Dr. Brenda Bruner

BSc, University of Saskatchewan;
MSc, University of Saskatchewan;
PhD, University of Saskatchewan

Areas of Specialization: 

Community-based physical activity health promotion

Research Interests:

Physical activity, healthy eating, chronic disease prevention, women's health, Indigenous health, adolescent & emerging adult health, older adults

Cultural Continuity and Physical Health: Creating a Model of Resiliency Among Indigenous Post-Secondary Students and Their Families (Principal Applicant; Principal Investigator: Patty Chabbert)

    Funding Source: Canadian Institutes of Health Research

    Funding Amount: $149,858

Opportunities for Moving More and Sitting Less: Exploring a Whole School Approach to Improve Children’s 24-Hour Movement Patterns (Co-Principal Investigator)

    Funding Source: Canadian Institutes of Health Research

    Funding Amount: $504,900

Mno Nimkodadding Geegi “We Are All Connected”: The Ontario Node of the Indigenous Mentorship Network Program (Co-Applicant)

    Funding Source: Canadian Institutes of Health Research

    Funding Amount: $1,000,000

An Indigenous Collaborative Care Best Practices Model (ICCBPM) Using Simulated Participant Simulations to Promote Culturally Safe Healthcare along the Cancer Journey (Co-Applicant)

    Funding Source: Canadian Institutes of Health Research

    Funding Amount: $143,286

• PHED 1017: Health Concepts in Physical Education
• PHED 3017: Contemporary Health Issues
• PHED 3036: Health Promotion
• PHED 3037: Gerontology
• PHED 3046: Physical Fitness Principles, Prescription & Assessment
• PHED 4227: Nutrition
• KINE 5006: Research Methods
• KINE 5027: Health Promotion

Publications in Refereed Journals – Last Five Years:

