The Department of Recreation & Leisure Studies
200 University Ave W N2L 3G1 Waterloo, ON, Canada

Join the University of Waterloo Sports Business Association on February 3 at 6:30 p.m. for their Women in Sport Panel! This panel will bring together leading female sports industry professionals to share and discuss their unique experiences, challenges, and provide advice as women in a male-dominated sports industry. Admission for this event is a $5 donation to the MLSE foundation to support programs, organizations and communities to empower the next generation to use sport t...o recognize and reach their potential. With this $5 donation, you will be able to attend the event & will have a chance to win a door prize Register by February 2: https://events.mlsefoundation.org/f-21-uwsba-wome//Tickets

Congratulations to RLS Associate Professor Karla Boluk for being appointed as Co-Chair for the Tourism Education Futures Initiative (TEFI)! In this role, Karla will be responsible for attracting and supporting TEFI ambassadors, and providing leadership to the network overseeing TEFI's main activities (e.g. innovation in teaching and learning, scholarship, advocacy, and promoting the role of social enterprise and social entrepreneurs in tourism). Karla is eager to provide m...entorship to those interested in engaging in the scholarship of teaching and learning, innovative curriculum design and advocacy. . . Tourism Education Futures Initiative seeks to be the leading, forward-looking network that inspires, informs, supports and gives voice to tourism educators and students to passionately and courageously transform the world for the better. See more

Join the Recreation and Leisure Networking Collective on LinkedIn today! WHO IS IT FOR? - Students - Leisure Professionals... - Leisure Enthusiasts WHAT IS IT USED FOR? - Networking - Sharing ideas - Posing thoughtful inquiries - Highlighting current events in the field - Connecting with like-minded people This group was created by the Graduate Association of Recreation and Leisure Studies (GARLS) at #UWaterloo but is intended for anyone within the broader leisure community. Interested in joining? Follow this link, and click request to join: https://www.linkedin.com/groups/13898103/

As of January 1, 2021, the Faculty of Applied Health Sciences became the Faculty of Health See the post below to find out how to stay connected with the Faculty on social media, and to read more about this transition #AHStoHealth

Four #UWaterlooAlumni share heartwarming stories about the people who helped them through their student journey including RLS alumnus Colin Dunn (BA '17) Read their inspiring stories here:

How would you answer this question: Why did YOU choose RLS at the University of Waterloo? When asked the same question, Juliet Otema Yeboah, a second year PhD student researching how social capital is an enabler of tourism, said it was "because of the Department's international reputation, strong faculty, and her career goals." However, her reasoning has developed over time: "As an international student who has been with the Department for more than a year now, I am more dr...awn to the Department’s sense of community. There is so much love and care from all angles." Now, share with us why YOU chose RLS The Graduate Association of Recreation and Leisure Studies (GARLS) is a student-run association aimed at promoting inclusivity, connectivity, and transparency among Recreation and Leisure Studies (RLS) graduate students. #GARLSFeature intends to showcase the diverse range of graduate-level scholars in the Department of Recreation and Leisure Studies.

Have you ever wondered where your degree could take you? The possibilities are endless! For this #MyDegreeIRL feature, alumni Amanda Graham (BA Therapeutic Recreation '17) shows us how she applies her degree as the Residential Coordinator at Camphill Communities Ontario in Barrie, ON. "Without my Therapeutic Recreation degree I wouldn't have the confidence, understanding, and knowledge to work alongside individuals with intellectual disabilities. Also, even though my title is... not "RT", I still get to use the skills I developed during my undergrad on a daily basis in many different ways (i.e. facilitating programming and developing personalized goals)." As the supervisor for 2 locations within the agency, Amanda oversees both staffing teams and manages their schedules. Her list of responsibilities extends far beyond this, but the main priority is to always maintain a safe, happy, and thriving living environment for the people receiving support. "The opportunities you can pursue with a Recreation and Leisure degree are endless! The co-op program gave me the chance to test the waters in different fields, which is how I got into the field I am in today. However, something I wish I would have acknowledged at the start of my career is that you do not have to limit yourself to the title on your degree. I put so much pressure on myself after graduating to be a Recreation Therapist and not let my degree 'go to waste' that it restricted me from applying all the amazing things I learned in the program. I've now realized I can be just as impactful in my current role if I choose to look for ways to incorporate my Recreational Therapy expertise!" #MyDegreeIRL is a series showcasing the amazing and unique ways that RECers are putting their degrees to work.

