The Provincial Voice for Recreation Therapy in BC
BCTRA is the provincial association representing recreation therapy professionals across British Columbia. Aligned with national and international standards, we advance evidence-informed practice, strengthen professional identity, and advocate for recognition and future regulation to support safe, high-quality care.
Our Mission
To advance the profession of recreation therapy in British Columbia.
Our Vision
That recreation therapy is valued and recognized as a regulated health profession benefitting all British Columbians.
Our History & Identity
BCTRA began in 1990 as a practitioner-led group within the BC Recreation and Parks Association and became an independent society in 1991. Since then, we have evolved into the provincial association representing and supporting recreation therapy professionals across British Columbia.
In alignment with the Canadian Therapeutic Recreation Association (CTRA) 2023 Standards of Practice for Recreation Therapists and Recreation Therapy Assistants, we recognize therapeutic recreation as an umbrella term for the field that describes the theoretical, philosophical, and educational foundations of the profession. Drawing from Anderson and Heyne’s (2021) definition, therapeutic recreation is grounded in the purposeful use of recreation and leisure to enhance health, functional ability, and overall well-being while supporting individuals in developing meaningful, self-directed leisure lifestyles.
In contrast, recreation therapy refers to the person-centred, strengths-based, and evidence-informed practice that applies these principles in clinical and community settings. Recreation Therapists lead the therapeutic process working with individuals to assess needs, identify goals, and design interventions while Recreation Therapy Assistants support the delivery and facilitation of these planned experiences. Together, they create opportunities for meaningful engagement, enhance quality of life, and promote holistic well-being.
Recreation therapy is also the practice area to which professional standards apply and aligns with the titles Recreation Therapist (RecT) and Recreation Therapy Assistant (RecTA), consistent with other allied health professions.
BCTRA’s work is rooted in this distinction. We support and advance recreation therapy practice in British Columbia while drawing on the broader field of therapeutic recreation for the academic, philosophical, and educational frameworks that underpin it. Through advocacy, standards alignment, education, and community building, we remain committed to strengthening recreation therapy and contributing to the profession’s future regulation in BC.
References
Anderson, L., & Heyne, L. (2021). Therapeutic recreation practice: A strengths approach (2nd ed.). Sagamore Venture.
Territory Acknowledgement
The British Columbia Therapeutic Recreation Association respectfully acknowledges that our members live, work, and practice on the traditional, ancestral, and unceded territories of Indigenous Peoples across what is now known as British Columbia.
As recreation and leisure professionals, we recognize the deep connections Indigenous Peoples hold with the land, waterways, and natural spaces that sustain cultural, spiritual, and community well-being. We honour the role of leisure and land-based practices in fostering healing, identity, belonging, and quality of life.
Grounded in the values of inclusion, community, dignity, and respect, BCTRA is committed to learning from Indigenous ways of knowing, being, and doing, and to advancing recreation therapy practice that aligns with the principles of Truth and Reconciliation. We strive to support inclusive, culturally safe, and relationship-centred spaces for leisure and recreation for all peoples.
