Professor, Sport Management, and Past Director, Centre for Sport Capacity
Dr. Julie Stevens is a Full Professor in the Department of Sport Management, where she has been a faculty member since 1999.
From 2018-2023 she served as the Special Advisor to the President – Canada Games, where she led academic innovation initiatives for the Brock University-2022 Niagara Canada Summer Games partnership.
Following a term as the Centre for Sport Capacity Director from 2010-2024, she now serves as Past Director. As one of the founders for the Centre, she championed a unique approach to develop a hub for research, student experiential learning, and practical support to sport organizations. Her commitment to the Centre is guided by a service philosophy and aligns with a key principle – namely a transformative spirit to research and its impact.
For over 35 years, Dr. Stevens’ research has focused upon transformation and system integration. She draws upon a unique interdisciplinary background that combines managerial perspectives to explore transformation within a sport system, as well as contexts where sport crosses into other industries and sectors. She enjoys exploring system analysis, organizational capacity, and managerial issues in sport at local, provincial, national, and international levels.
A constant element in her work is change – how to understand it and more importantly, how to help individuals, organizations, and system actors better manage the acute change they face within the dynamic sport landscape.
Her most recent scholarship explores sport tourism models and sport event assessment. These studies launched a broader analysis about the value of an active economy – which includes sport, recreation and tourism – upon the economic prosperity of a community. When sport is understood as an economic driver, new strategies for economic growth emerge for a wide range of businesses and organizations across several sectors.
Since her early years as an undergraduate student, Dr. Stevens has conducted diverse hockey research that employs a change and systems integration lens. Her publications span varied topics such as the history of the women’s game, institutional evolution, elite programming, community development, player pathways, and ethics. Dr. Stevens’ international contributions include presenting at three World Hockey Forums supported by the International Ice Hockey Federation and working with the Hungarian Hockey Federation to launch a new European U16 Women’s Ice Hockey Cup.
She has served as a Director on the board of the Ontario Hockey Federation and on the 2016 U18 Women’s World Championship organizing committee. She played hockey at Queen’s University in the 1980s, and volunteer coached with Brock University’s women’s team (USports), the 1999 Canada Winter Games, provincial championship teams, and local youth teams.
Overall, her eclectic research spans subject-matter related to regional economic development, safe sport, sport events, environmental sustainability, innovation, sport entrepreneurs, and of course, women’s hockey!
Dr. Stevens seeks to discover, apply, and integrate her research in a manner that serves academia and collaborates with professional and community forums. The scope of her scholarly work demonstrates a multidisciplinary and international reach.
In addition, providing practical support to sport leaders is a fundamental component of her research. Dr. Stevens focuses upon knowledge mobilization and continuously seeks ways to serve the sport community. She enjoys engaging with professionals and students through projects and practitioner-based forums, where she is constantly challenged to ensure her research is connected, relevant and practical.
In so doing, her scholarly achievements have generated national and international impact resulting in her recognition as a 2022, Faculty of Applied Health Science Research Excellence Award recipient and 2020 Outstanding Co-op Supervisor, each at Brock University, and a 2013 North American Society for Sport Management.
- Women’s hockey – historical, social, cultural, organizational, and global issues
- The ‘active economy’ and value of sport and recreation to a regional/local economy
- Sport tourism models and sport event assessment
- Sport system transformation and system integration
- Change and evolution in sport across a variety of topic areas and contexts
Books and Book Chapters
Nickels, W., McHugh, J., McHugh, S., Cossa, R., & Stevens, J. (2025). Introduction to Canadian Business (12th Canadian Edition). McGraw-Hill Ryerson, Toronto, Canada.
Cardon, P. & Stevens, J. (2024). Business Communication: Developing leaders for a networked world, 2ndCanadian Edition. McGraw-Hill Ryerson, Toronto, Canada.
