2019 Graduate Leisure Research Symposium

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The Graduate Association for Recreation and Leisure Studies (GARLS) is pleased to announce the Twenty-sixth  Graduate Student Leisure Research Symposium to be held April 26, 2019 in AHS 1686.

Find what you are looking for:

Primary objectives of the symposium
2019 Keynote speaker
Information on student presentations
Symposium overview schedule
GARLS Symposium social 2019
Location
Registration - RSVP by Friday, April 19, 2019 at 4:00 p.m.

Primary objectives of the symposium

  1. To offer students the opportunity to present their research and ideas in a supportive, inclusive atmosphere.
  2. To advance the state of knowledge about leisure, recreation, sport, and tourism through a public forum of shared research.
  3. To facilitate scholarly communication among students and faculty interested in leisure research, and to create the opportunity for constructive criticism and debate.

2019 Keynote

This year we are proud to present Erin Sharpe as the Keynote speaker and Fern Delamere Memorial Lecture to commemorate the 26th year of the Symposium, as well as part of the Hallman Lecture Series. Erin is the current Chair and Associate Professor in the Department of Recreation and Leisure Studies at Brock University, her academic home since 2001. She completed her PhD at Indiana University, her MA at the University of Georgia, and her Bachelor’s degree at McMaster University. Outside of her work at Brock, Erin is a rower, a sailing school organizer, bike swap planner, and advocate for all things playful.

Erin’s research investigates the socio-cultural and political context of community leisure, broadly defined. Past projects have focused on community festivals and events, young people’s play and recreation, neighbourhood policy and governance, non-profit organizations, and sport for development. She has also co-edited two books: Leisure and Community Development: Applications for Sport, Recreation and Tourism and The Handbook of Leisure Theory. 

In her keynote address, she explores the historical, social, political and ideological terrain of young people at play, and its implications for young people. She elaborates on some of her recent research that examines the discursive production of young bodies at play as objects of suspicion and in need of containment and surveillance, and how young people make sense of and negotiate these discourses. She also considers the potential of leisure studies and practice to contribute to and erase the limitations we place on young people’s playful expressions.

View Erin Sharpe Keynote (VIDEO)


Student presentations

Presentations and posters are either completed research studies, or works in progress. Case studies, philosophical pieces, literature reviews, conceptual development papers, and completed empirical studies are all included. Abstracts are subject to a blind review process. Presentations will be 15 minutes with discussion, and posters will be displayed throughout the conference, including dedicated poster discussion time. We invite graduate students (and senior undergraduate students pursuing research) interested in any aspect of leisure, recreation, sport, and tourism research to attend the symposium, and to take advantage of this unique opportunity for scholarly and professional growth.

Symposium overview

Symposium overview schedule
Time Session
8:00 - 8:30 a.m. Registration
8:30 - 8:40 a.m. Conference introductions
8:40 - 10:00 a.m. Oral presentations: Tourism, outdoor recreation, and the environment
10:00 - 10:20 a.m. Morning break
10:20 - 11:40 a.m. Oral presentations: Identity and leisure opportunities
11:40 a.m. - 1:00 p.m. Lunch and poster presentations
1:00 - 2:20 p.m. Oral presentations: Research process, pedagogy and teaching
2:20 - 2:40 p.m. Afternoon break 1
2:40 - 3:40 p.m. Oral presentations: Community services, health and wellness
3:40 - 4:00 p.m. Afternoon break 2
4:00 - 5:00 p.m. Keynote Dr. Erin Sharpe
5:00 - 5:20 p.m. Closing remarks
5:30 p.m. Social and poster presentations

2019 GARLS Symposium social

Join us at the Symposium Wine and Cheese Social hosted by Graduate Association of Recreation and Leisure Studies (GARLS) on the second floor of the AHS Expansion Foyer at 5:30 p.m. after the events of the day.

The Symposium social is an opportunity to get together with other presenters, graduate students, and faculty in a fun, social atmosphere after the Symposium. This casual gathering will be a great way to unwind from the business of the day. Appetizers will be provided by GARLS and beverages will be available at the cash bar.

University of Waterloo
200 University Avenue West
Waterloo ON N2L 3G1