Our stop in Edmonton, AB combined a workshop and community play event across two days. The workshop was hosted at the University of Alberta and organised by the fantastic team at Play Around the World, with support from Child Friendly Edmonton.
Despite a few technical hiccups and last-minute room changes, the event quickly recovered. Thanks to some improvisation and lively crowd participation, the energy remained high. Parents, students and professionals attended from fields such as recreation, city planning, childcare and occupational therapy. The diversity of voices created a rich conversation about play.
Discovering playwork connections
One of the highlights came when we asked the group, “Who here has heard of playwork?” Hands shot into the air—more yes than no. This was the first time on our Canadian tour that playwork was so widely recognised. During a break, a participant shared: “Fraser Brown?! I know Fraser. He visited here about ten years ago and inspired some of our work.” It was a small world moment and a reminder of how interconnected the playwork community is globally.
Some people on our Canadian journey have called us the “Evangelicals of playwork.” In a sense, that’s true – we’re spreading the message far and wide, reopening conversations and discovering traces of earlier adventure play movements along the way.
The following day, we set up at the Edmonton Zoo. Nestled between the beavers and the Takin, our loose parts arrived via safari jeep (golf buggy). The weather was hot and attendance was smaller than usual but the play that unfolded was as joyful and unpredictable as ever. Children created slides and makeshift outfits, while adults reminisced and the foundations for future community play were laid.
A Bright Future for Play in Edmonton
There are exciting things happening in Edmonton: recent graduates specialising in playwork, local projects and a community eager to create playful spaces for children and families. We look forward to seeing even more creative adventures grow here.
To explore more of our latest adventures, visit our global pop-ups page. If you’d like to host your own pop-up or need event support, we’d love to hear from you. Contact us to start your journey.
By Andy
