Karen Gallant (She/Her), PhD
Associate Professor and Division Head, Recreation and Leisure Studies
Related information:
Email: karen.gallant@dal.ca
Phone: (902) 494-1196
Mailing Address:
Dentistry Building
5981 University Avenue Room 4210D
Halifax, N.S., B3H 4R2
- Leisure Experience
- Community Development & the Non-Profit Sector
- Inclusion & Exclusion in Leisure & Community Contexts
- Everyday Moments of Lesiure, Community Engagement, Social Inclusion, & Belonging
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 examines and highlights the role of community-based recreation settings and experiences in facilitating social inclusion, and explores the nature and implications of those interactions for enhanced wellbeing. Drawing on qualitative, community-based methodologies, I explore the role of leisure in places that are part of peoples’ everyday lives, and the contributions of these leisure experiences to belonging, sense of community, and power for equity-deserving groups, including people living with mental health challenges, and newcomers. As a faculty member in the School of Health and Human Performance at Ä¢¹½AV, 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.​
In 2020 Dr. Gallant was cross appointed to the School of Occupational Therapy at Ä¢¹½AV and was the recipient of the Ä¢¹½AV Faculty of Health Teaching Excellence Award in 2018.Â