The UBC School of Kinesiology is pleased to announce the appointment of Ms. Astrid De Souza as a Lecturer (part-time) in Clinical Exercise Prescription.
Ms. De Souza joins the School with over 20 years of experience in the health care system. She has worked at the Healthy Heart Program at St. Paul’s Hospital, the Happy Hearts Cardiac Rehabilitation program at the YMCA, and currently in the Children’s Heart Centre at BC Children’s Hospital. She has a strong background in exercise physiology, exercise prescription, and rehabilitation in children and adults with congenital and acquired heart disease as well as other chronic health conditions. Ms. De Souza has dedicated her career to teaching Kinesiology undergraduate and graduate students, providing invaluable opportunities for applied clinical experience. Most recently, she has taught in the UBC Kinesiology graduate program, the Douglas College Sport Science program, and in the UBC Physiotherapy program (cardiac rehabilitation modules). Beyond her clinical experience, Ms. De Souza brings a breadth of applied coaching experience as a long-time high performance field hockey coach at community up to Provincial levels and as strength and conditioning coaching for figure skating clubs in Vancouver.
Please join the School of Kinesiology, Faculty of Education in welcoming Ms. Astrid De Souza in her new role beginning July 1, 2026.
According to the 2026 QS World University Rankings by Subject, the UBC School of Kinesiology, together with the UBC Okanagan School of Health and Exercise Sciences, is ranked among the world’s leading programs in sports-related subjects.
Now in its 22nd year, the QS World University Rankings by Subject evaluates more than 1,900 institutions worldwide across a wide range of academic disciplines. Subject rankings are based on several indicators, including academic reputation, employer reputation, research citations per paper, H-index, and international research collaboration. Among these measures, academic reputation carries the greatest weight, reflecting the quality, influence, and global impact of a university’s research.
This achievement highlights the School of Kinesiology’s continued leadership in teaching, research, and knowledge mobilization. It reflects the dedication of our faculty, staff, students, alumni, and community partners, and reinforces our commitment to advancing innovative, inclusive, and impactful approaches to health, physical activity, and sport.
To learn more about the rankings, visit the QS World University Rankings by Subject 2026 webpage. Additional information about the ranking methodology is available on the QS methodology webpage.
The UBC School of Kinesiology is pleased to announce the appointment of Dr. Michael (Mick) Leahy as an Assistant Professor in Cardiovascular Exercise Physiology.
Dr. Leahy joins the School following a Postdoctoral Fellowship at the Institute for Exercise and Environmental Medicine at the University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center where his research program sought to investigate the influence of skeletal muscle on cardiovascular control and the limitations of hemodynamic function in health, ageing, and disease. His interdisciplinary work is a product of support from the Natural Science and Engineering Research Council of Canada and the American Heart Association, with a track record of industry collaboration including Lululemon Athletica and Nike. Beyond research, Dr. Leahy is a certified Clinical Exercise Physiologist (CEP) with the Canadian Society for Exercise Physiology (CSEP). Dr. Leahy brings evidence-based practice to the classroom as well as a passion for students to develop practical skills as working kinesiologists and physiologists. Dr. Leahy completed his B.Kin. at Acadia University, received his M.Sc. and Ph.D. degrees in Health and Integrative Physiology here at the University of British Columbia.
Please join the School of Kinesiology, Faculty of Education in welcoming Dr. Leahy in his new role beginning July 1, 2026.
On May 7, 2026, the School of Kinesiology hosted Graduate Research Day in the Gateway Health Building, bringing together graduate students from across research and applied pathways to share their work, exchange ideas, and engage in interdisciplinary dialogue.
The event created a shared space for students in Neuromechanical, Socio-Cultural, Psychological, Biological and Physiological pathways, as well as the Master of Kinesiology program, to connect across different areas of kinesiology. While these approaches may not always intersect in daily lab or program settings, Graduate Research Day offered an opportunity to learn from one another’s perspectives, and areas of expertise.
Throughout the day, students presented their research in a variety of formats. The 3-Minute Thesis sessions challenged presenters to communicate their work clearly and compellingly to a broad audience in a short time span, while the 10-Minute Oral presentations provided space for more focused discussion and scholarly exchange. During lunch, the poster session in Gateway B1102 encouraged unceremonious conversation, allowing students and faculty to engage with research in a more interactive setting.
