Joy & Connectivity in Active Aging Communities
A Partnership Project between the Interactive for Life Research (IA4L) Team & the International Council on Active Aging (ICAA)
Feb 25, 2026 — 12 p.m. to 1 p.m.
Join us for the next event in our Research Conversations Series entitled “Joy & Connectivity in Active Aging Communities: A Partnership Project between the Interactive for Life Research (IA4L) Team & the International Council on Active Aging (ICAA) ” with Rebecca Lloyd, and Catalina Belalcazar. Register for this event happening on February 25, 2026, at 12 PM
Description
The InterActive for Life (IA4L) researchers and International Council on Active Aging (ICAA) teamed up to generate new knowledge for enhancing Active Aging Education. This SSHRC-funded three-year project was premised on learning from three award-winning senior living communities known for their holistic promotion of wellness. A total of 29 physical activities were sampled across the three research sites, with 33 focus groups conducted, and 19 follow-up individual interviews. Observational and interview data was analyzed and mobilized into thematic guidelines that were conceptually framed by the Function2Flow model. Results were shared with an advisory board of resident representatives and organizations with Active for Life aims, namely, Physical & Health Education (PHE) Canada, Sport for Life (S4L), and the International Physical Literacy Association (IPLA) with the aim of translating findings into practical resources designed to help more people around the world to be Active and InterActive across the human lifespan.
Rebecca J. Lloyd
Full Professor
Rebecca J. Lloyd is a Full Professor and SSHRC-funded researcher in the Faculty of Education at the University of Ottawa who researches physical activity education and practice with a Function2Flow interdisciplinary motion sensing consciousness. Her areas of expertise include phenomenological methodologies, active aging education, physical education, teacher education, partnered practices, pedagogy, and dance. Consult the InterActive4Life website for methodology, physical activity, and active aging research and resources and follow Professor Lloyd on Instagram (@InterActive4Life) to see the many ways she experiences the joy of movement in research, Latin dance, and life!
Catalina Belalcazar
PhD candidate
Catalina Belalcazar is a PhD candidate in Human Kinetics at the University of Ottawa. She is a dual scholarship recipient from the Social Sciences and Humanities Research Council of Canada—Masters and PhD. Her doctoral research explores Sense of Community in adult sport participation, examining how community is experienced collectively, individually, and across cultural contexts. Her studies with Canadian and Colombian adult athletes highlight the social and psychological value of sustained sport engagement in later life. Catalina’s broader academic interests include adult sport, adult coaching, physical literacy, active aging, and inclusive, age-responsive coaching practices. She has worked in both research and applied settings related to movement education and health promotion, with a focus on how adults and older adults experience meaningful, socially connected participation across the lifespan. Her research is shaped by a bicultural perspective, drawing on personal and professional experiences in both Canada and Latin America.