The Department of Recreation & Leisure Studies

The Department of Recreation & Leisure Studies A place of engagement for every out there. Alumni/Grad/ Undergrad- All are welcome. Whether you're Alumni, Graduate, or Undergraduate: all are welcome!

A look back at the Fall 2026 REC 120 Retreat! 🏕️Students stepped outside the classroom for a day of recreation, teamwork...
10/06/2026

A look back at the Fall 2026 REC 120 Retreat! 🏕️

Students stepped outside the classroom for a day of recreation, teamwork and connection, taking part in outdoor activities, team challenges and plenty of memorable moments along the way!

From working together on the ground to taking on the high ropes course, the retreat was a great opportunity to learn through experience and connect with classmates.

And there’s plenty more to come! Stay tuned for more REC 120 retreat photo dumps 📸

🎨 A look back at the Faculty of Health Art Hive!Students recently had the opportunity to take a creative break, unwind a...
10/01/2026

🎨 A look back at the Faculty of Health Art Hive!

Students recently had the opportunity to take a creative break, unwind and connect with others through art.

The Art Hive provides a welcoming space to explore creativity, try something new and enjoy some time away from the busy school day. No artistic experience is needed, just an opportunity to create and have fun!

Thank you to everyone who stopped by and helped make it such a great space!

Keep an eye out for more Art Hive opportunities throughout the term.

Today, we honour Rowan’s Law Day and the legacy of Rowan Stringer.The last Wednesday of each September is dedicated to r...
09/30/2026

Today, we honour Rowan’s Law Day and the legacy of Rowan Stringer.
The last Wednesday of each September is dedicated to raising awareness about concussion safety. Rowan’s Law (Concussion Safety), 2018, was established in memory of Rowan, a 17-year-old student from Ottawa who died in 2013 after suffering multiple concussions while playing high school rugby.

Here in RLS, researchers in the RISE Youth Sport Lab are examining concussion safety in youth sport, including how concussion information is created and shared, who is represented in the messaging and how athletes make decisions about potential injuries.

As Dr. Kaleigh Pennock shares, “Keeping young people safe in sport is a shared responsibility, and concussion education works best when everyone involved in sport is part of the conversation.”

💜 Join us in honouring Rowan’s legacy by wearing purple and helping raise awareness about concussion safety in sport and recreation.

Follow to learn more about their research and upcoming concussion-related content.

📚 A look back at REC 256!Taught by Dr. Diana Parry, students recently explored Fostering Inclusion and Belonging in Comm...
09/29/2026

📚 A look back at REC 256!

Taught by Dr. Diana Parry, students recently explored Fostering Inclusion and Belonging in Community, examining how recreation and leisure can contribute to more inclusive and connected communities.

As part of the class, students heard from Frances Dunhann, CEO of Hope for Community Development, for a Community Practice Spotlight featuring Next Gen Photography.

The guest presentation gave students an opportunity to connect course concepts with community practice and explore inclusion and belonging beyond the classroom.

Thank you to Frances and Next Gen Photography for joining us and sharing your experience with our students! 👏

🌟 Feature Friday: Meet Nydan Luckhai!This week, we’re highlighting Nydan Luckhai, a fourth-year Recreation and Sport Bus...
09/25/2026

🌟 Feature Friday: Meet Nydan Luckhai!

This week, we’re highlighting Nydan Luckhai, a fourth-year Recreation and Sport Business student with a minor in Event Management, who is taking his co-op experience international! 🇩🇴

For his Fall 2026 co-op, Nydan is working in Operations & Event Programming at Playa Grande Golf & Ocean Club in the Dominican Republic.

In his role, Nydan supports the day-to-day operations of the club while helping plan, coordinate and execute events and member programming across multiple departments. He works closely with Club Operations, Golf and Member Services on everything from programming and logistics to scheduling and member and guest relations.

Nydan also has the opportunity to develop new member experiences, coordinate initiatives across departments and evaluate events through post-event recaps and follow-up.

For Nydan, one of the highlights has been combining his interests in sport, events and creating meaningful experiences while working in such a unique environment. His co-op has also given him the opportunity to experience another culture and build lasting relationships along the way.

🌴 Fun fact: This is Nydan’s third international co-op in the Dominican Republic!

