News & Events

Tuesday, April 22, 2025

Is ‘Dad Strength’ Real?

Some men run faster after becoming fathers. While research is lacking, runners and scientists have theories about why. The article "Is 'Dad Strength' Real?" from Outside Online explores why some male runners hit peak performance after becoming fathers, suggesting that the responsibilities of parenthood might bring renewed focus, motivation, and... More

Thursday, December 19, 2024

Fast as a mother: Elite runners’ training during pregnancy and postpartum

This article summarizes key findings from a 'first of its kind' study where training and performance outcomes among 42 pregnant and postpartum elite and world-class female distance runners were... More

Wednesday, May 15, 2024

Event: Trauma- and Violence-informed Physical Activity in Motion: Co-designed Principles for Physical Activity Promotion Among People from Refugee and Asylum Seeking Backgrounds in Australia

Event Title: Co-designed Principles for Physical Activity Promotion Among People from Refugee and Asylum Seeking Backgrounds in Australia Event Description: Join us for this month's trauma- and violence-informed landscape of practice meeting where we'll hear from Dr. Grace McKeon. Dr. Grace McKeon is a Postdoctoral Research Fellow at the... More

Monday, April 8, 2024

What Professional Athletes Can Tell Us About Exercise and Pregnancy

This article written by Cornelia Powers and published in The Cut discusses common misconceptions surrounding exercise during pregnancy and provides guidance on safe and beneficial practices. The article, featuring Dr. Francine Darroch, emphasizes that exercise is generally safe for pregnant women and can have numerous benefits, including improved... More

Tuesday, April 2, 2024

News: Dr. Francine Darroch awarded Faculty Graduate Mentoring Award

Dr. Francine Darroch was awarded the Faculty Graduate Mentoring Award for her exceptional service to her graduate students. Read what her students shared about her below: “I owe Francine my complete gratitude for her influence on many of my life changing experiences while at Carleton. Working with Francine has inspired me to explore a... More

Friday, March 15, 2024

Event: Trauma- and Violence-informed Physical Activity in Motion: The World’s Best Athletes and Beyond: Design, Delivery and Evaluation of a Community-Based Mental Skills Training Programme

Event Title: The World's Best Athletes and Beyond: Design, Delivery and Evaluation of a Community-Based Mental Skills Training Programme Event Description: Join us for this month's trauma- and violence-informed landscape of practice meeting where we'll hear from Dr. GraceTidmarsh. Dr. Grace Tidmarsh is a Postdoctoral Research Fellow at the... More

Thursday, March 14, 2024

Event: Trauma- and Violence-informed Physical Activity in Motion: An Introduction to TVIPA Online Training Modules

Event Title: Trauma- and Violence-informed Physical Activity in Motion: An Introduction to TVIPA Online Training Modules Event Description: This event is hosted by The Knowledge Hub. In this presentation Dr. Francine Darroch and Gabriela Gonzalez Montaner will present an overview of trauma- and violence-informed physical activity (TVIPA). The... More

Thursday, March 7, 2024

News: Dr. Francine Darroch awarded Carleton University Research Achievement Award

Dr. Francine Darroch was awarded the CU Research Achievement Award for her community based research exploring trauma- and violence-informed movement for equity-owed fathers. The benefits of physical activity are well-documented, however, there is limited research examining access to physical activity for single fathers in equity-owed communities... More

Thursday, February 1, 2024

Event: Trauma- and Violence-informed Physical Activity in Motion: TViPA Online Training Tool

Event Title: Trauma- and Violence-informed Physical Activity in Motion: TViPA Online Training Tool Event Description: Join us for this month's trauma- and violence-informed landscape of practice meeting where we'll hear from members of the Health and Wellness Equity Reserach Group. For the first 30 minutes, HWERG members will introduce a free... More

Tuesday, October 10, 2023

Why taking a trauma- and violence-informed approach can make sport safer and more equitable

This article, written by Dr. Lyndsay Hayhurst and Dr. Francine Darroch highlight the ways in which trauma- and violence-informed approaches can enhance safety across abusive, patriarchal sporting culture. Drs. Hayhurst and Darroch call for collaborative, evidence-based and novel solutions to address violence in sport and support survivors of... More

Thursday, September 14, 2023

Event: Trauma- and Violence-informed Physical Activity in Motion: Acute and Chronic Effects of Resistance Exercise on PTSD

Event Title: Trauma- and Violence-informed Physical Activity in Motion: Acute and Chronic Effects of Resistance Exercise on PTSD Event Description: Join us for this month's trauma- and violence-informed landscape of practice meeting where we'll hear from Dr. James W. Whitworth, an OIF/OEF veteran, former warfighter and current Principal... More

