Hello Alberta orienteers, 
As I write this we are two hours away from the spring equinox.  And even though there is still snow on the ground here in Edmonton, the sky is a brilliant blue and temperatures are above zero.  So, condolences to the skiers out there, but I hope you will be as enthused as I am to start thinking about the orienteering season ahead.
In planning for the 2023 season your AOA board met in Red Deer in February to determine its priorities and the budget to apply to all the objectives we have as the provincial orienteering association.  A couple of key priorities we chose were, one, to increase the ranks of senior orienteering officials – and the course we held in Calgary yesterday for level 300 course planners is one small step in that direction (thanks to Marion Owen for organizing and John Rance for putting on the course!).  And another is to help to develop and support new and current mappers in Alberta, as, most of you will know, accurate maps are a cornerstone of our sport.  But these are just two of the many things we will be doing–especially by our executive director, Bogi Gyorfi.  By the way, if you would like to help set priorities for provincial orienteering, we would welcome any of you who would like to join the AOA board, especially at the upcoming annual general meeting (notice to come out soon).
Speaking of training officials, The Edmonton Overlanders Orienteering Club (EOOC) will be introducing orienteering techniques as well as course planning to newer orienteers in a combined social and learning weekend at the Strathcona Wilderness Centre.  Why this emphasis on qualifying new officials?  Well, in 2025 EOOC  will be putting on the Canadian Orienteering Championships (COCs) and Foothills Orienteering (FWOC) will be organizing the Western Canadian Orienteering Championships (WCOCs), and advanced certified officials are needed for course planning and managing these Canada Cup events.  So, in a domino effect, those people who will be spending the hundreds of hours in planning for 2025, leave a gap in the planning of local orienteering events, for which the clubs hope to bring in and qualify new officials.
I don’t want to leave an impression that it is such a lot of work to put on orienteering events...well, it is...but it is work that those of us who have been involved with the sport for a while now, thoroughly and absolutely enjoy.  Both in the planning and execution of events, and as participants.
So, here’s a welcome to spring 2023 and the new orienteering season!
Sincerely,
Kim Kasperski

Save the date:

 Alberta Orienteering Association 

AGM

7 pm, April 13, 2023

Planning calendar for Alberta 2023

Mapping and Alberta Park Permit Updates

Mapping Update 
We are excited to say that the mapping activity is growing in our province. New maps are being planned for the 2025 Canadian Championships and the 4 new outreach maps are in the works.

Thanks to our seasoned mappers Don B, Don R and Geraint who are always busy updating maps and helping some of the new mappers get hooked on making maps.

The club volunteers will never run out of jobs with map updates and finding new areas to map in the cities.  Thanks to David, Teresa, Marsha, Stefan, Tim, and Dorothy for supporting this important work.

AB Park permit update:
FWOC is excited to share news that AB Parks, Kananaskis Region, in consultation with FWOC and AOA, has developed an excellent Orienteering Directive that should facilitate getting permits in the Kananskis region! Once our maps have been reviewed by the ecological lead on that AB Kananaskis team (the last step in a multi-year process), we should be able to offer more forest events on some of our favourite maps! Stay tuned! The Directive also makes it easier to create and use new maps! We can't thank Kitty Jones enough for devoting years to spear-heading this effort.

Orienteering Highlights in 2022

      

      

2022  Junior World Orienteering Championships  (JWOC)

We had two juniors from Alberta attending JWOC this year! Congrats to Robyn and Andrew!  It's been quite a different JWOC - with the forest races being rescheduled for the fall, because of the forest fire risk and heat wave in Portugal.

This JWOC was all about the Sprint races this summer. In the Individual Sprint race, Robyn Astridge was 81st and Andrew McLaren was 91st; other Canadian team members included Isak Fransson from Hamilton (121st) and Lukas Raz from Ottawa (139th). In the Sprint Relay, Canada was 7th in the B final. 

The Forest events were held November 4-6, and Alec Le Helloco (from Ottawa) represented Canada in the forest disciplines.

On the radar for next year...

• May - Spring Training Camp
• June - 2023 WCOCs in Kelowna
• July - 2023 California O-Fest and NAOC (North American Orienteering Championships)
• August - 2023 COCs in Montreal
• 2023 Alberta Orienteering Championships hosted by FWOC

Message from the AOA President

Hello Alberta Orienteers, from those just starting out, to those who have run the forests and plains for years.  Welcome, all to the 2022 orienteering season!

