Photo by Shawn Ang (MAST photography)
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.