L-R Lynn Horst (Northeast Mental Health Team), Serena Frew (Vancouver Community – Rehab & Resource Team), Jasmine Jagpal Balson (South Mental Health Team), Kylah Blair (VCH Eating Disorders Program)
Did you know that VCH’s recreation therapists have been playing significant roles at the local, provincial, national and international levels?
On July 23rd, Serena Frew (Vancouver Community – Rehab and Resource Team) and Lynn Horst (Northeast Mental Health Team) spoke on behalf of VCH, in support of a Vancouver Parks Board motion to develop a lower rate for people with disabilities to access Park Board community centres and facilities. They spoke to the systematic barriers that prevent vulnerable populations from accessing community-based recreation. This motion is an important step to ensuring Park Board community centres and facilities are accessible and inclusive.
We have a president in our midst! Jasmine Jagpal Balson (South Mental Health Team) was elected president of the BC Therapeutic Recreation Association in 2011 for a 2 year term. Jasmine and the Board of Directors of BCTRA are committed to developing professional standards, promoting Therapeutic Recreation, and providing ongoing research and education across the province.
Kylah Blair (VCH Eating Disorders Program) was elected as the Western Director for the Canadian Therapeutic Recreation Association (CTRA) this past June for a 2 year term. Kylah will represent Recreation Therapists from BC,Albertaand theYukonat a national level. In addition to the typical roles a national professional association plays (advocacy, communication, professional standards, promotion, education, research) CTRA is working on developing and implementing a plan which will lead to national certification of Therapeutic Recreation practitioners.
This fall Serena Frew (Vancouver Community – Rehab and Resource Team) will be running in the 2013 election to sit on the board of directors for the National Council for Therapeutic Recreation Certification (NCTRC), an international organization dedicated to the protection of consumers through certification of Recreation Therapists. This is a fantastic accomplishment as there has been little Canadian representation to date.
The cumulative accomplishments of these recreation therapists is significant given that there are only about 30 FTEs of recreation therapist positions in all of VCH. Obviously a small but mighty and passionate crew. Thanks for everything that you are doing to support Recreation Therapy Practice!