1. Tremblay MS, Longmuir PE, Barnes JD, Belanger K, Anderson KD, Bruner B, Copeland JL, Delisle Nyström C, Gregg MJ, Hall N, Kolen AM, Lane KN, Law B, MacDonald DJ, Martin LJ, Saunders TJ, Sheehan D, Stone MR, Woodruff SJ. Physical literacy levels of Canadian children aged 8-12 years: Descriptive and normative results from the RBC Learn to Play CAPL Project. BMC Public Health, 18(Supple 2); 1036.
2. Law B, Bruner BG, Scharoun-Benson, SM, Anderson KD, Gregg MJ, Hall N, Kolen AM, Lane KN, MacDonald DJ, Saunders TJ, Sheehan DP, Stone MR, Woodruff SJ, Belanger K, Barnes JD, Longmuir PE, Tremblay MS. Associations between teacher training and measures of physical literacy among Canadian 8 to 12 year old students. BMC Public Health, in press.
3. MacDonald, DJ, Saunders, TJ. Longmuir, PE, Barnes, J., Belanger, K., Bruner, BG., Copeland, JL, Gregg, MJ, Hall, N., Kolen, AM, Law, B., Martin, LJ, Sheehan, D., Woodruff, SJ, &Tremblay, MS (September, 2017). A cross-sectional study exploring the relationship between age, sex, and physical measures with adequacy in and predilection for physical activity. BMC Public Health, in press.
4. Belanger, K., Longmuir, PE., Barnes, JD., Anderson, KD., Bruner, BG., Copeland, JL., Gregg, MJ., Hall, N., Withers, SH., Kolen, AM., Lane, KN., Law, B., MacDonald, DJ., Martin, LJ., Saunders, TJ., Sheehan, D., Stone, M., Woodruff, SJ., Tremblay, MS. The relationship between physical literacy scores and adherence to Canadian physical activity and sedentary behaviour guidelines. BMC Public Health, in press..
5. Saunders, TJ., MacDonald, DJ., Copeland, JL., Longmuir, PE., Barnes, JD., Belanger, K., Bruner, BG., Gregg, MJ., Hall, N., Kolen, AM., Law, B., Martin, LJ., Sheehan, D., Stone, M., Woodruff, SJ., Tremblay, MS. The relationship between sedentary behaviour and physical literacy in Canadian children: a cross-sectional analysis from the RBC-CAPL Learn to Play study. BMC Public Health, in press.
6. Lang, JJ., Chaput, JP., Longmuir, PE., Barnes, JD., Belanger, K., Tomkinson, GR., Anderson, KD., Bruner, BG., Copeland, JL., Gregg, MJ., Hall, N., Kolen, AM., Lane, KN., Law, B., MacDonald, DJ., Martin, LJ., Saunders, TJ., Sheehan, D., Stone, M., Woodruff, SJ., Tremblay, MS. Cardiorespiratory fitness is associated with physical literacy among Canadian children aged 8 to 12 years. BMC Public Health, in press.
7. Fisher, KL., Reeder, BA., Harrison, EL., Bruner, BG., Sheilds, CA., Pahwa, P., Sari, N. Ashworth, NL., Sheppard, MS., Chad, KE. Comparing Class-based and Home-Based Exercise for Older Adults with Chronic Health Conditions: 12-Month Follow-up of a Randomized Clinical Trial. Journal of Aging and Physical Activity, 26(3) 471-485, 2018.
8. Fisher, KL., Harrison, EL., Bruner, BG., Lawson, JA., Reeder, BA., Ashworth, NL., Sheppard, MS., Chad, KE. Predictors of physical activity levels in community dwelling older adults: A multivariate approach based on a socio-ecological framework. Journal of Aging and Physical Activity, 26(1): 114-120, 2018.
9. Bruner, M.W., Hillier, S., Baillie, C.P.T., Lavallée, L.F., Bruner, B.G., Hare, K., Lovelace, R., & Lévesque, L. Positive Youth Development in Aboriginal Sport and Physical Activity: A Systematic Review. Adolescent Research Review, 1(3): 257-269, 2016.
10. Baillie, CPT., Emiry, K., Galaviz, KI., Bruner, MW., Bruner, BG., Lévesque, L. Physical Activity Interventions to Promote Positive Youth Development among Indigenous Youth: A RE-AIM Review.  Translational Behavioral Medicine, 21:1-9, 2016.
11. Karvinen, K.H., Bruner, B.G., Truant, T. The teachable moment after cancer diagnosis: Perceptions from oncology nurses. Oncology Nursing Forum, 42(6), 602-609, 2015.
12. Karvinen, K.H., Bruner, B.G., Truant, T. Lifestyle Counseling Practices of Oncology Nurses in the United States and Canada. Clinical Journal of Oncology Nursing, 19(6):690-696, 2015.
13. Bruner, B.G. and Chad, K.E. Dietary Practices and Influences on Diet Intake Among Women in a Woodland Cree Community.  Journal of Human Nutrition & Dietetics, 27(s2), 220-229, 2014.
14. Bruner, B.G. and Chad, K.E. Physical Activity Attitudes, Beliefs and Practices Among Women in a Woodland Cree Community.  Journal of Physical Activity and Health, 10 (8), 1119 – 1127, 2013.

Refereed conference presentations – Published Abstracts – Last Five Years:

