Mentors who supervised BKIN and MPK students during placements over the last year were honoured by KPE at a breakfast celebration at U of T’s Faculty Club.
The BKin In-Field Learning program takes place every year thanks to nearly 100 placement sites and KPE community partners. Between 2024 and 2025, close to 200 upper-year BKin students participated in placements. Available for third-, fourth- and fifth-year students, the in-field learning opportunities are a component of elective courses; in the program, students develop skills through job shadowing and assisting with day-to-day workplace activities under the supervision of a mentor.
Nearly 20 mentors—leaders in diverse fields from healthcare to research and innovation—were present for the celebration in early May, which included remarks from KPE’s Vice Dean of Programs Ashley Stirling. “We know that your mentorship means the world to our students, who cite their in-field experiences as having real, lasting impacts on their lives—from their career directions to who they are as people,” she said.
Stirling went on to thank the mentors for fostering a spirit of collaboration and partnering with KPE on the Faculty’s mission of generating and advancing knowledge about the interactions of physical activity, sport and health. Thanks to their efforts, students took part in a diverse array of placements, from healthcare and education to sport, fitness, recreation, and health promotion.
The morning’s main event was an informative panel featuring KPE faculty members and professors Catherine Sabiston, Michael Hutchinson and Danielle Lawrence, moderated by Associate Registrar and Manager, Student Services Allison Scully. The three experts discussed emerging trends in the field, from new applications of AI in classroom and clinic to concussions in the news surrounding the Leafs’ playoff run.
“Events like this one really underline how our field is always in flux, always changing, always growing,” says Wendy Pais, Registrar & Assistant Dean, Office of the Vice-Dean Programs. “Seeing our mentors and students cultivate such rewarding relationships gives all of us at KPE great confidence for the future."
Miriam Fong, a registered kinesiologist at Women's College Hospital, says that being a mentor has been a rewarding experience. "I enjoy taking on a role to provide guidance and support in students' development," she says. "I strive to make a positive impact on their journey to becoming confident, capable and independent professionals."
Fong adds that participating in the program taught her to embrace her own continuous education. "I've gained teaching skills and learned how to build rapport with the students; I can share my knowledge, help them navigate challenges and offer some inspiration and encouragement. I've also gained a lot of appreciation and motivation in my own work to continue to build on my own knowledge and skills so I can “teach by example'," she says.
To get involved with the BKin In-Field Learning program and offer your support as a mentor to KPE students, contact the KPE Experiential Learning Team at placements.kpe@utoronto.ca.