RECR 4400 Research Summaries (2024)
How can the City of Vancouver support seniors aged 65-80 to more actively participate in physical activity through physical literacy programs? In what ways can focusing on physical literacy impact the long-term sustainability of their commitment to regular physical activity?
Isabella Metcalfe
This research aims to explore how the City of Vancouver can support seniors aged 65-80 to actively engage in physical activity through physical literacy programs and how focusing on physical literacy can sustain their commitment to regular physical activity. Utilizing methods including literature review, interviews, observations, and content analysis, the study identifies physical literacy as crucial for seniors’ overall well-being and cognitive health. It highlights a lack of dedicated strategies for promoting physical literacy among seniors within the Vancouver Park Board and recommends redesigning initiatives, implementing training for program leaders, conducting surveys to understand senior’s preferences, and participating with organizations like the Active Aging Society to offer programs such as Choose to Move city wide.
What barriers do people with disabilities face when accessing indoor recreation programs and spaces in community centres in the city of Richmond, and what can be done to remove those barriers to ensure they can participate in recreation fully?
Jeffrey Legaspi
People with disabilities face external barriers that prevent them from accessing indoor recreation programs and spaces in community centers. Increasing accessibility is a process that involves step-by-step changes, while taking into account the abilities and interests of people with disabilities (Riley et al., 2008). Some ways to remove barriers and make community center programs and spaces more accessible include working with organizations that support people with disabilities and creating accessibility plans to remove specific barriers (Charles & Michael, 2017 as cited in Gostic & Beyer, 1993). Findings include implementing staff training and the importance of working with organizations that support people with disabilities. Other findings include implementing segregated programs and working to retrofit older infrastructure to remove barriers. From the research, the data shows that there are barriers in recreation for people with disabilities, but they can be reduced or removed.
The first step to removing barriers for people with disabilities is to take initiative and take the right steps in finding what barriers exist. Once those barriers are found, each community center finds their own ways to prioritize what barriers are removed and in what order. Including people with disabilities in recreation programs and spaces is important so they can fully participate in their community. People with disabilities represent a large population in British Columbia, and community centers must continue to support them to be inclusive of everybody who participates in recreation. Recreation is important for everybody, both people with and without disabilities, and community centers must be willing to take the necessary steps to ensure people with disabilities can fully participate in recreation without facing barriers.
What factors are contributing to the lifeguard shortage in British Columbia, and what strategies or incentives can be employed to reduce the lifeguard shortage in rural areas such as the Kootenays?
Sarah Landry
The research findings highlight the urgent need to address lifeguard shortages in the Kootenay region through proactive measures and collaborative efforts. By implementing the recommendations outlined, aquatic facilities can create a more sustainable workforce, ensure public safety, and foster a positive workplace culture. Collaboration between municipalities, unions, and community groups is essential for effectively addressing the lifeguard shortage and improving the overall aquatic environment in the region.
How can the Student Life program at Columbia College use recreation to help international students settle in Vancouver?
Hee Jun Jerica Yoon
The purpose of this paper was to present actionable recommendations to local colleges in Vancouver, so they can better address their international students’ barriers, facilitate their social integration, and lead them to successful settlement.
Primary and secondary research findings complemented each other, providing valuable information that recreation plays a positive role in international students’ social integration. The observations and content analysis showed that intramural sports are indeed powerful tools that foster senses of belonging and community. Other key findings were that recreational opportunities aid settlement by facilitating the development of intercultural friendships, meaningful relationships, and supportive social networks. The element of “fun” was also demonstrated to be crucial when programming recreation.
The Student Life program at Columbia College can use recreation to address barriers specific to international students and promote successful settlement by emphasizing the need for and facilitating social integration. By providing much-needed perspective into international student integration, this research benefits the sponsoring organization and, by extension, the recreation industry. The findings and recommendations enhance the understanding of settlement needs and experiences of international students, which not only contributes to the government of BC’s goal to enhance quality standards but also creates a more inclusive, welcoming, and supportive City of Vancouver.
What barriers do newcomer older adults 55+ face in accessing recreation opportunities at Confederation Seniors Centre, and how can these barriers be reduced to improve participation and engagement?
