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Milena Parent

Milena Parent
Full Professor
B.Sc. (Hon.) (uOttawa), M.A. (uOttawa), Ph.D. (University of Alberta)
Location
DMS 5152
Telephone
613-562-5800 x 2984
Email
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Biography

Dr. Milena Parent, a full professor specializing in sport (event) governance and strategy at the Telfer School of Management, University of Ottawa, holds a PhD from the University of Alberta. As the Director of the International Olympic Committee/Olympic Solidarity-funded MEMOS (Executive Masters in Sport Organisation Management) English program, Prof. Parent shapes the next generation of international sport management leaders. She also teaches the Project & Event Management Module in both the French and English MEMOS programs.

Her award-winning research delves into organization theory and strategic management, particularly within the Canadian sport system and major sport events like the Olympic Games. Prof. Parent’s work is supported by various external grants such as the Social Sciences and Humanities Research Council (SSHRC).

Her scholarly contributions extend beyond research papers. She co-authored "Managing Major Sports Events: Theory and Practice" (2nd edition, Routledge, 2021) with Aurélia Ruetsch and "Strategic Management in Sport" (Routledge, 2019) with Danny O’Brien, Lesley Ferkins, and Lisa Gowthorp.

Beyond academia, she actively contributes to the Canadian sport system by serving on the board of the Canadian Fitness and Lifestyle Research Institute (CFLRI) and participating in the Canadian Sport Policy’s Policy Monitoring and Implementation Work Group. A certified B2B white paper and case study copywriter, Prof. Parent also consults for various organizations.

Research areas
Governance National and International Sport Systems Non-profits Sport Event Management Sport Management Sport Policy Strategy
Teaching interests
Sport Event Management Strategic Management Strategy
Pillars

