From inclusive play to urban design, FKRM's Research Day 2026 explored sport, recreation and wellness throughout the lifespan.
From the joy of movement in seniors to the built environments that shape our physical activities, Research Day 2026 transformed the Faculty of Kinesiology and Recreation Management into a hub of discovery on May 6.
“Research days are valuable because they allow students to learn about different research topics from various perspectives,” says Dr. Lise Olsen, Associate Professor in the School of Nursing at the University of British Columbia, Okanagan, who delivered this year’s keynote address.
The event brought together a diverse mix of faculty, students and community members to explore a central theme: sport, physical activity, recreation and leisure across the lifespan.
Olsen set the tone by challenging the audience to rethink inclusive recreation for children with neurodevelopmental disabilities in her keynote address. For Olsen, the day’s value stretched far beyond the podium.
“These events are really important for students to make connections, perhaps with people they might not otherwise meet,” says Olsen. “Just hearing other people’s perspectives is so valuable.”
Breakout sessions in the morning and afternoon gave participants an opportunity to think more in depth about the gaps between theoretical research and community impact. In the morning, the focus was on social equity and aging.
Guests Carolyn Trono, Dr. Richard Sylvester and Eve Sotiriadou, shared insights on “New-to-Canada" sport transitions and the hurdles created by Islamphobia in sports.
Faculty members Drs. Stephanie Chesser and Cheryl Glazebrook and guest Maritel Centurion had their breakout session Flamenco dancing as they explored how to preserve and sustain the joy of movement as we age.
Afternoon sessions shifted the focus towards the environments that shape our health, both cultural and physical.
Dr. Kathryn Morog led a session on the Indigenous approach to physical literacy, in one session and Dr. John McGavock, Issak Fast and Nika Klaprat explored how the built environment, or how our cities are designed, influence the activity level and health outcomes in larger populations.
A hallmark of Research Day is the poster competition. Undergraduate, Master’s and PhD students stood ready to defend their research, pitching their work to panels of community and faculty judges and curious peers.
“The best part is seeing how broad the field of kinesiology really is,” says master’s student Melina Kaluzny. “No two projects are the same.”
Undergraduate Hayley Jayde echoed that sentiment, noting the "amazing" variety of research happening within the faculty walls. Whether it was a first-year student’s initial inquiry or a PhD candidate’s final defence, the competition highlighted a faculty moving the needle on building healthy communities.
“Having a chance to listen to what other people are doing can spark new ideas, new directions and new possibilities,” says Olsen.
Research Day 2026 once again highlighted the importance of collaboration, knowledge-sharing and community connection while celebrating the innovative research taking place within the Faculty of Kinesiology and Recreation Management.
Distinguished alumna Ruth Asper, [BPE/'81; BRS/'83] presented Emma Heath the 2025 Ruth Asper Scholarship in Kinesiology and Recreation Management. Recognized for her enduring dedication to community service, Asper personally selects a recipient each September to support their research and training within the faculty. The scholarship is awarded in September each year with the formal presentation at Research Day.
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