ATRA Award Archives
ATRA has recognized the efforts of our outstanding Recreation Therapists and students since 1989!
Check out all the award recipients over the years.
2020 Award Recipients
Distinguished Service - No nominations for this Award in 2020
Professional of the Year - Nicole Brander and Kerry Appleton
Innovation Practice Award - Brandee Elliot and Sabrina Ball
Outstanding Student Leadership Award - Ashley LaValley
Outstanding Student Preceptor - Tori White
Community Partnership Award - Lethbridge Therapeutic Riding Association
Check out the 2020 Awards Program for full details on the 2020 Award Recipients, Long Service Recipients and Volunteer Recognition
2019 Award Recipients
Distinguished Service - Tiffany Morin
Professional of the Year - Carrie Huckerby
Innovative Practice Award - Nicole Kulba
Outstanding Student Leadership Award - Lydia Langille
Outstanding Student Preceptor - Kerry Appleton
Community Partnership Award - University of Lethbridge, Sports and Recreation Services
Check out the 2019 Awards Program for full details on the 2019 Award Recipients, Long Service Recipients and Volunteer Recognition.
2018 Award Recipients
Distinguished Service - Bev Suntjens
Professional of the Year - Ashley O'Reilly
Innovative Practice Award - Stephanie Fisher-Dortman
Outstanding Student Leadership Award - Taylor Thacker
Outstanding Student Preceptor - Cathy McAlear and Shana Wandler.
Community Partnership Award - Lady Flower Gardens
Canadian Therapeutic Recreation Recreation Association: Innovative Practice Award - Tiffany Morin
Check out the 2018 Awards Program for full details on 2018 Award Recipients, Long Service Award Recipients and Volunteer Recognition
2017
Distinguished Service Award - Patti Lanigan
Professional of the Year Award - Heidi Davis
Broadening Horizons Award - Michelle Richard
Student Award - Marcy Fekry
Agency/Individual Citation Award - Calgary Recreation City of Calgary
Check out the 2017 Awards Program for full details on the Award Recipients, Long Service Recipients and Volunteer Recognition
2016
Distinguished Service Award - Kari Medd
Professional of the Year Award - Laura Murray
Broadening Horizons Award - Doris Kruger
Agency/Individual Citation - Dr. Chris Hosgood
Student Award - Aimee Douziech
2015
Distinguished Service – Beverly Hillman
Professional of the Year – Glenn Skimming
Broadening Horizons - Ava-Jean Lawler-Lnn
Agency Citation – Didsbury Municipal Library, Donna Monro
Student Award - McKenzie Kuzio
2014
Distinguished Service – Melissa Adkins Professional of the Year – Kristina McGowan
Broadening Horizons – Bobbi Jo Atchison
Agency Citation – Diversified Leisure Services
Individual Citation – Dave Mitsui
2013
Distinguished Service - Anita Selby
Professional of the Year - Ellen Helgason
Broadening Horizons - Jessica Burford
Student Award - Karyn Morrison
Agency/Individual Citation - Cynthia Johnson, Alberta Health Services
2012
Professional of the Year - Celine Kopec
Broadening Horizons - Lori Pyne
Student Award - Katelyn Hornecker
Agency/Individual Citation - Rebecca Duchesneau, City of Calgary
2011
Distinguished Service - Kathie Ervin
Professional of the Year - Janice Anton
Student Award - Megan Orr
Agency/Individual Citation - Challenge by Choice Program
2010
Distinguished Service - Jane Papenhuyzen
Professional of the Year - Annette Yunick
Broadening Horizons - Anita Selby
Student Award - Tara Tremel
Agency/Individual Citation - Nicholas Sheran Leisure Centre
2009
Distinguished Service - Jim Koning
Professional of the Year - Erin Turnell
Broadening Horizons - Tanea Goncales
Student Award - Daisha Weber
Agency/Individual Citation - Diane Roski, City of Calgary
2008
Distinguished Service - Jane Crawford
Professional of the Year - Colene McCuaig
Broadening Horizons - Janette Engen
Student Awards - Lisa Dickau & Colleen Moses
Agency/Individual Citation - Lethbridge Community College
2007
Distinguished Service - Kim Francis