1. Longmuir, PE., Barnes, J., Belanger, K., Anderson, K., Bruner, B, Copeland, JL., Gregg, M., Kolen, AM., Hall, N., Lane, KN., Law, B., MacDonald, D., Martin, LJ., Saunders, TJ., Sheehan, D., Stone, M., Woodruff ,SJ., Tremblay, MS. Physical literacy levels of Canadian children aged 8-12 years: Descriptive and normative results from the RBC Learn to Play CAPL Project. Presented at the North American Society for Pediatric Exercise Medicine (NASPEM) Annual Meeting, Oakland, CA, August 2018 
2. Law, B., Confesor, V., Richards, D., Bruner, B. Exploring Predictors of Children's Motor Competence within the Context of the Canadian Assessment of Physical Literacy (CAPL). Journal of Sport and Exercise Psychology, 2017; 39 (Suppl. 1): S77
3. Scharoun, S., Bruner, B., Confesor, V., Hay, D., Karvinen, K., Lévesque, L., Mantha, S., Mayer, A., Raymer, G., Rickwood, G. Influence of Active Transportation to School on overall daily physical activity: An investigation of Northeastern Ontario elementary school children. Journal of Sport and Exercise Psychology, 2017; 39 (Suppl. 1): S309
4. Saunders TJ, MacDonald MJ, Copeland JL, Longmuir PE, Barnes J, Belanger K, Bruner B, Gregg MJ, Hall N, Law B, Martin LJ. The relationship between sedentary behaviour and physical literacy in Canadian children: an analysis from the RBC-CAPL Learn to Play study. Applied Physiology, Nutrition, and Metabolism. 2017;42 (10, Suppl. 2):S98.
5. Belanger K, Tremblay MS, Longmuir PE, Barnes J, Sheehan D, Copeland JL, Woodruff SJ, Bruner B, Law B, Martin LJ, Kolen AM, Stone M, Anderson K, Lane KN, Hall N, Gregg M, Saunders TJ, MacDonald D, Trudeau F, Dugas C. Anthropometric measures are associated with Canadian Agility and Movement Skill Assessment Scores. Medicine & Science in Sports & Exercise 2017; 49 ( 5): S732.
6. Dutil C, Anderson KD, Bruner B, Copeland JL, Gregg MJ, Hall N, Kolen AM, Lane KN, Law B, MacDonald DJ, Martin LJ, Saunders TJ, Sheehan D, Stone M, Woodruff SJ, Barnes JD, Longmuir PE, Tremblay MS, Chaput JP. Canadian Assessment of Physical Literacy domain scores are more susceptible to the relative age effect in girls than boys. Applied Physiology, Nutrition and Metabolism, 2016; 41(9 (Suppl. 4), S355.
7. Belanger, K., Tremblay, MS., Longmuir, PE., Barnes, J., Sheehan, D., Copeland, JL., Woodruff, SJ., Bruner, B., Law, B., Martin, LJ., Kolen, AM., Stone, M., Huybers Withers, S., Anderson, A., Lane, KN.,  Hall, N., Gregg, M., Saunders, TJ., MacDonald, D. Physical Literacy Domain Scores in Canadian Children Meeting and not Meeting Canada’s Physical Activity Guidelines. Medicine & Science in Sports & Exercise. 2016; 48(Suppl. 5): S267.
8. Confessor, V., Law, B., Bruner, B. The Role of Teacher Specialization, Age, and Gender on the Physical Literacy of Northeastern Ontario Elementary Students, Journal of Sport and Exercise Psychology, 2016; 38(3 Suppl. 1)), S176
9. Richards, D., Bruner, B., Arnocky, S., Bruner, M.W. The Effect of Preferred Physical Positioning on Perceived Effort and Performance During Group Exercise. Journal of Sport and Exercise Psychology, 2016; 38(3 Suppl. 1)), S246.

Refereed conference presentations – Unpublished Abstracts – Last Five Years:

