Media releases

• Parks and recreation an essential service, says Brock research

  Friday, May 14, 2021 | By Brock University

  MEDIA RELEASE: 14 May 2021 – R0060

  The extension of Ontario’s stay-at-home order until at least June 2 raises questions about if and how outdoor activities can be safely conducted.

  The eagerness of people to get outside, and previous closures of playgrounds, youth sport program cancellations and other shutdowns, have put the spotlight on the importance of public spaces and those who manage them, says a Brock University research team.

  “The COVID-19 pandemic has revealed what many citizens already believe — that parks and recreation spaces and services are essential for individual and community well-being,” says Brock University Associate Professor of Sport Management Julie Stevens.

  “The central role that municipal parks and recreation departments play in the everyday lives of Niagara residents has become apparent,” says Stevens, who is also Director of Brock’s Centre for Sport Capacity.

  The Centre for Sport Capacity and the Niagara Community Observatory (NCO) partnered to co-produce the NCO’s latest brief, “Parks and Recreation as an Essential Service: Using a health equity lens to strengthen provision in Niagara.”

  The brief is co-authored by Stevens, Associate Professor of Recreation and Leisure Studies Martha Barnes, member of Active Niagara Network Sarah Ane, and NCO Research Co-ordinator

  Carol Phillips.

  The brief, scheduled to be released later this month, examines the importance of parks and recreation in relation to health equity and the need to ensure government commits to parks and recreation as a key part of public policy.

  ‘Health equity’ is an approach that emphasizes the value of community and individual well-being, and equal access for all community members to parks and recreation services.

  “The role of parks and recreation in addressing broad society-level crises facing all Niagara communities is an important policy tool,” says Stevens.

  Barnes says a major challenge for the parks and recreation sector has been to “find ways of meeting increasing demand from citizens while working within evolving government restrictions

  “Moving forward, it will be necessary to ensure policy and funding mechanisms are in place to support this new-found appreciation for the parks and recreation sector,” she says.

  On Wednesday, June 9 from 11 a.m. to noon, the NCO will present the brief at an online event featuring a panel discussion with Niagara Regional Chair Jim Bradley, St. Catharines Mayor Walter Sendzik, Commander, Mobile Integrated Health for Niagara EMS, Marty Mako, and Niagara Falls Director of Recreation and Culture, Kathy Moldenhauer.

  To sign up, contact Phillips at cphillips3@brocku.ca and a Microsoft Teams link will be sent prior to the event.

  Brock University Associate Professor of Sport Management Julie Stevens is available for interviews on the importance of outdoor activities for community health and well-being and the need for parks and recreation departments to be enhanced.

  For more information or for assistance arranging interviews:

  * Dan Dakin, Manager Communications and Media Relations, Brock University ddakin@brocku.ca or 905-347-1970

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  Categories: Media releases

• New research examines experience of racialized communities during COVID-19

  Thursday, May 13, 2021 | By Brock University

  MEDIA RELEASE: 13 May 2021 – R0059

  The COVID-19 pandemic has had a significant impact on all Canadians, but new research shows how racialized and marginalized communities have been disproportionally affected.

  The groundbreaking research project was led by co-investigators Gervan Fearon, President of Brock University, and Walid Hejazi, Associate Professor of Economic Analysis and Policy at the University of Toronto, in partnership with the Canadian Arab Institute (CAI).

  Published on Thursday, May 13, “A Year in Review: Experiences of Racialized communities during the COVID-19 Pandemic” identifies the challenges faced by marginalized groups and makes recommendations to inform government policy, program development and civil society interventions.

  To capture the pandemic experiences of these communities, five lead researchers worked with 25 research assistants representing a wide range of racialized and marginalized communities across Canada.

  Over the course of four months from September to December 2020, more than 200 participants were interviewed and surveyed to better understand their lived experience of the pandemic up to that point.

  “We knew COVID-19 has affected racialized communities way more than non-racialized communities, and we were really looking to conduct race-based data collection to better understand those experiences,” said Shireen Salti, CAI Executive Director. “There is strength and power in community members coming together to learn experiences of one another and we really wanted to make sure we could document those experiences and shape the policy priorities of the community moving forward.”

  Fearon said Brock wanted to be involved because of the role universities and colleges play in advancing Canada’s goal of being an inclusive society and fostering understanding across communities.

  “Canada is known for its major efforts in being an inclusive society. We can see it in government policy and legislation and the broad thematic of multi-culturalism,” Fearon said. “That means all of our institutions across Canada have to be a resource and an asset for addressing important questions that affect different communities within the Canadian mosaic.”

  Hejazi said his time researching policy development at all levels of government in Canada and around the world has taught him the importance of solid evidence in decision-making.

  “In order to develop effective policy and implement that policy, there’s an absolute essential need for evidence,” he said.

  In analyzing the data that resulted from the research, Hejazi said it was clear the impact of COVID-19 differed across various racialized communities, but also within sub-groups of those communities.

  However, there were four general themes that emerged which showed:

  • A significant lack of access to medical and mental health services for these communities.
  • A preponderance of high-risk employment often requiring work outside of the home within these communities.
  • A lack of access to information and trusted supports.
  • Although governments have made many supports available to all Canadians, there exists a disproportionate understanding of how to access these supports within these communities.

  “The pandemic has created challenges for all Canadians, but these have been particularly acute across racialized and marginalized communities,” said Hejazi.

  Within the report, the researchers made three key recommendations to the Canadian government as they plan and implement COVID-19 recovery initiatives:

  • Build trust between government and racialized communities — Engage communities by working with trusted community members to create safe, trusted access points for credible information. Trusted community agencies and networks can facilitate collective action, decision-making and greater factual information sharing within communities. Building trust between government and communities through ongoing engagement is essential for establishing the  foundation needed to effectively address health and emergency challenges.
  • Enhance communication through existing and new channels — Frequently engage with the community to ensure consistent and appropriate communication. Communities can ensure factual information is shared amongst trusted networks and draw on their awareness of cultural nuances to develop multiple modes of communication and access points.
  • Increase overall well-being of racialized Canadian communities — Ensure access and knowledge of financial, physical and emotional well-being resources. Develop an ongoing engagement strategy with racialized communities to connect them with resources such as vaccination clinics, food banks, community health centres and childcare, and addressing underlying social and economic inequities.

  “As our governments continue to work toward a safe and equitable recovery plan, the CAI strongly believes the recommendations can be used to build back better and support racialized communities across the country,” said Salti. “To be able to collaborate and partner with other racialized communities for a common goal to amplify their voices and document their experiences was crucial for the future of this country in terms of the policy recommendations that will be put in place to better ensure their well-being socially, economically and politically.”

  Fearon said an added benefit of the research project was how it helped build a more diverse research community.

  “The project was able to collect important information and allowed us as post-secondary institutions to support the development of that next generation of researchers who will not only give voice to important issues affecting their community, but also be part of the important dialogue and action we need as Canadians regarding how we build an inclusive society that benefits us all,” he said. “COVID-19 has shown us that our well-being and prosperity are interrelated, which make inclusive society likely more able to respond to challenges and to act on opportunities.”

  The full report, “A Year in Review: Experiences of Racialized communities during the COVID-19 Pandemic,” is available on the CAI website here.

  The researchers behind the project are available for media interviews.

  *NOTE – A video about the research project can be found on the Brock University YouTube channel here. Non-branded video for use by media is available upon request.

  For more information or for assistance arranging interviews:

  * Dan Dakin, Manager Communications and Media Relations, Brock University ddakin@brocku.ca or 905-347-1970

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  Categories: Media releases