Publications during the last 7 years

Papers in Refereed Journals

  • Naraine, M.L., Séguin, B., Pape, L., Thompson, A., Lachance, E.L., Taks, M., Parent, M.M., Hoye, R. Brand Management in Canadian National Sport Organizations: Differences Between Organizational Archetypes. International Journal of Sport Management, ().
  • Botwina, G., Parent, M.M. Canada’s sport system. International Journal of Sport Policy and Politics, ().
  • Ryutaro, Y., Parent, M.M. Exploring Experiences in Event Management Under Uncertainty: The Four Knowns Framework. Event Management, 30(3): 403-423.
  • Parent, M.M. Governing the Olympic Winter Games: Reflections from Canada. Movement & Sport Sciences - Science & Motricité, 132: 45-55.
  • Mrkonjic, M., Bayle, E., Parent, M.M. Improving the Implementation of Sport Governance with an Analysis of Its Determinants: The Case of Sport National Governing Bodies in Switzerland. European Sport Management Quarterly, 11(1): 1-22.
  • Thompson, A., Parent, M.M. Organizational Change and organizational politics in national sport organizations: Interests, conflict, and power. International Journal of Sport Policy and Politics, ().
  • Thompson, A., Parent, M.M. Organizational change in nonprofit sport organizations: exploring capacity for change. Managing Sport and Leisure, ().
  • Thompson, A., Parent, M.M. Organizational culture and organizational change in non- profit sport organizations: A processual approach. European Sport Management Quarterly, 25(3): 474-492.
  • Parent, M.M., McGillivray, D., Lockstone-Binney, L., Wood, E.H., Duignan, M.B. The 2022-2023 Event Management Journal state of play review. Event Management, 29(1): 111-123.
  • Lachance, E.L., Parent, M.M. The impact of external factors on board decision making in non-profit sport organizations. Sport, Business, Management: an International Journal, 14(4): 498-517.
  • Lachance, E.L., Thompson, A., Bakhsh, J.T., Parent, M.M. Volunteer retention: Examining intentions and behaviours in the wrap-up mode of a professional recurring small-scale sport event. Managing Sport and Leisure, 30(1): 127-143.
  • Lachance, E.L., Parent, M.M. A hierarchical cluster analysis of board decision making in non-profit sport organizations. International Journal of Sport Management, 25(2): 162-196.
  • Lefebvre, A., Parent, M.M., Taks, M., Naraine, M.L., Séguin, B., Hoye, R. Aligning governance, brand governance, and social media strategies for improved performance: A qualitative comparative analysis (QCA) of national sport organizations. Sport, Business, Management: an International Journal, 14(1): 19-37.
  • Lachance, E.L., Parent, M.M. Decision making in non-profit sport organization boards: Exploring the role of internal board-level factors? International Journal of Sport Management, 25(1): 73-99.
  • Naraine, M.L., Thompson, A., Lachance, E.L., Séguin, B., Taks, M., Parent, M.M., Hoye, R. Examining board and executive staff perceptions of social media in national sport organizations. Journal of Global Sport Management, 9(3): 464-484.
  • Thompson, A., Parent, M.M. Examining internal and external stakeholders’ experiences with radical change in sport organizations. Managing Sport and Leisure, 29(6): 936-954.
  • Thompson, A., Naraine, M.L., Parent, M.M. Exploring the nexus of digital technology and organizational change in non-profit sport organizations. Sport Management Review, 27(5): 661-681.
  • Duignan, M., Carlini, J., Parent, M.M. Host community salience loss across major sport event planning. European Sport Management Quarterly, 24(5): 1047–1069.
  • Yamakita, R., Parent, M. Managing marathon events during the COVID-19 pandemic: The impact of social structures on the central organizations of inter-organizational projects under uncertainty [in Japanese]. Annual Journal of the Research Institute for the Future of Children and Sport Social Culture, 4: 31-51.
  • Bakhsh, J.T., Taks, M., Parent, M.M. Modelling Residents’ Mega Sport Event Social Value: Integrating Social and Economic Mechanisms. Journal of Sport Management, 38(3): 168-179.
  • Lachance, E.L., Thompson, A., Bakhsh, J.T., Parent, M.M. Sport management or the management of sport? Reframing the theory debate. Journal of Sport Management, 27(1): 90-110.
  • Lachance, E.L., Parent, M.M. Vertical interlocking and decision making in national and provincial/territorial non-profit sport organization boards. Leisure/Loisir, ().
  • Thompson, A., Lachance, E.L., Parent, M.M., Hoye, R. A systematic review of governance principles in sport. European Sport Management Quarterly, 23(6): 1863-1888.
