THE CANADIAN ASSOCIATION FOR LEISURE STUDIES
AND THE SSHRC TRANSFORMATION PROCESS
BACKGROUND
What is the Canadian Association for Leisure Studies?
The Canadian Association for Leisure Studies is a multidisciplinary group that promotes the study of leisure from a variety of social science and humanities perspectives. CALS is a federally incorporated association that links leisure researchers in Canada and abroad. CALS also assists in disseminating the results of the study of leisure through congresses and publications.
In the words of CALS first president, Tim Burton:
CALS is a loose organization of persons interested in leisure research which has, as its prime responsibilities, (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.
CALS is governed by a Board of Directors elected at each Congress, which serves until the next. It has no paid staff, and only a small budget, obtained from a modest per capita levy added to the registration fee at each congress. Its Head Office moves with the Presidency. (http://www.eas.ualberta.ca/elj/cals/calshist.htm)
One of the functions of CALS is the awarding of the triennial Canadian Congress of Leisure Research. There have now been ten triennial Canadian Congresses, and the eleventh will be held in 2005. The last one, in 2002 in Edmonton, attracted 154 registrants from five countries. The registration at other recent CCLR’s was: 150 at CCLR6 (1990 in Waterloo), 125 at CCLR7 (1993 in Winnipeg), 159 at CCLR8 (1996 in Ottawa), 117 at CCLR9 (1999 in Wolfville). Registrants at the triennial Congresses come from university Recreation and Leisure Studies departments and a broad range of other disciplinary and interdisciplinary departments, as well as government and not for profit agencies.
The various Congresses also have developed partnerships with the three Canadian journals, Loisir et Société/Society and Leisure, Journal of Leisurability, and Journal of Applied Recreation Research (now Leisure/Loisir). These partnerships have lead to the publication of Congress presentations in both regular and special “Congress” issues of the journals.
Between Congresses, CALS maintains communication among leisure scholars through two mechanisms. The journal Leisure/ Loisir is the quarterly publication of the Canadian Association for Leisure Studies (CALS) in cooperation with the Ontario Research Council on Leisure (ORCOL). The CALS listserve, which has been in existence since 1993, assists in communication among 250 leisure scholars worldwide.
History of the Canadian Association for Leisure Studies
Tim Burton has also prepared the following brief history of CALS:
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. (http://www.eas.ualberta.ca/elj/cals/calshist.htm)
CALS and the Canadian Federation of Humanities and Social Sciences
CALS joined the Federation in 1996. It is certainly useful for CALS to be part of the larger body of social science and humanities researchers in Canada, and CALS is kept abreast of developments on the national scene with regard to promoting the value of the humanities and social sciences. However, CALS has yet to see substantial tangible results of membership in the Federation. Hopefully this will change. CALS has been present and active at the Federation’s General Assemblies since 2001. CALS has participated in the discussions regarding “Scholarly Associations” and has brought to the floor the difficulties that associations that joined the Federation recently are having gaining access to SSHRC Travel Grant funding that the associations of long standing take for granted. CALS seeks the Federation’s support in advocating for changes to SSHRC not the least of which is the Aid to Occasional Research Conferences program.
CALS and SSHRC
In 1984, the then president of CALS, Tim Burton, submitted a paper “The Origins and Evolution of Leisure Studies in Canada” to the Executive Director of SSHRC. In that paper he described the role of recreation and leisure studies in scholarly pursuits and professional practice. His main purpose in the submission was “to demonstrate that the field [had]… developed to the point where it is a fully recognized field of study and practice in its own right and not simply a supplementary interest of other fields and professions.” (p. 1) He detailed the scholarly achievements of the leisure studies field including education programs at all post secondary levels including Ph.D. programs, the journals, the scholarly organization (CALS) and the Congresses on Leisure Research. He concluded by calling for SSHRC to recognize leisure research:
These sources will confirm the general conclusion that recreation and leisure studies have developed to the point where the field is worthy of recognition as a distinct and legitimate area of academic study. The Social Sciences and Humanities Research Council of Canada has no Committee presently designated to handle applications in recreation and leisure studies. This means that researchers seeking support for studies in this area must be accommodated under one or other of the Council’s established Committees. Frequently, such applications do not fit well into the frames of reference for these established Committees. This is an unfortunate price that must be paid when a field of study is new, unclear in its focus, and small in its scope. But it is an unnecessary price – and an unreasonable one – to be paid by a field which has become established, has developed a clear focus and a formal body of knowledge, and is large in numbers of researchers….
All of this leads one to suggest that the time is appropriate for the Social Sciences and Humanities Research Council to establish a Committee for Recreation and Leisure Studies as part of its regular adjudication system. (1984, pp. 6-7)
That was 1984 – what has transpired in those 20 years? There are two parts to the answer to that question – the organizational part and the researcher part. As an organization, CALS has received no support from SSHRC; and the triennial Congresses have received sporadic support (the 1996 Congress received some funding). The good news is that some researchers in selected parts of the field have been successful in receiving SSHRC funding..
