Outstanding TR Practitioner Award

Award Description

Formerly the Brian Bennison Practitioner Award.

The Outstanding TR Practitioner Award recipient is a TR practitioner, working in direct client service capacity, who has made significant and outstanding contributions to the field of Therapeutic Recreation through their work, advocacy and/or community involvement. The award is presented to a practitioner who has demonstrated excellence in relation to the Core Values, Standards of Practice and Scope of Practice.

History

Formerly the Brian Bennison Practitioner Award.

Brian Bennison was a founding TRO Board Member and spent 10 consecutive years on the TRO Board of Directors. During this time, he gave so much of himself to advance the field of Therapeutic Recreation in the province of Ontario and built the foundation for Therapeutic Recreation Ontario (TRO). When he announced he was not running again, it was decided that our first professional award would be created and named in his honour to acknowledge his contributions to the organization and the field. The Brian Bennison Practioner Award was unveiled at the TRO conference at Horseshoe Resort in 2005, a conference for which Brian was the Co-Chair. Brian returned to the TRO Board for an additional two-year term. He is currently involved with TRO as a member on the Therapeutic Recreation Provincial Education Steering Committee (TRPESC).

Nomination Criteria

A nominee must be a Registered (R/TRO) member of TRO
Works in a direct client service capacity
Nominees may not be a current member of the Board of Directors of TRO
Anyone may nominate a Registered Professional member for this award

Selection Process

The Awards Sub-Committee consists of a minimum of three volunteers including: at least one representative from the Professional Development Committee and up to six TRO members (TRO’s Communications Coordinator is an ex-officio member).

It is responsible for reviewing TRO award nominations and will forward recommendations for approval to the TRO Board of Directors. The selection committee will identify if there is a conflict of interest with any of the award categories, any persons with a conflict of interest will not be part of the discussion and decision-making process for that award.

Previous Winners

2023: Chelsea Lazar
2021: Lindsay Passfield-Leu
2020: Beverly Farrell
2019: Shelagh Keesmaat
2018: Lesley Breen
2017: Sandra Berzaitis-Smith
2016: Sara Richardson-Brown
2015: Rebecca Thompson
2014: Shannon McCallum
2013: Nancy Bowers-Ivanski
2012: Lynn Curley
2011: Dan Houle
2009: Janet Griffin
2008: Peggy Allin
2007: Bernice Miller
2006: Leona Leduc

Prize

The Winner Receives

One Complimentary membership renewal
Professional Contribution points for initial Registration (R/TRO) application (awarded = 3, nominated = 2, to a maximum total of 4 points)
Recognition at the Annual TRO Conference Awards Ceremony
Recognition on the TRO website, newsletter, and social media