Every year, OPA members recognize the outstanding contributions of their peers through OPA Special Awards. These awards are presented during OPA’s annual conference, InterACTION. OPA also honours membership milestones of 50 and 60 years with the Association.
Jennifer has worked in implementing technology and telehealth into the physiotherapy profession.
Long before COVID-19 caused a shift to the virtual world, Jennifer was looking into the future and pursuing doctoral studies in home-based telerehabilitation for those with brain injuries.
Emily received this award as recognition and celebration of her substantial contributions to the status of physiotherapy in the primary care sector.
Emily’s ambition and passion has been evident as she progressed from a physiotherapy role to Practice Lead to Director of Community Rehabilitation in Toronto primary care settings. Emily was one of the first primary care physiotherapists to establish direct access physiotherapist services and medical directives allowing PTs to order diagnostic imaging.
Tiffany is celebrated for her outstanding contributions to both her physiotherapy program and the profession at large.
Tiffany’s contributions span executive student council roles at the University of Toronto, volunteer roles with the National Student Assembly of the CPA and the Pain Science Division, and research at U of T’s Biomechanics of Orthopedic Sports Medicine Lab.
Amy is celebrated for her contributions to the Windsor District through her role as District President.
She is recognized for her outstanding enthusiasm in organizing events that bring the physiotherapy community together. Amy has organized social gatherings, participated in fundraising and health promotion activities, and mentors young clinicians and students.
| Greg Spadoni | Innovation & Advancement Award |
| Derek Debassige | Leadership & Advocacy Award |
| Robert Cusinato | Outstanding Volunteer Award |
| Trudy Mason | OPA Special Board Award |
| Karen Strike | Innovation & Advancement Award |
| Karen Brunton | Leadership & Advocacy Award |
| Liam Dessureault | Outstanding Volunteer Award |
| Greg Smith | Student Leadership Award |
| Kara Patterson | Innovation & Advancement Award |
| Gloria Schmuck | Leadership & Advocacy Award |
| Jean Liu | Outstanding Volunteer Award |
| Mujeeb Duranai | Student Leadership Award |
| David White | PTA Leadership Award |
| Kelly O’Brien | Innovation & Advancement Award |
| Caroline Gill | Leadership & Advocacy Award |
| Dave Wilkinson | Outstanding Volunteer Award |
| Chelsea Evy | Student Leadership Award |
The Awards Committee revised the awards program in 2016 to align with the Association’s priorities related to leadership development and innovation within the profession.
Prior award descriptions can be found below.
Recognizes an individual with a history of educational excellence and commitment to professional development. The award acknowledges physiotherapists who are academic or clinical educators (teaching/supervising) and involved in development of innovative programs that influence education in physiotherapy.
Recognizes the contribution of a member who is enrolled in an entry-level physiotherapy program. The individual has demonstrated leadership in the student arena related to the vision of OPA. The individual has also been an active participant in activities of OPA.
The OPA Volunteer Award is given to an individual in recognition of their significant contribution to the profession, in a voluntary capacity, at a national, provincial or district level. This person would be someone who has generously contributed their time and effort to numerous professional activities demonstrating a positive and enthusiastic professional spirit.
This award recognizes a member physiotherapist who demonstrates strong leadership and who goes above and beyond in the areas of integrity, professionalism, innovation, advocacy, accountability and communication. They may be described as someone who inspires others to be a better physiotherapist and contribute to the profession.
This award recognizes a member physiotherapist who acts as an ambassador for the profession through community and/or health related commitments external to the profession. Such endeavors do not require them to be physiotherapists but affords opportunities to increase public awareness of the profession and advance OPA’s mission and strategic directions.
Members contributing to the Association and profession for many years.
| Carolyn Vandyken | Education |
| Nadine Graham | Research |
| Sarah Luxon | Student |
| Hospital Advisory Committee | Professional Contribution – Internal |
| Ottawa Physio Race Committee | OPA Special Award from the OPA Board of Directors |
| Dr. Pat Miller | Research Award |
| Abdullah Imam | Student Award |
| Basia Gorczyca | Volunteer Award |
| Oren Cheifetz | Professional Contribution – External |
| Laurie Wishart | Education |
| Monica Maly | Research |
| Ali Hassan | Student |
| Erin Morgan-Donnelly | Volunteer |
| Maria Lung | Professional Contribution – Internal |
| Jo-Anne Howe | Professional Contribution – External |
| Judy King | Education |
| Vince DePaul | Research |
| Tiffaney Marlow | Student |
| James Foley | Professional Contribution – Internal |
| Sue Ferguson | Professional Contribution – External |
| Kris Riseling | Education |
| Cathy Anderson | Research |
| Jay Shaw | Student |
| Kristine Houde | Volunteer |
| Chantal Lauzon | Professional Contribution – Internal |
| Julie Rice | Professional Contribution – External |
| Brenda Mori | Education |
| Nancy Salbach | Research |
| Kathleen Norman | Volunteer |
| Kim Wolny | Professional Contribution – Internal |
| Michel Landry | Professional Contribution – External |
| Robyn Davies | Education |