The day also featured an interdisciplinary panel, where five researchers explored how collaboration across disciplines can advance the field of kinesiology. Together, the presentations, posters, and panel discussions reflected the depth and diversity of graduate research within the School.
Congratulations to all the students who presented and participated in the 2026 Graduate Research Day!
The School of Kinesiology at the University of British Columbia (UBC) invites applications for a part-time Sessional Lecturer in the 2026/2027 Academic year, terms 1 and 2. This is a Work Integrated Learning course.
The successful candidate will deliver core seminars; provide supervision and feedback of student workplace performance at the Physical Activity Research Centre, organize and evaluate presentations, exercise testing, prescription, and physical activity counselling practical exams, and reflection grading. Expected weekly office hours include seminars on Wednesdays, and supervision of students, Monday to Saturday, working with the Academic Director on course-related matters, attending subject area meetings, as well as follow-up appointments, where applicable.
Congratulations to the UBC Kin games team for winning first place overall (first in academics, third in athletics, third in dance, fifth in spirit) at the 2026 Kinesiology (Kin) Game Conference in Sudbury, Ontario. This impressive achievement highlights the passion, academic excellence, and unity of UBC Kinesiology students at the national stage. Dylan Pryde, Lyla Hirsh, and Piper Gregory-Reid, UBC Kinesiology students and captains for the upcoming 2026–2027 Kin Games season, share their experiences from the previous season.
What is Kin Games?
Kin Games is the largest student-run kinesiology conference in Canada, bringing together teams from over 25 universities and more than 500 students from across the country.
Throughout the conference, teams compete in the four pillars of Kin Games: Dance, Athletics, Academics, and Spirit. Each team performs a 1-minute and 30-second dance, competes in athletic events, and takes part in academic challenges. Athletic events include games like dodgeball, kickball, and capture the flag. Academic events range from presentations and escape rooms to Family Feud-style competitions. Teams also complete spirit challenges and bring energy, enthusiasm, and school pride throughout the event.
The conference takes place over four days every March, with this year’s Kin Games hosted in Sudbury, Ontario. However, Kin Games is much more than just the conference weekend. Throughout the year, teams fundraise, practice their dance, complete pre-conference challenges, and build strong connections with one another.
A meaningful part of Kin Games is the Motionball Cup, which takes place during the month of February. Team members record activity minutes, post sweaty selfies, and fundraise for Motionball in support of Special Olympics athletes. This aspect of Kin Games is especially heartwarming, as it helps raise awareness, promote inclusion, and support Special Olympics sport across Canada.
While this explains what Kin Games is on paper, Kin Games goes far beyond being just a conference. It is a family that brings together 16 unique individuals who support one another, work toward a shared goal, and create a positive, inclusive, and unforgettable community.
What makes UBC’s Kin Games team extraordinary or unique?
One of the most important messages conveyed throughout the entire Kin Games conference, aimed at uniting the schools in spirit, is the phrase, “We are all best friends.” Yet this very slogan is also the reason why UBC’s team is so extraordinary — because for us, it is actually true.
Thinking back to when we first met as a team, we came from a range of different backgrounds, year levels, and levels of experience when it came to knowing what to expect at Kin Games. It was hard to imagine that such a diverse group of people could become so close over the course of just one year.
The first real breakthrough moment for us as a group was our first retreat, where the captains invested time and energy into creating activities that would not only bond the team, but also help build trust with one another. This later became so important at the conference and inevitably helped us come home as champions.
A highlight for everyone at the retreat was Hot Seat, where we truly got to understand each person on the team at a much deeper level.
After our retreat, the energy within the team shifted. We started to hang out more, whether that meant sitting in classes and studying together or challenging our marketing skills through our various fundraising attempts. It didn’t feel awkward to be with anyone on the team. In fact, it felt like extra time on top of all our practices where we could connect with some of our closest friends.
So, if you asked anyone on the team what the most unique thing about us is, everyone would say that our team is more than a team. It’s a family, and there’s nothing more special than that.
How did UBC Kin contribute to your achievement of first place?
UBC Kin played an important role in supporting our team’s journey to Kin Games in Sudbury, Ontario. Their support helped make our trip possible and allowed us to represent UBC Kinesiology in the best way we could.