I am crossing my fingers and holding my breath, hoping that we can get back to more in-person events this season.  The one common thread that I have heard this winter is that people really miss seeing their fellow orienteers in person.  To that end, the AOA has increased its budget for events where people can come to together and share their mutual enjoyment of our sport.
Something special to look forward to in July is the running of the much-postponed Western Canadian Orienteering Championship, put on by our friends at FWOC, and the associated Canadian Orienteering Championship, put on by our B.C. friends at the Kootenay Orienteering Club.  A special opportunity between these two events, will be to take in two Barebones events near Blairmore, in southern Alberta.
For those chomping at the bit, FWOC is hoping to put on their traditional spring opener at Rumsey on Sunday, May 1st, and EOOC is also hoping to put on an event in Morningside two weeks later.  So, dust off your compass, and get ready for orienteering in 2022.  I hope to see you on the trails!

Save the date:

 Alberta Orienteering Association 
AGM

7 pm, April 19, 2022

Planning calendar for Alberta 2022

Save the Date!

AGMs to Start the Season

 O Season Starters 

Return to Sport Guidelines

What happened in 2020?

Regardless of the many challenges posed by the pandemic, the clubs and AOA were able to provide opportunities to over 6000 participants to enjoy the outdoors in a safe environment. With Orienteering Canada's support and extensive work on Covid 19 guidelines for orienteering safely, the clubs were able to return to the sport through the summer and fall.

  

Highlights:

• Thanks to our Club's organizers for many activities in the form of online programs and individual-based GPS orienteering.
• In-person events and kids programs ( KRW and SOGO)
• Try it sessions
• School and small group programs
• 3 coaching courses and two outreach school programs in Grande Prairie
• Thanks to Marion Owen who mentored the O100 courses (run online)
• Thanks to our mappers ( Don Bayly and Teresa Winn ) who completed two forest maps ( Lusk Creek / Crowsnest Pass) and a couple of outreach maps.
• Maintained our PSO ( Provincial Sport Association) grant and obtained two new grants to support clubs and outreach programs 

 

  

Return to Sport Guidelines

Return to Sport Guidelines

AOA Outreach
In-person Activities

JOIN US!
AOA is organizing a couple of Try Orienteering activities. Everyone is welcomed; please come out if you are in the area. There will be an intermediate course for old-timers too but no SI at this time.

• Cochrane Ranche: July 22, 2020, Wednesday 3-7 pm
• Airdrie Nose Creek Park: July 29 or Aug 5  - permit dependent
• Red Deer College: Date TBD-  permit dependent

Follow our website or social media for updates.



If you would like to see an activity in your neighbourhood to promote Orienteering please let us now: Info@orienteeringalberta.ca

Did you know?

We had close to 10,000 kids through the school programs last year. In collaboration with the Clubs, we had over 32 schools engaged. We have many options for schools and communities:

1. "TRY IT " Programs 
2. Residency Programs
3. Outdoor Adventure Community Programs
4. Free resource guide and program management tools

Our sessions include:

• PHYSICAL LITERACY games,
• Fun AGILITY stations
• NAVIGATION & MAP READING 

Thanks to Dorothy from Kids Run Wild, Lenora from SOGO, the AOA outreach programs & Lisa from Red Deer and of course our fantastic Volunteers and Board Committees who support this important work.
Help us spread the word to your community that we can provide  fun, engaging outdoor programs. For more info visit our webpage or email us.
 

  

Officials Challenge 

O100 News 

The O100 course is available online!
FWOC's orienteering officials' guru, Marion O, has agreed to lead the course. Send us an email (info@orienteeringalberta.ca) or contact Marion directly (m.owen001@gmail.com) if you are interested in taking this course online.

Why should you do it?

• To feel more confident with your volunteering at club events.
• To learn the best practices for organizing a local event, including registration, timing, and safety.
• To understand the basics of planning courses - this is super fun!
• To get familiar with some cool Software applications useful for course planning.
• To become a certified O100 official - which is vital for our insurance!
• It is free!
• You (might) have time on your hands??

NCCP Community Coaching Course 

AOA Policies