Jessica Jaremchuk and Tracy Eso at IPE in the Manual’s development. Collectively, the ORFA and IPE anticipate the Manual will live and breath as continued risk management and maintenance practices are required to be identified in our ever-diversifying sector.
The Ontario Recreation Facilities Association provides leadership in professional development, and in products and services for its members who operate and manage recreation facilities in municipalities, educational institutions, government agencies, First Nations communities and in the private recreation sector.