Jonny Roach- Staff Writer

On Apr. 9, the Congress of Sports Studies will bring together students for an evening to showcase cutting-edge sports research being brought to real-world application. 

Running from 2:30 p.m. to 9 p.m. at The Gait, the annual event will bring students, faculty and community partners together for a dynamic mix of research presentations, networking and experiential learning. The ninth annual edition of the Congress continues to expand in both scale and ambition.

Image courtesy of Ashley Lebel

 “This is the biggest thing we’ve ever done,” said Ashley Lebel, Sports Studies Society President and Director of Logistics for the Congress. “We’re really trying to take Sports Studies to the next level.” 

Organized collaboratively by the Sports Studies Department and Sports Studies Society leaders, the Congress is built around one central goal: turning knowledge into action. Assistant Professor Dr. Erika Gray emphasized this focus, noting that “our main priority with the Congress is knowledge mobilization—giving students the opportunity to present their research and see research in practice.” 

Throughout the evening, students will showcase research from honours projects, independent studies, the knowledge mobilization in sports studies class and sport-related work across disciplines. Poster sessions will allow attendees to engage directly with Congress attendees and community members, highlighting the wide range of topics that define sports studies, including athletic development, health and exercise and business and society. 

A key feature of the event is the Experiential Learning Fair (ELF), designed to connect students with opportunities both on campus and within the community. Attendees can explore tables hosted by internal partners and resources such as the Gaiter Boutique, Gaiters Athletics, Gaiters Sports Medicine, Bishop’s College School, virtual reality research, the Writing Support Center, Career and Transition Services and the Sports Studies honours program. The ELF offers a practical look at how academic pathways can translate into academic opportunities and future careers. 

“For me, it’s not just about presenting,” Lebel said. “It’s about seeing what opportunities are out there and building something for your future.” 

This year’s Congress also introduces new elements aimed at enhancing the student experience, including expanded community involvement and student-focused awards that recognize contributions within the Sports Studies Program. 

A major addition comes through a collaboration with the Donald Lecture Series, bringing a keynote speaker whose experience connects directly to many of the themes explored throughout the Congress. Former professional cyclist and Québec native Geneviève Jeanson will close out the Congress, sharing insights from her career in elite sport and her experiences navigating the pressures of high-performance environments. Now a safe sport advocate, Jeanson uses her story to raise awareness around athlete protection and the harsh realities that can exist behind competitive success. Her keynote adds a powerful real-world dimension to the event, reinforcing the importance of critical conversations in sport. Jeanson’s talk will include a discussion of abuse in sport and its long-term impacts. Audience members are encouraged to care for their well-being. 

While rooted in Sports Studies, the Congress welcomes students, staff and community members from across campus to come to the Congress; the registration link can be received by emailing Dr. Erika Gray (egray@ubishops.ca). With sport-intersecting fields such as psychology, business and social sciences broadly, the event offers value beyond a single discipline, encouraging students to explore how their interests can connect to the domain of sport. 

At its core, the Congress reflects what the program strives to be: collaborative, applied, and forward-thinking. 

“It’s the place to be on April 9,” Lebel said. “If you’re not there, what are you doing?” Don’t miss this chance to discover the future of sport research, engage in meaningful ideas, conversation and opportunities at this year’s BU Congress of Sports Studies.