Board of Directors
Jenna Davis, R/TRO
President
Executive Committee, Advocacy Committee, Standards of Practice Working Group
Jenna lives and works in Barrie, and works with older adults in the community on a Specialized Geriatric Services team. Jenna has two children (ages 7 and 9) who keep her busy with their extracurricular activities. In the past, Jenna has been on TRO’s Professional Development Committee, and has co-chaired 2 TRO conferences. In her free time, Jenna enjoys yoga, pilates, and spending time with family and friends. Jenna is honoured to be on the executive committee of TRO and is excited to work towards a positive future for the organization and its members.
Victoria DePass, R/TRO, CTRS
Vice-President
Executive Committee, Advocacy Committee Chair, Standards of Practice Working Group
Victoria works in forensic mental health; however, she has experience in geriatrics, stroke rehabilitation, acquired brain and spinal cord injury. Victoria’s personal goals are to see TRO become a regulated health professional organization and to run a full marathon before the age of 35. Victoria’s favorite leisure activity is going hiking with her dog, Bailey, and reading a good book with a glass of red wine. Victoria also participates in a running club with her family, hot yoga, two book clubs and enjoying a nice coffee while on a walk with her dog. Victoria sees the future of TR becoming more pronounced and understood in the health care field. She hopes for this practice to be seen as an asset to patient recovery and used as a tool to help rehabilitate those with mental health and addictions back into society.
Yvonne Ng-Gerritsen, R/TRO, CTRS
Secretary
Executive Committee, TRPESC Committee Chair
Yvonne is a Professor and Program Coordinator at Seneca Polytechnic in the Honours Bachelor of Therapeutic Recreation degree program. She has worked in the field of TR for 15+ years. This is Yvonne’s 3rd term serving on the TRO BOD since 2011. Her goal is to collaborate within the field of TR to help advance the profession forward in Canada. Her hope for the future is for EVERYONE to recognize the value of Therapeutic Recreation. In her leisure time, you can find her spending time with family/friends, doing yoga, or reading!
Heidi Slotegraaf, R/TRO
Professional Development Committee Chair
Heidi has been a Recreation Therapist for 23 years and has worked in LTC for 26 years. She is currently the Manager of Program & Support Services at The Ontario-Finnish Resthome Association located in Sault Ste. Marie, ON., home to over 400 senior residents who live in a variety of settings in one of the four buildings on their campus. Heidi enjoys spending summer and winter vacations at her remote camp north of the Soo with her husband and two children, reading, walking, and spending time with her large extended family. She looks forward to supporting TRO, the membership, and all therapeutic recreation professionals, regardless of their area of practice. Living “up north” she also hopes to assist TR’s who may live and work in smaller more remote areas of Ontario to gain more access to TR education opportunities to further their careers in TR.
Callum Thomson, R/TRO
Membership Committee Chair
Since joining the field, Callum has worked in long-term care and mental health settings. Currently he works in a non-profit mental health transistional program in Toronto. When not working he enjoys any and all opportunities to enjoy the outdoors- whether thats biking along the waterfront or hiking with his wife. His goal for TRO is to reach a new level of transparency with its members and ensure all our initiatives and successes are shared. He hopes to continue building on the work already done by TRO and push the field to new level of respect amongst health practitioners and decision makers.
Vicki Di Giovanni, R/TRO
Practice Review Committee Chair, Standards of Practice Working Group
Prior to joining the Board of Directors, Vicki was a volunteer with the Practice Review Committee. Her area of therapeutic recreation has been working in long term care for 25 years. During that time, Vicki has worked as a clinician and in leadership. She is currently in the academic field as an educator at her local college. Vicki’s leisure activities include spending time with her niece and nephews and cheering them on in their many sports endeavors, spending time with her 2 dogs, reading and crafting. It is an exciting time at TRO with the membership engagement initiative and she looks forward to supporting TRO, the membership and all therapeutic recreation professional into the future.
