From Adventurer to Award-Winning Researcher: A Journey in Recreation and Leisure Studies
In Fall 2021, Peggy Vacalopoulos returned to the University of Waterloo to pursue her Master of Arts Recreation and Leisure Studies thesis (RLS), a program she describes as dynamic and deeply interconnected with daily life. For Peggy, the RLS program has been transformative. "Leisure permeates every aspect of life, and through this lens, any topic can be explored. The mentorship from faculty and the sense of community among students have been irreplaceable" she reflects. As the community outreach coordinator for GARLS over the last two years, she has enjoyed giving back to local communities.
When Peggy began her undergraduate studies at the University of Waterloo in 1998, she couldn't have anticipated that her academic journey would lead her through a 25-year detour in the hospitality industry before returning to her true passion. A personal call to care for her father, who was suffering from dementia, brought her back to Waterloo in Winter 2018, this time with a renewed sense of purpose and a desire to explore Tourism Development.
Graduating with Dean’s Honors in 2019, Peggy was poised to enter the world once again. However, when the pandemic struck, she saw an opportunity to delve deeper into the hospitality sector by researching the experiences of frontline restaurant staff during this challenging time.
"The pandemic exposed vulnerabilities in the hospitality industry, and I aimed to explore how we can foster a more caring sector, better equipped to address labor shortages and retain talent,"
Her research not only earned her a Social Sciences and Humanities Research Council (SSHRC) Graduate Scholarship but also the prestigious President’s Graduate Scholarship in 2023. Recently, she successfully defended her thesis, which examined the lived experiences of frontline restaurant staff before, during, and after the pandemic. Peggy’s impactful work has garnered further recognition; she received the Travel and Tourism Research Association (TTRA) Canada Chapter Graduate Researcher Award, promoting excellence in graduate-level research on travel and tourism. As part of a research assistantship with Dr. Karla Boluk, the case study she led on the Grand River Community Play Project, which explores regenerative tourism in Southern Ontario, has earned her a spot to present her findings at the TTRA annual conference in Prince Edward Island this October.
Looking ahead, Peggy plans to launch her own tourism and hospitality consultancy, focusing on regenerative tourism—a field that resonates with her values. For now, she is seeking an organization that shares her commitment to regenerative tourism development.
Outside of her academic and caregiving responsibilities, Peggy enjoys cooking, traveling, and spending time by the water, fueling her passion for discovering new places and cultures.
"Recreation and Leisure Studies is more than just a program; it’s a supportive community that nurtures both academic and personal growth. If you’re looking to merge your passions with meaningful research, this is the place to do it."