Leisha Strachan, PhD

Biography

Dr. Leisha Strachan is a first-generation Black Canadian and is blessed to stand on the shoulders of elders in her family and the Black community in Winnipeg, who came to the city facing discrimination and racism yet remained for the opportunities that they foresaw for their children.

Dr. Strachan began her career as a physical educator after completing a Bachelor of Physical Education and a Bachelor of Education from the University of Manitoba. After teaching for three years at the K-8 level, she left teaching to pursue graduate school. She completed a Master of Human Kinetics at the University of Windsor (advisor – Dr. Krista Chandler) and a PhD in Sport Psychology at Queen’s University (advisors – Dr. Jean Côté and Dr. Janice Deakin).

Along with Dr. Dany MacDonald and Dr. Jean Côté, she began Project SCORE, an online resource for coaches and parents to learn about the 4 Cs in sport (competence, confidence, connection and character) and how the Cs could be incorporated to promote positive youth sport spaces. She is currently working on an SSHRC/Sport Canada research project evaluating Project SCORE.

Outside of academia, she has coached baton twirling for over 30 years. She continues to engage and develop the next generation through directing ANANSI School for the Performing Arts, a group working to teach African and Caribbean culture through the arts.
 

Education

•    Doctor of Philosophy – Sport Psychology, Queen’s University (2008)
•    Master of Human Kinetics – Sport Psychology, University of Windsor (2004)
•    Bachelor of Education, University of Manitoba (1999)
•    Bachelor of Physical Education, University of Manitoba (1997)
 

Research Summary

Dr. Strachan's research is focused on positive youth development through sport and she is interested in exploring positive coaching behaviors and parent involvement. She is also part of a research team exploring anti-racism policies and practices in Winnipeg and the sport experiences of newcomers in the community.

Recent Publications

Ferguson, L., McHugh, T-L.F., & Strachan, L. (accepted). Centering Indigenous voices and experiences to advance positive youth development in sport research. In N. Holt & M. McDonough (Eds.), Positive youth development through sport 3rd ed. New York: Routledge.

Strachan, L., Fraser-Thomas, J., Kosmenko, N., & Brown, C. (2023). Exploring contextual factors influencing positive development through sport. In M. Toms & R. Jeanes (Eds)., Routledge Handbook of Coaching Children in Sport.

Bishop, E., Turgeon, S., Tang, W., Newman, T. J., Strachan, L., Bean, C., & Camiré, M. (2023). White privilege in Canadian high school sport: Investigating White coaches’ perspectives on social justice issues. Sports Coaching Review.

Camiré, M., Santos, F., Newman, T., Vella, S., MacDonald, D. J., Milistetd, M., Pierce, S., & Strachan, L. (2023). Positive youth development as a guiding framework in sport research: Is it time to plan for a transition? Psychology of Sport and Exercise, 69.

Brown, C., & Strachan, L. (2022). Exploring structure and culture in the lived acculturation experiences of newcomer varsity athletes in Manitoba. American Journal of Qualitative Research, 6(2), 133-147.

Highlights

  • 2023 Dr. Bert Carron Lecture, SCAPPS conference, Kingston, ON
  • 2022 R. Tait McKenzie Award, PHE Canada
  • 2022 Awardee, 100 Accomplished Black Canadian Women 
  • 2022 Nominee, Dr. Jack Hunt Award (Learn to Train) – Sport Manitoba
  • 2019 Lynda Garland Award of Excellence (Canadian Baton Twirling Federation)
  • Current Grants:
    • 2020-2024 (Primary Investigator): Social Sciences and Humanities Research Council/Sport Canada
    • “Project SCORE: Evaluation of a resource focused on positive youth sport program delivery”
  • 2024-2025 (Co-Investigator), Sport Dispute Resolution Centre of Canada Abuse-Free Sport Grants 
  • “Impacts of Racism on Community Sport Dropout and Retention: An Intersectional Analysis of Girls’ Experiences of Racism and Knowledge of Mechanisms to Support Abuse-Free Sport”
  • 2023-2030 (Co-Applicant) – SSHRC Partnership Grant
    “Partnership for Equitable, Diverse and Inclusive Participation, Access, and Quality Experiences in Youth Sport”
  • 2021-2024 (Co-Investigator) – SSHRC Partnership Engage Grant
    “Reimagining High School Sport through a Social Justice Lens”
  • 2020-2030 (Co-Investigator): Portuguese Institute of Sport and Youth, National Plan of Ethics in Sport, Portuguese Coaches Confederation, and Centre for Research and Innovation in Education
    “Creating, implementing, and evaluating coach education in Portugal: Moving towards positive youth development focused coach education programs”