(March 27, 2023) - Willa Hladun is a graduate student who inspires.
Born and raised in Calgary, Alberta, her family now lives in Cranbrook, British Columbia. It was in this province and at the University of Victoria that she earned her Bachelor of Arts in Psychology (2020). In her fourth year, she started to take an interest in Sports Psychology. “I loved it. I loved the content. Exercise and movement has always been a huge part of my life, especially in terms of managing my mental well-being.”
Hladun now resides in the city of Greater Sudbury where she studies her Master in Human Kinetics at Laurentian University. She is also a Centre for Research in Occupational Safety and Health (CROSH) affiliated graduate researcher.
Hladun’s Master’s thesis, Motherhood Journeys On and Off the Ice: A Narrative Analysis of Digital Media Stories of Professional Hockey Mothers,’ examines digital news stories that cover elite hockey athletes who are also mothers to examine what narratives are present in the mediation surrounding them, how these narratives influence their identity formation, and the psychosocial and cultural implications of such narratives. “The sport media is a powerful tool in influencing our own and others perception of elite athletes,” explained Hladun. “Understanding how certain media narratives can be positive or negative to the psychological wellbeing of athlete mothers and the culture of sports can assist us in fostering a more supportive and inclusive hockey culture, a highly popular sport not only in Northern Ontario, but throughout North America.”
Hladun’s study is part of a larger Social Sciences and Humanities Research Council grant earned by her faculty supervisor and School of Kinesiology and Health Sciences Full Professor, Dr. Kerry McGannon. “My experience working with Kerry has been incredible. Kerry is everything I could have ever wanted in a supervisor…. Ultimately, she really wants you to be the driver in your research. I’ve been learning so much working with Kerry who always goes the extra mile.”
Recently, Hladun addressed her peers to share preliminary findings collected by her study at CROSH Café, better known as CRAfé, a weekly occupational health and safety themed dialogue for CROSH affiliated students, faculty and industry speakers.
Hladun also works a paid internship with United Steelworkers local 6500. “I am looking at claims that have been rejected by WSIB...looking through these claims, connecting literature to these experiences and their injuries, both physical and mental, and supporting appeals to the WSIB.” Hladun emphasized that since joining CROSH last spring, she’s been grateful for the many opportunities available, including the support obtaining this internship.
For Hladun, other involvement with CROSH includes that she helped offer a mental health first aid course to CROSH members. “I wanted to attend a mental health first aid training course to learn how to respond to crises,” she explained. “I did my research and found a really great course offered through the Mental Health Commission of Canada, but it was pretty expensive to pay out of pocket, so I reached out to CROSH to ask if they might be willing to help pay a part of the bill. What we ended up doing together is setting up the opportunity for all CROSH students and faculty to get this training.” CROSH agreed with Hladun that this course would be relevant to its members.
Hladun is also Team Captain for the upcoming CROSH charity fundraiser, Steps for Life. This fundraising walk, on April 29, 2023, will help support families affected by life-altering workplace injuries, illnesses and deaths. It’s another way to educate our community about the devastating ripple effects of a workplace tragedy and how we can work together to prevent others from being injured or killed on the job. This year, CROSH Steps for Life follows April 28th’s National Day of Mourning, a day to remember workers who have died, were injured, or became ill from their job.
Outside of CROSH, Hladun is a member of the Students for Social Action committee (SSAC), a student-led committee whose voices support equality, diversity and equity on campus, partnered with the Equity, Diversity and Human Rights Office (EDHRO). “We promote the safety and respect of human rights for all students,” said Hladun. She self-identifies as a proud member of the LGBTQ2+ community, and shared that she feels “a real responsibility to the queer community to take my place as a queer academic and support that community.”
Next up for Hladun is to participate in Laurentian’s third annual Graduate Research Symposium, a week-long event offered March 27-31 that promotes graduate student research.
Reflecting on her experience as a graduate student, Hladun shared that “getting involved in things that interest you is really important.” She perceives that graduate students benefit from taking advantage of as many opportunities as possible. “I’ve learned a lot being in grad school. I don’t like the idea of wanting to try something or having an idea and sitting on that idea. I’d rather do my best to try and make it happen.”
For Hladun, who is a leader amongst her peers, the sky’s the limit.