Recreation policies and programs for new immigrants to Canada

In this thesis I explored, through document analysis and interviews, how community recreation leaders can create supportive environments for participation and address barriers that negatively impact participation in leisure based physical activity among recent immigrant adults. The document analysis revealed opportunities for ethno-cultural recreation practices may be constrained by dominant values and norms entrenched in government policies and documents. Absent from the recreation policies were recommendations to preserve and enhance the multicultural heritage of Canadians. Interviews with municipal recreation administrators indicated fiscal restraints challenge municipal recreation from attending to the specific needs and interests of ethnic minority immigrants in the community. Interviews with Spanish-speaking recent immigrant adults revealed ethno-cultural recreation traditions are favored. An analysis of the three sub-problems revealed decision makers would benefit from understanding the cultural context of immigrant groups. Programs developed need to consider the interaction between leisure constraints and leisure facilitators

Local-global processes: linking globalization, democratization, and the development of women's football in South Africa

'In einer zunehmend globaler werdenden Welt wird es immer schwieriger, lokale und nationale Erfahrungen von Wettkampf-Athleten zu verstehen, ohne Bezug auf globale Prozesse zu nehmen. Das wird besonders deutlich, wenn es um den globalen Sport Fußball geht. Dieser Beitrag widmet sich den lokal-globalen Verbindungen von Fußball in Afrika, indem er die Entwicklung und die sich verschiebenden Machtverhältnisse im südafrikanischen Frauenfußball während der 1990er Jahre untersucht. Die hier gleichzeitig verlaufenden Demokratisierungs- und Globalisierungsprozesse machen Südafrika zu einem besonders interessanten Feld, um lokal-globale Verflechtungen zu untersuchen. Die vorliegende Studie basiert auf zahlreichen Quellen, darunter qualitative Interviews, selbst durchgeführte statistische Erhebungen, Archivmaterial und direkte Beobachtung von Frauenfußball in Südafrika. Abschließend werden künftige Forschungsrichtungen diskutiert, die zu einem besseren Verständnis aktueller Erfahrungen afrikanischer Frauen im Sport beitragen können.' (Autorenreferat)'In our ever-increasing global world, it is becoming more difficult to understand local and national experiences of competitive athletes without reference to global processes. This is clearly the case when it comes to the global sport of football. This paper takes up the issue of local-global connections within football in Africa by examining the development of and the shifting power relations within South African women's football during the 1990s. The concurrent processes of democratization and globalization make South Africa a particularly intriguing context in which to examine local-global linkages. This analysis is based on multiple sources of data including qualitative interviews, self-administered surveys, archival documents, and direct observations of women's soccer in South Africa. Future directions for research to increase our understanding of contemporary African women's sporting experiences are discussed.' (author's abstract)

Sport Policy in Canada

The first and most comprehensive analysis of the new Canadian Sport Policy adopted in 2012

Participatory Action Research in Rural Community Sport and Recreation Management

The research conducted for this dissertation involved a participatory action research (PAR) project with the Municipality of Powassan Recreation Committee. Framed with the literature pertaining to sport and recreation development, community development, and rural community studies, the project sought to explore the perceived significance of sport and recreation, to examine the processes of sport and recreation management, as well as to inform changes to current management and policy making practices within the rural community context. Further, this project sought to identify strengths and challenges of PAR as well as to explore the processes through which researchers can work with community stakeholders as agents of change within the context of (rural) community sport and recreation management. Drawing from communitarian theories and participatory methodological approaches, the contributions of this research can be summarized in three themes. Firstly, this research contributes to scholarly understandings of the social processes and outcomes of sport and recreation management in rural community contexts. By identifying priorities of community organizers and exploring the ways that diverse community members understood their experiences in sport and recreation, this research provided insights which informed municipal management and policy making (in the municipality) as well as a scholarly understanding of sport and recreation management in the community. Secondly, this research provides an exploration of the ways that action can be involved in and through the research process. Drawing from the historical and philosophical traditions of PAR, a discussion of the ways in which action was conceptualized and facilitated in and through sport and recreation management, policy making, and research is provided. Finally, a reflective approach was used to examine the various ways that first person action research, or reflective methodological practice, was employed in order to shape the evolving research process. Through this account, I demonstrate the usefulness of reflective methodological approaches in navigating the often unarticulated role(s) of researchers as instruments of research. Collectively, the research documented in this dissertation contributes to theoretical, empirical, and methodological literature in community in sport and recreation management. By foregrounding collective understandings of community, the nuances of rural community contexts, and the potential of community partnership, this research explored the metaphorical peripheries of community sport and recreation management and attempted to draw attention to the rich insights that can be derived from doing so

