News

Dr. Kaleigh Pennock and the RISE Youth Sport Lab, in partnership with Brock University and Black Girl Hockey Club, hosted Telling Our Stories: Black Girls and Women in Hockey at MLSE LaunchPad in Toronto on May 3, 2026. The event brought together more than 40 Black girls and women from across the Greater Toronto Area for a day of hockey, creative activities, and discussion focused on identity, representation, and inclusion in sport.

Participants took part in hockey skills sessions led by Coach Abbah Copeland, creative activities, and facilitated conversations about their experiences in the game. The event also featured guest speakers Angela James, Jam Gamble, and Simone Saunders, who shared personal reflections on creating space for Black girls and women in hockey. Insights from the event will help inform future research, resources, and recommendations to support more equitable and inclusive hockey environments across Canada. Learn more by visiting our project page!

Heather and Simon Barrick presented preliminary findings from the Partners Transforming Curling Project at Curling Canada's National Congress in Halifax. They continue to collaborate with Curling Canada and other curling stakeholders to advance the project, with a major symposium planned for May 2027.

“Black girls and women don’t need to change. Sport does.” 

 Earlier this month, Dr. Kaleigh Pennock and Dr. Janelle Joseph were featured in Black Girls and Women Are Creating Community in Sport, highlighting research from the RISE Youth Sport Lab and IDEAS Research Lab.

Working alongside community partners, their research examines how representation, inclusive coaching, and intentionally designed sport spaces can help Black girls and women thrive in sport.

This May, Dr. Katie Misener led University of Waterloo students on an International Sport Business Study Abroad course in London, UK. Heather Mair also participated in the trip, which provided students with firsthand exposure to the global sport industry through visits to leading sport organizations, universities, and iconic venues.

Students explored topics such as sport governance, leadership, sustainability, fan engagement, and community impact while engaging with industry professionals and academic experts. The experience highlights Waterloo's commitment to experiential learning and global engagement, helping students connect classroom knowledge with real-world sport industry practice.

The Graduate Association of Recreation and Leisure Studies (GARLS) will host its 33rd annual Research Symposium on May 8, 2026 at the University of Waterloo. Centered on the theme “Leisure for Everyone,” the symposium brings together graduate students and scholars to share research, exchange ideas, and engage in meaningful discussions across leisure, sport, and recreation fields. The event is co-chaired by CSRG members Sarah Dunbar and Mathew Szeremeta.

Dr. Heather Mair and PhD candidate Laura Leitch have been engaged at major curling events including the Scotties, Brier, and World Championships examining how the sport can become more inclusive and accessible. Their work connects elite sport settings with community sport development and contributes to ongoing conversations around equity, access, and belonging.

Dr. Luke Potwarka and PhD candidate Adam Pappas are partnering with the Region of Waterloo to study the social and economic impacts of sport events. Their work gathers spectator and tourism insights to help enhance Kitchener-Waterloo as a host destination.

Dr. Kaleigh Pennock and Dr. Braeden McKenzie recently joined HEADCHECK Health Talks to discuss their latest research. Their work highlights key limitations in current concussion education practices in youth sport and calls for a more equitable and responsibility-focused approach to concussion prevention.

Dr. Pennock will be featured on a panel on safe, inclusive, and holistic sport at the Ontario Sport Community Summit on November 19^th. Hosted by partners from MLSE LaunchPad, the Ontario Sport Network and Brock University, the panel will discuss the importance of fostering, safe, inclusive and welcoming spaces across all levels of sport participation.

Dr. Pennock delivered a talk for Parks and Recreation Ontario entitled ‘From Participants to Partners:

Transforming Youth Engagement, Access, and Inclusion in Recreation’. Drawing from her research in risk, responsibility, and harm in youth sport, Dr. Pennock discussed why rethinking the way we engage with today's youth is essential for increasing youth engagement, improving mental health outcomes, and uplifting future recreation and sport leaders.