Stevens, J. (Ed.) (2022). Safe Sport: Critical issues and practices (1st Edition). Ecampus Ontario. https://ecampusontario.pressbooks.pub/safesport. Licensed under CC-BY-NC-SA 4.0.
Nickels, W., McHugh, J., McHugh, S., Cossa, R., & Stevens, J. (2022). Introduction to Canadian Business (11th Canadian Edition). McGraw-Hill Ryerson, Toronto, Canada.
Cardon, P. & Stevens, J. (2021). Business Communication: Developing leaders for a networked world, 1st Canadian Edition. McGraw-Hill Ryerson, Toronto, Canada.
Stevens, J. (2020). Major Sport Events and Environmental Sustainability. In G. Dingle and C. Mallen (Eds), Sport and Environmental Sustainability: Research and Strategic Management, p 47-85. Routledge.
Articles in Refereed Journals
Millar, P. & Stevens, J. (2020). An analysis of training-related outcomes within Canada national sport organizations. Journal of Sport Management, 35(2), 185-196. https://doi.org/10.1123/jsm.2020-0016
Jurbala, P. & Stevens, J. (2020). A Whole New Ballgame?: An analysis of the context and adoption of Long-Term Athlete Development in community sport. Managing Sport and Leisure, 27(4), 305–321. https://doi.org/10.1080/23750472.2020.1789497
Stevens, J. (2020). Conn Smythe: The complexity and contradiction of a hockey entrepreneur. Sport in Society, 23(9), 1468–1479. https://doi.org/10.1080/17430437.2020.1723242
Edwards, J., & Stevens, J. (2019). Institutional maintenance and elite sport: a case study of high-performance women’s ice hockey in Canada. Sport in Society, 22(11), 1801–1815. https://doi.org/10.1080/17430437.2019.1644010
Brooks, D.L., Barnes, M., & Stevens, J. (2017). What happens at the national level stays at the national level: a case study on the values of community curling. International Journal of Sport Management, 18(1), 65-88.
Kerwin, S., Warner, S., Walker, M., & Stevens, J. (2015). Exploring Sense of Community among Small-scale Sport Event Volunteers. European Sport Management Quarterly, 15(1), 77-92.https://doi.org/10.1080/16184742.2014.996581
Stevens, J. & Adams, C. (2013). “Together we can make it better”: collective action and governance in a girls’ ice hockey association. International Review for the Sociology of Sport, 48(6), 658-672. https://doi.org/10.1177/1012690212454466
Rosenberg, D. & Stevens, J. (2013). Heads Up: Violence and the Vulnerability Principle in Hockey Revisited. Sport and Society, 16(3), 283-294. https://doi.org/10.1080/17430437.2013.779852
Stevens, J. & Holman, A. (2013). Rinkside: New scholarly studies on ice hockey and society. Sport and Society, 16(3), 251-253. https://doi.org/10.1080/17430437.2013.779858
Conference and Other Presentations
Invited Speaker – International
Stevens, J. (2025, February 4). “More than a Tourism Tool: Sport within an Economy”, Faculty of Sport-Mona Scholl of Business and Management Seminar, University of West Indies – Mona, Kingston, Jamaica.
Stevens, J. (2018, December 14-15). “Extension or Extinction: How to build brands for non-dominant forms of hockey, 2018 World Hockey Forum, Moscow, Russia.
Stevens, J. (2017). “Hockey’s ‘Innovation Crisis’ and the Need to Develop Hockey Talent for the Future”, 2017 World Hockey Forum, Moscow, Russia, December 14-15, 2017.
Stevens, J. (2016). Building a Global Game: Institutional change and global women’s hockey. 2016 World Hockey Forum, December 15-17, Moscow, Russia.
Stevens, J. & Edwards, J. (2014, May 21). Female Hockey Player Development Pathways in Canada: A preliminary analysis. Research Presentation given at Sport Sciences program, Linnaeus University, Växjö, Sweden.
