BEST OF THE BEST: Canton Leisure Services receives national honor
Pictured are (from left) Jon LaFever, Community Development Director; Jeanette Aiello, Project & Operations Supervisor; Greg Hohenberger, Canton Leisure Services Director; and Laura Mortier, Recreation Supervisor and the recipient of the 2023 Robert W. Crawford Young Professional Award from the National Recreation and Park Association.
On October 11, Canton Leisure Services was once again recognized for excellence in the field of parks and recreation management by receiving re-accreditation and remaining one of only 206 agencies in the country currently holding national accreditation from the Commission for Accreditation of Park and Recreation Agencies (CAPRA).
In addition, Laura Mortier, Canton Leisure Services Recreation Supervisor, CPRP, was presented with the 2023 Robert W. Crawford Young Professional Award from the National Recreation and Park Association (NRPA).
These distinguished accomplishments were awarded in Dallas, Texas during the National Recreation and Park Association (NRPA) 2023 national conference.
Mark of excellence
CAPRA accreditation is the only national accreditation for park and recreation agencies and is a measure of an agency’s overall quality of operation, management, and service to the community.
This mark of distinction indicates that Canton Leisure Services has met rigorous standards related to the management and administration of lands, facilities, resources, programs safety, and services.
Accreditation focuses on achieving 154 standards across ten core areas of focus.
The process for accreditation involves a formal application, self-assessments, and a site visit by a team of trained volunteers that results in a written report and a hearing with the commission to grant accreditation.
As this year’s recipient of the Robert W. Crawford Young Professional Award, Laura Mortier has now joined the distinguished ranks of just over a dozen other parks and recreation professionals in the United States, who have also received this same notable national award.
This highly acclaimed award recognizes the vision and dedication of individuals who have tirelessly worked to improve the quality of life in America through parks and recreation and who will serve as examples for future leaders in continuing the recreation and park movement into the 21st century.
Confirmation of dedication
“Attaining national department and illustrious individual staff recognition that Laura Mortier so strongly deserves on this level is confirmation of our staff’s incredibly successful efforts to provide quality facilities, programs, activities, and special events throughout the Canton community,” said Canton Leisure Services Director Greg Hohenberger, CPRP.
“Re-accreditation continues to show Leisure Services’ unwavering dedication to creating memorable experiences and to providing outstanding services.”
Canton Leisure Services, originally accredited in 2004, is currently one of only three CAPRA-accredited agencies in the state of Michigan and was also previously re-accredited in 2008, 2013, and 2018. Accreditation is valid for a period of five years.
For more information on Canton Leisure Services’ CAPRA accreditation, please call 734-394-5360 or visit www.cantonfun.org.
