Leisure: canoeing on the river

Recreation, Tourism, and Leisure Studies Group

Introduction

Recreation, tourism, and leisure studies has a long and distinguished history in the Faculty of Physical Education and Recreation at the University of Alberta.

Canada’s first recreation undergraduate degree was offered in our Faculty in 1962. Since that time the area has gone through a number of changes including the name of its undergraduate degree to reflect those changes: from the Bachelor of Arts in Recreation Administration, to Bachelor of Arts in Recreation and Leisure Studies (BARLS) and presently to the Bachelor of Arts, in Recreation, Sport, and Tourism (BARST.)

Degrees in this field in our faculty

Similarly, in 2010 an external review team recognized that “in terms of research and knowledge production/dissemination, the Faculty is a recognized leader in the study of… leisure and tourism studies”. This perception has been empirically supported, with faulty members contributing to the University of Alberta being acknowledged as one of the Top 10 most productive recreation and leisure studies research institutions in North America between 1990 and 1999 (Jackson, 2004) and again between 2000 and 2008 (Walker & Fenton, 2011).

The recreation, tourism, and leisure studies group has also established strong connections with the community, province, nation, as well as other nations. For example, the Faculty has a formal partnership with Alberta Tourism, Parks and Recreation (Provincial Ministry) and the Alberta Recreation and Parks Association. See Community, Provincial, National and International Engagement.

Read about

  • Our researchers, descriptions of their research interests and and contact information
  • Our current graduate students and their areas of study 
  • Our work - including selected refereed grants received and articles, chapters and books published
  • Events for faculty members and graduate students in recreation, tourism, and leisure studies
  • Resources to other recreation, tourism, and leisure studies organizations and conference website
  • Our alumni - graduates in this field are making a difference in Canada and beyond