Communicating leisure: Meanings of leisure in newcomer settlement service provision

Abstract

Research suggests that leisure can play an important role in the settlement of newcomers; however, little research has explored meanings of leisure in the context of settlement service providers. Furthermore, little research has been conducted to examine how leisure is communicated to newcomers by settlement service providers or the factors that impact how leisure is communicated. To further explore these ideas, I conducted interviews with twelve settlement service providers in Southern Ontario. These interviews were analyzed using Thematic Analysis (Braun & Clarke, 2006). I found that the settlement service providers navigated objective activity-based and subjective conceptualizations of leisure and that participating settlement service providers conceptualized leisure as beneficial. When communicating leisure, the participants focused on providing information with awareness of newcomer needs and encouraging participation. Interestingly, many participants felt that leisure opportunities were a way that they could communicate about other important information. Factors that impacted how leisure was communicated were the development of working relationships with newcomer clients and the views of whose responsibility it is to provide leisure. The participating settlement service providers used a Benefits Approach to Leisure in navigating their meanings and how they communicated leisure. Implications of improving leisure communication to newcomers to Canada are discussed.