  • Duignan, M., Parent, M.M., McGillivray, D. Accommodating (global-glocal) paradoxes for mega-event managers. Event Management, 27(1): 149-154.
  • Hoye, R., Parent, M.M., Thompson, A., Lachance, E.L., Naraine, M.L., Taks, M., Séguin, B. Decision-Making Processes Used by Canadian National Sport Organization Boards: Differences Between Design Archetypes. Journal of Sport Management, 37(6): 440-451.
  • Parent, M.M., Jurbala, P.R. Implementing a multi-level and multi-sectoral national sport policy: Cautionary lessons from the inside. International Journal of Sport Policy and Politics, 15(4): 635-653.
  • Parent, M.M., Hoye, R., Taks, M., Thompson, A., Naraine, M.L., Lachance, E.L., Séguin, B. National sport organization governance design archetypes for the twenty-first century. European Sport Management Quarterly, 23(4): 1115-1135.
  • Lachance, E.L., Parent, M.M. Policy implementation and collaboration in a federated sport system: The case of the Official Languages Act. International Journal of Sport Policy and Politics, 15(1): 63-79.
  • Bakhsh, J.T., Taks, M., Parent, M.M. Residents’ major sport event social value: A systematic review of theory. Event Management, 27(5): 643-658.
  • Kinoshita, K., MacIntosh, E.W., Parent, M.M. Social outcomes from participating in the Youth Olympic Games: The role of the service environment. European Sport Management Quarterly, 23(2): 488-507.
  • Lachance, E.L., Thompson, A., Bakhsh, J.T., Parent, M.M. Examining changes in sport event volunteers’ motivation, satisfaction, commitment, sense of community: Evidence from a prevent–postevent design. Event Management, 26(8): 1727-1743.
  • Bakhsh, J.T., Taks, M., Parent, M.M. Examining monetary valuation methods to analyze residents’ social value from hosting a publicly-funded major sport event. Frontiers in Sports and Active Living, 4(23 March): 823191.
  • MacIntosh, E.W., Parent, M.M., Culver, D. Understanding young athletes’ learning at the Youth Olympic Games: A sport development perspective. Journal of Global Sport Management, 7(1): 1-20.
  • Bakhsh, J.T., Lachance, E.L., Thompson, A., Parent, M.M. Outcomes of the sport event volunteer experience: examining demonstration effects on first-time and returning volunteers. International Journal of Event and Festival Management, 12(2): 168-183.
  • Brynildsen, K., Parent, M.M. Test events as risk management tools in the context of the Olympic Movement’s Agenda 2020. Event Management, 25(2): 115-133.
  • Thompson, A., Parent, M.M. Understanding the impact of radical change on the effectiveness of national-level sport organizations: A multi-stakeholder perspective. Sport Management Review, 24(1): 1-23.
  • Lachance, E.L., Parent, M.M. Understanding the sport event volunteer experience in the implementation mode of a para-sport event: An autoethnography. Event Management, 25(5): 501-519.
  • Lachance, E.L., Parent, M.M. Volunteers in sport organizations and events: A source of competitive advantage? International Journal of Sport Management, 22(3): 1-24.
  • Lachance, E.L., Bakhsh, J.T., Thompson, A., Parent, M.M. What predicts the sport event volunteer experience? Examining motivation, satisfaction, commitment, and sense of community. Event Management, 25(6): 721-738.
  • Taks, M., Séguin, B., Naraine, M.L., Thompson, A., Hoye, R. Brand governance practices in Canadian national sport organizations: An exploratory study. European Sport Management Quarterly, 20(1): 10-29.
  • Hoye, R., Parent, M.M., Taks, M., Naraine, M.L., Séguin, B., Thompson, A. Design archetype utility for understanding and analyzing the governance of contemporary national sport organizations. Sport Management Review, 23(4): 576-587.
  • Constandt, B., Parent, M.M., Willem, A. Does it really matter? A study on soccer fans’ perceptions of ethical leadership and their role as “stakeowners”. Sport Management Review, 23(3): 374-386.
  • Naraine, M.L., Parent, M.M., Hoye, R., Taks, M., Séguin, B., Thompson, A. Examining the interorganisational links between national sport organisations and their stakeholders: A social network analysis. International Journal of Sport Management, 21(3): 239-260.
  • Lachance, E.L., Parent, M.M. The volunteer experience in a para-sport event: An autoethnography. Journal of Sport Management, 34(2): 93-102.
  • Ellis, D., Séguin, B., Parent, M.M. Anti-ambush marketing legislation and institutionalized brand protection: Impacts and implications. International Journal of Sport Management, 20: 247-274.

