The 2026 GARLS symposium is here!
The 33rd annual Symposium will be held May 8, 2026 as an in-person conference at the University of Waterloo. This year's theme is “Leisure for Everyone.”
Formed as a chance for graduate students in the wide-ranging fields of recreation, leisure, tourism studies and therapeutic recreation to come together and share research and ideas, the Graduate Leisure Research Symposium is a forum to present to peers and faculty in a low-stress and supportive environment.
Hosted by the Graduate Association of Recreation and Leisure Studies (GARLS), the symposium aims to:
- advance discourses of knowledge surrounding leisure research (broadly defined to include recreation, sport, tourism, therapeutic recreation, and the like)
- facilitate scholarly communication among students and faculty interested in various aspects of leisure research
Call for abstracts
Call for abstracts is now open.
Keynote speaker: Bryan Heal
Bryan Heal (he/him) is the Social Impact Research Lead for Maple Leaf Sports and Entertainment (MLSE)'s Community Engagement department, where he actively builds research, sport and community partnerships to mobilize knowledge in service of improved access, quality sport and social development outcomes among youth. Bryan's leadership and project management of MLSE Foundation's Change the Game research program has engaged more than 35,000 Ontario youth voices since 2021 on issues related to access, engagement, and positive outcomes in sport; alongside the development of 20+ participatory partnerships developing interventions on the path toward safer, braver spaces and cultures for youth to play across different types and levels of sport. Outside of his day job, Bryan serves on the Board of Directors of Canada's Sport Information Resource Centre (SIRC); and of Strides, Toronto's Lead Agency for Infant, Child and Youth Mental Health. In life, Bryan's favourite hobbies include travelling, going on long runs and hikes through public trails and parks, and he spends much of his waking life thinking about what to eat for his next meal.
Location
The conference will take place at the University of Waterloo in LHI 1621 - Sun Life Financial Auditorium.
200 University Ave. West Waterloo, Ontario, N2L 3G1