More than fun and games:The role of leisure sport and

recreation in welcoming immigrants

Brown Bag SeminarMetropolis ProjectOttawa, ONJanuary 20, 2009

Susan Tirone, PhDSchool of Health and Human

PerformanceDalhousie University

Acknowledgements

Dalhousie University Research Development grants (FASS, FHP)

Coaching Association of Canada Metropolis Project

This presentation

What does the leisure, sport, and recreation research tell us about welcoming immigrants

CAC Study of sports, coaching and newcomers in Halifax, 2007

Policy implications arising from the studies

Leisure, sport, recreation & welcoming communities Leisure

Activity or experience that is (1) freely chosen, (2) is intrinsically motivated & (3) that provides the opportunity to use an individual’s particular skills in interesting ways (Kelly, 1996).

Includes walking, gardening, visiting, socializing, sedentary activity like reading, hanging-out & sports

Sport Sport is a regulated form of physical activity organized as a

contest between two or more participants for the purpose of determining a winner by fair and ethical means. Such contest may be in the form of a game, match, race, or other form of event. (Canadian Heritage)

Recreation Physically active leisure

What the research says: Leisure, sport, recreation & welcoming communities

Leisure, sport and recreation have the potential to Contribute to healthy lifestyles Alleviate stress Build social capital Create the space for friendships to develop Foster positive youth development Provide opportunities for sharing traditional

cultural practices such as ethnic foods, cultural and religious celebrations, dance, music and games

For newcomers leisure, sport and recreation have the potential to: Provide opportunities to develop language proficiency

Provide opportunities to develop support & friendship networks in a new community

Afford time to enjoy freedom, beauty, and safety of Canadian communities

Participate in meaningful traditional cultural practices

(More than fun and games)

Challenges faced by newcomers in their leisure, sport & recreation Poverty

Discrimination & Exclusionary practices

Language barriers

Absence of preferred activities (Frisby, Alexander, & Taylor, forthcoming; Tirone, 1999-2000)

CAC study – Halifax

The research team: Susan Tirone & Lori Livingston (Co-Leads), Jordan Miller & Emma Smith

Background Industrialized countries need immigrants to sustain

population

Public policy implications of current immigration trends (Lee, 2007) Balancing long vs short term interests Challenges related to entry + integration Shifting demographics of the migrant work force Need for ‘chain’ migration patterns Brain drain from developing countries Implications for leisure, sport, recreation

Finding ways for newcomers to feel welcome – is very important if we want them to stay long term Not just a source of labour But as fully participating & valued members

of our communities

Leisure, sport and recreation have an important role to play in welcoming

(Let’s not use word retention)

Purpose of CAC study

To explore issues of participation in sport, and more specifically coaching, by new Canadians in the sports of soccer, basketball, and badminton in Halifax, Nova Scotia.

Methods

Qualitative, in-depth interviews Phenomenological

7 Newcomer KI, 10 Sport KI 8 Caucasian, 3 African NS, 3 Middle Eastern, 1

Spanish, 1 Caribbean, 1 Greek

4 females, 13 male

Focus group – 7 participants Occurred after interviews were complete

Findings

Three themes Level of involvement

• Different perceptions and expectations

Interest in inclusion• Range of ideas about participation of newcomers

in sports

Responsibility for supporting newcomers in sports

• Range of ideas about leadership, direction & policy

Theme 1: Level of Involvement

Apr 16, 2007 02:30 AM CANADIAN PRESS

It depends where they come from. If they’re from Europe, they’ve been involved in the professional academy, they’re probably going to be higher than what we have . . . A lot of kids come over from Africa who have very good technique, but just played street soccer.

I would like to point out that most of the new Canadians that come here want to play for recreational purposes

I think a lot of it is to relieve the stress they are under so I see them as recreational users

Theme 2: Interest in inclusion

Oh I think it’s particularly important to help new Canadians integrate into larger communities and be active at the same point, setting those habits up for life-long good health.

I take more of my time for the new Canadians because one of the things is language barriers and so I try to make sure that they have the proper information and that they are able to understand it . . .

I find that it opens a lot of doors for you, you get to know a lot of people, you get to socialize in areas that normally if you’re not involved in sport, it’s a little bit more difficult. So for newcomers in particular, especially you know with bringing their language barriers.

Newcomers to Halifax? I think it’s a means of, I suppose, getting out in the community and socializing so that definitely helps it. It helped me when I did it.

Theme 3:

Who is responsible?

It probably comes from CAC. They’re the policy making board in regard to coach education in Canada at this point

I think too that Sport Nova Scotia has to start stepping to the plate now and start advocating for access for all.

Just because they’re from another country, doesn’t mean they don’t know sports exist. If they want to be involved, they’re going to find it, it’s as simple as that.

Well I think it’s a combination of everyone.

What will it take to ensure more newcomers and minorities are involved?

More women have to be coaches first of all.

There are a lot of sports that can’t afford full time persons in the office and I really believe that is there is money available for at least one person in each sport to make a living out of promoting the sport in the community or elite level.

It’s important for newcomers to be involved in leadership roles in a variety of areas so that leadership roles are more reflective of the community and more people feel comfortable and reflected or represented.

Respect the people that you’re involved with and part of that respect is a recognition that there are going to be differences between people whether they’re athletes or coaches and ensuring that that is respected.

Policy suggestions arising from CAC study

Canadian Geographic, Jan/ Feb 2006

Policy guidelines at federal, provincial and local levels

Examples of good practice

Information packages designed to inform newcomers

NCCP sociology module

Direction and incentives from Sport Canada for local associations to promote inclusion

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