Colleen Whyte
Associate Professor
Recreation and Leisure Studies
Brock University
Canada
Biography
My research program focuses on aging within Canadian society, and the contributions of recreation and leisure to quality of living for older adults. I am particularly interested in examining the experiences of older adults within long-term care (LTC) homes, understanding the meanings and contributions of leisure for older adults’ well-being, and working to foster a cultural shift away from societal discrimination based on age. I have been a Certified Therapeutic Recreation Specialist (C.T.R.S) since 2000, and was previously employed as a Recreation Therapist working in out-patient rehabilitation, in-patient mental health, and geriatric services within the Ontario health-care system.
Research Interest
Understanding community and belonging in long-term care homes; Exploring sustained friendships for individuals living with dementia; Advancing culture change practices in long-term care; Advocating for therapeutic recreation and its contribution to person-centred practices; Promoting intergenerational service learning
Publications
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Fortune, D., & Whyte, C. (2011). Re-imagining institutional spaces: The role of leisure in negotiating social change. Leisure/Loisir, 35, 19-35.
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Dupuis, S.L., Gillies, J., Mitchell, G., Jonas-Simpson, C., Whyte, C., & Carson, J. (2011). Catapulting shifts in images, understandings and actions for family members through research-based drama. Family Relations, 60, 104-120.
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Mitchell, G., Dupuis, S.L., Jonas-Simpson, C., Whyte, C., Carson, J., & Gillies, J. (2011). The experience of engaging with research-based drama: Evaluation and explication of synergy and transformation. Qualitative Inquiry, 17, 379-392.
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Dupuis, S.L., Gillies, J., Carson, J., Whyte, C., Genoe, R., Loiselle, L., & Sadler, L. (2012). Moving beyond patient and client approaches: Mobilizing authentic partnerships in dementia care. (Dementia).
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Dupuis, S.L., Whyte, C., Carson, J., Genoe, R., Meschino, L., & Sadler, L. (2012). Just dance with me: An authentic partnership approach in understanding leisure in the dementia context. World Leisure Journal, 54, 240-254.
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Dupuis, S.L., Mitchell, G., Jonas-Simpson, C., Whyte, C., Gillies, J., & Carson, J. (2015). Igniting transformative change in dementia care through research-based drama. The Gerontologist, 55, 1-11.
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Genoe, M.R., & Whyte, C. (2015). Confronting ageism through therapeutic recreation practice. Leisure/Loisir, 39, 235-252.
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Whyte, C., & Fortune, D. (2016). Natural leisure spaces in long-term care homes: Challenging assumptions about successful aging through meaningful living, Annals of Leisure Research, 4, 1-16.
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Whyte, C., & Sharpe, E.K. (2016). Key concepts: Inclusion and belonging. In E. Sharpe, H. Mair, & F. Yuen (Eds.), Community development: Applications for leisure (pp. 27-38). State College, PA: Venture.
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Dupuis, S., & Whyte, C. (in press). Participatory approaches to research with marginalized individuals and groups: Ensuring relevancy. In N.J. Stumbo (Ed.), Professional issues in therapeutic recreation: On competence and outcomes (3rd ed.). Champaign, IL: Sagamore. (18 pages)
