February 11, 2021
Dear colleagues,
On behalf of our staff, students, volunteers, clients and their families, please join me in honouring Baycrest’s Therapeutic Recreation staff during Therapeutic Recreation Awareness Month 2021.
The purpose of Therapeutic Recreation (TR) is to enable all individuals to achieve quality of life and optimal health through meaningful participation in recreation and leisure. Here at Baycrest, you will find therapeutic recreation staff working in the hospital, at the Terraces and in the Apotex Centre, Jewish Home for the Aged. They are important members of the interprofessional team, engaging with patients, clients, residents and families to help them achieve lives of purpose, inspiration and fulfilment.
This past year has been like no other, and our TR staff have been going above and beyond, like so many of their colleagues, during the challenges of COVID. They have developed new programs, worked in much smaller groups and one-to-one, using technology to help keep clients, patients and residents connected, linked with families and supported their teams. The theme this year from Therapeutic Recreation Ontario is 'Unmasking the Possibilities' and that is what our colleagues are doing daily. So please, take a moment to say "thank you" to the therapeutic recreation staff on your teams in recognition of all the great work they do.
Scott Ovenden
Executive Vice President, Clinical Programs