Thursday, July 13, 2023

Event: Trauma- and Violence-informed Physical Activity in Motion: Exercise Perceptions Among Women Survivors

Event Title: Trauma- and Violence-informed Physical Activity in Motion: Exercise Perceptions Among Women Survivors Event Description: Join us for this month's trauma- and violence-informed landscape of practice meeting where we'll hear from Dr. Michelle M Pebole, a postdoctoral researcher at the VA Boston Healthcare System. For the first 30... More

Thursday, May 4, 2023

Event: Trauma- and Violence-informed Physical Activity in Motion: Prezdential Basketball

Event Title: Trauma- and Violence-informed Physical Activity in Motion: Prezdential Basketball Event Description: Join us for this month’s trauma- and violence-informed landscape of practice meeting where we’ll hear from Manock Lual, the founder of Prezdential Basketball. For the first 30 minutes Manock will present on the work being done by... More

Friday, February 24, 2023

Event: Trauma- and Violence-informed Physical Activity in Motion: Trauma-informed Yoga

Event Title: Trauma- and Violence-informed Physical Activity in Motion: Trauma-informed Yoga Event Description: Join us for this month’s trauma- and violence-informed landscape of practice meeting where we’ll hear from Nicole Marcia, the Director of Training and Mentorship at Yoga Outreach. For the first 30 minutes Nicole will present on the... More

Friday, February 24, 2023

Government of Canada announces recipients of Knowledge Synthesis Grants on gender-based violence

On February 21, 2023, The Government of Canada announced the recipients of Knowledge Synthesis Grants on genre-based violence. Dr. Francine Darroch, in partnership with Heather MacDonald and Dr. Lyndsay Hayhurst, was awarded funding for their project titled Strengthening Core Understanding of Physical Activity for Individuals who Experience... More

Thursday, October 20, 2022

Government of Canada supports projects to prevent and address family violence

On October 18, 2022, The Government of Canada announced funding to support projects to prevent and address family violence, one of which is led by Dr. Francine Darroch. Read more here.... More

Friday, September 30, 2022

How elite runners train when they’re pregnant

Research on pregnancy, training, and performance outcomes among elite runners led by Dr. Francine Darroch and Dr. Trent Stellingwerff was covered in Outside Magazine. Read the whole article in Outside... More

Wednesday, September 7, 2022

Challenging the gender binary in sport and development

This article, written by Julia Ferreira Gomes, Dr. Francine Darroch, Tayler Sinclair, and Dr. Lyndsay Hayhurst, calls for sport and development stakeholders to consider how sporting spaces can be reshaped to be inclusive - and better prioritize - the perspectives and needs of all gender identities. Read the full article... More

Wednesday, June 1, 2022

Levelling the playing field: How a trauma-informed approach can make physical activity more accessible

During spring and summer, as more people consider exercising outdoors, a trauma- and violence-informed approach to physical activity can help ensure equity, inclusion, safety and access. Read the whole article by Drs. Francine Darroch and Lyndsay Hayhurst on The... More

Thursday, March 3, 2022

The baby gap: For many Canadian Olympians, getting pregnant is considered an ‘injury’

Kate Gillis is the most accomplished woman in Canadian field hockey history, and served as Team Canada captain for 10 years. When she wanted to become a mother, though, she was shocked that pregnancy was listed under the “injury card” provision for federal funding, alongside mental health and physical injuries. Read full story on... More

Wednesday, February 24, 2021

Science Café – Creating a “Landscape of Practice” to Advance Trauma and Violence-Informed Physical Activity | Faculty of Science

Member of the Health and Wellness Equity Research Group at Carleton University, Elia Palladino is conducting research to guide the development of a Community of Practice that would positively impact the sustainability of community developed and implemented physical activity resources/programs for marginalized individuals.Come and virtually join us... More

Monday, November 16, 2020

Dr. Francine Darroch was named to the Canadian Society for International Health’s Emerging Leader in Global Health list

https://www.csih.org/en/francine-darroch ABOUT Dr. Francine Darroch is an interdisciplinary researcher and educator with expertise in qualitative health research, global health, inequities in pregnancy and physical activity, maternal health and the intersections of racism, gender-based violence, substance abuse, trauma, and structural violence.... More

Friday, November 13, 2020

Candace Roberts awarded the MITACS Research Training Award in Fall of 2020

Candace Roberts received the MITACS Research Training Award in Fall of 2020 which has provided her an opportunity to undertake a short-term paid research training internship with Dr. Francine Darroch. This internship has allowed Candace to explore the experiences of service providers and the complex barriers they have faced since the development... More