Building stronger communities: Chelsey Pitchko Thomas reflects on her BARST experience

Chelsy Pitchko Thomas

What can a bachelor of arts in recreation, sport, and tourism (BARST) lead to? For Chelsey Pitchko Thomas, ’16 BA(RecSpoTourism), it’s a dynamic career working with communities, organizations and industries across the country. She talks about the lessons that shaped her path and the skills that continue to guide her work.

What originally drew you to the BARST program, and how did your experience at the University of Alberta shape your outlook on recreation and community development?

I had been working in community and recreation since I was 14, and it never really felt like work to me because it was something I was passionate about. I originally started at the U of A in the science program, but I quickly realized that path did not align with what truly energized me. When I discovered the BARST program, it felt like the perfect fit. It allowed me to take what I loved, including community engagement, program planning and recreation leadership, and build a strong professional foundation around it.

One experience that really shaped my outlook was attending the Alberta Recreation & Parks Association Conference as a student. Because I was already working in the field, I recognized many of the professionals there and it was the first time I saw my educational and professional worlds intersect. It showed me how connected and supportive the recreation sector is and how education and experience work together when it comes to building stronger communities.

Your career path spans consulting, tourism, aquaculture and Indigenous community planning. How did the BARST program help you move confidently across these diverse sectors?

The BARST program gave me a deep understanding of how people and places intersect and how recreation, community and development influence one another. The principles I learned around program planning, leadership and community engagement have been incredibly transferable. Whether I am developing tourism projects, planning a music festival or facilitating strategic planning for Indigenous communities, the foundation is the same — understand the community, identify opportunities for connection and design meaningful experiences.

The program also encouraged adaptability and systems thinking. This has allowed me to move confidently between industries while keeping community impact at the core of my work.

What project or moment in your career has felt especially meaningful or shown you the real-world impact of your degree?

One of the most meaningful moments for me was hosting our first Salmon Bay Farm Music Festival. It was the first event of its kind on the Lower North Shore of Quebec, and it brought people together from across the region to celebrate music, community and local culture. Seeing people experience something completely new for the area and knowing the amount of planning, logistics and creativity that went into it was incredibly rewarding.

That project drew directly from the skills I learned in the BARST program, including event planning, tourism management, community engagement and evaluation. It reminded me that recreation is not just about activities. It’s about building experiences that strengthen identity and bring people together.

The BARST program emphasizes leadership, adaptability and critical thinking. How have those skills shown up in your day-to-day work or helped you approach challenges creatively?

Those skills show up every single day. Working across multiple sectors and communities means there is rarely a straightforward path and things constantly shift. The ability to adapt, problem solve and stay grounded in purpose has been key.

As a leader, I try to be collaborative and empathetic, but focused. I believe in bringing people into the process and creating space for diverse perspectives while still keeping the larger vision and outcomes in sight. The BARST program helped me develop that balance between people-centered leadership and structured, results-driven management.

What advice would you give to current or prospective BARST students about carving their own path and exploring opportunities beyond traditional recreation roles?

The skills you gain in this program, such as communication, leadership, planning and community engagement, are valuable in many sectors. Recreation is at the heart of how people connect and thrive, and that translates far beyond traditional settings.

Be open to opportunities that stretch you, even if they do not fit perfectly into your initial plan. My own path has taken me from community programming to consulting to aquaculture and tourism development — areas I never imagined when I started the program. Each experience has been built on the same foundation, which is creating meaningful experiences and stronger communities.