Stevens, J. (2013, October). Non-profit Sport and the Need for Capacity: Frameworks and Strategies. Research Presentation given at Sport Sciences Program, Linnaeus University, Växjö, Sweden.
Invited Keynote/Speaker
Stevens, J. (2025, February 4). More than a Tourism Tool: Sport within an Economy [research presentation], Faculty of Sport-Mona School of Business and Management Seminar, University of West Indies – Mona, Kingston, Jamaica.
Stevens, J. (2024, August 24). “The Active Economy” [keynote address]. Focus 2024: Community Sport Councils of Ontario Conference, Brantford, Ontario.
Stevens, J. (2024, June 18). “The Intersection of Sport and Real Estate”, 2024 Leadership Summit [keynote address]. Real Estate Institute of Canada, Niagara-on-the-Lake, Ontario.
Stevens, J., Henry, B., Royer, K., & Fry, D. (2023, June 2). Restoration and Conservation Drivers and Connectors [panel research presentation]. In D. Platakis, P. Hartwick, P. Davis, A. Powell, I. Lucas & W. Olson (Co-Chairs), The Niagara Geopark Trail Summit, Niagara-on-the-Lake, Ontario.
McElhone, S. & Stevens, J. (2023, April 20). Building our common communication [research presentation]. 2023 Sport for Life – Regional Summit of Niagara, Thorold, Ontario.
Stevens, J. (2022, May 14) Too Many Men on the Ice: then and now [research presentation. 2022 Society for International Hockey Research, St. Catharines, Ontario.
Stevens, J. (2022, February 22). Sport and Economic Development. Business Breather, [research presentation], Goodman Faculty of Business, Brock University, St. Catharines, Ontario.
Stevens, J., Barnes, M., Ane, S. & Phillips, C. (2021, June 9). Parks and Recreation as an Essential Service: Using a health equity lens to strengthen provision in Niagara [policy brief presentation – virtual]. Niagara Community Observatory, Brock University, St. Catharines, Ontario.
Stevens, J. (2020, October 27-28). Building Capacity for an Effective Sport Tourism Strategy [research presentation – virtual]. Ontario Tourism Summit, Ontario Tourism Industry Association (virtual).
Refereed Conference Presentation
Stevens, J., Black, A, Connelly, M., Chimera, N., Lidstone, S., & Donnelly, P. (2024, April 24). Safeguarding Young Athletes: Insights and Challenges [panel collaboration]. In C. Bean (Chair), Youth Sport Summit, Brock University, St. Catharines, Ontario.
Barnes, M. & Stevens, J. (2023, March 29-30). Geofencing: data collection for parks and recreation [research presentation]. Parks and Recreation Ontario Educational Forum, Hamilton Ontario.
Wilson, J. & Stevens, J. (2022, November 11-13). The motivations between us: exploring how dual identities reshape change management practices in sport [research presentation]. 2022 Petro-Canada Sport Leaderships Sportif Conference, Ottawa, Ontario.
Van Bussel, M., Spence, K. & Stevens, J. (2022, June 3-5). Safe sport: critical issues and practices – a creative pedagogical tool to promote safe sport [research presentation]. 37th Annual North American Society for Sport Management Conference, Atlanta, Georgia.
Barnes, M., Stevens, J. Ane, S., & Phillips, C. (2021, September 2-3). Weighing the benefits of adopting a health equity lens for the provision of recreation services: A Canadian perspective of lessons learned from the COVID-19 pandemic [research presentation – virtual]. Advancing Health and Equity: Best practices in an international perspective, 11th International Conference on Health, Wellness & Society, Sorbonne Université, Paris, France.
Cousens, L. & Stevens, J. (2020, February 17-19). Exploring Sport Management Students’ Perceptions of the Impact of the Resilience and Empowerment Initiative: Exploring Perceptions of Resilience and Empowering in TCI Schools [research presentation]. Canada-Caribbean Research Symposium, University of West Indies, Kingston, Jamaica.
