Exploring Recreation and Leisure: A Journey to Academia
Chris Hurst’s passion for exploring relations among habitat conservation, biodiversity, and nature-based tourism led her to embark on a journey towards a Doctor of Philosophy in Recreation and Leisure Studies (RLS) at the University of Waterloo. Guided by the expertise of Dr. Bryan Grimwood, she navigated through a landscape shaped by environmental crises, global pandemics, and social upheavals, each contributing to a deeper understanding of leisure's transformative potential.
What program did you pursue, and when did you start and complete your studies?
Prior to pursuing a Doctor of Philosophy in Recreation and Leisure Studies, I had a decade-long successful career with the Government of Canada. Over the course of said professional career, I worked in both policy advisory and research analyst roles for the Parks Canada Agency (launching me on my PhD journey) and the Office of the Correctional Investigator (a position expanding on my previous studies). I began my degree in the fall of 2018 and completed my studies in December 2023. I officially graduated at the spring 2024 convocation ceremony.
Could you please share your experience as a student at Waterloo?
During my time at Waterloo, I have had numerous enriching experiences. However, these experiences were often influenced by external crises, such as climate events, the COVID-19 pandemic, civil unrest, and global conflicts.
Over the course of my degree, I had many opportunities to learn from and be mentored by faculty members in RLS - ranging from professors in the classroom to members of my dissertation committee, my supervisor, Department Chair, and Associate Chair of Graduate Studies. I also received mentoring from staff at the University of Waterloo’s Centre for Teaching Excellence while pursuing my Certificate in University Teaching.
As a student, I also had opportunities to cultivate relationships with other critically oriented scholars. These relationships emerged through my research, by attending conferences, and through the generosity of my supervisor, Dr. Bryan Grimwood, who included me in projects among his own research networks.
I also developed lasting friendships with several of my peers in the program and will be forever grateful for the support that we have shown to one another. I am particularly grateful for the ways in which we ‘show up’ to celebrate each other’s successes, listen in periods of adversity, and extend care for one another as people.
What factors influenced your decision to pursue the RLS program at Waterloo?
I chose the PhD program in Recreation and Leisure Studies for several reasons. The first relates to my professional government career. At the Parks Canada Agency, one of my responsibilities was to provide policy advice and advance regulations related to the listing, designation, and recovery of species-at-risk in Canadian National Parks, National Park Reserves, Historic Sites, National Marine Conservation Areas, and the Rouge National Urban Park.
I worked with subject-matter experts, biologists, and park managers regarding various environmental and biodiversity challenges within park and marine settings, as well as the challenges or tensions that emerge when trying to balance visitor experiences with conservation objectives. I became interested in the intersections between habitat loss, biodiversity, and nature-based recreation/tourism, as well as how we might foster a kinder, more caring ethic of being with the places we tour/recreate in nature.
It was this realization that set me on the path of finding a doctoral program that could support me in this research. However, the most important reason to choose Waterloo was to work with my supervisor, Dr. Grimwood. I had read several of his publications and felt his research interests aligned with my own.
What accomplishments are you most proud of during your time in RLS?
The accomplishments I have relate to the relationships that I have built among peers and colleagues, and the conversations that my research has facilitated. I am also proud to have been awarded the Ontario Graduate Scholarship and University of Waterloo President’s Graduate Scholarship for three consecutive years from 2020-2023, as well as the Northern Scientific Training Program Research Grant in 2019-2020 and 2020-2021, respectively.
Can you tell us about your job?
I am a Lecturer in Tourism and Hospitality at Northumbria University in Newcastle Upon Tyne, United Kingdom. In addition to conducting my own research, I teach a first year and a fourth-year undergraduate module and a Master’s module. In spring 2023, while attending a writing retreat in Rovaniemi, Finland with the Intra-Living in the Anthropocene Project, I met the Head of Subject for Tourism and Hospitality at Northumbria University. He mentioned an upcoming position in his department, which prompted me to apply. Drawing on insights from my mentors and my Certificate in University Teaching program, I applied and was offered the position. Since then, it's been a whirlwind of completing my dissertation, defending it (my dissertation), relocating to a new country, and being launched into teaching as of January.
What are the most significant lessons you've learned from your experience as a graduate student?
1. Forgive Yourself: It's crucial to forgive yourself when facing writer’s block or needing rest. High expectations can be overwhelming, and so the work of avoiding negative self-talk and embracing self-forgiveness is vital for completing your degree.
2. Embrace Serendipity: Many of the opportunities that I had in my degree, from unexpected travel to roles like Editorial Assistant for a top leisure journal, arose from staying open to unexpected possibilities and new research directions.
3. Seize Opportunities: While serendipity plays a role, actively seizing opportunities is essential. Get involved in research projects, collaborate with peers, join clubs, and engage in activism aligned with your passions to enrich your graduate experience.