Suneel Saini, R/TRO
Professional Development Committee, Mental Health Community of Practice Lead
In the past, Suneel has been co-chair on the Conference Committee. Since joining the field, Suneel has worked in the mental health setting. In his free time Suneel enjoys going for a run and playing basketball or simply spending time with friends and family. He hopes to continue building on the work already done by TRO and push the field to new and higher levels of respect in the healthcare field.
Lauren Waite, R/TRO
Professional Development Committee
Lauren currently lives in London, Ontario working as a TRS with the older adult population in Long-Term Care. She has two young children at home who always liven up her day and bring her so much joy. When she’s not busy with her family, Lauren enjoys staying active in organized sport, and has a creative side; a love for crafting and DIY! She has been following the happenings of TRO since her days as a student and is excited to join the BOD to continue sailing TRO in a positive and innovative direction!
Chelsea Lazar, R/TRO, CTRS
DEIB Committee Chair, Standards of Practice Working Group
Chelsea (she/her) is a Recreation Therapist in the Forensic Psychiatry Program at St. Joseph’s Healthcare Hamilton, and maintains R/TRO designation and CTRS with Behavioural Health Specialization. She has worked in TR for 15+ years in both community and hospital settings, with experience supporting individuals receiving support for mental health; dual diagnosis or developmental disability; precarious housing and homelessness and; responsive behaviours in LTC. Her goal is to broaden the voices of all TRO members for their visions to be represented in the growth and development of the profession. She is keen in holding spaces accountable to prioritize the values of diversity, equity, inclusion and belonging. She loves watching football, gardening, camping and playing outside with her family. You might catch her singing TS songs while walking her dog along the river in Caledonia, Ontario.
Lisa Gordon, R/TRO, CTRS
Advocacy Committee
Lisa has been a Recreation Therapist for over 24 years. She has worked in various settings and with different populations throughout her career. She currently works as a Program Manager at a Long Term Care Home in the Greater Toronto Area. She has been fortunate to teach part-time at a variety of Colleges both online and in-person. Lisa’s goals for TRO and the TR Profession are to continue to grow in our advocacy efforts to see them move forward toward regulation. In her spare time, she facilitates the community’s DrumFit and Laughter Therapy sessions, hikes with her dog Meg, and plays board games with her three teenagers.
Emma Story, R/TRO
DEIB Committee
Born and raised in Muskoka and now living in Whitby, Ontario. Emma is one of the Senior Coordinators for the Therapeutic Recreation department at Abilities Centre; predominantly working with youth and young adults living with a disability. When not at work, you can find Emma at the gym, spending time with family and friends or relaxing with a good book and her cat Ginny. Her goal for TRO is to assist in the collective effort of enhancing Therapeutic Recreation’s status in the healthcare field and advocating on the holistic approach and unique skills that Recreation Therapist’s possess.
Cindy Marshall, R/TRO
Practice Review Committee
Cindy has worked as a Recreation Therapist for almost 20 years and currently works on an adult acute inpatient mental health program. Cindy has always been interested in getting more involved with TRO and felt like this was a good time both personally and professionally to step into the role. Cindy is a passionate advocate for recreation therapy in mental health care and sits on many committees and working groups at her organization. Cindy lives In Victoria Harbour with her husband, daughter and their dog. They love hiking, biking and spending time outdoors. She is excited to bring her knowledge and passion to her role on the Board of Directors.
Katherine Lee, R/TRO
Past-President (non-voting)
Executive Committee
Katherine served as the TRO President as well as sitting on the Practice Review Committee (PRC) since 2017. In past years, Katherine has sat on the TRO Conference Committee assisting with both online and in-person conferences holding the positions of Conference co-chair and Program Chair. Presently working and living in the Barrie area as a Recreation Therapist in Acute Care with the older adult population for the past 11 years while starting out in Long Term Care in 2007. Recently taking on a new role as a Consultant within the People Development, team building and retention department of the organization. Katherine is a mother of 2 boys (5 months and 7 years) and keeps busy with their daily activities, TRO, physical exercise, yoga and loves having family time.