A holiday story: T'was the week before the winter break and our RLS video hit a snag. We couldn't share it due to copyright, it was such a drag . Then all of a sudden, a group of RLS alumni came together. They had heard about our lip sync blunder to Don't Stop Believin' and wanted to make things better. Have a watch and see how they are spending their time. The best part? The whole thing is in rhyme!... Happy holidays to all and to all a good break. Relax, stay safe and find new ways to REC-reate!

How well do you know Professor Corey W. JohnsonFor our first #MeetRLS, we are putting him in the spotlight to help you get to know him better! What he taught this fall: REC 100: Intro to Recreation and Leisure REC 663: Foundations for Qualitative Inquiry... Corey is also working on two major SSHRC funded research projects, has just finished a book on Sex and Leisure with co-editor Diana Parry, and currently edits our field's number one journal (Leisure Sciences). Fun Facts: - He attended (movie theatre) projection school when he was 16 - He was a bartender at a 5 star restaurant for 10 years - He can walk on footer stilts and is often asked to do so for parades, grand openings, etc. - He loves to travel and has been to New Zealand, Ecuador, Cambodia, the UK, France, South Africa, Mexico, Costa Rica, Taiwan, and is looking forward to adding Ireland and hiking the El Camino across Portugal, Spain and France post-COVID #MeetRLS is a series that allows you to get to know the faculty and staff members of the RLS Department.

Want to learn how to network virtually and speak with #UWaterlooAHS alumni? Join the Faculty of Applied Health Sciences on November 16 for Networking 101, and on November 18 to speak with some of our RLS alumni! Open to undergraduate students in AHS. Find out more and register by November 15: http://uwaterloo.ca/ahs/networking-week

What would inspire you to pursue a PhD? For Arany Sivasubramaniam, it was the realization that there is so much race work still yet to be done, her true passion for that topic, and a desire to think, critique, learn, and unlearn. Having completed both her undergrad in Therapeutic Recreation and Master's in Recreation and Leisure Studies at the University of Waterloo, Arany was beyond excited to return to complete her PhD in Aging, Health and Well-being. She is also incredib...ly honoured to be learning alongside her peers and being guided by her professors, Kimberly Lopez and Lisbeth Berbary. Throughout her PhD, Arany hopes to create re-imaginings of healthcare institutions to resist the racist practices that are embedded in them, and believes that through changing our ways of thinking and critiquing policy we can make space to honour inclusion in Canada’s healthcare systems.

"Online gaming can be a space for continued learning within an online environment, providing numerous benefits for players, all while keeping them indoors," says PhD candidate Joe Todd. Read more about how 5 subjects (English, math, science, history, and physical education) can benefit from video games in the classroom: https://www.guelphtoday.com//covid-19-how-video-games-can-

Did you hear about Professor Kimberly Lopez's amazing accomplishment back in Spring 2020? In June 2020, Professor Lopez was awarded the Emerging Scholar Award from the Canadian Association of Leisure Studies (CALS). This award is presented to an individual who has generated and/or influenced new concepts and ideas, provided new insights, advanced innovative perspectives and approaches to research, and ultimately, had a significant impact on the way in which leisure is unders...tood and plays out in the lives of Canadians. Congratulations Dr. Lopez! We are incredibly proud of you and proud to have you as a faculty member in our Department Interested in reading more about accomplishments within the Department and what we were up to during Spring 2020? Make sure to read the newly released RECord Newsletter: https://uwaterloo.ca/recreat//recreation-record-newsletter

As we brace for another possible spike in #COVID19 infections this winter, Professor Troy Glover, chair of the Department of Recreation and Leisure Studies, says we need a "winter strategy" to keep us outside and connected. Read more: https://uwaterloo.ca//q-and-experts-covid-19-means-we-need

Congratulations to RLS alumnus Jessica Bondy (MA ’13, BA ’08) for receiving the 2020 #UWaterlooAHS Alumni Achievement Award! Jessica is being recognized for her leadership, dedication and innovation in the not-for-profit sector. Read more: https://uwaterloo.ca//alumni-achievement-award-2020-jessic