Empowering Newcomers for Recreation Leadership Project

Picturing Newcomers’ Recreation Project

Having enjoyable and meaningful free-time activities can support our physical and emotional well-being.  Newcomers, such as immigrants and refugees, may encounter barriers to recreation because of language, transportation issues and cost.  In 2019, colleagues in the Faculty of Health at Dalhousie University (Lauckner, Gallant & Hutchinson) and community partners came together to explore ways to support newcomers in connecting to their community through culture and recreation in a project called “Picturing Recreation”. The project’s aim was to gather the experiences and suggestions of newcomers and integrate, adapt or create meaningful opportunities for connecting with their communities through recreation.

Phase 1: Picturing Newcomers Recreation

Newcomers to Halifax and the South Shore were asked to take and share photos of what they do in their free time. Opportunities were then created to discuss with participants, “what recreation means to them”.  

The videos below include 1 full length inclusive Digital Exhibit as well as 5 short theme-based videos. All videos include photos and quotes from the Picturing Newcomers' Picturing Recreation Project.

Please see this information sheet [PDF - 569 KB] for suggested uses and links to local resources. Please click on the headings below to learn more about the Newcomers Picturing Recreation Project as well as Project Funders and Community Partners.

Phase 2: Newcomers Recreation Navigators Training

Drawing on the learning of the Phase 1 photo project, published research and input from the newcomer participants themselves, a training program was developed to equip newcomers with knowledge and skills to support others in accessing recreation services/programs in the community. The intent of this program was to encourage participants to volunteer as “Recreation Navigators” with local organizations, to provide informal support to individuals or groups of newcomers who were looking for information and to support newcomers to access recreational opportunities in the community. 

Early in 2020, the training sessions in Halifax area started in person with 15 trainees. After several sessions, the program was delayed due to the Covid-19 pandemic, and then switched to an online format. During the sessions, participants discussed barriers to participate in recreation and strategies to overcome these barriers, as well as the role of Recreation Navigators in the communities. Despite the challenges brought on by the pandemic, 7 participants completed their training and received their certificates of completion.  While we had hoped to provide an updated Recreation Navigator training program in the Bridgewater area later in 2021, this training did not occur because of the ongoing pandemic restrictions.  

Also, because of the pandemic restrictions, we weren’t able to complete the final evaluation, which aimed to explore how recreation navigation could be integrated into community recreation service provision. However, we have updated training materials based on the feedback received from training participants and community partners. We hope that others will use and adapt these materials to support newcomers in connecting to their communities through recreation. These materials are provided below.

In addition, we have created a "Video Tutorial" providing a brief overview of the Training Guide. [PDF - 1.6 MB] The presentation slide is also available.

We hope that you are able to use and/or adapt these resources to work your efforts in supporting people in connecting to communities through recreation.