Jackelyn Contreras
The first part of the research question, "What barriers do newcomer older adults 55+ face in accessing recreation opportunities at Confederation Seniors Centre", correlates to first understanding the existing and current barriers at the center. To answer this part of the question, while conducting secondary and primary research, two main barriers were identified, social isolation and language (Menec et al., 2020 & Mandell et al., 2018). Social isolation and language are barriers that newcomer older adults face when accessing recreation opportunities. These barriers were also identified when conducting primary research through interviews. The second part of the question of how these barriers can be reduced to improve engagement and participation allowed for further secondary research to identify strategies and recommendations that would be helpful for recreation professionals. For example, the social interaction piece among staff, volunteers, instructors, and participants proved to exert an impact on health while improving participation and engagement (Zunzunegui et al., 2004 cited in Liljas et al., 2017).
What are the barriers preventing preteens from engaging in recreation and how can the Fleetwood Town Centre improve its current outreach strategy to increase participation in youth recreation services for preteens aged 10-13?
Matthew Morin
The research highlights significant barriers to preteen engagement in municipal recreation services in Surrey, including internal social factors and outdated training modules. To address these challenges, recommendations include defining the preteen age group within the City of Surrey's recreation department and updating youth training modules to address specific preteen needs. Collaborating with other City of Surrey departments, such as libraries and Healthy Communities, and systematically addressing preteen barriers in supervisory meetings can enhance outreach efforts and improve preteen participation in municipal recreation programs. Implementing these recommendations will require proactive efforts from the City of Surrey and its various departments to create inclusive spaces and effectively engage preteens in recreational activities.
What Tla’amin Nation taʔow [teachings] are key elements to be incorporated into community sport & recreation organizations in the qathet region to move toward reconciliation?
Christine Parsons
An in-depth investigation into this topic helped address some of the challenges sport & recreation organizations face in making visible steps toward reconciliation. As professionals in the field of recreation clearly understanding the teachings, values, and culture of local First Nations can improve opportunities for Indigenous people to ensure they have equal opportunities and feel safe when participating in sports & recreation. Acknowledging the history & current achievements of Indigenous people in sport can impact Indigenous people and empower them to strive for success through connection and the power of role models. The need to identify and remove embedded racism is critical to the well-being and success of Indigenous people and can be achieved by reviewing framework, policies, and procedures to remove colonized structures in place, using culturally appropriate approaches such as Critical Race Theory, Two-eye Seeing, Appreciative Inquiry or a combination of them.
By connecting sport & recreation to Indigenous cultural teachings and ways, we reduce self-identity conflict among Indigenous people and allow them to feel connected, providing a sense of belonging and enhancing their ability to be proud of who they are. When we build trusting relationships with Indigenous communities and people, we place value on their culture and recognize the significant role they play in our society.
In order to move forward reconciliation, SROs need to take time to be reflective, without bias, and build trusting relationships with Indigenous communities to not only acknowledge their culture and teachings but incorporate them to support Indigenous peoples’ pursuits in mainstream sport & recreation. The research gathered throughout this project has provided credible insight to answering the RQ that all ten of the TN taʔow are key elements to be incorporated into community sport & recreation organizations in the qathet region to move forward reconciliation.
What effects do leisure activities have on physical wellness and healthy aging in older adults, and how can recreation programmers provide opportunities for older adults to experience these effects at public swimming pools in Vancouver, BC?
Will Quinn
In summary, there is various data supporting the projected rise in the older adult population of Vancouver, BC, and it is imperative that ways to develop support that help them in their pursuit of maintaining physical wellness and aging healthily are explored. Recreation and leisure opportunities can be considered as one of the foundational support structures communities can rely on to help older adults achieve this pursuit, and it is vital that leading organizations such as the City of Vancouver look towards new and exciting ways that leisure can impact older adults and affect healthy aging. When reviewing all key findings from the research conducted, it is clear that there are many ways in which leisure activities affect both physical wellness and healthy aging in older adults. These effects contribute to the way that recreation professionals, such as programmers, can develop opportunities that best support the rising older adult demographic, which can be demonstrated in the key recommendations given.
What are the current factors within BC residential summer camps that affect youth volunteers aged 14 to 19 from continuing long-term participation (1-5 years)? What steps can Camp Latona take to mitigate these factors and promote long-term participation within their residential summer camps?
Bryson Stoughton
Residential summer camps within British Columbia, Canada, are not immune to similar barriers observed within other parts of Canada and North America. Long-term volunteering with residential summer camps happens over multiple years and across many role identities. Three facilitating factors that promote long-term participation include job impact, camp embeddedness, and mentorship (Richmond et.al 2020). Three categories of barriers were also identified including industry-specific, regulatory, and systemic.
