Martha Barnes

From silos to synergies: a network perspective of the Canadian sport system

This paper examines the recent Canadian Sport Policy documents intended to improve Canadas fragmented system. Content analyses from six regional conferences in Canada were used to enhance our understanding of regional sport policy in Canada. The results of this study indicate that the administrative structure, the degree of network coupling and the strength of ties between actors are reflective of low levels of integration in the network of sport providers. The need for new resources represents a central focus of the sport policy and offers a catalyst for change. This research moves beyond broad policy statements pertaining to the need for more cooperation and collaboration in the Canadian Sport system to providing meaningful indicators of barriers of poor integration, while at the same time recognising the need for regional views.

Strategies to increase sport participation in Canada: the role of a coordinated network

In an effort to address some of the issues facing sport in Canada, the Canadian Sport Policy suggests that improving collaboration among sport organisations is one strategy for creating a more connected and coordinated sport system. This research seeks to examine collaboration in community sport in order to understand the role and impact of integrated networks of sport organisations for driving sport participation. Swimming and basketball networks in one region were studied and findings reveal many unrealised ties between providers and organisations. A formal approach did not necessarily equate to a greater level of collaboration for swimming in comparison to basketball.

Whose legacy is it, anyway? A tale of conflicting agendas in the building of the Hamilton Pan Am Soccer Stadium

Legacy planning is becoming institutionalized in the sport world. In the case of mega-events, it has been argued that symbolic urban regimes seek to host events as a short-cut to international recognition thus kick-starting their tourism industry, and attracting new investment to the city. When Hamilton, Ontario was charged with building a new stadium in order to host some of the events for the Toronto 2015 Pan American Games, the location of the stadium became an ongoing debate involving stakeholders who had worked together for years to attract a mega-event to the city. Documents and archival records are used to chronicle and then understand the debate over the contested legacy of the new Hamilton stadium. The case of Hamilton, Ontario highlights the notion that to consider legacy planning and legacy implementation as one undertaking is flawed. In fact, these two processes must be recognized as distinct actions necessitating different strategies by both leisure managers and scholars involved in legacy work.

Institutional readiness and grant success among public recreation agencies

The financing of public recreation is diversifying. In the past, recreation agencies have used numerous strategies to address financial issues, with varying degrees of success. Such strategies have included retrenching programmes, implementing user fees, reducing staff and relying on volunteers. In North America, recreation managers have also begun to engage in fund raising efforts, including grant seeking. In 2003, recreation, sport, art and culture agencies combined received 14.7% or

Linking recreation and health with people living with chronic conditions

2,102,824.00 of foundation grants in the United States, excluding federal and state grants. In order for the field of recreation to be successful at securing foundation grants, empirical research is needed to establish a sound knowledge base. The purpose of this study was two-fold: to validate hypothesized measures of institutional readiness, a concept originating from philanthropic studies, and to determine the strength of institutional readiness in predicting the number of foundation grants received by park and recreation agencies. Contrary to the literature, only two measures of institutional readiness (working with a board of directors and using a case statement) were found to predict success in receiving foundation grants. None the less, fund raising strategies, in particular soliciting foundation grants, represent a strategy for recreation managers to consider when faced with financial dilemmas.

A city looks to its past to discover its future: a retrospective case study examining the evolution of an artificial white-water river development

ABSTRACT Globally, non-communicable chronic diseases are a leading health problem. Heart disease and stroke are the primary causes of death worldwide, followed by respiratory-related diseases such as chronic obstructive lung disease. Self-management is a strategy that helps individuals learn how to live well with their health conditions. For self-management to be effective, a strong network of agencies and stakeholders who can provide necessary education and supports must be developed and sustained. Recreation and community services are well positioned to link individuals with chronic conditions with health services and create a more holistic health network. The Expanded Chronic Care Model frames this project as it draws on population health promotion principles that acknowledge the influence of social and environmental determinants of health while emphasizing the importance of creating supportive community environments for health. This paper reports on a community-based participatory research project in a rural area of Nova Scotia Canada, aimed at identifying community-based approaches to support people with chronic conditions to live well in their community. The findings include themes related to community assets, barriers to participation in recreation, and action for moving forward collaboratively. Implications for managers in the recreation and health sectors are offered.

Trust and collaborative ties in a community sport network

In the 1980s, waterfront redevelopment became a widely accepted strategy related to transforming derelict urban centres from ports to playgrounds. The primary motivating forces behind waterfront redevelopment have been either economic or the ‘abandoned doorstep’ argument with secondary considerations related to improving quality of life by creating open space opportunities for recreation and tourism. While these primary motivating forces behind waterfront redevelopment have been well documented, little attention has been given to the role that unique recreational developments can play in waterfront revitalization efforts. The purpose of this case study was to examine how the construction of an artificial white-water river contributed to a communitys revitalization 25 years after its development. Data collection included content analysis of written material dating back 25 years, individual interviews and a focus group with community leaders. At the onset of the construction project, four goals were identified which included to: (1) begin redeveloping the urban core, (2) develop a recreational water feature, (3) extend the park system, and (4) create a fish passage. Findings are categorized based on the a priori goals of the project 25 years ago in addition to two emergent themes: a renewed community identity and operational challenges. The citys ability and vision to develop a comprehensive strategy with a variety of uses has contributed to the role this artificial white-water river has played in revitalizing the community.

Looking Beyond Traditional Volunteer Management: A Case Study of an Alternative Approach to Volunteer Engagement in Parks and Recreation

ABSTRACT Within sport, multi-sector linkages are common; however, given their potential to achieve public goals, the results generated from the activities of networks encompassing organisations from different sectors are often limited. Trust is viewed as particularly important to multi-sector networks as organisations seek to achieve social purposes, gain legitimacy, acquire resources, engage in collective organisational learning, and build social capital. Using a social network analysis approach, this study tested whether the strength of trust ties and same sector ties predicted the collaborative ties in a community sport network. The network software program UCINET 6 was chosen because of its ability to test hypotheses using permutation methods as well its capacity to visually portray the network by plotting the relationships. The results support the hypothesis suggesting that the collaborative ties are predictive of trust and sector ties. Implications for sport and recreation managers are provided.