Driving into work this morning, there was a Message from the Government of Alberta on the radio, urging us to be aware of the high forest fire risks at the moment. Actually, they said fawrst fires, apparently having decided that forest is better as a single-syllable word.

In particular, we were urged to take care while "recreating" in the fawrsts.

I know that, technically, it's not incorrect, but come on! Has anyone ever actually "recreated" in the fawrsts? (Insert own dogging joke here.) "Hey, Bud, what you doing this weekend?" "Well, me 'n' Mary thought we'd take the ol' trailer out and do a bit of recreating up at the cottage."

How can it be possible to draft, approve, record, distribute and repeatedly broadcast a public service announcement in English that people don't even speak?

Govt of Alberta nuff said
Yes sadly we are becoming a bigger nanny state than needed. I guess they figure that we are incapable of realizing that several days of hot temperatures make the forests drier and therefore a bigger risk for fires.
I wonder if they pass that message onto Mother Nature and ask it politely not to induce lightning strikes on the dry forests all across Canada as it may cause a fire.
As long as I dont see too many scenes like in the movie Deliverance then Im ok with recreating in the forests

Jings

This the year of 50 shades. Gov of Alberta probably know that. Recreating this year is is liable to cause more sparks than previous years.

Just be thankful it wasnt the Federal Govt making this announcement.
They would have had several advisory groups planning this and bringing in outside consultants. They would have made ads to be shown on national TV and radio and newspapers warning us of this. A Minister would have been flown to somewhere to make the announcement and a photo op.
All paid for by us the taxpayer.

You misunderstand. I wasn't concerned at the Government's advice to take care with fire, I was reporting my dismay at the fact they used the word "recreating".

"Take care while recreating." Eurgh.

So what would be the verb for recreation?

Why does recreation need a verb?

The clumsy 'verbing' of perfectly good nouns is just one of life's little irritations.

I suggest you do what most Canadians do and write a letter of complaint
You can state that this irritated you no end and spoiled your drive into work and was playing on your mind all day. As a Govt they should fully vet ads before they are released into the public domain for errors such as this.
You have the full support of BE members and if needed we will all sign a petition in support of this.
Viva the grammatical Revolution.

LOL! Have you read them? I have!

Urg, and they make you sit an English test to come into the country and yet they are fine with "Recreating".

There again we have seen many examples of UK workers with spelling difficulties when painting new Skool, Schol crossing areas

I heard an advertisement on the radio recently announcing that 'the good just got gooder'. Groan...

The Govt of Alberta is not known for having stellar communication skills. Anyone remember the fiasco where they used Bamburgh Beach, Northumberland to promote Alberta?

"Many" examples of painting new Skool, Schol crossing areas?

Stop hyperbolaterizing.

I must admit I've not heard it (presumably it's pronounced reh create as opposed to reee create), though had I heard it, I think I may have said "wtf is he talking bout" out loud anyway.

It reminds me of the episode of Blackadder when Edmund was making up words just to annoy Johnson and his dictionary.