Several weeks ago I reviewed the SSHRC Awards database to find out how leisure research is treated by SSHRC’s granting programs. What projects related to leisure has SSHRC funded in the fiscal years 1998/99 to 2002/03? Here are the results based on searching for funded projects which listed their area of research as "leisure, recreation and tourism" (code 270):
· 44 separate projects were funded - most for 2-3 years - SSHRC shows this as 95 projects
· Projects were in 9 programs
o Canada Research Chairs (1- Trevor Slack @ U of Alberta, CRC in Sport Management)
o Aid to Small Universities (1- Brock U, "Enhancing collaborative research")
o Standard research grants (24 - including Gilles Pronovost, Susan Shaw, Bob Stebbins)
o Aid to Occasional Conferences & International Congresses (1 - Colin Howell @ SMU, "Hockey in Historical and Contemporary Perspective"
o Aid to Research and Transfer Journals (1 - Loisir et Société/Society and Leisure)
o Doctoral Fellowships (12 - of which 2 appear to be U of Waterloo doctoral students - Charlene Shannon and Elizabeth Halpenny)
o Community-University Research Alliances (1 - U de Québec @ Chicoutimi)
o Exploring Social Cohesion in a Globalizing Era (2)
o Society, Culture and Health of Canadians (1 - Jiri Zuzanek & colleagues associated with U of Waterloo)
· Projects were reviewed by 16 selection committees
· Projects were in 9 disciplines
· Projects were in 23 sub-disciplines
Leisure scholars have also been funded under community development (1 project), aging and social gerontology (1 project), and social development and welfare (1 project), plus one Research Development Initiative.
In the past week, the SSHRC Canadian Graduate Scholarships Program Doctoral Scholarships were announced. Four of the students applying to the University of Waterloo Recreation and Leisure Studies program received funding from the CGS program. This is great recognition of our young scholars in leisure studies.
What does all of this show? It shows that some leisure researchers are being recognized by SSHRC. Some niches are being recognized by SSHRC – particularly those related to disability, quality of life, social development, leisure and society. Some scholars in these areas have received what one described as “substantial and enduring…funding.” These scholars are conducting research on a variety of topics related to leisure and leisure behaviour, and they are using a variety of disciplinary approaches and methodologies. They are already doing what SSHRC’s transformation is advocating. But there are considerable parts of leisure studies that are doing wonderful, innovative, collaborative work that has not been recognized by SSHRC. In addition, there is a substantial need to have mechanisms to bring these scholars together to enhance communication as they share in both the planning of research and the disseminating of the results of research.
Hopefully the current SSHRC transformation process will enable both CALS and its Leisure Studies scholars to advance. The proposed transformation process complements CALS’ mission and is consistent with the needs and interests of leisure researchers through its emphasis on the following:
· The focus on multidisciplinary/interdisciplinary/transdisciplinary work;
· The importance of bringing people from different disciplinary backgrounds together to focus on particular issues/topics; and
· The importance of bringing researchers from different parts of Canada together
CALS RESPONSE TO THE SSHRC TRANSFORMATION PROCESS
The Board and the membership of CALS were sent the documents from both SSHRC and CFHSS so that individuals could respond. Those individuals’ responses often reiterated the 20+ years of experiences with SSHRC that were noted in the background section. They also viewed this as CALS opportunity to increase the profile of the organization and of leisure studies as an important field of study that is deserving of enduring support by the national granting council.
I. The SSHRC Proposal
To what extent does this vision support or hinder the vision and goals held by your association and by researchers in your discipline or field?
If SSHRC is truly committed to “provide a home for all scholars across the full range of social sciences and humanities discipline” (p. 3) CALS would support this. That vision is consistent with the mission of the Canadian Association for Leisure Studies. CALS would assert that we in leisure research are already:
· Part of the new world with new needs (p. 7)
· Linking scholarship with human needs (p. 8)
· Training students through research for careers outside academe (p. 8)
· Helping to make surrounding communities thrive and prosper (p. 8)
· Dealing with the explosion of research activity (p. 9)
· Working in teams (p. 9)
· Working in problem driven research (p. 9)
But, we need ongoing broadly based funding to both the organization and the researchers in this important area – leisure studies.
If SSHRC is truly committed to “inclusiveness and openness” (p. 10) and recognizes that leisure research is important to Canadians, then this vision can support both CALS and leisure researchers.
II. Research Networking and Linkages
To what degree do you agree with the diagnosis made and response suggested by SSHRC?
The triennial Canadian Congress on Leisure Research serves a valuable function in linking researchers. More importantly, it attracts scholars from all levels, from masters and doctoral students to well established professors. This is something that cannot be said of all other scholarly organizations.
The Congresses also make a point of making contact with local professionals to encourage them to attend Congress sessions. CALS has members from outside academe – usually planners and managers who are interested in using the research that is being presented at the Congresses. A major initiative of the Eleventh Canadian Congress on Leisure Research is to link researchers and professionals. An excerpt from CCLR11’s webpage addresses this point:
In Canadian Literature, Hugh MacLennan’s “Two Solitudes” refers to the relationship between French and English Canadians, and the issue of identity. In the broad area that is Leisure Studies or Leisure Research, the “Two Solitudes” may be seen by some as “Research and Application”, or “Theory and Practice”. Academics have been criticized for generating published journal articles that are not read nor appreciated by practitioners. On the other hand, practitioners are sometimes criticized for failing to keep up with new thinking and research. The challenge for academics and researchers is to make their new knowledge accessible, relevant, meaningful, and have an impact for practitioners and clients in the field. This is a challenge that, by necessity, we are obligated to face together. As both researchers and practitioners, we must ask “What is our identity?” and “How do we bridge this gap between what we are and what we want to be?”