Kyle Rich, PhD

Associate Professor, Sport Management

Kyle Rich

905 688 5550 x4269
[email protected]

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I am interested in how community, policy, and social inclusion/exclusion shape experiences in sport, recreation, and physical activity programs. I am particularly interested in the way that policy is implemented by actors in different regions in Canada. In my research, I use partnered approaches and participatory methods to work with community organizers to understand and address local issues, in efforts to improve community health and wellbeing.

Research Interests

  • Community sport and recreation
  • Sport policy implementation
  • Rural and remote communities
  • Social Inclusion and exclusion
  • Community-based and participatory research methodologies

Professional Affiliations Accreditations and Certificates

  • European Association for Sport Management
  • International Sociology of Sport Association
  • North American Society for Sport Management
  • North American Society for the Sociology of Sport
  • Sport Management Association of Australia and New Zealand
  • Canadian Association for Leisure Studies
  • Canadian Rural Revitalization Foundation

Academic Distinctions and Awards

2025 – Journal of Sport for Development Early Career Scholar Award

2024 – Faculty of Applied Health Sciences Excellence in Teaching Award

2022 – Canadian Association for Leisure Studies Emerging Scholar Award

2019 – Clarke Thomson Award for Excellence in Sessional Teaching

Scholarly Publications

Rich, K. A., Gemar, A., Boggs, J., Borgen-Flood, T. (in press). Geography demography, and sport club membership in Ontario, Canada. Managing Sport and Leisure. http://dx.doi.org/10.1080/23750472.2026.2701423

Borgen-Flood, T. & Rich, K. A. (in press). Multiple logics in rural municipal recreation: The case of Cochrane and Temiskaming districts. Leisure/Loisir. https://doi.org/10.1080/14927713.2025.2503188

Lindsay, I., Strittmater, A., Sam, M., & Rich, K. A. (Eds.) (2026). Routledge Handbook of Sports Development (2nd ed.). Routledge.

Rich, K. A., Borgen-Flood, T., Nelson, G., Sailofsky, D., Warner, M., Comella, A., Cross, J. Julian, P., Darnell, S., Low, D., & Norman, R. (2026). Ontario Sport Community Summit Report. Retrieved from https://www.krichsportandrec.com/onsportsummit

Rich, K. A. & Losardo, D. (2025). Community sport organizations, regional governance, and sport policy implementation in Ontario, Canada. Frontiers in Sports and Active Living, 7. https://doi.org/10.3389/fspor.2025.1549966

Rich, K. A., Smith, R. & Giles, A. R. (Eds.) (2024). Participatory Research in Sport and Physical Activity. Routledge.

Quinton, J. & Rich, K. A. (2024). Gay men, sport participation, and wellbeing: A phenomenological analysis. Qualitative Research in Sport, Exercise, and Health, 16(2), 167-180. https://doi.org/10.1080/2159676X.2023.2255202

Rich, K. A., Sharpe, E., Barnes, M., Philips, C., & Romano, E. (2024). Municipal perspectives on collaboration in regional sport event hosting: A Case Study of the Niagara 2022 Canada Summer Games. Event Management. 28(3), 461-476. https://doi.org/10.3727/152599523X17025088793838

Rich, K. A., Nelson, G., Borgen-Flood, T., & Pegoraro, A. (2024). Regional Policy and Organizational Fields in Multi-level Sport Governance. European Sport Management Quarterly, 24(1), 51-71. https://doi.org/10.1080/16184742.2023.225771

Teaching and Service

SPMA 2P16 – Sport Policy and Governance

SPMA 3P93 – Sport for Development

Director – Niagara Community Observatory

Graduate Student Opportunities

Dr. Rich is available to supervise graduate students. Please reach out via email in advance of applying.

Undergraduate Student Opportunities

Dr. Rich is available to supervise undergraduate directed studies and thesis research. Please reach out via email to discuss available opportunities.