KINREC CONNECT: Dr. Douglas A. Brown, Dean, Faculty of Kinesiology and Recreation Management
Every so often, we will profile and highlight a person of interest from our faculty through an informal, off-the-cuff Q & A feature entitled KinRec Connect. This offers a chance to meet and learn about the catalysts behind our exciting and dynamic faculty.
We thought it fitting for the first KinRec Connect to be centred on FKRM Dean, Dr. Douglas A. Brown.
Dr. Brown is the Dean of the Faculty of Kinesiology and Recreation Management at the University of Manitoba. He holds a PhD in Sport History from the University of Western Ontario, and his research focuses on the origins of the Modern Olympic Games, early Canadian Mountaineering and winter sports, generally. From these vantage points, Dr. Brown explores themes such as identity, ethnicity and human agency within sport as well as the aesthetics or poetics of sport participation.
WHO WAS YOUR CHILDHOOD HERO?
Nancy Greene.
IF YOU COULD BE OR DO ANYTHING ELSE , WHAT WOULD IT BE?
Furniture maker/ designer.
IF YOU COULD LIVE IN ANY OTHER TIME, WHEN MIGHT THAT BE?
The 1920s (if I was filthy rich).
WHAT’S THE ODDEST THING IN YOUR WALLET?
Today, it happens to be an un-opened “Better You: Over $2.5 million in Prizes to Win card from Safeway. My daughter, Elizabeth, won a prize of free microwave popcorn about a week ago. She mandated me to save all future Better You cards so she can open them. That’s why it is in my wallet.
WHAT ONE WORD WOULD YOU USE TO DESCRIBE YOURSELF?
Dorky.
WHAT IS YOUR GREATEST FEAR?
My sister-in-law.
WHAT IS YOUR FAVORITE WORD?
Whenever I say it I have to donate a dollar to charity.
WHAT ARE YOU READING AT THE MOMENT?
I am trying to finish The Orenda by Joseph Boyden. Sometimes I am really into it and other times it is a tough go.
WHAT TEACHER HAD THE GREATEST IMPACT ON YOU?
Mr Kordok taught me grade 10 History in French. I was in an early experimental immersion program in Ottawa. I was not a very successful student in his class and got very frustrated when I received a poor grade on a paper. Enraged, I wrote a profane explicative on the paper not expecting that he was going to take them back. Needless to say, he wasn’t impressed and called my parents. He told them that his feelings were hurt and that he was concerned about me. My parents conveyed his message. I behaved myself for the rest of the term. My path never crossed that of Mr. Kordok’s for my remaining years in high school. However, he did called my parents once again when I was in grade 13. Seemingly “out of the blue” he recommended that I attend a summer language program in France. If it wasn’t for Mr. Kordok, my parents would never have known about such opportunities. I was the only kid from my high school that he recommended. In any case, he must have been pretty convincing because they sent me away. To this day, I regard that summer as one of the most transformative experiences of my life. Rather than dwelling on my poor classroom performance and erratic adolescent behaviour, Mr. Kordok thought about my future (I hope my potential). Three years after I told him to “take a hike” (the clean version) because I didn’t like my grade, he consider how I might benefit and grow from an experience beyond the classroom. I use Mr. Kordok’s style of generosity to guide how I work with students and colleagues.
WHAT WOULD YOU CHANGE ABOUT YOUR PAST?
I’d have grown taller.
HOW DO YOU RELAX?
I like to float face-down in the deep end of a swimming pool. Drown proofing! I just sort of float below the surface, come up for one gulp of air and then sink back down. I try to warn the lifeguard so they don’t try to rescue me.