ReCON is an annual graduate student ReTREAT and CONFERENCE that focuses on graduate student research and professional development. It covers topics relevant to students in all phases of their programs. Graduate students, postdoctoral fellows, and professors have plenty of opportunities to connect in a relaxed and supportive environment. Whether students are new to the faculty or nearing the end of their programs, attending ReCON is an extremely valuable interdisciplinary experience that is a lot of fun! 

• Be exposed to the wide breadth of research conducted in the faculty.

• Be challenged to think critically about topics outside of your research area.

• Present and receive critical feedback on your research in a safe environment.

• Meet and reconnect with other students, staff, and faculty members.

• Build valuable friendships and support systems.

At ReCON XII in 2025, the conference’s keynote address was named the Dr. Jim Denison Memorial Keynote after the late Dr. Jim Denison. Jim was a professor at the U of A from 2007 where he worked alongside his wife, Dr. Pirkko Markula, until he passed away in early 2024. We wish to take a few moments to share a bit about Jim’s legacy and the values we hope to keep alive in his honour.

Jim’s area of research focused on enhancing coach and athlete learning through sociocultural perspectives. By considering how power operates in sport, he questioned dominant coaching practices to analyze their unintended consequences on athlete development. In other words, Jim was one to do things differently, as he examined taken-for-granted assumptions about coaching to take tangible steps in developing more effective pedagogy.

Jim mentored and supervised many graduate students in his career. His passion for research was contagious and led to the creation of the one-of-a-kind MCoach program. Jim was an honest communicator, pushing his students to grow by encouraging them to question their preconceived notions and to think about the consequences of their practices. He left a lasting impression on his students who continue to think critically about their coaching. Jim stayed in regular contact with many of his former graduate students years after graduation.

Jim’s impact and legacy lives on among our diverse faculty. He collaborated with many of his peers in research and in teaching, bringing perspectives from areas like physiology and biomechanics into his coaching courses. Furthermore, Jim’s practice of questioning normalized practices can apply to any field in kinesiology, sport, or recreation. His curiosity and dedication were part of what made Jim an excellent mentor and colleague to so many. To honour his legacy, we have asked our keynote to speak to at least one of the qualities that Jim demonstrated in his research and graduate student mentorship.