About Us
WHO WE ARE
Canadian Association for Leisure Studies /
Association canadienne d’études en loisir (CALS)
CALS is an organization of Canadian and international scholars and practitioners who share an interest in recreation and leisure research and the delivery of leisure services. Its prime responsibilities are:
(1) awarding the triennial Canadian Congress on Leisure Research to organizations interested in convening it (usually universities), and
(2) maintaining communication among members between Congresses.
Update
Statement of Solidarity
Motioned at CALS General Members Meeting (June 3, 2025)
The Canadian Association for Leisure Studies (CALS) stands in solidarity with our American colleagues and friends who are defending academic freedom, free speech, and the integrity of public scholarship in the face of growing political interference, government overreach, and the coercive use of public funding. We recognize the shared values that guide our work as leisure scholars, values grounded in critical inquiry, social justice, and care. We affirm our deep concern and offer our unwavering support to those working to protect the role of higher education in democratic societies.
Association Canadienne Déclaration de solidarité
Déclaration de solidarité L’Association canadienne pour d’études en loisir (ACL) est solidaire de ses collègues et amis américains qui défendent la liberté académique, la liberté d’expression et l’intégrité de la recherche publique face à l’ingérence politique croissante, aux excès de pouvoir des gouvernements et à l’utilisation coercitive des fonds publics. Nous reconnaissons les valeurs communes qui guident notre travail en tant que chercheurs en loisirs : des valeurs fondées sur la recherche critique, la justice sociale et la bienveillance. Nous affirmons notre profonde préoccupation et offrons notre soutien indéfectible à ceux qui œuvrent à la protection du rôle de l’enseignement supérieur dans les sociétés démocratiques.
Our Story
This is our fluid, emerging statement. It is an unfinished story:
The Canadian Association of Leisure Studies (CALS) is a community advancing and mobilizing leisure scholarship by engaging community members, scholars, activists, and other knowledge holders. CALS values diversity and is working to create more diverse representation across the organization through intentional, value-based collaboration and leadership. CALS works toward a culture of collegiality and support.
We envision that CALS will be a self-governing, sustainable, well-supported organization with cohesive, collective, and clear direction and strategic priorities. We are a growing, lively, and engaged community of scholars, practitioners, and knowledge holders that strives to meet a diverse range of needs in a variety of leisure contexts. The vibrancy of the CALS community is reflected in the association’s journal, Leisure/Loisir, the tri-annual Canadian Congress of Leisure Research (CCLR) conference, and other activities.
We aim to unite all parts of Canada/Turtle Island in conversations about leisure that are politically active, anti-oppressive, culturally responsive, and grounded by the practices of former mentors and archived knowledge. Collectively, we cooperate to approach challenges with humility and openness.
CALS Board 2023-2026, May 2024
History of Our Organization
The first Canadian Congress on Leisure Research was convened in Quebec City in 1975, under the auspices of Laval University. It was conceived as a one-time event, with no conscious idea that it would become the first in a series of such congresses — although there was discussion among some delegates about the need for a second congress perhaps five years down the road!
The success of the first Congress encouraged a group in Ontario to organize another, titled the Second Canadian Congress on Leisure Research, which was held in Toronto in 1978. It was at this Second Congress that a continuing series of conferences was first envisaged, together with the idea of a permanent organization to promote leisure research generally in Canada and, specifically, to take responsibility for the convening of the Congress.
A group of delegates met and charged a small committee, headed by Jack Ellis from York University and Bill Knott from the Ontario Government, to prepare a proposal and constitution for a formal organization, which would be presented to delegates at a Third Congress tentatively scheduled to be held a year later in Edmonton. It soon became apparent that organizing a national conference in the absence of a formal organization with permanent resources could not be done in a few months.And so, it was not until 1981 that the Third Canadian Congress on Leisure Research convened in Edmonton. The proposal and constitution for a Canadian Association for Leisure Studies (CALS) was unanimously endorsed by delegates. The Association also settled on the triennial pattern for the convening of the Congress which had emerged for the first three congresses, since this appeared to be reasonable from a logistical standpoint. Two years later, in 1983, the Association received its Federal Charter.
And so, it was not until 1981 that the Third Canadian Congress on Leisure Research convened in Edmonton. The proposal and constitution for a Canadian Association for Leisure Studies (CALS) was unanimously endorsed by delegates. The Association also settled on the triennial pattern for the convening of the Congress which had emerged for the first three congresses, since this appeared to be reasonable from a logistical standpoint. Two years later, in 1983, the Association received its Federal Charter.
BOARD OF DIRECTORS
MEET CALS BOARD OF DIRECTORS
2023-2026
Fenton Litwiller
President, University of Manitoba
Kimberly Lopez
Secretary, University of Waterloo
Dan Henhawk
Treasurer, University of Manitoba
Giana Tomas
University of Waterloo
Shintaro Kono
University of Alberta
Monir Shahzeidi
University of British Columbia
Simon Barrick
Cape Breton University
Audrey Giles
University of Ottawa
Kyle Rich
Brock University
Christine Ausman
Dalhousie University
Rebecca Genoe
University of Regina
Élisabeth Beaunoyer
Université du Québec à Trois-Rivières
Colleen Reid
Douglas College
Dawn Trussell
Brock University
Richard Norman
University of Waterloo
Past Presidents
| 1981-1984 | Tim Burton | University of Alberta |
| 1984-1987 | Jack Ellis | York University |
| 1987-1990 | Tim Burton | University of Alberta |
| 1990-1993 | Dick Butler | University of Western Ontario |
| 1993-1996 | Susan Shaw | University of Waterloo |
| 1996-1999 | Ed Jackson | University of Alberta |
| 1999-2002 | Susan Markham-Starr | Acadia University |
| 2002-2005 | Susan Markham-Starr | Acadia University |
| 2005-2008 | Bryan Smale | University of Waterloo |
| 2008-2011 | Bryan Smale | University of Waterloo |
| 2011-2014 | Bryan Smale | University of Waterloo |
| 2014-2017 | Heather Mair | University of Waterloo |
| 2017-2020 | Heather Mair | University of Waterloo |
| 2020-2023 | Dawn Trussell | Brock University |