BOARD MEMBERS
Our board and team of volunteers from within our membership come from regions across the province and bring expertise from all different areas of practice in our field. As a result, those leading BCTRA forward form a broad collective that has their fingers on the pulse of therapeutic recreation across the province.
I am excited to be staying on the BCTRA board, serving alongside a group of inspiring and hardworking recreation therapy professionals across BC. I am currently a recreation manager in Long-Term Care and a college-level instructor. I have been a CTRS since 2014, working in both long-term care and community settings, primarily serving older adults. I am passionate about research and using non-pharmacological interventions first to support health and well-being.
I hold a Master’s in Applied Health Sciences from Brock University. My research explores Professional Quality of Life from the perspective of TR professionals working in Long-Term Care homes. Subsequently, I have continued to explore this topic during COVID-19 and have conducted research into the impact of COVID-19 on TR practice for those in LTC.
I teach both dance and dance-inspired fitness classes and take classes myself at Ballet Lounge in Vancouver. When not at work or in the dance studio, you can find me out in nature or on my patio reading a book or a textbook on Recreation Therapy.
I would like to acknowledge that I live and work on the traditional, ancestral, and unceded territory of the Coast Salish Peoples, including the territories of the Skwxwú7mesh (Squamish), səḷílwətaɬ (Tsleil-Waututh), and xʷməθkʷəỵəm (Musqueam) Nations in what is now called North Vancouver. I also recognize my personal connection to the land as someone born in Mississauga, Ontario, which lies within the territory of the Mississaugas of the Credit First Nation and is part of the Treaty Lands and Territory of the Mississaugas. With gratitude, I reflect on the responsibilities I hold in honoring these lands, the peoples who care for them, and the wisdom that they continue to share.
I am thrilled to be a part of a great team to service the members of BCTRA. I started volunteering on the Education Committee to support the behind-the-scenes work in providing webinars related to recreation therapy practice. I am looking forward to diving into my role on the Board of Directors as Secretary/Treasurer and working on the many great initiatives already underway. I am committed to working collaboratively to advance the profession forward. I completed my BA in Therapeutic Recreation from the University of Waterloo in 2008 and a Master of Public Health in 2016. My work experience in recreation therapy has mostly been focused on older adults in Long Term Care and Adult Day Programs. More recently, I have taken on a leadership role focused on improving practice. In my free time, I love hiking the North Shore mountains to find big trees or running near the ocean. I am also learning to ski again and have found a new love in ceramics.
I would like to respectfully acknowledge that the land on which I live, work, and play is the unceded territory of the Coast Salish peoples, including the xʷməθkwəy̓əm (Musqueam), Skwxwú7mesh (Squamish), and Səl̓ílwətaʔ/Selilwitulh (Tsleil-Waututh) Nations. I am deeply grateful to connect with these lands and waters, which have been stewarded by Indigenous communities for countless generations and continue to be protected and cared for today. I am committed to continuously learning, advancing reconciliation, and honoring traditional practices while integrating holistic views of health. These values guide my dedication to fostering collaboration, promoting equity, and supporting cultural resilience in all aspects of my work.
Hello BCTRA Members! I have volunteered with BCTRA in numerous roles since 2018, I am grateful for the relationships I have formed with other BCTRA volunteers over the past 6 years, and I am proud of the work that we have completed together. I am passionate about the role of recreation therapy in the field of mental health and substance use and I am proud to hold a specialization area designation in behavioural health through NCTRC. When I am not at work, I am an avid cyclist and can be found on my skis in the winter months.
Hi all! My first role with the BCTRA board was as student liaison a few years ago, and I learned so much from the fantastic team – I am happy to return as your Director of Membership. I’m a graduate of the Bachelor of Therapeutic Recreation program at Douglas College and currently practice in community mental health and substance use. I value the opportunity our profession provides to support others to make meaningful changes and learn more about themselves through recreation.
When I’m not working, you can find me taking a long walk outside, at hot yoga, or just curling up with my kitten and a juicy book (and a nice lil snack)! Looking forward to connecting with more of you during my time in this role.
Hello BCTRA! As your Director of Communications, I am excited to serve and support such an integral part of our profession. As a recent graduate of the Bachelor of Therapeutic Recreation degree program, I am passionate about connecting with past, present ,and future practitioners. I am dedicated to advocating for our field, and firmly believe that Therapeutic Recreation has the power to help people become well by engaging in meaningful and purposeful leisure.
I definitely practice what I preach, so in my leisure time, you can find me hiking or snowboarding our beautiful mountains, hitting up my favorite Spin studio, or travelling with my family. I am looking forward to my time on the board, and hope to get to know more of you in the field.
Hi BCTRA! I’m thrilled to be joining the board. I have a huge amount of enthusiasm for our profession, and believe deeply that education is the key to moving our field forward.
As someone born and raised as a settler in Treaty 6 land in Alberta, it wasn’t until recent years that I began to understand how fortunate I was to grow up on the safe, prosperous, and beautiful land that the Nehiyaw, Niitsitapi, Dene, Nakota Sioux, and Anishnaabe Nations cared for and stewarded for thousands of years.
