Alexandra Young

Background

About Alexandra Young

Currently the Health & Fitness Program Coordinator in the Recreation Department for the City of Powell River, working on developing programs and initiatives for pathways to success in accessing recreation through fitness. I'm a community development and recreation professional with a Master of Arts in Sustainable Leisure Management and an undergraduate Degree in Tourism Management, Major in Recreation. I am passionate about all things community, including supporting and advocating for healthy communities. My masters focus was on knowledge mobilization in parks and protected areas, specific to rural/remote communities and how interdisciplinary professions and communities need to come together to inform decision making. I am experienced in economic development, local government practices and procedures, and community recreation, as well as program development, special events, tourism management, and qualitative data collection and analysis. As the previous Community Development Officer for the City of Powell River, I learned much about local government procedures, as well as the importance of establishing and maintaining positive, trusting relationships with various community partners. I successfully implemented a COVID-19 recovery plan catered towards small-business and home-based entrepreneurs by creating a series of Night Markets, earning nearly back into the pockets of local vendors. Additionally, I programmed a series of networking events on various topics, including AI in Business, Emergency Preparedness for Business, and Social Media in Business as well as managed and supervised the management of co-working space, coastline colab, until closure in 2023. Contract work for Tourism Powell River conducted in 2020 consisted of developing a shoulder season business plan. 10+ years aquatic experience/ public recreation experience, in programming, supervising, and training, as well as administrative duties. Received sponsorship from Vancouver Island University in 2019 to attend the University of the Arctic's field school in Umea, Sweden, and completed a Masters Focus on Northern Tourism while conducting thesis work for my Master of Arts in Sustainable Leisure Management from Vancouver Island University. Extensive network of community collaborators both locally and provincially. Examples of current passions include supporting a healthy community via inclusive recreation opportunities and finding pathways to create a vibrant local economy.