Books

  • Parent, M.M., Ruetsch, A. Managing major sports events: Theory and practice 2nd edition. UK: Routledge, 2021.
  • O'Brien, D., Parent, M.M., Ferkins, L., Gowthorp, L. Strategic management in sport. UK: Routledge, 2019.

Chapters in Books

  • Yamakita, R., Guo, W., Parent, M.M. Chapter 16: Mega sport events as universal cultural signifiers. In Girginov, V., Girginova, K.V. Handbook on Sport and Culture. Cheltenham, UK: Edward Elgar Publishing, 2025.
  • Parent, M.M., Patterson, D. The American and Canadian Sport Models: Not One and the Same. In Garcia-Garcia, B., Smokvina, V. European Model of Sport: Myth or Reality?. London, UK: Routledge, 2025.
  • Yamakita, R., Bakhsh, J.T., Parent, M.M. Stakeholders in major sports events. In Solberg, H.A., Storm, R.K., Swart, K. Research Handbook on Major Sporting Events. Cheltenham, UK: Edward Elgar Publishing, 2024.
  • Parent, M.M. The Youth Olympic Games: Its foundation and evolution. In Wassong, S., Torres, C., Taylor, T. Olympic Knowledge – Essential Readings. Switzerland: Olympic Foundation for Culture and Heritage, 2024.
  • Thompson, A., Parent, M.M. Chapter 5: Digital transformation in not-for-profit sport organizations. In Naraine, M.L., Hayduk III, T.M., Doyle, J.P. Routledge Handbook of Digital Sport Management. UK: Routledge, 2023.
  • Parent, M.M., Hoye, R., Taks, M., Naraine, M.L., Séguin, B. Chapter 14: Good sport governance and design archetype. In Geeraert, A., van Eekeren, F. Good Governance in Sport: Critical Reflections. UK: Routledge, 2022.
  • Bakhsh, J.T., Yamakita, R., Parent, M.M. Chapter 9: Sport Events and Tourism. In Strittmatter, A.-M., Fahlén, J., Houlihan, B. Stakeholder Analysis and Sport Organisations. UK: Routledge, 2022.
  • Parent, M.M. Chapter 16: Organizing the Olympic Games. In Chatziefstathiou, D., Garcia, B., Séguin, B. Routledge Handbook of the Olympic and Paralympic Games. UK: Routledge, 2021.
  • Leopkey, B., Parent, M.M. Chapter 15: Sport event governance models. In Shilbury, D., Ferkins, L. Routledge Handbook of Sport Governance. UK: Routledge, 2020.
  • Naraine, M.L., Parent, M.M. Managing stakeholders. In Shilbury, D., Ferkins, L. Routledge Handbook of Sport Governance. UK: Routledge, 2020.
  • Parent, M.M. International Profile: Canadian International Multisport Event Organizing Committees. In Pedersen, P.P., Thibault, L. Contemporary Sport Management (6th edition). U.S.A.: Human Kinetics, 2019.
  • Parent, M.M., Naraine, M.L. Sport event governance. In Winand, M., Anagnostopoulos, C. Research Handbook on Sports Governance. Cheltenham, UK: Edward Elgar Publishing, 2019.
  • Marcotte, N., Parent, M.M. The governance of youth sport event attendance selection in Canada. In Bayle, E. Le système olympique: passé, présent et futur. Switzerland: Presses polytechniques et universitaires romandes, 2019.
  • Strittmatter, A.-M., Parent, M.M. Youth sport events and festivals. In MacIntosh, E., Bravo, G., Li, M. International Sport Management (2nd ed.). U.S.A.: Human Kinetics, 2019.