| Ana Delic | Student |
| Deborah Kennedy | Research |
| Diane Follwell | Volunteer |
| Mary Solomon | Professional Contribution – Internal |
| Doug Freer | Professional Contribution – External |
| Diana Hopkins-Rosseel | Education |
| Anita Gross | Research |
| Annette Bailey | Volunteer |
| Caroline Gill | Professional Contribution – Internal |
| Jo-Anne Howe | Professional Contribution – External |
| Leslie Bisbee | Education |
| Alain Mayhew | Research |
| Grace Liu-Chan | Volunteer |
| Susan Putney | Professional Contribution – Internal |
| Michelle Strong | Professional Contribution – External |
| Kay Yardley | Education |
| Dr. Maria Huijbregts | Research |
| Audrey Mohr | Volunteer |
| Jennifer Cummings | Professional Contribution – Internal |
| Helen Johnson | Professional Contribution – External |
| Elaine Foster-Seargeant | Education |
| Dr. Cherly Cott | Research |
| Judy Cline | Professional Contribution – Internal |
| Doreen Sharpe | Professional Contribution – External |
| Judy Fox | Education |
| Dave Wilkinson | Professional Contribution – Internal |
| Bahram Jam | Education |
| Linda Adamnson | Professional Contribution – Internal |
| Lynne Sinclair | Education |
| Bev Lafoley | Professional Contribution – Internal |
| Mahrukh Billimoria | Education |
| Stephanie Nixon | Professional Contribution – Internal |
| John Johnson | Professional Contribution – Internal |
| Barbara Paull | Professional Contribution – External |
| Dr. Joans McComas | Research |
| Bonnie McInnes | Professional Contribution – Internal |
| Dorothy Borovich | Professional Contribution – External |
| Professor Paul Stratford | Education |
| Ken Higgs | Professional Contribution – Internal |
| Maureen Dwight | Professional Contribution – External |
| Katherine Obright | Education |
| Elspeth Finch | Professional Contribution – Internal |
| Mary Solomon | Professional Contribution – External |
| Helene Larin | Education |
| Jean Crowe | Research |
| Diana Hopkins-Rosseel | Professional Contribution – Internal |
| Karen Lee | Professional Contribution – External |
| Diane Gasner | Education |
| Ethen Naussbaum | Research |
| Heather Brien | Professional Contribution – Internal |
| Christine Griffin | Professional Contribution – External |
| Bert Chesworth | Education |
| Beverley Padfield | Education |
| Patricia Ellis | Professional Contribution – Internal |
| Shari Sampson | Professional Contribution – External |
| Elspeth Finch | Education |
| Julie Anne Sanford | Research |
| Marel Fielding | Professional Contribution – Internal |
| Cheryl Lee Mogensen | Professional Contribution – External |
| Judith Chapman | Education |
| Renee Williams | Research |
| Norma Bird | Professional Contribution – Internal |
| Patricia Ellis | Professional Contribution – External |
| Patricia Solomon | Education |
| Judith Heuff | Professional Contribution – Internal |
| Gary Lapenskie | Professional Contribution – External |
| Sally Morgan | Education |
| Dr. Edith Herman | Research |
| Professor Paul Stratford | Research |
| Karen Tribble | Professional Contribution – Internal |
| Janice Miller | Professional Contribution – External |
| Antoine Helewa | Research |
| Trishan Kelso | Professional Contribution – Internal |
| Gertrude Mensch | Education |
| Jennifer Nymark | Research |
| Karen Fryday-Field | Professional Contribution – Internal |
| Subhash Dighe | Professional Contribution – External |
| Wendy Aspinall | Education |
| Laura Lunn | Professional Contribution – Internal |
| Helen Saarinen | Education |
| Len Cunningham | Research |
| Catherine McCallum | Research |
| Carolyn (Kelly) Gowland | Research |
| Mary Sauriol | Professional Contribution – Internal |
Congratulations to OPA members for their years of commitment to the profession by maintaining a membership in the Association for 50 and 60 years.
50 Years of membership
Agnes Ashworth, Anne Braund, Karen Brunton, Kathryn Chamberlain, Douglas Freer, Sharon Jankowski, Carol-Anne Lumis-Gray, Sheila Petrachenko, Karen Treleaven
50 years of membership
Angela Dye, Carol Merton, Karen Zalan
50 years of membership
Barb Alguire, Virginia Boro, Marel Fielding, Carolyn Gowland, Shirley Morton, Catherine Wilkes
60 years of membership
Moira Reed-Davis
50 years of membership
Rosemary Anderson, Wendy Cliff, Susan Ferguson, L. Gadd, Sandra Gold Millstein, Catherine MacLeod, M. Marsha Maynard, Janice Payne, Tema Stein, Molly Verrier, Krisztina Weinacht, Karen Yantha
50 years of membership
Catherine Anders, Anne Braund, David Egan, Susan Elms, Leonard Quinn, Janice Roberts, Gloria Schmuck
60 years of membership
Elspeth Finch
50 years of membership
Trudi Douglas, Atiq Farooqui, Janet George, Lucie Labenski-Blench, Carol Moore, Gail Mulzer
60 years of membership
Shirley Lupton and Lynne Stacey
50 years of membership
Lynda Dundas, Karen Jones, Mary Pomfret, Barbara Paull, M.S. Chris Fernando, Karen Shear
60 years of membership
Gertrude Mensch
50 years of membership
Barbara Wenzel, Bernice Zimnicki, Caroline Williams, Diane Metcalfe, Glorianne Atkins, Jayashree Dighe, Jennifer Correa-Winn, Margaret Rieger, Subhash Dighe
50 years of membership
Andrea Atkins, Ruth Burt, Elaine Christensen, Karen Lee, Marius Walfisz, Jacqueline Walt, Melanie Werstine, Deborah Westbrook, Jeff Whelan, Paula Wilcox, Paula Wileman, Kathryn Wodz
50 years of membership
Maryann Jefferies, Trishan Kelso, Linda Kremer
70 years of membership
Sally Morgan
50 years of membership
Alison Shragge, Catharine Smith, J. Diane Follwell
60 years of membership
Joan Mesley
50 years of membership
Gertrud Mayer, Moria Reed-Davis, Roberta Young
60 years of membership
Mary Sauriol
50 years of membership
Ellen Bradey, Elspeth Finch, Austra Kirkup
60 years of membership
Marilyn Marsh, Joan Pape