It is recommended that Camp Latona takes steps to refine their job identity, increase time training soft skills, create additional mentorship opportunities, and encourage the industry as a whole to address historical systemic issues. It may be difficult for one camp to overcome regulatory or systemic factors, but what they can do is look at why people stay and give them the training and resources to promote their own participation. If done successfully, the camp life cycle could continue indefinitely.
What are the barriers to recreation programs for disadvantaged youths, specifically low-income (aged 13-18 years old), and what implementations can the City of Richmond make to increase participation and consistency?
John Astudillo
The research was aimed towards youths aged 13-18 years old, breaking down barriers in enabling this demographic to have access to participation in youth programs by using numerous primary and secondary research methods such as the literature review and methodology. This helped me to discover certain gaps/holes in the City of Richmond to improve create and improve better implementations in increasing participation for their youth population. Living in poverty can be difficult for many (especially with inflation and cost of living in the lower mainland). However, a life for a young individual should not be filled with restrictions in having fun and enjoy their youthful years.
How do intergenerational programs influence the overall wellbeing of older adults? What strategies can the City of Richmond use to integrate intergenerational programs to be a fundamental and consistent component within all community centres?
Hana Hekal
This research explored the impact of intergenerational programs on older adults' wellbeing and offered recommendations for the City of Richmond to integrate these programs consistently across all community centers. Findings highlighted the positive social and physiological outcomes for older adults, alongside the challenges and barriers of intergenerational programs, providing a comprehensive understanding of the positioning of intergenerational programs in the City of Richmond. Accordingly, the recommendations were created to address these findings, making them fundamental and core programs within all community centers to meet evolving demographic trends and community needs.
What creative solutions can NVRC offer to members of the general public who use physical mobility aids to make outdoor special events in parks more accessible?
Alexandra Pastega
NVRC is committed to creating healthy, inclusive communities through recreation and culture programming. Recognizing the importance of accessibility, NVRC collaborates with community groups to ensure equal access to its programs and facilities. This paper covered the accessibility of outdoor events in North Vancouver parks, focusing on Panorama Park and Cates Park, and proposes solutions to address accessibility barriers faced by mobility aid users.
The research methodology involved secondary and primary research methods such as interviews, content analysis, and on-site observations. Secondary research discussed the need to understand mobility aid users' interactions at special events. Primary research identified five key findings: the overall need for accessibility, a transportation gap preventing equal participation for mobility aid users, parking problems worsening existing challenges, a lack of understanding about mobility aid users' preferences, and a lack of equipment transportation options.
While NVRC has made significant progress in enhancing accessibility, challenges still need to be overcome. The most pressing issues are transportation barriers and a lack of understanding about the needs of mobility aid users. To effectively tackle these issues, NVRC is fully committed to implementing innovative solutions and fostering inclusivity. This commitment aims to create equal access to recreational opportunities for both mobility aid users and the community at large.
What opportunities and strategies can the City of New Westminster’s recreation staff utilize to further integrate cultural awareness and competencies into programs, services, and events? How can these opportunities build stronger relationships with cultural organizations within the City of New Westminster?
Aman Singh
This research effort has culminated in addressing an important pillar of recreation, that being further integrating cultural competency, and awareness through new strategies and opportunities for The City of New Westminster. The analysis of current literature combined with gathered first-hand field evidence has proved pivotal in answering the Research Question posed in the introduction section of this paper, and has allowed for recommendations to be made to the City of New Westminster to make realistic improvements, on existing cultural initiatives, practices, events, strategies and collaborations. The key findings from the primary and secondary research have revealed some of the possible challenges that patrons may face when engaging and communicating in recreation and leisure. Obtaining knowledge and awareness in recreation registration systems effectively navigating appropriately can be intimidating for newcomers.
What strategies can Templeton Park & Pool implement to retain their lifeguards and swim instructors during staff shortages?
Arthur Lee Hung
This research thoroughly analyzes academic literature from various sources, including news items, professional publications, academic journals, and statistics databases. To provide an in-depth understanding of the factors influencing employee retention inside organizations, secondary research findings were synthesized in addition to primary research methods like observations, interviews, and content analysis. Utilizing this comprehensive research, the study explores the fundamental requirements of employees and identifies crucial tactics to improve employee retention. Although the research identified a few limitations and barriers, it also identified areas for development and suggested possible paths for staff retention initiatives to succeed. These changes will include offering educational workshops to improve knowledge and skills, accommodating staff needs with flexible work schedules, providing opportunities for career advancement and pay increases, and supporting recognition and appreciation programs to foster a positive work environment.
