Therapeutic Recreation Ontario

09/08/2026

Please note the the Mental Health Community of Practice has been rescheduled to Tuesday, September 15th at 12:00pm. Information can be found under our events page.

09/04/2026

08/29/2026

National Grief Awareness Day is observed annually on August 30th. It is to help break the silence surrounding loss and encourage open communication about the grieving process. Recreation Therapists help their clients, residents and families navigate grief by using meaningful and purposeful programs to help process difficult emotions. Grief often feels heavy and difficult to put into words. Recreation Therapists can introduce non-pharmacological outlets to safely channel these feelings.

08/03/2026

Civic Holiday is a public holiday in Canada on the 1st Monday of August, with varying names and statutory status depending on the Province or municipality. TRO wishes you a great day however you are celebrating.

07/16/2026

Last week, Yvonne Ng-Gerritsen (TRO Vice President) and Lisa Gordon (TRO Executive Director) visited the University of Waterloo TR faculty for some great conversation and continued connections!

07/11/2026

Thank you for this message from the 2026 TRO Conference Diamond Sponsor, StrongerU Senior Fitness! Stay to the end to hear how TRO Members can save on enrollment fees!

07/09/2026

TRO members, check your inbox for the latest edition of our Insider newsletter that includes Special Meeting Updated Registration Info, StrongerU Senior Fitness Info Session & more!

Looking for past newsletters? Log in to the members-only area for access to all newsletters!

07/06/2026

Last week, TRO Executive Director Lisa Gordon met with Nova Scotia Therapeutic Recreation Association (NSTRA) President, Marisa Doucette, and President-Elect, Olivia Pliner, in Halifax for some cross-country networking and great conversation!

From left to right: Marisa (President), Olivia (President-Elect), Lisa (TRO Executive Director)

07/05/2026

Congratulations to the 2026 Student Mentorship Award recipient, Sarah Harrison!

This award is given to an educator, instructor, professor or direct internship/practicum/placement supervisor who has been influential to a student in TR. The successful recipient will be someone who has helped guide a future practitioner in the field of TR through assistance with educational instruction, field placement, etc. Mentoring students is a very important part of building the future of this profession.

In her nomination, a student of Sarah’s wrote, “Sarah has influenced me as a TR student by framing recreation therapy as an exciting field where anything is possible. She encouraged her students to look at ways we can help people and also to be understanding of how people are in their different ages and stages of their life. She taught us to look at people as whole and not just as a, “grumpy fred smith”

07/04/2026

Congratulations to the 2026 Innovation in TR Award recipient, Caitlyn Cheyne, CTRS, R/TRO!

This award was created to honour and recognize those individuals in TR who continue to elevate the practice of therapeutic recreation through innovation in research and practice. They have created new programs or documents that everyday practitioners are able to use in daily practice through their evidence based research. This award acknowledges that because of their contribution to TR the profession has been positively impacted.

In the nominations, it was shared that “Caitlyn gives all of herself to her role as a Recreational Therapist and she does it to enrich the lives of the people she is caring for. Her innovation and dedication are not driven by personal gain but for the greater good of the individuals she is supporting. She is constantly trying to grow and develop herself and her knowledge. Her heart and enthusiasm is in the right place and it shows daily.”