In Canadian Literature, Hugh MacLennan’s “Two Solitudes” refers to the relationship between French and English Canadians, and the issue of identity.  In the broad area that is Leisure Studies or Leisure Research, the “Two Solitudes” may be seen by some as “Research and Application”, or “Theory and Practice”.  Academics have been criticized for generating published journal articles that are not read nor appreciated by practitioners.  On the other hand, practitioners are sometimes criticized for failing to keep up with new thinking and research.  The challenge for academics and researchers is to make their new knowledge accessible, relevant, meaningful, and have an impact for practitioners and clients in the field.  This is a challenge that, by necessity, we are obligated to face together.  As both researchers and practitioners, we must ask “What is our identity?” and “How do we bridge this gap between what we are and what we want to be?”

It is the aim of the Eleventh Canadian Congress on Leisure Research (CCLR 11) to enhance communication, collaboration, and understanding between scholars and practitioners, and between the varied disciplines and sub-disciplines that comprise the study of leisure. In this manner, the purpose of CCLR 11 will be to provide a forum for the discussion of topics important to the development and dissemination of new knowledge in order to advance the field of leisure.  Given that contributions to the Congress will be as wide-ranging as the discipline of leisure studies, the key challenge specified by the organizing committee and reinforced by session moderators will be for presenters to show how their research has an impact or could make an impact on the field of practice.

When developing abstract submissions, presenters will be asked to incorporate the conference theme explicitly into the abstract, by indicating the actual or potential practical applications of the research to the field of practice.