In conclusion, swimming is essential for recreation and safety, emphasizing the need for accessible pools. Swimmers learning to swim may need shorter hours or closures. Sustaining the operations of aquatic facilities is essential for promoting community swimming competency. With this research, Templeton has a framework for handling staff retention. By putting these ideas into practice, Templeton can improve its efforts at employee retention and create a positive work environment.
How can the retention of lifeguards be enhanced to ensure the sustained safety of aquatic environments, considering factors such as job satisfaction, professional development opportunities, and effective management strategies?
Ellie Wong
In summary, lifeguard retention is influenced by main factors which include job satisfaction, work-life balance, safety in the aquatic environment, growth opportunities, and management strategies. Retention strategies involve offering professional development, prioritizing lifeguard well-being, and enhancing public trust through improved retention rates. Effective management strategies, including clear communication and creating a positive work environment, also contribute significantly to retention and overall safety.
Acknowledging factors contributing to turnover and implementing retention strategies benefits community safety and fosters a unified workforce (Romine, 2000). Lifeguards at the City of Richmond generally have a positive outlook on their workplace, appreciating the flexibility, guidance, and opportunities they use to contribute to their community. Many are motivated by a love for swimming and a desire to help others, with the majority highlighting the importance of creating a supportive and fulfilling environment in aquatic facilities.
What barriers do aquatic staff face with finding a sense of community in the workplace, and what are the implications of these barriers for the City of Surrey’s staff retention?
Kayla Callaghan
Aquatic recreation staff (i.e. lifeguards, swim instructors, assistant head guards, head guards, and slide attendants) work in reactive environments where water safety and education are the primary objectives. Aquatic workplaces provide the setting for a sense of community to take place but pose barriers to achieving belonging for individuals who experience low self-efficacy, poor job satisfaction and burnout from staff shortages, and lack awareness of organizational values, guiding principles, policies, and practices that align their work with meaning and purpose. The City of Surrey’s low staff retention is reflected in its operational challenges, such as increased sick calls, overtime costs, low staff availability, shortened hours of operation, and intentional turnover.
Therefore, the barriers that staff face to finding a sense of community suggest that retention will continue to decline should the organization not impose practices that mitigate these barriers. Moreover, several recommendations for improving the workplace sense of community include using Appreciative Inquiry (AI) to reground the organization’s strengths and establish a sense of trust and understanding among staff at all levels of the organization; creating a desirable workplace that emphasizes long-term career development, educational opportunities, and meaningful work; impose feedback, rewards, and opportunities for celebration to recognize efforts and build a sense of belonging and competency for staff members; and increase employee voice and empowerment to build trust in the team, and encourage leadership, self-efficacy, and job satisfaction.
What barriers do racialized families face when trying to participate in programs at Surrey Nature Centre? How can the City of Surrey better address these barriers to increase participation in environmental programs?
Julia Olsen
As interest grows in nature based programming in a rapidly changing municipality, it is imperative that Surrey Nature Centre continues to adapt to fit the the diversity of the growing community. With racialized groups making up over two thirds of the population in Surrey, Surrey Nature Centre must recognize and address unique barriers faced by this population such as language barriers, lack of awareness, existing perceptions of outdoor spaces, and community safety. Recommendations including targeted communications plans, programming in different languages, outreach and integration into long term plans and policies. These actions will help reduce barriers and increase access to nature and outdoor programming in racialized communities. Further research done through a participatory action research (PAR) approach is needed to better understand the needs of each group, build relationships with the community and inform future directions of the facility.
What are the barriers when engaging youth in outdoor recreation, and how can the City of Burnaby nurture a lifelong connection to nature?
Nicole Smith
In summary, the barriers are intensified by current program offerings, restricted communication with local school districts, technology distractions, fear of specialized activities, and a disconnection from nature, making it challenging for the City of Burnaby to effectively engage this demographic. The recommendations proposed, including enhanced collaboration with educational institutions, the development of a Youth Outdoor Ambassador Program, and the expansion of program offerings for older youth, are tailored to address the specific needs and opportunities within Burnaby. These strategies are not just solutions but stepping stones toward cultivating a community that values and actively engages with their natural environment. The implementation of these recommendations requires a collaborative sustained effort from various stakeholders, including local government, local schools district cooperation, community organizations, and most importantly, youth themselves. By fostering an inclusive, accessible, and engaging outdoor recreation environment, Burnaby can ensure that its young residents not only develop a lifelong appreciation for nature, but also become stewards of their environment.