Rachele Manett

Why Dal?

I’m originally from Toronto, Ontario, and came to Dalhousie in 2011 to start a kinesiology degree. About a year and a half in, I found out about Therapeutic Recreation (TR) and decided that was much more my style. I completed my BSc in TR in 2016 (and became certified as a CTRS the following year), but knew I wasn’t quite done with the East Coast and academia! I was interested in exploring sexuality and disability, and there didn’t seem to be a program that specialized in this topic within Nova Scotia, so I decided a research-based Masters in Leisure Studies was the way to go.  It offered me space to build the type of Masters I wanted. I put together an amazing thesis committee with varied knowledge to guide me on my research path, and chose courses that complemented my research and personal interests. My supervisor, Dr. Karen Gallant, has been an incredible support and resource to keep me moving in the right direction.

Research Interests

My thesis work explores the experiences of adults with acquired physical disabilities, and how sexuality is supported during onset and rehabilitation. Being a queer woman, I have been interested in sexuality for a long time, and in recent years my own chronic condition has affected how I experience my sexuality, so I was inspired to hear other people’s stories and create programs to address the needs of the community. While doing this research, I am heavily involved in sexuality education through Dal, as well as in community settings, where I do workshops for students, community members, and health care professionals on sexuality, safer sex practices, and consent culture.

I’m also lucky enough to work as a TA and sessional instructor in the School of Health and Human Performance, mainly in TR and accessibility-related classes, and work part-time in the Human Rights and Equity Office on consent culture and 2SLGBTQ+ community initiatives.

Outside of School

When I’m not doing one of the many things I do at Dal, I am heavily involved in the Halifax Roller Derby Community! Because of my chronic condition, I am unable to do contact (and roller derby is a heavy-contact sport), but I have been training as a skating (and non-skating) official (YAY TEAM ZEBRA) for a few years now, and that has been an incredible way to be part of the league, and get to roller skate to my heart’s desire! The derby community is an incredible, predominantly queer space, that I am so thankful to be a part of, I really don’t know where I would be without it!

I also need to acknowledge my partner, who moved to Halifax from Toronto to be closer to me, and has been my biggest supporter through my degrees, chronic condition, and obsession with roller derby.  

Awards and Conferences
Awards:
Leisure Travel Award Recipient (April 2017)
Dalhousie Gold D Award (March 2017)
Dr. Jerome Singleton Leadership Award  (April 2016)
Student Leadership Award, Physical & Health Education Canada  (March 2015)

Refereed Conference Abstracts:
Manett, R.*Exploring Sex as Leisure for Adults with Acquired Physical Disabilities. Canadian Therapeutic Recreation Association (2018) [accepted]
Hutchinson, S., Manett, R.* The Recreation for Mental Health Game: A Leisure Education Tool to Facilitate Community Participation. Canadian Therapeutic Recreation Association (2018) [accepted]
Manett, R.*, Gallant, K. Exploring Sex from a Serious Leisure Lens. Canadian Congress on Leisure Research (2017) [accepted]