1. Objectifs

Intentions :
«In this article, we present the results of our research on the implementation of a free outdoor skating rink and underline its impact on the social and identity elements, and on the levels of physical activity among the Montreal North local population.» (p. 68)

Questions/Hypothèses :
The two principal research hypotheses are that: «the implementation of a proximity sport facility in a designed urban setting, especially when the facility is representative of the local sport activities through its multisport character and its relation with a major identity referent (professional hockey club, the Montreal Canadiens), greatly influences the population in engaging in physical activity and concomitantly renews different forms of territorial appropriation [and] building such a sport facility is not sufficient to attract, on a weekly basis, participants who are mildly active or non-active. In fact, it appears necessary to combine this design to different forms of onsite-organized activities.» (p. 69)

2. Méthode

Échantillon/Matériau :
L’échantillon est composé de 352 participants pour la partie quantitative de l’étude et de 20 participants pour la partie qualitative.

Instruments :
- Questionnaire
- Guide d’entretien semi-directif

Type de traitement des données :
Analyse statistique
Analyse de contenu

3. Résumé

«It appears that the Bleu, Blanc, Bouge project has become much more than a place for practising sport; it has also become a place of socialization. Indeed, the interviews conducted and the surveys collected on the field seem to indicate that the ice rink is perceived as a meeting place where family members and friends can practise physical activities during the winter. The family sport of skating is mostly practised by children and adults together. Almost 60% of children aged between 7 and 11 years came to the rink with their parents, while a little more than 30% of adults came with their kids of various ages. Even more revealing, 80% of parents brought their kids to the rink to skate with them. Moreover, 79% of these parents said the installation of such a facility allowed them to spend more time with their families.» (p. 78) «The implementation of such proximity facilities appears to have the potential to attract the local population and inspire them to adopt a healthier lifestyle. To succeed, new sport infrastructures need to take into account the urban tissue in which they are located, but more specifically, they need to provide three motivating factors: accessibility, appeal and security.» (p. 83)