2011 ARA Awards Dinner celebrates rehabilitation excellence

There were so many bright smiles at the Alberta Rehabilitation Awards (ARA) dinner this past weekend, you?d think it was an evening to celebrate excellence in dentistry. But around 200 rehabilitation professionals, friends and family were gathered to celebrate exemplary service in occupational therapy, physical therapy, speech-language pathology and audiology.

Holly Gray - 8 November 2011

There were so many bright smiles at the Alberta Rehabilitation Awards (ARA) Dinner this past weekend, you'd think it was an evening to celebrate excellence in dentistry. But around 200 rehabilitation professionals, friends and family were gathered to celebrate exemplary service in occupational therapy, physical therapy, speech-language pathology and audiology.

The ARA Annual Awards Dinner (formerly known as ARCC) is an opportunity to honour rehab professionals and support personnel who have provided exemplary service within their respective fields. The Awards also serve to raise the profile of rehabilitation, and this year ARA was held at Edmonton's Shaw Conference Centre alongside the 2011 albertaREHAB conference.

Dr. Mike Landry, Division Chief of the Doctor of Physical Therapy program at Duke University, engaged the audience with a though-provoking presentation about rehabilitation's role in international health. He shared his experiences providing rehabilitation in Haiti after its 2010 earthquake.

2011 ARA Nominees and Winners



Clinical Excellence (Assistant) Urban
Winner - Connie Alton
Nominees - Megan Fisher, Sandra Hukalo, Brian Schmidt, Connie Alton

Clinical Excellence (Therapist) Rural
Winner - Hilary Boyd
Nominees - Jan Gervais, Joanne Thomsen, Hilary Boyd

Clinical Excellence (Therapist) Urban
Winner - Jessie Krolouski
Nominees - Lisa Couldwell, Luciana Floreancig, Penny Fortier, Jessie Krolouski

Rehab Student Supervisor / Rural
Winner - Carolyn Fleck-Prediger

Rehab Student Supervisor / Urban
Winner - Nadia Robinson
Nominees - Nadene Krack, Nadia Robinson

Innovation in Rehab (Practitioner)
Winner - Rebecca Holeczi
Nominees - Jessie Trenholm, Rebecca Holeczi

Jim Vargo Leadership and Mentoring
Winner - Lisa Froese
Nominees - Olakunle Akinyode, Lori Durand, Lois Flakstad, Gwen Harris, Denyse Hayward, Karen Hurtubise, Brenda Rowe, Lisa Froese

Excellence in Media
Winner - Laurie Stewart

Friends of Rehab
Winner - Honourable Laurie Hawn
Nominees - LCol Markus Besemann, Gerard Purvis/ Central Alberta Oilmen's Association, Elks & Royal Purple of Alberta & Canada, Ion Robu, Honourable Laurie Hawn

Sunrise (Therapist)
Winner - Natosha Yurchesyn
Nominees - Sharan de Waal, Farrah Hasham, Melissa McAllister, Tyson Plesuk, Natosha Yurchesyn

Sunrise (Assistant)
Winner - Jennifer Skiba Rawlake
Nominees - Nicole Robinson, Jennifer Skiba Rawlake


About the University of Alberta Faculty of Rehabilitation Medicine

As the only free standing faculty of rehabilitation in Canada, the University of Alberta Faculty of Rehabilitation Medicine balances its activities among learning, discovery and citizenship (including clinical practice). A research leader in musculoskeletal health, spinal cord injuries and common spinal disorders (back pain), the Faculty of Rehabilitation Medicine aims to improve the quality of life of citizens in our community. The three departments, Occupational Therapy (OT), Physical Therapy (PT) and Speech Pathology and Audiology (SPA) offer professional entry programs. The Faculty offers thesis-based MSc and PhD programs in Rehabilitation Science, attracting students from a variety of disciplines including OT, PT, SLP, psychology, physical education, medicine and engineering.