Three University of Waterloo Recreation and Leisure Studies students were honoured this week for their contributions to the field of therapeutic recreation (TR) at the annual Therapeutic Recreation Ontario (TRO) conference.
Graduate students Carrie Briscoe and Kim Lopez were awarded the new TRO Advanced Practitioner in TR Award, honouring those who elevate the practice of therapeutic recreation through innovation. Carrie and Kim received the award for their work as the co-editors of the Therapeutic Recreation Practice and Research Journal.
Lisa Coleman, an undergraduate student in the Honours Therapeutic Recreation program, received the Adrienne Gilbert Student Award of Excellence for her outstanding contributions within and outside of her academic program. The Award was created in 2010 upon Gilbert’s retirement to honour her significant contributions to the field, both as a well-respected faculty member in University of Waterloo’s Department of Recreation and Leisure Studies and for her years serving in various positions on the TRO Board of Directors.
Therapeutic recreation’s purpose is to enable all individuals to achieve quality of life, and optimal health through meaningful experiences in recreation and leisure. Therapeutic recreation professionals provide service to and advocate for individuals with physical, mental, social, behavioural or emotional limitations in a variety of settings such as hospitals, long-term care settings, day programs, community-based programs, and mental health centres.