VIU becomes World Leisure Centre of Excellence

It’s official - Vancouver Island University’s Tourism and Recreation department is a World Leisure Centre of Excellence.

The prestigious designation comes from the World Leisure Organization (WLO), a non-governmental agency affiliated with the United Nations.

“This is exciting news for VIU,” said Mike Mann, Dean of the Faculty of Management. “We’re one of only two sites in the world with this designation – the other is in the Netherlands. As a World Leisure Centre of Excellence we are dedicated to the advancement of international scholarship, graduate education, research and service focused on innovation and sustainability in all aspects of leisure, recreation and tourism.”

The designation coincides with VIU’s plan to offer a master’s program in sustainability and innovation in leisure studies. The program is approved by the VIU Senate and Board and currently under review by the BC Degree Quality Assurance Board. It is expected that the first cohort of master’s students will begin their studies next September.

Through advocacy, research and education, the WLO is dedicated to discovering and fostering leisure activities that allow for human development and well-being.

Last spring, a contingent of VIU faculty members including Dr. Bob Pfister, Dr. Nicole Vaugeois, Dan McDonald and president Dr. Ralph Nilson attended the 10th World Leisure Congress in Quebec and advocated that VIU be designated as a World Leisure Centre of Excellence. Both Nilson and Vaugeois are lifetime members of World Leisure. As a result of their presentation, international auditors from the WLO visited VIU last summer.

VIU’s recreation and tourism programs have established an excellent reputation with more than 800 students graduating over the past 35 years. “Our graduates are considered among the best in the industry,” said President Nilson. “Many of them are working in top positions in recreation, tourism, hospitality, and event management companies across British Columbia, Canada, and the world. We are extremely proud of their achievements, and of the quality faculty members who teach in this area.”

VIU celebrated over three decades of recreation and tourism programming with a reunion for alumni, faculty and current students last fall.

"We have a lot to be proud of including 35 years of recreation diplomas, 20 years of tourism diplomas, and 10 years since the start of the Bachelor of Tourism Management program," added Mann. “The designation as World Leisure Centre of Excellence is like icing on the cake.”

Editor’s note: 

VIU and WLO officials will take part in a public signing ceremony and celebration on Tuesday, September 15, 11:30 am, at the Nanaimo campus (the plaza between B250 and B255). Everyone is welcome.

In addition, Christopher Edginton, Secretary General of World Leisure, will make a public address entitled World Leisure Organization: Enhancing the Human Condition at the Nanaimo campus on Monday, September 14, from 4 to 5 pm in the lecture theatre of Building 355.

His presentation will provide a broad overview of the work of the World Leisure Organization including its basic vision, goals, priorities and structure for carrying out its programs of advocacy, education and research.