Robert A. Stebbins

Robert Alan Stebbins (June 22, 1938 – May 4, 2026) was a Canadian sociologist. He was a professor emeritus at the University of Calgary and was associate editor for Leisure and Voluntaristics Review: Brill Research Perspectives.

Stebbins published more than 300 research articles and is the author of 65 books and monographs. Most of his work is in leisure studies and has centered on amateurs, hobbyists, career volunteers, and the serious leisure perspective. Over his career, he has delivered keynote addresses at international conferences, including events in Europe, North America, and Asia.

He was the president of Canadian Sociology and Anthropology Association and Social Science Federation of Canada. He was the recipient of the Outstanding Contribution Award from the Canadian Sociology and Anthropology Association and the Marguerite Dentinger Prize from the Association canadienne-française de l'Alberta. He was elected Fellow of the Royal Society of Canada in 1999. He was also recognized as a Senior Fellow of the World Leisure Academy in 2010.