2026 Nominees & Winners

Academic Excellence 

Winner- Monique Jardine – North Bay Regional Health Centre

Nominees:

•  Monique Jardine- North Bay Regional Health Centre

Commitment to Clinical Education

Winner- Valérie Fecteau – St. Joseph’s Continuing Care Centre

Valérie is an Occupational Therapist at St. Joseph’s Continuing Care Centre, where she has spent the past several years dedicating her practice to the care and wellbeing of older adults. With a deep commitment to geriatric rehabilitation, she works alongside her patients to support meaningful independence and quality of life at every stage of aging. Beyond her clinical work, Valérie has embraced the role of preceptor with enthusiasm. She finds fulfilment in working with students, offering them a window into geriatric care and the collaborative nature of the work. As part of a strong interdisciplinary team, she values the everyday exchange of perspectives across disciplines, and loves helping students discover how that collaboration translates directly into better outcomes for the people they serve. She believes that great clinical education is rooted in compassion, curiosity, and the willingness to learn alongside one another.

Nominees:

• Nina Vendetti – North Bay Regional Health Centre
• Michael Ivany – North Bay Regional Health Centre
• Valérie Fecteau – St. Joseph’s Continuing Care Centre

Interprofessional Collaborator

Winner- Carrie-Lynne Basto – Health Sciences North

Carrie-Lynne is an experienced Occupational Therapist who has been practicing in Northern Ontario for over 11 years. Born and raised in the North, she returned to the region after completing her studies at the University of Ottawa, bringing her skills and dedication back to the community that shaped her. She currently works in an outpatient neurological rehabilitation setting, where she is part of an interdisciplinary team supporting individuals in their recovery following stroke, spinal cord injuries, and other neurological conditions. Prior to this role, Carrie-Lynne practiced in acute care at the main site hospital, where she gained valuable experience managing complex and early-stage rehabilitation needs. Throughout her career, she has been committed to clinical education, mentoring students and supporting the next generation of healthcare professionals. She values these teaching experiences as opportunities to give back, recognizing that learning is a shared process and that she continues to learn alongside each student, as everyone is often discovering something new together. Carrie-Lynne strongly believes in the importance of student placements, drawing on her own experience as a learner to guide and support those entering the profession.

Nominees: 

• Mavia DeNoble – Pioneer Manor
• Carrie-Lynne Basto – Health Sciences North

Northern Ambassador

Winners- Lauren McKinley & Lauren Rizzo – THRIVE Children’s Treatment Centre

Lauren McKinley

Lauren has worked as an Occupational Therapist for the past five years, currently supporting children and families at the THRIVE Child Development Centre in Sault Ste. Marie. She is passionate about serving northern communities and values learning from the experiences of individuals with disabilities and their families. Outside of work, she enjoys spending time outdoors with her fiancé and their dog, Auggie, as well as connecting with friends, family, and building community across Northern Ontario. She is honoured to be chosen as the recipient of the Northern Ambassador Preceptor Award and grateful for the opportunity to continue learning from the people and communities she works alongside every day.

Lauren Rizzo

Lauren Rizzo is an Occupational Therapist at Thrive Child Development Centre who provides care to children and families in Sault Ste. Marie and rural Northern communities in the Algoma region. Her practice emphasizes collaboration, accessibility, and client-centered care, with a focus on supporting meaningful participation in daily life. As a preceptor, Lauren is passionate about creating supportive, hands-on learning environments and is committed to mentoring students through reflection, confidence-building, and real-world experience.

Nominees:

• Lauren McKinley- THRIVE Children’s Treatment Centre
• Lauren Rizzo – THRIVE Children’s Treatment Centre

Commitment to Clinical Education

Winner- Justin Smal – Manitoulin Physiotherapy Centre

Justin is a Physiotherapist working on Manitoulin Island who was born and raised in Sudbury, Ontario. Justin attended Laurentian University for an undergraduate degree in nursing, graduating in 2014, then pursuing his Masters degree in Physiotherapy at McMaster University. Justin is in his sixth year of practice and his clinical interests include concussion, rehabilitation, pain science and education. Justin hopes to grow the physiotherapy profession along with inter-collaborative practice in Northern Ontario.

Nominees: 

• Jason Taddeo – Fairway Physiotherapy
• Justin Smal – Manitoulin Physiotherapy Centre
• Michelle Balcaen – Lake of the Woods District Hospital

Innovative Preceptor 

Winner- Aubrey Arnocky – Martel & Mitchell Physiotherapy

Aubrey is a physiotherapist originally from Sault Ste. Marie, Ontario. Aubrey’s journey into physiotherapy began with a strong interest in human movement and rehabilitation, which led her to complete her undergraduate degree in Kinesiology at Wilfrid Laurier University. She then pursued a Master’s of Science in Physical Therapy (MScPT) at Queen’s University, graduating in 2010. Since entering clinical practice, Aubrey has focused on orthopedic physiotherapy, where she is passionate about helping individuals recover from injury, improve function, and return to the activities that matter most to them. Aubrey is currently practicing at Martel and Mitchell Rehabilitation in North Bay and Powassan Ontario, working with a diverse patient population. Aubrey is grateful for her family, mentors, colleagues, students and patients who have supported and inspired her throughout her career.

