SPORT
Sport is a huge part of the culture of Canada, as is the case in many other countries around the world. Most Canadians have a connection to sport is some form or fashion, be that as a participant, coach or official, parent volunteer, sport memorabilia collector, or spectator. The delivery system for sport is massive and ranges from teaching 5 years olds how to kick a soccer ball to running the national curling program. In Canada, sport GDP equals 4.5 million, output of sport activities totals over 7 billion annually, and five percent of jobs in Canada relate to sport. Taking hockey as an example, the direct economic impact of hockey events on large and small communities in Canada is 2.6 billion, more than 5,000 full time jobs are related to hockey, and 150,000 Canadians volunteer an average of 5 hours per week ensuring that hockey is available for Canadians to play.
Over the past 50 years, Acadia Recreation Graduates have played a variety of roles in the sport system. At the grassroot level, through such agencies as Municipal Recreation Departments, sport clubs, YM/WCAs, Boys and Girls Clubs, and schools, Recreation leaders have been responsible for the development of instructional sport programs, the operation of leagues, the recruitment and training of coaches and officials, and the provision of facilities.
Within the system, each sport has a provincial and national sport governing body which oversees sport promotion, leadership, development, and competition within its jurisdiction. Acadia Recreation graduates have served in such positions as Development Coordinator, Executive Director, Youth Development Manager, Minor Sport Association Coordinator, Volunteer Coordinator, Competition Coordinator, and Events Manager. Canada has nearly 60 funded National Sport Federations with staff, a Nova Scotia has 50 funded Provincial Sport Organizations, all with staff. The other provinces and territories have similar positions responsible for sport. Through such positions, Acadia Recreation graduates have played a role in the promotion and delivery of sport in the country.
Although the Recreation degree program did not specifically teach students how to become coaches, they did receive considerable knowledge related to understanding the recreational needs of people, program development, and how the sport system operates, all of which would be useful in developing coaches. Certain Acadia Rec Graduates have both played and coached at the professional level.
An important aspect of sport in the development, maintenance, and management of sport facilities. Combining a knowledge of leisure needs with management tools, a number of graduates have served as facility managers with arenas, pools, gymnasiums, fitness centres, golf courses, and multipurpose centres. They often hire technical people to take care of maintenance tasks such as with an arena ice plant but take on such tasks as overseeing staffing, programming, marketing, and facility development. Other positions that recreation graduates have held in sport facilities include Aquatics Manager, Event Coordinator, Marketing Manager, Guest Services Director, and Fitness Coordinator. The facilities which they managed are owned by municipalities, institutions, sport clubs/organizations, or private entities.
Within the system, each sport has a provincial and national sport governing body which oversees sport promotion, leadership, development, and competition within its jurisdiction. Acadia Recreation graduates have served in such positions as Development Coordinator, Executive Director, Youth Development Manager, Minor Sport Association Coordinator, Volunteer Coordinator, Competition Coordinator, and Events Manager. Canada has nearly 60 funded National Sport Federations with staff, a Nova Scotia has 50 funded Provincial Sport Organizations, all with staff. The other provinces and territories have similar positions responsible for sport. Through such positions, Acadia Recreation graduates have played a role in the promotion and delivery of sport in the country.
Although the Recreation degree program did not specifically teach students how to become coaches, they did receive considerable knowledge related to understanding the recreational needs of people, program development, and how the sport system operates, all of which would be useful in developing coaches. Certain Acadia Rec Graduates have both played and coached at the professional level.
An important aspect of sport in the development, maintenance, and management of sport facilities. Combining a knowledge of leisure needs with management tools, a number of graduates have served as facility managers with arenas, pools, gymnasiums, fitness centres, golf courses, and multipurpose centres. They often hire technical people to take care of maintenance tasks such as with an arena ice plant but take on such tasks as overseeing staffing, programming, marketing, and facility development. Other positions that recreation graduates have held in sport facilities include Aquatics Manager, Event Coordinator, Marketing Manager, Guest Services Director, and Fitness Coordinator. The facilities which they managed are owned by municipalities, institutions, sport clubs/organizations, or private entities.
The following are a few examples of specific titles that Acadia Recreation Graduates have held relating to Sport:
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Given the large percentage of the population that has a connection to sport, it is clear that many people have enjoyed participation in, or observation of, sport experiences in Canada and elsewhere have been able to do so because of the work of an Acadia Rec graduate.
ALUMNAE CAREER PROFILE
Anitra (Dagley) Steven ’98 started in the field as a Cultural Representative at Walt Disney World. Her next position was as a Community Youth Coordinator with the Annapolis Valley Regional School Board, followed by Manager of Sport for the 2011 Canada Games. Following the games, she served as Vice President, Health Promotion and Family Services with the YMCA. Most recently, she has worked as Executive Director of Athletics Nova Scotia. The association is responsible to develop, coordinate and promote track & field, road running and cross country running throughout the province.