Behind the spectacle: Participatory action research, and the impacts of a world-class arena and entertainment district on the urban poor in downtown Edmonton

Project summary  The project was designed to explore the impacts of a new, $613.7-million, publicly-financed arena development (Rogers Place, the home of the National Hockey League’s Edmonton Oilers) in downtown Edmonton on inner city community members, many of who are experiencing homelessness and are disproportionately Indigenous.  Our research uncovered a deficient Community Benefits Agreement (CBA),…

Cultivating inclusive sport environments for 2SLGBTQ+ participants

The Rainbow Resource Centre has compiled a resource kit for sport organizations seeking to create inclusive and welcoming environments for 2SLGBTQ+ participants. Some of the recommendations include collaborating with 2SLGBTQ+ organizations, considering how language is used in your sporting space, and ensuring that employees are offered inclusivity training.

Diversity in sport

Sport policies and programs have placed increased emphasis on encouraging diversity within clubs and organizations over the last several years. Yet, change has been slow. In this article, researchers examine the mindsets at play underlying conscious or unconscious resistance to increased diversity in sport organizations, and include practical tips to address resistance.

Multicultural common spaces: A study of Canadian hockey arenas and social integration 

Project summary  The research objective was to assess whether the game of hockey, and its associated social spaces, contributes to the social integration of immigrants and racialized minorities in Canada? This research assesses whether the game of hockey provides for multicultural common spaces where interactive pluralism occurs and enables a sense of Canadian identity and…

Beyond food as fuel: Exploring women athletes’ relationship with food

Athletes’ relationship with food can be complicated. This is especially true for women in sport, who tend to have higher rates of disordered eating. The role of sport participation in athletes’ relationship with food is not straightforward. Some studies suggest that sport participation itself can make disordered eating more likely. Other research highlights the many…

Attitudes towards LGBTQ+ inclusion in Canadian figure skating

Sport has historically often been an unsafe space for LGBTQ+ athletes. Recent Canadian research sought to examine attitudes towards LGBTQ+ inclusion in figure skating, to assess whether these attitudes vary by gender, sexual identity, or level of participation in skating, and to examine the impact of contact with LGBTQ+ people on attitudes towards inclusion. Overall,…

Examining role identity and diversity within the governance of community sport 

Aim In this study we are critically examining the current models of community sport governance and inclusive practices. Specifically, we aim to challenge how we think about community sport board volunteers and the effectiveness of professionalized board structures.   Background As defined by the EU Expert Group on Good Governance (2013), sport governance is “the…

Positive sport experiences of gay men

Sport participation has many benefits for one’s well-being. However, sport is not always a welcoming environment for LBGTQ+ people. Research consistently demonstrates that homophobia can be pervasive in sport contexts like gyms, arenas, and locker rooms (Anderson, 2017; Cleland, 2018; Frederick et al., 2022; Hartmann-Tews et al., 2021). In this blog, researchers from Brock University…

“Athlete transfer” opens opportunities for development in Para sport

A Para athlete who chooses to pursue a new sport or get involved in a second sport, or whose circumstances force them to leave their sport, is engaging in a process called “athlete transfer.” The Paralympic Athlete Transfer Task Force has undertaken research to understand athlete transfer experience and inform future policies and pathways.

Minorities in historical narratives: The case of Black Canadian women in sport

Project summary  This research explored sporting practices of Southern Ontario Black women between the 1920s and the 1940s. It is aimed at developing a socio-cultural history of sport that include narratives from marginalized groups. In Canada, the focus on Black masculine narratives conflates race and racism in sport with Black men, marginalizing other people of…