1. Lang JJ, Chaput JP, Longmuir PE, Barnes JD, Belanger K, Tomkinson GR, Anderson KD, Bruner B, Copeland JL, Gregg MJ, Hall N, Kolen AM, Lane KN, Law B, MacDonald DJ, Martin LJ, Saunders TJ, Sheehan D, Stone MR, Woodruff SJ, Tremblay MS. Cardiorespiratory fitness is associated with physical literacy in a large sample of Canadian children aged 8 to 12 years. Poster presented at the Canadian Public Health Association conference (Montreal, Canada), May, 2018.
2. Hergott, C., Bruner, B., Meighan, A., Fiorino, B. How Community Partnerships Support Active Transportation and Increase Physical Activity Levels in an Elementary School. PHE Canada, 2017 Healthy School Communities National Forum, Ottawa, ON November 2, 2017.
3. Bruner, B., Scharoun, S., Mayer, A. Encouraging Active Transportation to School: Lessons learned from evaluating a pilot Walking School Bus program in Northeastern Ontario. International Society for Behavioral Nutrition and Physical Activity Annual Meeting, Victoria, Canada, June, 7-10, 2017.
4. Baillie, C., Lovelace, R., Bruner, M., Bruner, B., Hare, K., Head, C., Hillier, S., Lavallée, L., Lévesque, L. Towards a Culturally Relevant Understanding of Indigenous Positive Youth Development. National Aboriginal Physical Activity & Wellness Conference. Guelph, ON May 10-12, 2017.
5. Confesor, V., Bruner, B., Scharoun, S., Hay, D., Karvinen, K., Lévesque, L., Mantha, S., Mayer, A., Raymer, G., Rickwood, G. Contribution of active transportation to school to total daily physical activity and moderate-vigorous physical activity among students living in Northeastern Ontario. Active Living Research Conference, Clearwater Beach, Florida, February 3, 2017 Note: This poster presentation received the Best Poster Award
6. Bruner, B., Confesor, V., Mayer, A. Impact of a school-based cycling education and encouragement initiative on active transportation to school.  International Congress of Behavioral Medicine. Melbourne, Australia, December 7-10, 2016.
7. Atrooshi, D., Bruner, B., Parker, N., Lee, R.E., Lévesque, L. Exploring parental perceptions of a walking school bus in northern Ontario. International Congress of Behavioral Medicine. Melbourne, Australia, December 7-10, 2016.
8. Bruner, M., Lovelace, R., Hillier, S., Hare, K., Head, C., Bruner, B., Paibomsai, A., Lavallee, L., Auski, M., Lévesque, L. Understanding Aboriginal youth development through sport and physical activity:  Their voices, their stories, and their experiences. International Congress of Behavioral Medicine. Melbourne, Australia, December 7-10, 2016.
9. Atrooshi, D., Bruner, B., Lévesque, L., Hay, D., Karvinen, K., Mantha, S, Mayer, A., Raymer, G. Rickwood, G., Exploring school transportation modes in rural, northern Ontario – challenges and future directions. Active Living Research Conference, Clearwater Beach, Florida, January 31-February 3, 2016.
10. Bruner, B., Rickwood, G., Tremblay, T., Hay, D., Karvinen, K., Lévesque, L., Mantha, S, Mayer, A., Raymer, G. Is active school transport sustainable in a northern, rural environment? Exploring child and parent perspectives on facilitators and barriers. Active Living Research Conference, Clearwater Beach, Florida, January 31-February 3, 2016.
11. McCluskie, Q., Bruner, B. Characterizing Food and Beverage Purchasing Behaviours of Post-Secondary Students Through Grocery Receipts: A Pilot Study. Society of Behavioral Medicine 36^th Annual Meeting, San Antonio, Texas, April 22-25, 2015.
12. Guty, J., Bruner, B. Exploring the influences of dietary acculturation among international students in Canada. Society of Behavioral Medicine 36^th Annual Meeting, San Antonio, Texas, April 22-25, 2015.
13. Harrison, E.L., Fisher, K.L., Chad, K.E., Reeder, B.A., Ashworth, N.L., Sheppard, M.S. Bruner, B.G. Function, Health Status, and Health Services Costs in Older Adults with Osteoarthritis Participating in Physical Activity Programming: A Longitudinal Study.  World Confederation for Physical Therapy Congress, Singapore May 1-4, 2015.
14. Lovelace, R.P., Hillier, S.A., Bruner, M.W., Hare, K.E., Head, C.P., Bruner, B.G., Paibomsai, A., Auski, M., Lavallée, L., Lévesque, L. Learning from Aboriginal Youth: A New Perspective on Positive Youth. International Indigenous Health Conference, Winnipeg, Manitoba, October, 5-10, 2014. 
15. Lévesque, L., Lepage, R., Baillie, C.P.T., Head, C.P., Bruner, B.G., Bruner, M.W., Hare, K.E., Lovelace, R.P., Lavallée, L. Active Circle: Youth Perspectives on Community Physical Activity Resources Captured through Photovoice. 5th Conference on Recent Advances in the Prevention and Management of Childhood and Adolescent Obesity 'Time to Focus on Strengths: Addressing Obesity in Indigenous Youth', Winnipeg, Manitoba, September 24-26, 2014.
16. Harrison, E.L., Chad, K.E., Reeder, B.A., Bruner, B.G, Lawson, J.A., Fisher, K.L., Ashworth, N.L., Sheppard, M.S. Factors Influencing Physical Activity Levels in Community Dwelling Older Adults. Canadian Physiotherapy Association’s Congress, Edmonton, Alberta, June 19-22, 2014.
17. Baillie, C.P.T., Emiry, K., Bruner, B., Bruner, M., Galaviz, K., Lévesque, L. Physical Activity Interventions to Promote Positive Youth Development among Indigenous Youth: A RE-AIM Review.  Global Summit on the Physical Activity of Children, Toronto, ON, May 19-22, 2014.
18. Bruner, M., Hillier, S., Paibomsai, A., Baillie, C.P.T., Lavallee, L., Auski, M., Bruner, B., Hare, K., Head, C., Lovelace, R., Lévesque, L. Positive Youth Development in Aboriginal Sport and Physical Activity: A Systematic Review.  Global Summit on the Physical Activity of Children, Toronto, ON, May 19-22, 2014.
19. Bruner, B., Holmes, M, Phillips, C. Atrooshi, D. Beyond Fast Food: Exploring how to improve the food skills of university students.  Society of Behavioral Medicine Annual Conference, Philadelphia, PA, April 23-26, 2014.