Education
Ph.D. in Kinesiology, Sport, and Recreation, University of Alberta
Scholarly Contributions
Tristan Hopper is an Associate Professor in the Faculty of Kinesiology and Health Studies at the University of Regina and a researcher with the Saskatchewan Population Health & Evaluation Research Unit. His federally funded research focuses on improving equity-seeking youth's experiences in wellness and school settings, using community-based participatory methods and a trauma-sensitive, social justice approach to co-create people-centred solutions. As a Certified Therapeutic Recreation Specialist (CTRS), he is also interested in meaning-centred practice with individuals experiencing mental illness and substance use. Tristan has practised as a Recreational Therapist in children's mental health, forensic, and educational settings.
Featured Publications
Hopper, T.D., *Froese, J., & Iwasaki, Y. (2020). Meaning-centered therapeutic recreation: A practical approach. Therapeutic Recreation Journal, 54 (3), 291-302. https://doi.org/10.18666/TRJ-2020-V54-I3-10199
Mang, C., Bye, N., Janzen, J., James, G., & Hopper, T. (2025). Bridging the benefits of exercise and recreation after acquired brain injury: Experiences in an outdoor community exercise and recreational walking program. Therapeutic Recreation Journal, 59 (1), 19-38, https://doi.org/10.18666/TRJ-2025-V59-I1-12592
Crook, R., Costas-Bradstreet, C., Spence, J.C., Tamminen, K., van Ingen, C., & Hopper, T.D. (2023). “I feel like a kid again”: The voices of youth experiencing homelessness in a mobile recreation program. Qualitative Research in Sport, Exercise and Health, 15 (5), 619-635. https://doi.org/10.1080/2159676X.2023.2175900.
Leadership & Professional Service
Dr. Tristan Hopper has held extensive leadership and advisory roles in therapeutic recreation. Dr. Hopper served on the NCTRC Job Analysis Task Force and served on the National Advisory Committee for Inclusive Green Spaces in Canada. Dr. Hopper chaired the Canadian Therapeutic Recreation Association's (CTRA) Saskatchewan/Manitoba Chapter board and earlier served as the CTRA's Educational Director and chair of its national education task force. Dr. Hopper has also advised therapeutic recreation programs at NorQuest College and the University of Lethbridge.
Professional Awards & Recognition
Dr. Hopper has received several honors recognizing both scholarship and leadership. Early in their career, Tristan earned the Dr. Jerry Singleton Leadership Award from Dalhousie University and the Canadian Therapeutic Recreation Association's Outstanding Student of the Year Award. More recently, Dr. Hopper was nominated twice for the Canadian Association of Leisure Studies Emerging Scholar Award. In 2023, Dr. Hopper was also nominated for a Social Sciences and Humanities Research Council (SSHRC) impact award, reflecting the growing influence of their research.