Centre of Lifestyle Studies

Jonathons work over the last decade has focused on implementation of physical activity guidelines into practice. There is no better medium for this work than the Centre of Lifestyle Studies (COLS) at Acadia. Our goal with COLS is to do interdisciplinary research and community engagement programs with a focus on physical activity and exercise. Our many programs through COLS allow us to engage students to improve the health and wellbeing of Nova Scotians, particularly those in the Valley and surrounding communities, in ‘living laboratories’ that help us to further understand and improve the experience of active living, from young to aged, to those with special considerations and abilities of all kinds.  

The work we do through COLS changes lives – not only at an individual level for the participants, improving their physical abilities and psychological and social connectedness, but also for the students involved and society as a whole; the best practices we develop through COLS serve as models to other programs locally, regionally, nationally and internationally. As the Director of COLS, Jonathon communicates and interacts with decision-makers from various organizations and government programs to improve the availability and access to physical activity and exercise programs for all.  

Jonathon has delivered over 300 invited presentations and workshops promoting physical activity and has received numerous recognitions for his efforts, most recently from the American College of Sports Medicine in 2022 with the Exercise is Medicine Global Leadership Award. 

Jonathon Fowles, PhD, FCSEP, CSEP-CEP
Fellow of the Canadian Society for Exercise Physiology
Scientific Director, Exercise is Medicine Canada
Scientific Lead, Exercise is Medicine Nova Scotia
Clifford Shand Chair in Physical Education
Director, Centre of Lifestyle Studies
Professor, School of Kinesiology, Acadia University