Stevens, J., Burton, N., Clutterbuck, R., Cousens, L. & Kerwin, S. (2019, May 24-27). Connecting management concepts to major games: New avenues for research [research presentation]. Administrative Science Academy of Canada Conference, St. Catharines, Ontario.
Stevens, J. Law, M., Yates, E., Salfi, J., Whyte, C., Fucile, B., McClean, C., & Hayward, G. (2018, October 11-12). What’s my grade? A focus on student assessment in experiential learning [research presentation]. Educating for the Future: Learning Outcomes and Experiential Learning Symposium, Ontario Universities Council on Quality Assurance, Toronto, Ontario.
Jurbala, P. & Stevens, J. (2018, September 19-20). Community Sport Organizations and Innovation: capacity and competition [research poster]. 11th Annual Sport Canada Research Initiative Conference, Toronto, Ontario.
Moussa, J. & Stevens, J. (2018, July 5-7). An Analysis of the Organizational Design of Canadian Major Junior League Offices [research presentation]. The Ninth International Hockey Conference, University of Alberta, Edmonton, Alberta.
Eckford, S. & Stevens, J. (2018, July 5-7). Minor hockey officials and organizational support: current trends and future needs [research presentation]. The Hockey Conference: The Multiplicity of Hockey-Delivering New Understandings of the Game, Edmonton, Alberta.
Moussa, J. & Stevens, J. (2017, November 1-4). A socio-historical analysis of major junior hockey in Canada [research presentation]. North American Society for the Sociology of Sport Conference, University of Windsor, Windsor, Ontario.
Research Grants and Other Funding
2023 Stevens, J. Faculty Mobility for Partnership Building Program (FMPBP), Global Affairs Canada International Scholars Program, Government of Canada
2023 Stevens, J. 2023 Grand Slam of Curling Event Assessment, Niagara Parks Commission
2023 Stevens, J. 2023 Safe Sport Forum, VPR Discretionary Fund, Office of Research Services, Brock University
2023 Stevens, J. 2023 Safe Sport Forum. Sport Niagara
2023 Stevens, J. 2023 Safe Sport Forum. Discretionary Fund, Dean, Faculty of Applied Health Sciences
2022 Vlossak, E. & Stevens, J. Research Assistant – Sport Oral History Archive. Match of Minds, Office of Research Services, Brock University
2022 Stevens, J. 2022 Niagara Active Economy Summit, Economic Development, Regional Municipality of Niagara
2022 Stevens, J. 2022 Niagara Active Economy Summit, Economic Development and Government Relations, City of St. Catharines
2022 Stevens, J. 2022 Niagara Active Economy Summit, Venture Niagara2021 Stevens, J. Sport Support Team Pilot Project. Niagara Community Foundation Mini-Grants
2021 Stevens J. Safe sport: critical issues and practices. Central Virtual Learning Platform, eCampus Ontario
2021 Vlossak, E. & Stevens, J. “SOHA Lab”, Humanities Research Institute (HRI) Grant. Faculty of Humanities, Brock University
2021 McClean, C. & Stevens, J. CSC-Specialized High School Major Program, Match of Minds, Office of Research Services, Brock University
2021 Stevens, J. Work Integrated Learning-SPMA 4P99, Skills & Experience Enhancement Fund, CEWIL Canada and Brock University
2020 Stevens, J. Program Developer-sport database, Technation Career Ready Program (formerly Information Technology Association of Canada) Career Ready Program, Government of Canada
2020 Stevens, J. & Vlossak, E. Sport Oral History Archive, Technation Career Ready Program (formerly Information Technology Association of Canada) Career Ready Program, Government of Canada
2020 Stevens, J. Communication and Marketing Assistant, Technation (formerly Information Technology Association of Canada) Career Ready Program, Government of Canada
2020 Stevens, J. Breast Cancer Survivor Program Evaluation. South Niagara Canoe Club
2020 Stevens, J. Niagara Active Economy Summit, SSHRC/BSIC Exchange, Brock University
2020 Vlossak, E. & Stevens, J. Re-imagining Digital Archives: A Canadian women’s hockey oral history, SSHRC/BUAF Explore, Brock University
2020 Van Bussel, M., Stevens, J., Donnelly, M., Findlay, H. Athletes First – 2021 CSC Safe Sport Forum. SSHRC/BUAF Exchange, Brock University
2020 Vlossak, E. & Stevens, J. Research Assistant, Niagara-on-the-Lake Tennis Club Oral History Brock Research Training Awards (RTA), Office of the Vice-President, Research, Brock University
2020 McClean, C. & Stevens, J. Research Assistant, Match of Minds, Office of Research Services, Brock University
2020 Stevens, J. Sport Tourism Proposal, Vice Provost, International and Strategic Partnerships, Brock University
Creative Works for the Public
The creative work summarized below is based upon a research endeavour called the Sport Oral History Archive (SOHA), led by Co-Directors Dr. Julie Stevens (Department of Sport Management and Dr. Elizabeth Vlossak, Department of History, who are each at Brock University.