Nominees: 

• Aubrey Arnocky – Martel & Mitchell Physiotherapy

Interprofessional Collaborator:

Winner-Cam Coulter – Sault Area Hospital

Cam is a physiotherapist practicing in Sault Ste. Marie, Ontario. Since 2019, he has worked at Sault Area Hospital, providing care in the Intensive Care Unit, Emergency Department, and Acute Stroke Program. He also works in private practice at Aline Wellness, treating individuals with orthopedic, neurological, and respiratory conditions. Cam is passionate about healthcare education and has served as a preceptor for numerous students from physiotherapy and other healthcare disciplines. He enjoys introducing learners to the role of physiotherapy within interdisciplinary healthcare teams and helping them appreciate the impact rehabilitation can have on patient outcomes. He has also contributed to teaching in the Physiotherapist Assistant program at Sault College. Outside of clinical practice, Cam has supported student-athletes through pitch-side sports coverage at Algoma University and Sault College and currently serves as an assistant coach with the Algoma University Women’s Volleyball team during its first season since 2010. As a proud Northern Ontarian, he is committed to supporting healthcare education and encouraging learners to build their careers and communities in Northern Ontario.

Nominees: 

• Cam Coulter – Sault Area Hospital

Northern Ambassador

Winner-Riley Waugh – West Nipissing General Hospital

Riley is a Physiotherapist at the West Nipissing General Hospital who provides care to patients and residents at the hospital including the acute nursing care unit, complex continuing care unit, long term centre and outpatient bundle care program for total joint replacements. Riley has been working at the hospital and living in Sturgeon Falls, Ontario for the past two and a half years. He has always shared an appreciation for the West Nipissing community having spent summers growing up in Verner, Ontario at his family’s camp and participating in family hockey tournaments and hockey schools in the area. Riley shares that he feels privileged to be able to give back to his community and hopes to be able share with more learners what working in West Nipissing and other smaller communities have to offer.

Nominees: 

• Alexa Tipper – Manitoulin Physio Centre
• Riley Waugh – West Nipissing General Hospital
• Vanessa Kroeker – Thunder Bay Regional Health Sciences Centre

Commitment to Clinical Education 

Winner-Manon Ethier – Ethier Hearing Clinic

Manon started her career in Ottawa, Ontario, working both in a hospital (Ottawa Hospital) and private clinical setting, and closely with Ears-Nose & Throat Specialists (ENTs). She moved to Halifax, Nova Scotia for five years to continue to practice audiology in a private setting, which included travel to the North Eastern part of the province, before moving to Timmins, Ontario, to establish the Ethier Hearing Clinic. Manon enjoys working with patients of all ages, especially the elderly. Her main areas of experience and interest include innovative hearing aid technology, community outreach, marketing and business. Manon thrives on incorporating new approaches and protocols in her practice in order to increase client benefit and satisfaction. She enjoys making a difference in people’s lives and giving them the gift of hearing! Manon is very dedicated to her patients’ well-being.

Nominees: 

• Bethany McKinley-Young – FIREFLY
• Emily Bernie – Thunder Bay Regional Health Sciences Centre
• Jocelyn Kennedy – FIREFLY
• Manon Ethier – Ethier Hearing Clinic
• Mark Gulliver – Ethier Hearing Clinic
• Tamara Attanasio – Lake of the Woods District Hospital

Innovative Preceptor 

Winner-Carlee Juurakko – St. Joseph’s Care Group

Nominees: 

• Carlee Juurakko – St. Joseph’s Care Group

Northern Ambassador

Winner-Brenda Liddle – Muskoka Algonquin Healthcare

Brenda Liddle is a Speech-Language Pathologist working for Muskoka Algonquin Healthcare for over 20+ years. After receiving her undergraduate degree from McGill University she completed a Master’s in Speech Pathology at the University of Alberta. Brenda worked at the Glenrose Rehabilitation Hospital and the Alberta Hospital Ponoka Brain Injury Rehab Program before returning to settle in the Muskoka area. Brenda has also provided SLP services in the Muskoka community through Home Care and the School Board. 

Nominees:

• Brenda Liddle – Muskoka Algonquin Healthcare
• Myriam Bernier – FIREFLY