Invited Contributions and/or Technical Reports

  • Parent, M.M., Pegoraro, A., Wigfield, D.. 2025. "Draft letter to the Future of Sport in Canada Commission".
  • Wigfield, D., Pegoraro, A., Parent, M.M.. 2025. "Identification, Assessment and Validation of Canadian Standards Needs in Sport: Phase 1 – Midterm Report".
  • Parent, M.M., Wigfield, D., Pegoraro, A.. 2025. "Identification, Assessment and Validation of Canadian Standards Needs in Sport: Phase 2 – Final Report".
  • Parent, M.M.. 2023. "Board recruitment. Sport Governance and Leadership Trend Report 2022- 2023. Sport Information Resource Centre (SIRC)", https://sirc.ca/wp- content/uploads/2023/02/Board-recruitment-EN-January-23-2023-FINAL.pdf.
  • Parent, M.M., Séguin, B., Dumas, A., Durand Bush, N., MacIntosh, E.. 2023. "In-Depth Review of the Canadian Armed Forces (CAF) Sports Program – Executive Summary".
  • Parent, M.M., Séguin, B., Dumas, A., Durand Bush, N., MacIntosh, E.. 2023. "In-Depth Review of the Canadian Armed Forces (CAF) Sports Program. Final Report".
  • Parent, M.M.. 2023. "Planification de la relève", https://sirc.ca/wp-content/uploads/2023/02/Succession-planning-FR- January-25-2023-FINAL.pdf.
  • Parent, M.M.. 2023. "Recrutement d’un conseil d’administration", https://sirc.ca/wp-content/uploads/2023/02/Board- Recruitment-FR-January-23-2023-FINAL.pdf.
  • Parent, M.M.. 2023. "Succession planning. Sport Governance and Leadership Trend Report 2022- 2023", https://sirc.ca/wp- content/uploads/2023/02/Succession-planning-EN-January-23-2023-FINAL.pdf.
  • Parent, M.M.. 2022. "Better governance principles. Sport Governance and Leadership Trend Report 2021-2022", https://sirc.ca/wp- content/uploads/2022/04/Trend-Report-2021-2022-Better-Governance-Principles-FINAL.pdf.
  • Parent, M.M., Lachance, E.L.. 2022. "Board composition. Sport Governance and Leadership Trend Report 2021-2022", https://sirc.ca/wp-content/uploads/2022/06/Board-composition-EN-June-17-update.pdf.
  • Parent, M.M., Lachance, E.L.. 2022. "Board conflicts of interest. Sport Governance and Leadership Trend Report 2021-2022", https://sirc.ca/wp-content/uploads/2022/06/Board-conflicts-of-interest-EN-June-17-update.pdf.
  • Parent, M.M., Lachance, E.L.. 2022. "Board onboarding. Sport Governance and Leadership Trend Report 2021-2022", https://sirc.ca/wp-content/uploads/2022/06/Board-onboarding-EN-June-17-update.pdf.
  • Parent, M.M., Lachance, E.L.. 2022. "Composition du conseil d’administration", https://sirc.ca/wp- content/uploads/2022/06/Board-composition-FR-June-17-update.pdf.
  • Parent, M.M., Lachance, E.L.. 2022. "Conflits d’intérêts au sein du conseil d’administration", https://sirc.ca/wp- content/uploads/2022/06/Board-onboarding-FR-June-17-update.pdf.
  • Parent, M.M., Dumas, A., Durand Bush, N., MacIntosh, E., Séguin, B.. 2022. "In-Depth Review of the CAF Sports Program. Phase 1 – Interim Report".
  • Parent, M.M., Lachance, E.L.. 2022. "Intégration des membres du conseil d’administration", https://sirc.ca/wp-content/uploads/2022/06/Board-onboarding-FR-June-17-update.pdf.
  • Parent, M.M.. 2022. "Principes d’une meilleure gouvernance. Rapport sur les tendances en matière de gouvernance et de leadership 2021-2022", https://sirc.ca/wp-content/uploads/2022/04/Trend-Report-2021-2022-Better- Governance-Principles-FINAL-FR.pdf.
  • Parent, M.M., Taks, M., Séguin, B., Naraine, M.L., Hoye, R., Thompson, A., Lachance, E.L.. 2020. "2020 Rapport de l’atelier portant sur la gouvernance, la marque et les médias sociaux dans les organismes nationaux de sport", https://www.uottawa.ca/faculty-health-sciences/sites/g/files/bhrskd346/files/2022-04/rapport-atelier.pdf.
  • Parent, M.M., Taks, M., Séguin, B., Naraine, M.L., Hoye, R., Thompson, A., Lachance, E.L.. 2020. "2020 Workshop Report: Governance, Branding, and Social Media in Canadian National Sport Organizations", https://www.uottawa.ca/faculty-health-sciences/sites/g/files/bhrskd346/files/2021-12/workshop-report_1.pdf.
  • Parent, M.M., MacIntosh, E., Culver, D., Naraine, M.L.. 2019. "Benchmarking the Buenos Aires 2018 athletes' perspective for a longitudinal analysis of Youth Olympic Games athlete experience and learning", https://library.olympics.com/Default/doc/SYRACUSE/208906/benchmarking-the-buenos-aires-2018-athletes-perspective-for-a-longitudinal-analysis-of-youth-olympic?_lg=en-GB.
  • Parent, M.M., Taks, M., Naraine, M.L., Hoye, R., Séguin, B., Thompson, A.. 2019. "Résultats du sondage : Étude de la gouvernance des organismes nationaux de sport au Canada", doi:10.13140/RG.2.2.13792.33288 https://www.uottawa.ca/faculty-health-sciences/sites/g/files/bhrskd346/files/2022-04/resultat-du-sondage-etude-gouvernance-organismes-nationaux-sport-canada.pdf.
  • Parent, M.M., Taks, M., Naraine, M.L., Hoye, R., Séguin, B., Thompson, A.. 2019. "Survey Results: Canadian National Sport Organizations’ Governance Landscape Study", doi:10.13140/RG.2.2.23858.66242 https://www.uottawa.ca/faculty-health-sciences/sites/g/files/bhrskd346/files/2021-12/survey_results_-_canadian_national_sport_organizations_governance_landscape_study.pdf.
  • <em>(Case)</em> Parent, M.M.. 2022. "Saving the life of a national sport organization with strategy and governance", Case Studies in Sport Management, U.S.A..
  • <em>(Case)</em> Parent, M.M.. 2022. "Teaching notes for saving the life of a national sport organization with strategy and governance", Case Studies in Sport Management, U.S.A..

