About Me

You've reached the home of PERGSS. Thanks for visiting us! The Physical Education and Recreation Graduate Student Society (PERGSS) is a graduate student organization designed to provide academic, social, and athletic opportunities for the graduate students in Faculty of Physical Education and Recreation at the University of Alberta. PERGSS strives to promote, provide, and organize professional and academic support for its members. In addition, the organization acts as a mediator between the Faculty and graduate students.

Friday, March 11, 2011

April 7th Nutrition Symposium

Feed the Fight: The Role of Nutrition in Cancer
Each year, Nutrition 400/401 and Nutrition Food Science 304 students present a diverse mix of research that focuses on nutrition and health. A speaker series focusing on a hot topic in nutrition also accompanies the event. This year’s 6th annual symposium will focus on the role of nutrition and cancer.
Date: April 7th
Cost: Free!
Nutrition 401/Nutrition 304 Poster Presentations (9am-Noon)
Students will be showcasing a diverse mix of research studies focusing on nutrition and health. This will include studies done within the community, clinical setting, and in a lab. Complimentary refreshments will be available.
Location: Dinwoodie Lounge
Speaker Presentation (1pm-4:30pm)
Nutrition 401 Students welcome four nutrition and cancer experts speaking on the topic of nutrition’s role in cancer. Speakers include Dr.David Ma from the University of Guelph, Dr. Cindy Davis from the National Cancer Institute and U.S. National Institutes of Health, Dr. Neal Mcdonald, and the University of Alberta’s own Dr. Vicki Baracos. You won’t want to miss this opportunity to hear the most current information in nutrition and cancer by leading cancer researchers. Complimentary refreshments will be available.
Location: Myer Horowitz Theatre

Friday, March 4, 2011

3rd Annual Pancake Breakfast

Do you like eating pancakes? Do you love supporting awesome student organizations like  PERGSS?? Here's your chance to do both!!

On Tuesday, March 8th from 9:00 to 11:00 am, PERGSS will be hosting it's 3rd annual Pancake Breakfast Fundraiser! This year we were even organized enough to have it on Shrove Tuesday!

Please come out to the Faculty Lounge where $5 will get you a delicious breakfast of pancakes, coffee and fruit.

Bring your lab mates, hall mates, students, advisors... everyone's welcome! Hope to see you there!

Sunday, February 27, 2011

Upcoming Winning Edge Seminar

The next winning edge seminar is on Saturday, March 19th 2010, 10:00am-2:00pm at Foote Field. It is a strength and conditioning workshop for coaches. It is designed for the high school and club level coach who is seeking guidance and practical advice on the best strength and conditioning practises for developmental athletes. Topics will include:

• Teaching progressions for Olympic Weightlifting
• Curriculum based strength and conditioning
• Individualizing programs in team sports
To register for this event, please call 780-492-2231 (Activity Registration Zone) and quote code "17938". Cost - $25 (plus GST). ARZ hours - Monday - Friday 9:00am-5:00pm.

March 4th Speaker Series

Everyone is welcome to attend a Speaker Series Presentation on Friday, March 4th, 2011 at 3:00pm, Room E-121, Van Vliet Centre.

The Guest Speaker is Dr M. Ann Hall, Professor Emeritus. Dr Hall will be presenting on: “Researching a Legend: The Edmonton Grads”

The amazing Edmonton Grads dominated women’s basketball in Canada between 1915 and 1940.  They are indeed a legend. Although their story has been told and retold, just who they were, and why they were so successful has never been fully explained. The Grads Are Playing Tonight!: The Story of the Edmonton Commercial Graduates Basketball Club will be published this fall by the University of Alberta Press. This talk explores some of the issues, problems, and unexpected turns encountered while researching and writing about a legend.

Thursday, February 10, 2011

Monthly Sport Drop-in sessions

PERGSS are introducing a monthly lunchtime sports drop-in session for faculty, staff and students, starting next week in the main gym. Instead of afternoon coffee - come play sports! Drop by even if for a portion of the time. We'll also be taking suggestions for future games and activities so feel free to give us feedback.

The first session will be on Wednesday, February 16th, 2-3pm in the Main Gym. We will be playing Speedball (a hybrid of a variety of sports).

All you need is yourself and a pair of runners, so hope to see you there!

