HÂş»­

 

Karen Gallant (She/Her)PhD

Associate Professor and Division Head, Recreation and Leisure Studies

K.Gallant profile pic

Related information:


Email: karen.gallant@dal.ca
Mailing Address: 
School of Health and Human Performance
Dentistry Building
5981 University Avenue Room 4210D
Halifax, N.S., B3H 4R2

 
Research Topics:
  • Everyday moments of leisure
  • Leisure theory
  • Mental health and recreation
  • Social inclusion and belonging in community contexts
  • Community development

Education

  • PhD - Department of Recreation & Leisure Studies, University of Waterloo, Ontario Canada, 2011
  • Certificate in University Teaching - Centre for Teaching Excellence, University of Waterloo, Ontario Canada, 2008
  • MSc - Planning, School of Environmental Design and Rural Development, University of Guelph, Ontario Canada, 2006
  • Bachelor of Journalism - University of King's College, Nova Scotia Canada, 1999
  • Honors BSc (Chemistry) - Mount Allison University, New Brunswick Canada, 1998

Bio

​​My research focuses on how people come to feel that they belong (or don’t) within communities, and particularly how community-based recreation experiences influence feelings of belonging (or not). I am currently focused on exploring the roles and meanings associated with short-duration leisure experiences that I call ‘everyday moments of leisure’, and the contributions of these leisure experiences to belonging and social inclusion. I draw on qualitative, community-based methodologies and art-based approaches and methods.

As a faculty member in the School of Health and Human Performance at HÂş»­ University, I also teach at the undergraduate and graduate levels, including supervising Honours and graduate students.

I welcome inquiries from potential graduate students who are interested in leisure studies, particularly the areas described above.

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In 2020 Dr. Gallant was cross appointed to the School of Occupational Therapy at HÂş»­ University and was the recipient of the HÂş»­ Faculty of Health Teaching Excellence Award in 2018.

Recent Publications:

1. Gallant, K., Alexander, R., Lauckner, R., & Hutchinson, S. (2024). Introducing ‘everyday moments of leisure’: Highlighting enjoyable breaks and pauses. International Journal of the Sociology of Leisure, 7, 231-256.
2. Tomas, G., & Gallant, K. (2023). “You’re Filipino, you know what I meanâ€: Navigating co-researcher roles, relational graduate supervision, and shared reflexivity. Leisure/Loisir, 48(2), 333-345.
3. Fortune, D., & Gallant, K. (2023). Challenging ideas of inclusion to work toward a more just future: Introduction to special issue on leisure, inclusion and belonging. Leisure/Loisir, 47(4), 527-533.
4. Lauckner, H., Gallant, K., Akbari, M., Tomas, G., White, T. & Hutchinson, H. (2022). Picturing recreation: Newcomers’ perspectives on experiences of recreation. Journal of International Migration and Integration, 23, 2101-2023.
5. Gallant, K., Hutchinson, S., White, C., Litwiller, F., Hamilton-Hinch, B., & Moran, R. (2021). Are we done yet? Reflections on the sustainability of knowledge products. International Journal of Qualitative Methods, 20, 1-7.
6. Gallant, K. (2021). Creating conversational interview podcasts to replace guest lectures. Schole: A Journal of Leisure Studies and Recreation Education, 1-2.
7. Gallant, K., & Yuen, F. (2021). Unraveling the research process: Humanizing leisure scholars. Leisure Sciences, 43(3-4), 347-351.
8. White, C. M., Hutchinson, S., Gallant, K., & Hamilton-Hinch, B. (2020). Beyond the barriers: First-voice perspectives on facilitators of leisure participation. Canadian Journal of Community Mental Health, 39(1), 119-131.
9. Gallant, K., Hutchinson, S., White, C., Hamilton-Hinch, B., Litwiller, F., Lauckner, H., & Burns, R. (2020). Reaching out to welcome in: Guidelines for socially inclusive recreation settings and programs for people with mental health challenges. Leisure/Loisir, 44(3), 327-351.

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