Here in BC, I live in šxʷɬicəm (Ladner) and work near ʔəlqsən (Point Grey) – all belonging to Musqueam Nation. Each day I am grateful to live somewhere that is led by a Nation committed to environmental and cultural protection. I am committed to doing my part in the decolonization of recreation and sports in BC, so that Indigenous people from myriad Nations can access, participate in, and flourish in leisure.
Back in Alberta, I was fortunate to work primarily in day rehab settings, where it was made clear how important our work was for keeping people active, involved in their communities, and in their own homes. After graduating from the University of Lethbridge, I made my way out to the coast where I currently work with older adults. Finding the field of recreation was kismet – it’s a joy to work in a field that agrees that how you spend your leisure time is how you spend your life.
If that’s true, here’s how I spend my life: tennis, dogs, hiking, swimming, reading, and (mostly because I think I look cool) riding motorcycles.
I’m very much looking forward to connecting with you all!
Hello BCTRA members! I’m delighted to introduce myself as the student liaison between Douglas College and BCTRA. Originally hailing from New Zealand, I’ve found my second home in Canada, captivated by its mountains and endless possibilities. My love for an active lifestyle and exploring the outdoors drew me to this beautiful country. I thrive on connecting with people and building meaningful relationships. I am honored with the opportunity to work closely with both institutions to foster connections within the Therapeutic Recreation community. I see this role as an exciting opportunity to contribute, collaborate, and make a positive impact. Eager to embark on this journey, I look forward to the experiences, growth, and meaningful connections that the future holds.
Hi BCTRA! I am excited to be joining the board in the Education2 seat. I think that education and continually learning is what helps to move our field forward. I completed my Bachelor of Therapeutic Recreation from Douglas College in 2022 after having completed a Bachelor of Kinesiology prior, so education has always been an important part of my life. I have spent my career working in Longterm Care and at my current site I work in our Dementia and Behavioural Neighbourhoods. I love how we can use recreation and leisure-based interventions to make such a huge impact on people’s quality of life.
I live on Leq’á:mel, Semá:th, Kwantlen, Sq’éwlets, Máthexwi, and Katzie traditional territories (Mission) and work on kʷikʷəƛ̓əm traditional and ancestral lands (Port Coquitlam). I am honoured to live in such a beautiful province and enjoy spending time out in nature walking the dog, hiking or paddleboarding. In my indoor leisure time, I can usually be found reading and baking.
I am looking forward to connecting with you during my time on the board.
I am honored to serve as the Executive Director for BCTRA. Originally from Newfoundland, I moved to BC, with my family, in grade 5 and quickly fell in love with the ocean and outdoors of the West Coast. I am a wife of a retired Fire Chief and proud mother of two grown children who are now celebrating wedding engagements and babies. I am a white settler who is humbly learning and committing to principles of truth and reconciliation, unconscious bias and privilege.
As a semi-retired executive, I’m eager to share my experience with leading nonprofit organizations, government projects, community development, collaboration and strategic planning with BCTRA. In addition to over 30-years in social services, my academic background began in leisure studies at Camosun College and then to the University of Victoria where I completed my degree in Psychology. Later in my career, I obtained my Masters in Organizational Leadership from Royal Roads University with a focus on quality improvement and staff engagement as well as completing Counselling and Executive Coaching certifications.
Serving as your Executive Director, I receive direction and report to your elected Board of Directors and with their vision, I work to implement the Board’s strategic priorities and long-term direction for BCTRA.
I am a big believer in the power of communication, feedback and collaboration. Please reach out to me with any questions or concerns as we share in this exciting BCTRA journey.
Vicki Kipps
Executive Director
Regions & Ambassadors
A Regional Ambassador represents a specific region of British Columbia outside of Metro Vancouver. This individual acts as a liaison to the BCTRA Board of Directors. This is a volunteer position with a 2-year term open to both professional and supporting BCTRA members.
This position is currently vacant. Please contact: regionalambassadors@bctra.org if you are interested in this role.
This position is currently vacant. Please contact: regionalambassadors@bctra.org if you are interested in this role.
This position is currently vacant. Please contact: regionalambassadors@bctra.org if you are interested in this role.
I look forward to representing the Interior, and am eager to learn from the board of directors and other ambassadors
Hi everyone! I’m excited to be part of the BCTRA community and bring over 14 years of experience in healthcare. I began my career as a Health Care Assistant in long-term care and a Life Skills Worker in mental health and addictions with Northern Health (2009–2014), which sparked my passion for supporting others through person-centred care, and meaningful TR intervention. Since 2015, I’ve been working in the recreation therapy profession and graduated from the University of Regina in 2024 with a Bachelors of sport and recreation studies with a major in therapeutic recreation. In March, I became a Certified Therapeutic Recreation Specialist (CTRS) and I currently work as a Recreation Therapist with Interior Health in beautiful Kelowna, BC in Long Term Care.
I love the way recreation therapy creates space for connection, growth, and healing. When I’m not at work, you can find me exploring local trails, camping with my family, gardening, taking courses or relaxing with a good book and some coffee. I’m looking forward to continuing to grow with this incredible community! Thank you
This position is currently vacant. Please contact: regionalambassadors@bctra.org if you are interested in this role.