Faculty Directory

From the start of Karen’s career when she was a young academic and a recipient of the Ted Wall Award with Active Abilities Canada, she has been passionate about opportunities for people to be educated about their health and make positive choices to be active. Karen worked for 14 years with the Easter Seals Society in the camping sector in Quebec, Alberta and Ontario, with the Niagara Children’s Centre, a pediatric rehab clinic in Niagara, Ontario as a Kinesiologist and Recreation Therapist and as a registered Kinesiologist in Active Rehab clinical settings in BC. She has been a Board member of Ontario Parasport, 2022 Canada Summer Games and vice-chair with Active Abilities Canada. In 2006, she started the Brock Niagara Penguins, a parasport club in Niagara and remains on the Leadership Advisory Board after 20 years.

She has taught at the University and College level at Wilfred Laurier University, Brock University and Niagara College. Her teaching and research interests revolve around biomechanics, disability sport, accessibility and inclusion in sport programming and education, outdoor recreation and active rehabilitation.

Karen has supported Sport For Life, CPC, CDPP, PHE Canada and various municipalities to develop opportunities and initiatives that enhance the lives of persons living with a disabilities in Canada.

For leisure. she is a mother of three and an avid athlete, competing in multiple Ironman triathlons, marathons, trail runs and SwimRun Championships. You show her a body of water and she’s swim it!

Doctoral Candidate – University of Western Ontario

Master of Science (MSc) – University of Alberta

Bachelor of Science (BSc), Mathematics/Statistics – Queen’s University

Bachelor of Physical and Health Education (BPHE) – Queen’s University

Certificate in Accessibility and Inclusive Design – University of Illinois

Memberships / Community Engagement

Active

• Vice Chair, Board of Directors – Active Abilities Canada
• Member – British Columbia Association of Kinesiologists (BCAK)
• Owner – ParaWell Play (promoting movement, learning, and development opportunities)
• Founder & Leadership Advisory Committee Member – Brock Niagara Penguins ParaSport Club
• Member – National ParaSport Collective
• Athletics (Track & Field) Coach – Robert Bateman Senior Secondary School
• Volunteer – Valley Royals Track Club

Past

• Board Member – 2022 Niagara Canada Summer Games
• Co-Chair, Accessibility Committee – 2022 Niagara Canada Summer Games
• Member, Legacy Committee – 2022 Niagara Canada Summer Games
• Workshop Facilitator – Sport for Life Canada (Physical Activity and Physical Literacy for All)

My teaching philosophy is grounded in fostering a respectful, inclusive, and engaging learning environment. Through teaching, lecturing, and community programming across three universities and one college, I have developed a flexible and student-centered approach to instruction.

I strive to maintain high academic standards while supporting individual learning needs and accommodations. My training in Universal Design for Learning informs how I structure course materials, lectures, and online content to maximize accessibility and student success.

I am an enthusiastic and interactive instructor who uses real-life examples, applied scenarios, and guided questioning to deepen student understanding. I encourage students to take initiative, develop problem-solving skills, and actively engage with course material before seeking assistance.

I am also committed to accessibility through an “open-door” approach and guided discovery, helping students build confidence and independence in their learning.

Biomechanics and Ergonomics

Disability Sport

Adapted Recreation and Physical Activity (Curriculum Inclusion)

Outdoor Recreation

Active Rehabilitation (Kinesiology)

Therapeutic Recreation

Program Design for Special Populations

Biomechanics in Paralympic Athlete Development and Disability Sport

Accessibility and Inclusion in Sport Programming and Outdoor Education

Clinical Rehabilitation