Laurene Rehman, PhD

Biography

Dr. Rehman has 25 years of experience in academia and expertise in recreation and leisure studies. She completed her undergraduate and master’s degrees at the University of British Columbia and her PhD at the University of Waterloo. Rehman taught at Memorial University for two years while completing her doctoral dissertation and then took a position at Dalhousie University where she worked for almost 26 years. 

Rehman's research focuses on breaking down barriers to access to recreation and leisure, particularly physically active leisure. She has served as the President of Recreation NS and Metro Non-Profit Housing Association and was co-chair of Let’s Get Moving HRM (a network of organizations focused on making physical activity the easy choice for Haligonians). Rehman also enjoys research related to the scholarship of teaching and learning. She is working on a project to create an open educational resource on recreation and leisure trends for people teaching in this area. 

In her leisure time, she enjoys hiking, camping and reading. She can usually be found walking or hiking with her fur baby Nisha and partner Ken.

Education

  • PhD (Recreation and Leisure Studies), University of Waterloo (2000)
  • Master of Arts (Behavioural and Managerial Research), University of British Columbia (1996)
  • Bachelor of Human Kinetics (Leisure and Sport Administration), University of British Columbia (1994)

Research Summary

Dr. Rehman's focuses on reducing barriers to recreation and leisure studies, particularly physically active leisure. She has worked on a variety of projects exploring access and usage of recreation and leisure of children, youth and families, and supporting recreation and physical activity practitioners to address barriers and gaps existing in the delivery of services. 

She is interested in research related to teaching and pedagogy. A current project (working alongside Dr. Karen Gallant at Dalhousie University) involves reviewing and revising the learning outcomes for a recreation and leisure trends course, and compiling an open education resource that could be used to support people teaching the course in future.

Recent Publications

Tweedie, C., & Rehman, L.  (2025).  Identity, rurality, and gender: A phenomenological exploration of rural Nova Scotian girls’ physical activity experiences. Children, 12(4), 456;

Locke M, Feicht B, Stone MR, Burke E, Rehman L, Kirk SFL, Faulkner G, Moore SA (2024) “Losing access to outdoor spaces was the biggest challenge for children to be healthy”: pandemic restrictions and community supports for children’s movement in Nova Scotia. Front. Public Health. 12:1415626.

Campbell, J.E., Stone, M.R., Mitra, R., Rehman, L., Kirk, S.F.L., Faulkner, G., Tremblay, M.S. & Moore, S.A. (2023). Did Children and Youth’s Movement Behaviours Differ by Phases and Geographic Region During COVID-19? A Repeated Cross-Sectional Study with Spatial Analysis in Nova Scotia, Canada. Pediatric Exercise Science, 35(S1), S2-S3.

Caldwell, H. A. T., Miller, M. B., Tweedie, C., Zahavich, J. B. L., Cockett, E., & Rehman, L. (2022). The Impact of an After-School Physical Activity Program on Children’s Physical Activity and Well-Being during the COVID-19 Pandemic: A Mixed-Methods Evaluation Study. International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health, 19(9).

Rainham, D. G., Bennett, M., Blanchard, C. M., Kirk, S. F., Rehman, L., Stone, M., & Stevens, D. (2022). Parents and Children Should Be More Active Together to Address Physical Inactivity and Sedentary Behaviours. Frontiers in public health, 10, 633111.

Presentations

Langley, J., Cyr, C., Giacomantonio, N., Firth, W., Grandy, S., Keats, M., Rehman, L., Rainham, D., Theou, O., Urquhart, R., Rhodes, R., & Blanchard, C.M. (2025). Sedentary time and physical activity in cardiac rehabilitation patients and their partners extends beyond their neighborhoods. Presented at the Canadian Society for Psychomotor Learning and Sport Psychology (poster), Charlottetown, Prince Edward Island, Canada.

Langley, J., Cyr, C., Giacomantonio, N., Firth, W., Grandy, S., Keats, M., Rehman, L., Rainham, D., Theou, O., Urquhart, R., Rhodes, R., & Blanchard, C.M. (2025). Patient / partner physical activity and sedentary time during and after cardiac rehabilitation. Presented at the Canadian Association of Cardiovascular Prevention and Rehabilitation (poster), Calgary, Alberta, Canada.

Cyr, C., Langley, J., Giacomantonio, N., Firth, W., Grandy, S., Keats, M., Rehman, L., Rainham, D., Theou, O., Urquhart, R., Rhodes, R., & Blanchard, C.M. (2025). Physical activity and sedentary time in cardiac rehabilitation patients and their partners. Presented at the Department of Medicine Research, Innovation and Quality Day (poster), Halifax, Nova Scotia.

Campbell, J.E., Stone, M.R., Mitra, R., Rehman, L., Kirk, S.F.L., Faulkner, G., Tremblay, M.S. & Moore, S.A. (2023). Did Children and Youth’s Movement Behaviours Differ by Phases and Geographic Region During COVID-19? A Repeated Cross-Sectional Study with Spatial Analysis in Nova Scotia, Canada.  Pediatric Exercise Science, 35(S1), S2-S3.

Locke, M., Spencer, R.A., Stone, M.R., MacDonald, C., Preston, A., Rehman, L., Kirk, S.F.L., Faulkner, G., Tremblay, M.S., Moore, S.A. (2023). Resources Within a Child’s Environment Supported Physical Activity During the COVID-19 Pandemic: A Qualitative Description Approach. Pediatric Exercise Science, 35(S1), S18-S19 

Highlights

  • 2024 Student Appreciation Award, Student Association of HAHP, Dalhousie University  
  • 2024 Distinguished Alumni Award, Selkirk College, BC
  • 2014 Ambassador of Halifax, Destination Halifax