The cricket bowling performance of different racial groups at a junior provincial level in South Africa

Objective. To investigate the difference in performance and bowling opportunity of black African (BA), coloured/Indian (C/I) and white(W) cricket bowlers at a junior provincial level in South Africa between 2006 and 2012.Methods. Data of all players performing in the South African interprovincial under-13 (U13), under-15 (U15) and under-19 (U19)tournaments were analysed. Bowling performance (bowling average and the top 20 wicket takers relative to their par representation) andbowling opportunity (number of overs bowled) were compared between racial groups.Results. There were no significant differences in the bowling averages between BA bowlers and the other racial groups between 2008 and 2012.BA bowling averages were only significantly worse than W bowlers in the U13s in 2006 and U19s in 2007. BA bowling averages were also onlysignificantly worse than C/I in the U13s and U15s in 2007. BA bowlers were below par representation in the top 20 wicket takers in each yearfor the U15s and U19s and below par representation for the U13s in 2007 - 2009 and 2011. The performance of C/I and W bowlers was relativelysimilar across the age groups. BA players bowled significantly fewer overs than W bowlers in the U13s in 2006, in the U15s in 2007 and 2009and in the U19s in 2006, 2007, 2010 and 2011. C/I bowlers bowled significantly fewer overs than W bowlers in the U13s in 2008 and 2009.Conclusion. The bowling averages of the different racial groups are similar. However, there were relatively few BA bowlers in the top 20wicket takers each year. This could be because of a lack of highly skilled BA bowlers or the lack of opportunity provided to BA bowlers tobowl in these tournaments

Exploring the Use of a Gender Equity Lens in Local Government Recreation Policies

This single instrumental case study sought to explore how a local government recreation department applies gender equity in its policies. Relying on Merriam’s (2009) case study approach and the Advocacy Coalition Framework developed by Sabatier and Jenkins-Smith (1988) and adapted by Jenkins-Smith, Nohrstedt, Weible, and Sabatier (2014), the perspectives of ten recreation professionals within an Ontario local government recreation department were examined through document analysis and semi-structured interviews. This study uncovered the complexities surrounding meanings associated with gender equity and strategies and related challenges when trying to operationalize gender equity into new and existing policies. Findings contributed to existing research gaps by uncovering four key themes: (1) foundations of gender equity policy in parks, recreation and culture, (2) information and guiding principles that direct practice, (3) fostering gender equity and inclusivity, and (4) challenges associated with gender equity. This study contributed to existing policy studies by identifying subsystem actors including city staff from other departments, library services, emergency services, and elected officials, Inclusivity Advisory Committee, users’ groups, and private organizations (i.e., Girl’s Hockey League, Minor Hockey Association, Skating Club, Ringette League), and individual residents who presented short-term constraints and resources for recreation professionals who sought to advance inclusion and gender equity goals. The findings of this study highlighted a need to increase gender equity policy awareness, policy support for transgender community members, dialogue between subsystem actors to establish concrete understandings of gender equity and gain support from the public to advance gender equity goals

Recreation through the eyes of trans men in NL

There is limited research available for researchers and recreation practitioners surrounding the needs of those who identify as transgender (Lewis & Johnson, 2011). The purpose of the current study was designed to describe the recreational experiences of trans men in Newfoundland and Labrador (NL). Qualitative methods were employed and the findings are based on the stories of six trans men living in NL. The findings suggest that providing equal, inclusive recreation opportunities and spaces for transgender men in the province of NL is an area that requires greater awareness and further research attention. Specifically, it is critical that additional attention be paid to the ways in which recreation programs, clubs, or spaces register and group participants, how changing areas are designed, and how the attitudes of desk staff can all act as barriers and facilitators for transgender men. Three main themes emerged: gender expression, recreation constraints and facilitators, and cisnormative privilege. All participants emphasized the importance of educating recreation practitioners and providers on ways to build gender inclusive environments