After nine weeks, 10,000 miles, and 18 stops, our Pop-Up Adventure Play team reached the final destination of our Canadian tour. Along the way, we met thousands of people in big cities and small towns, on mountains and prairies, in schools, lecture halls and community parks. Everywhere we went, we found a passion for play.
Why Calgary?
Our last stop brought us to the International Play Association (IPA) Conference in Calgary. It felt like the perfect finale, surrounded by practitioners and advocates who share our belief in the power of play. We teamed up with Calgary’s Mobile Adventure Playground unit, who provided materials and staff support for the session.
A pop-up adventure in Olympic Plaza
Despite cold and rainy weather, two classes of school children ran into Olympic Plaza, excited by the loose parts and materials we set out. Within minutes, the air was filled with laughter, movement, and the cry of “More tape!”
Masking tape, duct tape, crepe paper and string quickly transformed the canopy into a sticky fortress. Children wrapped trees, poles and even adults’ legs. They used tape for tug-of-war battles, construction challenges and imaginative games. The world, for a moment, was held together by tape.
Supporting play in the moment
When the tape fortress strained under pressure, our playwork team stepped in. We held up canopy poles while children karate-chopped, pulled and stretched the sticky structure. Each time it fell, we lifted it again—supporting both the play frame and the children’s creativity. In those moments, we felt the essence of playwork: holding the space while play unfolds in its own unpredictable way.
Sharing stories at IPA Calgary
A few days later, at the conference centre, we shared highlights from the tour. The audience included familiar faces such as Diane Kashin, one of our earlier hosts and Queenie Tan, our biggest sponsor. We spoke about the 16 adventure play events hosted across Canada and the nearly 3,000 people we had met along the way.
More importantly, we listened. Attendees shared their own stories of supporting free play in Canada. It was humbling to see so many passionate people committed to creating playful communities.
Reflections and gratitude
As the tour closed, Suzanna struggled to find the right words. She wanted to thank each host for their generosity, every participant for their energy, and every child for reminding us why this work matters. Together, we had built more than tape fortresses. We had strengthened connections for the future of play in Canada.
Continue the journey
Although our Canadian tour is complete, the spirit of adventure play continues. To see more highlights, visit our dedicated tour page. For daily reflections, follow us on Facebook and X. Want to bring playwork training or pop-up play to your community? Learn more on our Playwork Training page.
By Morgan