Professional of the Year - Deanna LeSage
Broadening Horizons – Michelle Knox
Student Award – Kathy Kutzer
Agency / Individual Citation – Village Square Leisure Centre
2006
Research, Publishing Writing or Speaking - Andrea Lloyd
Broadening Horizons - Wendy Brown
Volunteer Recognition - Kari Medd & Kristi Getz
Student Award - Heather Craig
Individual Citation - Jeff Lubin, Calgary Golf Academy
Agency Citation - Shamrock Curling Club
2005
Distinguished Service - Glenda Heale
Professional of the Year - Deb Payne
Research, Publishing, Writing or Speaking - Cathy Fagnan
Broadening Horizons - Wendy Brown
Volunteer Recognition - Victoria Kaiser
Individual Citation - Aimee Miller
Agency Citation - Rehab Department, Calgary Health Region
2004
Distinguished Service - Debbie Lake
Professional of the Year - Tanea Goncalves Research, Publishing, Writing or Speaking - Dr. Rodney Dieser
Broadening Horizons - Jill Kelland
Volunteer Recognition - Janna Powell-Smith
Student Award - Patti Ballance
Individual Citation - Rick Bruggeman
Agency Citation - Excel Society, Edmonton
2003
Distinguished Service - Dianne Bowtell
Professional of the Year - Janette Engen
Research, Publishing, Writing or Speaking - Henriette Groeneveld
Broadening Horizons - Eric Roque
Volunteer Recognition - Nicole Stroh & Kathleen Switzer
Student Award - Jen O’Brien
Individual Citation - Herb Swanston
Agency Citation- Ukrainian Cultural Village
2002
Distinguished Service - Eugene Ulmer
Professional of the Year - Glenda Heale
Broadening Horizons - Claire Dulac
Volunteer Recognition - Wendy Brown & Charlene Shupenia
Student Award - Victoria Anderson & Kathy Peters
Individual Citation - Robb James, Golf Pro
Agency Citation - Movement Matters Program
2001
Distinguished Service - Lorna Snow
Professional of the Year - Susan Morrissey
Research, Publishing, Writing or Speaking - Dianne Bowtell
Volunteer Recognition - Lien Nguyen
Student Award - Alysha Lust
Individual Citation - Reta Koslo
Agency Citation - Rural Chinook Health Region
2000 No Awards
1999
Professional of the Year - Susan Acorn
Individual Citation - Naomi Foster
1998
Professional of the Year - Debbie Lake
Volunteer Recognition - Deanna LeSage
Student Awards - Michelle Elliott & Margaret MacCabe
Individual Citation - Jackie Walker, Stroke Golf Program
Agency Citation - Calgary Regional Health Authority, Recreation Therapy Department
1997
Professional of the Year - Isleta Bergen
Volunteer Recognition - Darlene Murphy
Student Awards - Colleen Hullman & Julie Munro
1996
Professional of the Year - Tia Wever
Research, Publishing, Writing or Speaking - Jill Kelland
Volunteer Recognition - Lisette Lane & Mary-Lou Mudie-Duncan
Student Awards - Lidija Uzelac & Jason Kosolofski
Individual Citation - Evelyn Christensen
1995
Volunteer Recognition - Barbara Smith
Student Award - Debbie Goffinet
Individual Citation - Lou Niebor, Stroke Recovery Association of Calgary
1994
Distinguished Service - Beth Velde
Professional of the Year - Susan Bury
Student Awards - Linda Sauter & Joanne Trofanenko
1993
Distinguished Service - Darlene Murphy
Special Recognition Award - Deanna LeSage
Individual Citation - Gene Neel
Student Awards - Anita Vahaaho & Sandra VonVlack
1992
**incomplete information**
Professional of the Year - Theresa Matus
Student Award - Pam Shindler
1991
**incomplete information**
Agency Citation - In-Definite Arts Society
1990
Professional of the Year - Sue Hatfield-Cusano
Special Recognition Awards - Debbie Fredericks, Amy Kheong & Tony Spencer
Student Award - Jennifer Affolder
Distinguished Service Awards - Dianne Bowtell & Renate Sainsbury
1989
The first ATRA Awards!
Professional of the Year - Dianne Bowtell
Distinguished Service - Victoria Ryan & Susan Scott
Individual Citation - Carol Ann Peterson
Agency Citation - Alberta Hospital, Edmonton
Special Recognition - Judy John, Jill Kelland & Starr Kolb
Student Awards - Deanna LeSage & Colleen Hood