Thanks for sharing your experience with us, Nydan!

Want to share your own experience and be featured in an upcoming Feature Friday? Send us a DM! 📩

🩺 A look back at our latest Health Clinical Skills Lab!Hosted by Dr. Kimberly Lopez from the Department of Recreation an...
09/25/2026

🩺 A look back at our latest Health Clinical Skills Lab!

Hosted by Dr. Kimberly Lopez from the Department of Recreation and Leisure Studies and co-facilitated with health practitioners, this session focused on Medical Abbreviations and Documentation, giving students the opportunity to build practical, real-world skills used across health disciplines.

Students explored common medical abbreviations, professional shorthand and documentation conventions while learning how clear communication and documentation can support continuity and collaborative care.

The session also gave students the opportunity to put their learning into practice through interactive activities and discussion.

Thank you to Dr. Lopez, our health practitioner facilitators and everyone who joined us for a great hands-on learning experience! 👏

Stay tuned for more Health Clinical Skills Lab sessions throughout the term. 🩺

🏆 Think you know sports? Put your knowledge to the test!Join us for the inaugural UWSMA Sports Trivia Night and compete ...
09/24/2026

🏆 Think you know sports? Put your knowledge to the test!

Join us for the inaugural UWSMA Sports Trivia Night and compete alongside your team to see who really knows their sports! 🏀🏒⚽⚾

📅 September 28, 2026
⏰ 5:30–7:30 p.m.
📍 Black & Gold Room, SLC 2144
👥 Teams of 3–5
🎟️ FREE registration

🎁 Prizes are up for grabs! Compete for branded Yetis, Domino’s coupons, RLS mugs, picnic blankets, tote bags and more!

Spots are limited! Each team must select one captain to register the entire team.

🔗 Register through the link in bio or scan the QR code on the poster!

Gather your squad and get ready to compete!

🎉 Congratulations to RLS alum Karli Bourque!Karli Bourque, a former Recreation and Leisure Studies student and current t...
09/23/2026

🎉 Congratulations to RLS alum Karli Bourque!

Karli Bourque, a former Recreation and Leisure Studies student and current therapeutic recreationist with Hamilton Health Sciences, has been named the 2026 recipient of the Pat Mandy Inclusion Award, recognizing her commitment to equity, diversity and inclusion.

Through her work in Developmental Pediatrics and Rehabilitation at McMaster Children’s Hospital’s Ron Joyce Children’s Health Centre, Karli helps children and families access meaningful, inclusive recreation opportunities while supporting accessibility and equitable care.

Her work demonstrates the important role therapeutic recreation can play in creating spaces where children and families feel seen, heard and supported.

As Karli puts it, “I get to ensure kids get to be kids in ways that are meaningful and supportive to them.”

Congratulations, Karli, on this well-deserved recognition! 👏

🔗 Read more about Karli’s work and the Pat Mandy Inclusion Award through the URL: https://www.hamiltonhealthsciences.ca/share/karli-bourque-earns-diversity-inclusion-award/

🎨 Take a break, get creative and connect with your Faculty of Health community at the Art Hive!Whether you’re an experie...
09/21/2026

🎨 Take a break, get creative and connect with your Faculty of Health community at the Art Hive!

Whether you’re an experienced artist or just looking for a relaxing way to unwind, the Art Hive is an open and welcoming space to create, experiment and express yourself. No artistic experience is needed!

Come by, explore your creativity and enjoy some time connecting with others. 🖌️

🔗 Learn more: https://uwaterloo.ca/health/events/faculty-health-art-hive

🎉 Congratulations to David Pulgarin-Mesa!David, a PhD student in Recreation and Leisure Studies, has received the Facult...
09/18/2026

🎉 Congratulations to David Pulgarin-Mesa!

David, a PhD student in Recreation and Leisure Studies, has received the Faculty of Health Teaching Assistant Award for Summer 2026! 👏

David’s research explores how digital media shapes our experiences of sport, events and festivals. He loves being part of the Waterloo community, and receiving this award is especially meaningful to him as he continues giving back and making our department proud.

The Faculty of Health Teaching Assistant Award recognizes TAs who go above and beyond their expected duties and make a meaningful difference in their students’ learning experiences.

Please join us in congratulating David on this well-deserved recognition! 🎓✨

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