Friday 18th February: Sport Science Research Presentations

Everyone is welcome to attend an exciting day of
“Sport Science Research Presentations”

Friday, Feb 18th, 2011
 12:00 Noon Room W-01, Van Vliet Centre


Brought to you by the Canadian Athletics Coaching Centre:

“Case Study: Training and Nutrition Periodization in Elite Marathoners”

Presented by: Dr Trent Stellingwerff,
Nestle Research Institute, Lausanne, Switzerland


3:00 PM Room E-121, Van Vliet Centre

Olympic/Paralympic Update

““Canadian Snowboard Team – the Role of the IST”

Presented by: Dr Connie Lebrun, Director
Glen Sather Sports Medicine Clinic 

“Paralympic Cross Country Skiing: The view from the wax room”

Presented by: Dr Michael Kennedy, Assistant Professor


Light refreshments to follow in Room P4-15 @ 4:15 pm
Faculty Lounge, Van Vliet Centre

Monday, February 7, 2011

Call for Papers

On Saturday April 30th, 2011 the 11th Annual Alberta Round-Table for the Socio-Cultural Study of Physical Activity and Sport is taking place at the University of Lethbridge. Abstracts are due on March 1st, 2011. Anyone studying in this area is encouraged to submit an abstract.

Sunday, February 6, 2011

Next BMG

The Behavioural Medicine Group will be meeting on Friday Feb 18th at 2.00pm in E-431. The session will be run by Dr Berry who has arranged for representatives from the Alberta Centre for Active Living to deliver a talk. We hope to see you there.

PERGSS update

The PERGSS executive held their monthly meeting last week. Below are the main things that were discussed. If anyone has any questions or queries, please contact Marianne (mclark1@ualberta.ca). Thanks!

1) Student-Supervisor relationship study:  Marianne met with Stu to discuss the development of the survey. The goal of survey is to identify best practices & behaviours of successful supervisor/student relationship. Suggested the creation of a survey via a working grou 5 members from PERGSS representing various programs & years of experience working with their supervisor at the U of A volunteered to sit on working group to create a survey.

2) Speaker Series:   Currently developing the professional development aspect of Speaker Series. Looking into potential topics for next year (2011-2012).  Planning  “Grad School- A Road Map” for the spring. A speaker series geared to both  Masters & PhD students. This session will set up future speaker series events that will hone in on a specific topic discussed

3) Clothes Drive:    Some large donations received before the holiday break.  The donations were well received by the children at the school, the principal has expressed his thanks.  Strategies to improve future philanthropic initiatives discussed

4) Sports day: Discussion of a possible wheelchair basketball game. Strategies to organize this event (arrange equipment) discussed

5)  Blog: Use of this forum effective for posting important dates & dates of up-comming events. Request for the submission of committee updates & summary of committee discussions to the Blog.

6) Philanthropic donation at Christmas: PERGSS made a donation of $100.00 to the campus food bank.  Future philanthropic initiatives (tree planting) & donations discussed

7) Socials: Winter Social at O’byrnes. Event Scheduled for January 27th, 2011. Event details posted on Blog & in facebook group.

Outdoor Skating: Tentatively scheduled for Feb. 13th.  Location TBA. Once location is finalized details of this event will be added to Blog & facebook event will be created

 Ski/Snowboard trip:  Discussion of risk management issues surrounding this event.  Will make use of existing buses in operation. Will provide information about buses available & dates.

8) Fundraising: Pancake Breakfast. A successful event in past years. Will try to co-ordinate the date of this event with the date of International Pancake Day. Event tentatively scheduled for sometime in early March
Committe Updates: 
Graduate Committee
a) Discussion of changes to policy & enforcing penalties for missed deadlines from Dean of Graduate Studies
·         Changes have been made to the academic appeal process
·         Developing an approach to document the process of graduate student appeals
·         Examining change within the faculty
·         Need to change PERGSS bylaws to indicate the process of selecting a student representative to sit on any appeals committee
·         Suggested that the process of selecting representative begin with the student that sits as PERGSS representative on the graduate committee, then be passed on to the student that sits on the undergraduate committee or the president
·         In the case where there would be a conflict of interest then the role of representative would be passed along to the next individual

b) Discussion of survey examining student/supervisor relationships

c) Committee reviewed a proposal for an alternative format for PhD candidacy exam

