New Brunswick Physical Education Society

Learning, Moving and Leading: The History of the New Brunswick Physical Education Society

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For generations of New Brunswick educators, physical education has meant helping young people develop the skills, confidence and motivation to lead active lives. Behind that work stands a professional community committed to learning from one another. The New Brunswick Physical Education Society—NBPES—has helped bring that community together.

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Through conferences, curriculum support, partnerships and teacher recognition, NBPES has supported the people who make physical education meaningful in schools throughout the province. Its history reflects the dedication of educators who have shared their expertise and worked to strengthen opportunities for students.

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Although the society’s precise founding date remains to be confirmed, its contribution extends well beyond the earliest conference records readily available online. In 2018, an article in NBTA News credited NBPES with more than 30 years of professional learning, delivered primarily through its annual fall conference and NBTA Council Day sessions.

At the heart of that tradition is Remember When, a conference that has combined practical learning with the opportunity to reconnect with colleagues.

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In November 2002, more than 180 delegates gathered at the University of New Brunswick for Remember When…Again. Teachers, recreation and health professionals, and university students participated in 26 sessions exploring subjects such as fundamental movement skills, dance, gymnastics, student leadership, safety and the integration of mathematics into physical education.

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Co-chaired by Garth Wade and Diane Hoyt, the conference brought together NBPES, the Department of Education and the NBTA Councils. It demonstrated an approach that would remain central to the society’s work: educators learning together and taking useful ideas back to their schools.

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By November 2005, Remember When was also an established occasion for celebrating professional achievement. Approximately 150 delegates attended the conference at Fredericton High School, where the program focused on K–8 health and physical education. Alongside workshops and a keynote from Olympian Dianne Norman, the event featured a trade show and recognition ceremony.

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Nine educators received district Teacher of the Year awards. The society also reinstated the Dr. John Meagher Award, honouring significant contributions to the field at the local and provincial levels. Rod MacKenzie received the award that year, while Gary Crossman received the Ken Taylor Award. These honours connected the accomplishments of practising educators with the legacy of influential leaders in New Brunswick physical education.

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Remember When also created opportunities for different communities to contribute to provincial professional learning.

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In October 2009, Miramichi Valley High School welcomed 200 participants for a conference centred on the theme “Play, Trust, Learn.” Led locally by Eddie Pinder, the organizing team offered experiences in canoeing, archery, dance, geocaching and adventure education. Professor Arnold Dort of Temple University spoke about the educational use of climbing, and participants explored District 16’s recently installed high-elements challenge course.

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The Miramichi gathering illustrated the conference’s practical character: educators could experience activities themselves, discuss their educational value and consider how to use them with students.

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Subsequent programs continued to respond to teachers’ needs. The 2010 conference in Oromocto adopted “Be Your Champion!”, emphasizing personal wellness and educators’ roles in modelling healthy, active living. In 2011, the Riverview conference featured “Designed to Move – It’s Time!”, with Joe Grondin as keynote speaker. Across these programs, topics included assessment, adapted physical education, outdoor learning, technology and approaches to teaching games.

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NBPES’s contribution also extended beyond its signature conference. Partnerships with NBTA Councils created additional professional learning opportunities, including a substantial PE strand in Fredericton in 2015 and another in Saint John in 2018. These events supported teachers across elementary, middle and high school settings.

The society’s work has been sustained by many contributors. Historical records identify leaders and organizers including Garth Wade, Norm Russell, Diane Hoyt, Ross Campbell, Joe Crossland and Robin Buchanan, alongside numerous committee members, presenters and local hosts.

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In 2023, NBPES announced the return of Remember When at Hanwell Park Academy. Co-chaired by Ross Campbell and John Gardiner, the conference program reflected an evolving profession, with topics including adapted PE, Indigenous games, outdoor learning, wellness, dance and technology.

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A further chapter will unfold in Fredericton in May 2027, when NBPES joins PHE Canada and APEP in organizing the PHE National Conference at the University of New Brunswick.

Across its history, NBPES has created space for educators to exchange ideas, recognize one another’s contributions and improve their practice. Its enduring contribution lies in those connections—and in the learning experiences that teachers carry from their professional community into the lives of New Brunswick students.

Upcoming Dates

• Remember When: Juggling the Day Through Active Play

• Date: October 24th at Millidgeville North School Saint John, NB

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• 2027 PHE National Conference & Research Forum: Co-hosted by PHE Canada, NBPES, and APEP.

• Dates: May 5–6, 2027 (Research Forum) and May 6–8, 2027 (National Conference). University of New Brunswick (UNB) in Fredericton, NB.