The SOHA is a digital, open-access published collections of oral history interviews. These published collections include Canada Games, Niagara-on-the-Lake Tennis Club, and the Garden City Arena. Work on a Women’s Hockey collection is underway. In addition, various exhibits have been curated using the SOHA material.
Collections
2022-present Canada Games Collection
The collection includes:
- “Interviews” – 26 oral history interviews with Canada Games athletes, coaches, Games officials, volunteers, and Canada Games Council members, and insight from 47 volunteers and 44 athletes from the 2022 Niagara Canada Summer Games.
- “Images” over 2,000 Canada Games photos have been digitally preserved
- “Special Exhibits” curated by students form the Department of History, Brock University
- “Athletes Corner” – presents 44 athletes’ answer to the question: “what do the Canada Games mean to you?”
- “Volunteers Corner” – presents 47 volunteers’ answer to the question: “what do the Canada Games mean to you?”
2022-present Garden City Arena Collection
This collection preserves the history of the Garden City Arena in St. Catharines, Ontario, before it was demolished in the Summer of 2023. It includes:
- “Memories” – 11 individual memory accounts
- “Interviews” – 37 oral history interviews
- “Images” – 143 digital images
2021 Niagara-on-the-Lake (NOTL) Collection
The collection celebrates the 50th Anniversary of the NOTL Tennis Club, and includes:
- “Interviews – 10 oral history interviews with past and present club members
Exhibits
2022 “Garden City Arena Collection Exhibits.” In collaboration with Brock University students. Digital exhibits on permanent display in the Sport Oral History Archive.
2022 “Why hasn’t this been digitized yet?” – Interactive exhibition on display at Brock University during Canada Summer Games.
2022 “Canada Games @ Brock University.” In collaboration with Brock University students. Public exhibit on display at Brock University during the Canada Summer Games.
2022 “Canada Games @ Brock University.” In collaboration with Brock University students. Public exhibit on display at Brock University during the Canada Summer Games.
- Professional Engagement in the Sport Industry
- Professional Preparation for Internship
- Sport Management Internship Project
- Sport Management Internship
- Advanced Analysis of the Hockey Industry
2025: Visiting International Scholar, Faculty of Sport, University of West Indies, Kingston, Jamaica
2022: Faculty of Applied Health Sciences Research Excellence Award, Brock University
2020: Outstanding Co-op Supervisor Recognition Award, Brock University
2013-2014: Visiting International Scholar, Coaching and Sport Management Program, Linnaeus University, Växjö, Sweden
2013: Research Fellow, North American Society for Sport Management
Dr. Stevens is accepting additional graduate students as of the 2026-2027 academic year. Please connect with her by email prior to applying in order to discuss opportunities.
Dr. Stevens is available to supervise undergraduate students for independent studies and thesis. Please connect with her by email in order to discuss opportunities.