 GSA
 a) VP Labor
·         Motion passed that the VP labor resign
·         Both GSA & VP Labor provided the details of the case
·         Will be voting on the motion at the next GSA meeting on Feb. 14th

Undergraduate Committee
   a) GPA Requirement
·         Increase to GPA requirement for students applying to the program from Red Deer College & Grant Mac
   b) PAC
·         Continued discussion of the design & purpose of PAC courses in the faculty

c) Review of BARST degree



Thursday, February 3, 2011

Winter Walk

On February 9th, the Dean will be leading a winter walk to coincide with the Province-wide Winter Walk Day. This initiative aims to help Albertans get the recommended amount of daily physical activity, something that we all know is important (in fact chances are you or one of your friends is doing research on this exact thing). So, not only is this a great chance to spend time outdoors with friends and faculty, but also to practice what we teach!

Kerry Mummery and Campus Rec’s Joy Chikinda will lead the walk that starts (and ends) at Varsityot chocolate afterwards and giveaways for some lucky walkers!
Field at the pond hockey rinks, behind the Clare Drake Arena (opposite Stadium Car Park.). The walk starts at 12 noon, with h

We hope to see you all there...and if you do come along, please record your participation at the campus rec website because this is a province-wide challenge to all Albertans.

Wednesday, February 2, 2011

Coaching Research Group

Coaching Research Group
Friday February 4, 12:00-1:00pm, E126

Coaching the Elite: Expectations and Realities

A Presentation by Irving Schexnayder

Irving “Boo” Schexnayder is a leading authority in the design of high-performance training programs. Formerly a track and field coach at Louisiana State University, where he specialized in coaching the jumps and sprints, Schexnayder is now a consultant to numerous teams and NSO’s. His areas of expertise include the development of speed and power training programs for football, basketball, soccer and volleyball. He works with numerous NFL players and has personally coached 10 Olympians in track and field, including a 2004 silver medalist. Schexnayder has also co-authored several publications in peer reviewed sport science and coach education journals concerning speed development.

Tuesday, January 25, 2011

Summer Funding

Don't forget that summer funding applications are due on January 31st. All students need to complete these applications if they want to receive a research assistantship or to teach intersession classes. You should have received all the necessary information and application forms via e-mail.

Student-supervisor experience

In the next few months PERGSS, in conjunction with the faculty, will be conducting a survey of the student-supervisor experience. The aim of this survey is to identify students perspectives on the student-supervisor relationship and identify factors that help to create a successful relationship. Further information and questions will be sent across via e-mail. The more information we can get the better the outcome will be, so please take the time to fill in the survey when it gets sent across.

Save the Date

There are a number of upcoming social events being organised by PERGSS, further information will follow, but until then these are the dates you need to know!

January 27th: PERGSS social at O'Byrnes
February 13th: Outdoor skating event
February 16th: Recreational physical activity day

Other events currently being organized include our annual pancake breakfast and possibly a ski-trip. Keep checking the blog for more information!

Pond Hockey Tournament - Further Information

Date: February 11th, 12th and 13th

What: with CBC’s Hockey Day in Canada being the 12th,Campus Recreation will be hosting the University of Alberta Pond Hockey Tournament.  The tournament will be 3 on 3 with rosters sizes of 5 players.  We will be building 4 large outdoor ice surfaces on Varsity Field along with using the Lister Outdoor Rink to host our 64 team tournament.  Spots in this tournament will go fast so register early.

Registration will begins January 17th and the Early Bird deadline will be JANUARY 26TH.   Keep an eye on our Facebook page for opportunities to receive discounts on registration and other great prizes. **The team that is selected as the early bird winner will be hosted by the Edmonton Oilers on the Media catwalk at an Oilers game to be determined by the Oilers Hockey Club.  A maximum of 5 players will be allowed to take part in the prize. Also, the Jerseys that will be awarded to winners within each division have been designed! Check them out: http://www.campusrec.ualberta.ca/intramurals/content.cfm?act=1114&pt=info&ID=101684

Some other things to mention: KIDSPORT is the Tourney's Charity of choice, and as a result there will be a raffle for the Charity at the Tourney.

Here is the link to the event webpage, with more information to come, so please check back frequently!
And make sure to check out the Facebook page for the tourney: