AV俱乐部

by Mary Akbari

Having enjoyable and meaningful free-time activities can support our physical and emotional well-being.聽聽Newcomers, such as immigrants and refugees, may encounter barriers to recreation because聽of聽language, transportation issues and cost.聽 In 2019, colleagues in the Faculty of Heath at AV俱乐部 (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 鈥淧icturing Recreation鈥�. This project aimed to gather the experiences and suggestions of newcomers on how to integrate into, adapt or create meaningful opportunities for connecting with their communities through recreation.聽

Working closely with community agencies in Halifax and the Bridgewater area, newcomers were invited to participate in a photovoice project, where they first learned about taking pictures, then were invited to take pictures of their meaningful recreation activities.聽 With the help of interpreters, 40 people shared their photos and discussed what was important to them about the activities. The photographs and quotes from the discussion were grouped into key themes and shared in two public photo exhibits. The first was held at the Central Library in Halifax (September 26-October 21st, 2019) and then moved throughout different community/recreation centers (December聽2019聽- March 2020), before settling with the permantant host - Immigrant Services Association of Nova Scotia (ISANS).

The second photo exhibit聽was hosted at the DesBrisay Museum in Bridgewater (March 3- March 27th, 2021). Though there was no official launch at the Museum, it is estimated聽that聽over 300 people viewed the exhibit in small, socially distanced groups. On聽the聽final day of the exhibit,聽a day of聽multicultural performances was organized by the聽DesBrisay聽Museum in partnership with聽the South Shore Multicultural Association.聽Following all public health聽protocols,聽150聽visitors in small groups at a time, came through the museum聽to聽view the exhibit and聽enjoy聽a聽variety of performances that took place in a newly opened and聽large activity space.聽The day opened with a First Nations Blessing held on the grounds of the museum.聽 Other performances included Bhangra and Bollywood Dancing, French Canadian and traditional Nova Scotia music, Drumming and Belly Dancing. Plans are in the works to display the photo exhibit in large store windows on Bridgewater's main street as part of the virtual Multicultural Festival/Town of Bridgewater Canada Day celebration.

The Take Away

From these聽photo聽projects, we have learned that informal recreation is meaningful for people because it聽connects them to the past and to nature. It helps them to learn about their new community, provides a source of relaxation, socialization, wellness, and overall - can contribute to a sense of belonging.

Building on learning from the photovoice projects, along with additional literature, a pilot recreation navigator training program was developed, where newcomers learn ways to support others in accessing recreation in the community.聽 The training involves discussions of recreation, obstacles and strategies, and the exploration of local resources.聽 The training was piloted in Halifax in 2020 and encountered many challenges due to COVID. An updated online recreation navigator training program will be offered in the Bridgewater area later in 2021.

Many thanks to participants of this project, the champions who assisted with recruitment, and the many community partners: ISANS, Halifax Libraries, Halifax Immigration Partnership, HRM Recreation, South Shore Multicultural Association, and the YMCA.聽 Thank you also goes to the Department of Communities, Cultures and Heritage, for funding this project and AV俱乐部's School of Occupational Therapy for some additional matching funding.聽 聽

To learn more about the project, please email:聽en4r@dal.ca