Exemplary service was celebrated at the 7th Annual Alberta Rehabilitation Coordinating Council Awards Dinner Friday at the Grant MacEwan Conference Centre in Calgary. 180 members and friends of the rehabilitation fields occupational therapy, physical therapy and speech-language pathology gathered to enjoy dinner, live music and most importantly, each other's company.
Faculty of Rehabiltiation Medicine Dean Martin Ferguson-Pell welcomed the crowd and reminded them of the only free-standing faculty of rehabilitation medicine in the country located at the University of Alberta. Vice President of Allied Health Strategies, Alberta Health Services Betty-Lynn Morrice spoke to the crowd about the importance of teamwork in an interdisciplinary environment and the changing faces of rehabilitation.
The ARCC's Annual Awards Dinner is an opportunity to honour professionals and support personnel who have provided exemplary service within their respective fields. This year, the Excellence in Media Award was introduced, recognizing a member in the media for his or her extensive and accurate coverage of rehabilitation in health care. The 2009 ARCC Excellence in Media Award went to Su-Ling Goh, health reporter for Global Edmonton.
2009 ARCC Award Winners
Rural - Clinical Excellence Award (Assistant):
Candice van der Torre, speech language pathology assistant in the Vegreville/ Two Hills area
Urban - Rehabilitation Student Supervisor Award:
Mark Phillips, physical therapy student supervisor at the Royal Alexander Hospital in Edmonton
Rural - Rehabilitation Student Supervisor Award:
Crystal Klassen: student supervisor in Camrose
Jim Vargo Leadership & Mentoring Award:
Johanna Kwakernaak, physical therapist at the Alberta Children's Hospital in Calgary
Innovation in Rehabilitation Award (Practitioner):
Nausheen Khan, speech language pathologist and director of Khan Communication Services in Edmonton
Innovation in Rehabilitation Award (Student):
Lindsay Eales, founder and organizer of the integrated iDANCE program at the Steadward Centre in Edmonton--she has done all of this while completing the demanding occupational therapy academic program at the University of Alberta.
Sunrise Award (Therapist):
Kierra McIntyre, sole occupational therapist in the Lamont Health Unit
Sunrise Award (Assistant):
Jessica Harrison, speech language pathology assistant with Tofield Community Rehabilitation in Vegreville
Friends of Rehab Award:
Malcolm Kirkland, formerly VP of Operations of the Healthy Living Centre in Camrose
Excellence in Media Award:
Su-Ling Goh, reporter for Health Matters with Global Edmonton TV
Spinal Cord Injury Treatment Centre Society Award:
Su Ling Chong, physicial therapist at the Centre for Neuroscience at the University of Alberta.
