Description

Ken Rezsnyak consistently made significant contributions to the profession of Massage Therapy and to the Association over the span of his career as an RMT. Ken taught at Sutherland-Chan for 15 years and was also on the Board of Directors of the RMTAO for a total of 9 years. He was well known for his volunteer work with the Greater Toronto Area Chapter, the Hands Together education conference, and mentorship he provided to RMTs within the profession.

Ken passed away in 2005 and in his honour each year, a member of the RMTAO who has made a significant contribution to the Association in the preceding year will be recognized with this award.

Recipients of the RMT of the Year Award in Remembrance of Ken Rezsnyak will:

• Be an Active, Associate or Life Member of the RMTAO in good standing
• Have made a significant contribution to the RMTAO by giving freely of their time, energy, knowledge and experience in the service of the RMTAO and its members.

Significant contributions include but are not limited to:

• Presenting at educational conference, leading webinars or in-person courses
• Writing for Massage Therapy Today magazine
• Providing support to other RMTAO members
• Active engagement in Community-Based Networks
• Involvement in RMTAO advocacy efforts

The Ken Rezsnyak RMT of the Year Award will be bestowed annually to a member who embodies the spirit of Ken’s accomplishments and goes above and beyond for the advancement of the profession.

Note: This award may only be bestowed once to an individual recipient.

Nominations

There will be a call for nominations made by the Board of Directors.

Selection Process

The Membership and Elections Committee along with the previous year’s award recipient will review the nominations put forward through the call for nominations from the Board of Directors. Once this process has taken place, the Membership and Elections Committee will put forward four (4) candidates to the Board of Directors for their review and the Board will select one candidate for receipt of the award.

2024 - Erika Kuehnel
2023 - Radha Rampersaud
2022 - Emilie McKay
2021 - Darren Nixon
2020 - Dani Faucher
2019 - Karyn Hughes
2018 - Tracy Lovitt
2017 - Susan Bessonette
2016 - Richard Lebert
2015 - Amanda Baskwill
2013 - Erin Whyte

Description

This award is presented to an RMT or a group of RMTs in Ontario in recognition of service to the profession through strong leadership that goes above and beyond in the areas of integrity, professionalism, innovation, advocacy, accountability and communication.

The award recipient or group will have demonstrated leadership in the profession by:

• Inspiring others
• Supporting new ways of doing things
• Seeing beyond obstacles and assisting others to do the same
• Seeing mistakes as learning opportunities
• Supporting training and development
• Engaging others in dialogue about values
• Encouraging others by recognizing individual contributions
• Celebrating team victories
• Providing information as a coach or mentor
• Working to add to the success of other RMTs

This award is open to both Active and Life members of the RMTAO.

Nominations

There will be a call for nominations made by the Board of Directors.

Selection Process

The Membership and Elections Committee will review the nominations put forward through the call for nominations from the Board of Directors. Once this process has taken place, the Membership and Elections Committee will put forward four (4) candidates or groups that have been nominated to the Board of Directors for their review and selection.

2024 - Dani Faucher
2023 - Krystin Bokalo
2022 - Juliana Fernandes
2021 - Brandy John
2020 - Karen Munro-Caple
2019 - Lori Copeland
2018 - Elizabeth Gibb
2017 - Stacey Shipwright
2016 - Margaret Wallis-Duffy
2013 - Rick Overeem

Description

The Research Award is given to an RMT in Canada who demonstrates leadership and encourages and participates in research that has a positive impact on the profession.

The RMT is recognized for any of the following:

• A peer reviewed work or a body of work with corresponding publication(s) in a professional/scientific journal
• Presentation(s) of professional work provincially, nationally and/or internationally
• Promotion of research itself and the application of research findings to the clinical setting (knowledge transfer)
• Facilitation of research in a clinical setting that involves the profession

Nominations

There will be a call for nominations made by the Board of Directors. Submissions may be received from members of the RMTAO, non-members, or anyone currently active in the research community. The individual nominating the member will be asked to send in a copy of the publications and or account for the work within the field of research for the betterment of the profession on the award application form.

Selection Process

The Membership and Elections Committee will review the nominations put forward through the call for nominations from the Board of Directors. Once this process has taken place, the Membership and Elections Committee will put forward four (4) candidates to the Board of Directors for their review and selection.

2024 - Morgan Richard
2023 - Suzanne Michaud
2022 - Christin Sadler
2021 - Richard Lebert
2017 - Donelda Gowan
2016 - Wray Barraclough
2013 - Trish Dryden

Description

The Educator of the Year Award recognizes an individual with a history of academic excellence. The award acknowledges Registered Massage Therapists who are academic or clinical educators (teaching/supervising) in Ontario. The nominees of this award should promote professionalism and excellence in learning, provide innovative teaching techniques, go over and above the normal requirements of an educator and celebrate in the successes of their students.

Nominations

There will be a call for nominations made by the Board of Directors. Submissions may be received from students currently enrolled or within 6 months of graduation in a Massage Therapy program in Ontario, and program co-ordinators and educators currently working in a Massage Therapy program in Ontario.

Selection Process

The Membership and Elections Committee will review the nominations put forward through the call for nominations from the Board of Directors. Once this process has taken place, the Membership and Elections Committee will put forward four (4) candidates to the Board of Directors for their review and selection.

2024 - Peter Becker
2023 - Robert Harris
2022 - Gabriel Flamminio
2020 - Patricia Belli
2019 - Greg Shortt
2018 - Jennifer Brennan
2017 - Andrew Clapperton
2016 - Stephanie Cox
2015 - Iain Robertson
2013 - Ron McKerracher

2024 - Dr. Amanda Baskwill
2017 - Dr. Martha Menard
2015 - Bryn Sumpton
2015 - Paul Finch