Throughout the year, UBC Kin also supported our team by helping us secure practice spaces for dance practices and providing guidance as we prepared for the conference. We are incredibly grateful for their contribution to our Kin Games experience and for helping us showcase what it means to be a UBC Kin student.
We would also like to extend a special thank you to our Student Engagement Officer, Emily Speidel, for her ongoing support with logistics and planning throughout the year. Thank you as well to all of our professors who supported us along the way.
What was the team’s favorite memory?
The dance is one of the most anticipated pillars of Kin Games. A major part of our practices throughout the year, up to three times per week for two hours each, is dedicated to learning and perfecting our dance. This is something we are especially proud of, as many team members come in with little to no dance experience. Because of this, performing in front of the entire conference is such a meaningful moment. It is the chance to showcase all of the hard work, dedication, and energy that everyone has put in throughout the year. In total, over 80 hours were spent choreographing, practicing, and dancing together as a team.
The nerves and excitement before stepping on stage, combined with the sense of accomplishment and relief after performing, made the dance one of our most memorable experiences. We are incredibly proud to have placed 3rd out of 25 universities.
Travelling with the team was also memorable, although maybe not our favourite memory at the time. Our journey can best be described as “phase two fun,” where it was difficult in the moment, but funny and unforgettable looking back. Our trip had continuous flight and bus cancellations, and we titled this part of our trip the “Tumultuous 36.” This name came from our 36-hour travel journey, which included sleeping on the airport floor and living off our $15 food vouchers, which we were still very grateful for. Although challenging, travelling together became a major bonding experience and helped define how our team approached the rest of the conference.
Lastly, one of our proudest moments was winning 1st place overall. UBC Kin Games placed 1st in Academics, 3rd in Dance, 3rd in Athletics, and 5th in Spirit. We are so proud of what our team accomplished and even more grateful for the experience we shared. It would not have been the same without the incredible energy, support, and spirit brought by every school at Kin Games.
How can future students get involved in Kin Games?
Students can get involved by applying for our team in September and by getting involved in the KUS and UBC Kin community. UBC Kin Games strongly encourages all students to get involved in the Kin-munity, and if you are interested in being on our team next year, we absolutely encourage you to apply!
If anything about Kin Games interests you and you want to learn more, you can follow us on Instagram at @ubckingames or send the 2027 captains an email at kingamesubc@gmail.com.
The 2027 Kin Games captains will be Dylan Pryde, Lyla Hirsh, and Piper Gregory-Reid. We are happy to answer any questions and share more about what Kin Games means to us. Kin Games 2027 will be hosted in Lethbridge, Alberta, and we are so excited for another memorable year and hopefully to win the shoe again!
Thank you to Dylan, Lyla, and Piper for this interview and congratulations to the entire UBC Kin Games team for this amazing achievement. Please see below for a full roster of the 2025-2026 UBC Kin Games team.
Captains: Ian Zhou, Sofia Lorenti, Dylan Pryde Veterans: Austin Gou, Miguel Santos Rookies: Bosco Wong, Sylvia Hamilton, Dorothy Yuen, Keegan Fitzpatrick, Sian Huang, Ellie Irvine, Lyla Hirsh, Piper Gregory-Reid, Ryan Stewart, Mason Stafford, Vian Hu
The UBC School of Kinesiology is pleased to announce the appointment of Mr. Patric Gonçalves, a Team-Based Practice Educator in Clinical Exercise Physiology.
Mr. Gonçalves joins the School from interdisciplinary settings where he has taught, mentored, and supported student learning across institutions including the Federal University of Minas Gerais (Brazil), University of Toronto, University of British Columbia, and Douglas College. He has contributed to programs in Kinesiology, Sports Science, and Physiotherapy. Mr. Gonçalves practices at Harrison Healthcare primary care clinic, delivering individualized exercise interventions for individuals with chronic conditions within an interdisciplinary care model. His work focuses on evidence-informed clinical exercise prescription, mentorship, and the integration of exercise into team-based healthcare. Mr. Gonçalves will spend 50% of his time as a Lecturer in the School of Kinesiology and 50% of his time as a Clinical Instructor in the UBC Gateway Team-Based Care Teaching Clinic.
Please join the School of Kinesiology, Faculty of Education in welcoming Mr. Patric Gonçalves in his new role, beginning May 19, 2026.
