In line with PHE Canada’s Strategic Plan (2025-2029), the Physical and Health Education (PHE) Canada Research Council has an annual scholarship to support the recruitment and retention of equity-deserving scholars in Physical and Health Education graduate studies and research.
The scholarship will normally provide funds for one graduate student per year. Projects must be led by a graduate student in a Canadian postsecondary institution. Successful applicants will normally be awarded $1000. Members of the Research Council Executive may also contact the successful applicant’s university to advocate for matching funds to be awarded by the student’s university.
Value: $1,000
Application deadline: March 14, 2025
Commitment to Inclusion, Diversity, Equity, and Accessibility
The PHE Canada Research Council is committed to excellence in research and research training. In particular, the Research Council is dedicated to supporting and having representation from researchers who identify as members of an equity-denied group or community, as well as to support those who conduct research that advances knowledge and understanding of issues related to inclusion, diversity, equity, and accessibility. The Research Council aims to help all its current and future members reach their full potential, impacted by inequitable practices, imposed by policies, processes and research environments.
The Inclusion, Diversity, Equity and Accessibility (IDEA) Graduate Student Research Scholarship is seen as helping to address one part of a complex and multi-layered issue that is embedded in the legacies of discrimination and oppression, including but not limited to colonialism, enslavement, patriarchy, heteronormativity, sexism, classism, xenophobia, and ableism. Both historically and currently in Canada, the field of physical and health education in schools and in higher education has not adequately been made up of university faculty members and students who reflect the diversity of the general population, particularly according to those who have experienced forms of discrimination and oppression.
We acknowledge the Canadian Charter of Rights and Freedoms which states that, “Every individual is equal before and under the law and has the right to the equal protection and equal benefit of the law without discrimination and, in particular, without discrimination based on race, national or ethnic origin, colour, religion, sex, age or mental or physical disability”.
Thus, the Research Council recognizes and acknowledges that awarding this scholarship will not solve the problems raised by generations of oppression, discrimination, and marginalization but along with several other initiatives launched by PHE Canada and the Research Council, it may provide a means to reduce or remove one or more barriers or biases faced by scholars from equity-denied groups and help to create a Research Council whose membership more closely reflects the diversity within Canadian society.
Objective
The competition will focus on supporting scholars who self-identify as a member of one or more equity-denied groups (e.g., Black and racialized populations, people with disabilities, Indigenous - First Nations, Inuit and Métis, women, 2SLGBTQ+ and other equity-denied groups) and who are conducting research in physical and health education and/or its related disciplines, such as physical education teacher education, physical activity, dance, recreation, leisure studies, health, and wellness. Preference will be given to equity-denied individuals who are conducting research projects with an emphasis on IDEA issues.
What is an equity-denied group and what is IDEA research?
‘Equity-denied’ is a term now being widely used in universities and government departments to include groups that identify barriers and biases to equal access, opportunities, and resources as a result of disadvantage and discrimination, and actively seek social justice and reparation. In Canada, these disadvantaged groups include but are not limited to Indigenous people, women, people with disabilities, Black and other racialized people, and 2SLGBTQIA+ people. Further information can be found on the Government of Canada website: Canadian Equity Groups.
Inclusion, diversity, equity, and accessibility research involves designing the research so that it takes IDEA into account, through approaches such as intersectionality, anti-racist frameworks, gender-based analysis plus (GBA+) and disaggregated data collection, and analysis that includes consideration of diversity and identity factors such as, but not limited to, age, culture, disability, education, ethnicity, gender expression and gender identity, immigration and newcomer status, Indigenous identity, language, neurodiversity, parental status/responsibility, place of origin, religion, race, sexual orientation, and socio-economic status.
Definitions
Inclusion means that all people have the right to be valued, appreciated and respected as members of community, school, and classrooms. Fostering a sense of inclusion is critical for supporting all individuals.
Diversity has many facets that intersect, such as race, ethnicity, gender, gender identity and expression, socio-economic status, nationality, citizenship, sexual orientation, ability, age, family status, religion, and language. It also refers to the unseen dimensions of identity - beliefs, ideologies, world views, and knowledge systems.
Equity is a just, fair and principled approach to uphold equal treatment for all. It does not just mean equal treatment for all; it means acknowledging and dismantling the barriers that cause people to experience things differently.
Accessibility refers to all individuals having equal access to all environments regardless of ability.
Eligibility
There are two main eligibility criteria:
- Self-identification according to one (or more) of the following: gender identity, sexual orientation, Indigenous identity, Black or other racialized minority identity, disability, and/or other equity-denied groups. While the questionnaire for self-identification does not include every important diversity dimension, these dimensions cover aspects of identity that are generally recognized as being impacted by bias and discrimination in the postsecondary research sector.
- The applicant must have been a student at a Canadian university and/or a Canadian at an international university at the time that the research for the submitted scholarly presentation was completed in one of the following: (a) a master’s program (thesis-based), or (b) a doctoral program. An applicant is eligible to apply up to 12 months after convocation from their degree program.
Guidelines and Criteria:
The grant will provide support for a graduate student who self-identifies as a member of an equity-denied group and who is conducting research in physical and health education and/or its related disciplines. Please note, applicants must demonstrate how the research project meets the aims of IDEA and must also self-identify as a member of an equity-denied group to be considered eligible for this award. We will select the successful applicant based on the originality, rigour, and potential significance of the research project. While eligible applicants may submit any type of research project that is in the field of physical and health education and/or its related disciplines, preference will be given to projects that use IDEA-informed considerations and reflect upon IDEA in substantial or significant ways. IDEA-informed considerations may involve one or more of the following:
- topic focus,
- research design, methodology, analysis,
- social application of the research, and
- the lived experience and/ or community engagement of the student researcher submitting the research question.
Application Materials
- Cover Page with Applicant’s Name, Affiliation, Program of Study, Project Title (1 page max).
- Completed Self-identification Questionnaire: Download
- Project Description (2-page single-spaced max)
- Discussion of research objectives, activities that will be undertaken/methods to be used, and potential outcomes.
- Description of the role of the applicant in the research project and their qualifications.
- Where applicable, a description of the unique opportunity to enhance IDEA in the project
- Curriculum Vitae (no page limit)
- Name and Contact information from a Mentor, Advisor or Supervisor who is willing to support the application.
How will my self-identification data be used?
The self-identification data will only be used to determine eligibility for the scholarship (see Guidelines and Criteria). This information will be strictly limited to members of the adjudication panel. The Research Council Executive will work with the recipient to create an announcement of the scholarship.
Review Process
Applications will be adjudicated by the Research Council Executive.
How to Apply
Please contact [email protected] with any questions or to access the scholarship details or application in alternate formats.
Awards
Research Council Equity, Diversity, and Inclusion Winners will receive:
- A cash award of $1,000
- A certificate of commendation
- A complementary Research Council membership (at time of renewal)
- A complementary Research Council Forum registration
IDEA Rubric for Adjudication
As part of the adjudication process, please ensure the applicant:
- Self-identifies as a member of an equity-denied group that has faced or faces barriers to equal access, opportunities, and resources because of disadvantage and discrimination, and actively seeks social justice and reparation. Yes / N
- The applicant must have been a student at a Canadian university and/or a Canadian at an international university at the time that the research for the submitted scholarly presentation was completed in one of the following: (a) a master’s program (thesis-based), or (b) a doctoral program. An applicant is eligible to apply up to 12 months after convocation from their degree program. Yes / N