Funded Research during the last 7 years

Funded Research during the last 7 years
From-To Source Title Purpose Type Role Amount
2026-2026 Sport, Physical Activity & Recreation Council (SPARC) Development of a Canadian Sport Policy (CSP) and Priorities for Collaborative Action (PCAs) Monitoring and Evaluation Implementation Plan C O PI $30,000
2025-2025 Canadian Standards Association (CSA Group) Draft Letter to the Future of Sport in Canada Commission C O PI $3,390
2024-2025 Canadian Standards Association (CSA Group) Identification, Assessment and Validation of Canadian Standards Needs in Sport C O Co-PI $33,900
2024-2025 Sport Information Resource Centre (SIRC) Governance & Safe Sport Brief C O Co-PI $9,040
2022-2023 The 2022 Research Institute for the Future of Children and Sport Social Culture (FCSSC) Research Grant and Conference Attendance Support S F Co-I $953
2022-2022 Sport Information Resource Centre (SIRC) 2 Governance & Leadership Trend Reports C O PI $8,701
2021-2023 Canadian Armed Forces – Canadian Forces Morale & Welfare Services Revue approfondie du programme des sports des forces armées canadiennes (FAC) C G Co-PI $182,091
2021-2022 Sport Information Resource Centre (SIRC) 4 Governance & Leadership Trend Reports C O PI $7,401
2021-2021 University of Ottawa, Faculty of Health Sciences National sport organization governance design archetypes for the twenty-first century S I PI $1,500
2019-2020 Canadian Heritage, Sport Canada SCRI Advisory Committee C G PI $2,000
2018-2023 Sport Canada - Sport Participation Research Initiative Supplement The New Sport System Landscape: Understanding the Interrelationships between Governance, Brand, and Social Media in Non-Profit Sport Organizations R G PI $20,000
2018-2019 Canadian Heritage, Sport Canada SCRI Advisory Committee C G PI $2,000
2018-2019 Ministère de l’Éducation et de l’Enseignement Supérieur, Gouvernement du Québec Relations entre les fédérations sportives québécoises et canadiennes – Phase 2 C G PI $25,000
2018-2019 The Olympic Studies Centre – Advanced Olympic Research Grant Programme Benchmarking the Buenos Aires 2018 Athletes' Perspective for a Longitudinal Analysis of Youth Olympic Games Athlete Experience and Learning R F PI $25,600
2017-2023 SSHRC The New Sport System Landscape: Understanding the Interrelationships between Governance, Brand, and Social Media in Non-Profit Sport Organizations R C PI $100,947

LEGEND:

Purpose
C: Contract (R and D) | E: Equipment Grant | R: Research Grant | S: Support Award | P: Pedagogical Grant | O: Other, U: Unknown

Type
C: Granting Councils | G: Government | F: Foundations | I: UO Internal Funding | O: Other | U: Unknown

Role
PI = Principal Investigator | Co-I = Co-Investigator | Co-PI = Co-Principal Investigator

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