Douglas College instructor wins award.

> Tricia Rachfall recognized for long career in therapeutic recreation

Colten Kamlade Staff Reporter

Douglas College instructor made n impact at the BC Therapeutic Association this year when she was presented with the Ingrid Parson’s Professional Achievement Award.

According to the BC Therapeutic Association website, the award is meant to acknowledge such contributions as “a significant contribution in the field of therapeutic recreation, serving ina key leadership position, a contribution for a particular initiative,” or a “series of contributions over an extended period.”

Tricia Rachfall, co-ordinator of the therapeutic recreation program at Douglas College, has spent years spreading her knowledge of therapeutic recreation. In an email interview with the Other Press, Rachfall recalled her work during the 2010 Paralympic Games as some of the most meaningful.

“T organized a number of events, college wide and for the therapeutic recreation students. In the college, my students hosted a series of displays on a variety of Paralympic sports—summer and winter—with representatives and athletes from some of these sports also able to attend. In addition, we had participation opportunities in the gym for a variety of sports, from wheelchair curling—with an indoor adapted set—to

wheelchair basketball, to sledge hockey on sleds adapted for indoor use,” she said. “Our students also created write ups ona large portion of the athletes who were going to be participating in the 2010 Winter Paralympics. All these events were hosted at the New West campus, and the community was also invited to attend as well as the entire Douglas College community. Other events that I arranged was to take a busload of TR students up to watch cross-country skiing in Whistler, attend sledge hockey at UBC, and observe wheelchair curling in Vancouver: A once ina lifetime experience for most who participated.”

Though the 2010 Paralympics were exciting, Rachfall said she views the development of her students as the best part of her job.

“The most rewarding aspect of my job is, by far, the growth of the students. I can think of so many students who came in year one and were struggling to keep up, who were still young and unfocussed, but then to see them walk across the stage as graduates, ready and able to be practitioners and be future leaders, it is pretty incredible to be a part of that,” she said. “It still excites me to teach the new first year students, they inspire meas I hope to inspire them, and just as enjoyable is to teach the fourth year students as they are getting ready to continue on their professional journey.”

Despite her work and the work of

Douglas to host truth and reconciliation

discussion

> Panel administered by Urban Challenges Form

Katie Czenczek Staff Writer

I appears that Douglas College is taking the Truth and Reconciliation Commission’s message home as the school continues to line up events relating to the subject matter.

Following the Walk for Reconciliation earlier this fall, the DSU hosted a variety of events that students could attend in order to learn more about what truth and reconciliation means and how it can be achieved. These events are to be followed up by the newest Urban Challenges Forum, which is coming to Douglas College on November 15, 2017.

The Urban Challenges Forum is a partnership between Douglas College, Simon Fraser University, and the City of New Westminster, where students are invited to attend panel discussions about hot-button issues such as the fentanyl crisis, housing in the Lower Mainland, and now, truth and reconciliation. Starting at 6:30 p.m. in room 2201, there will be a panel of three speakers and one SFU moderator who will kick off the discussion. At the

end of their speeches, there will be time for questions and an open discussion about how and what can make truth and reconciliation work in an urban setting. According to the Truth and Reconciliation Commission's website, “(The Truth and Reconciliation Commission] was established on June 1, 2008, with a mandate of five years.” In this mandate, the government is required to help investigate the conditions of residential schools and educate the public on their findings. Gail Edwards, a history professor at Douglas College who will sit on the truth and reconciliation discussion panel, explained what exactly she will be discussing at the forum in an interview with the Other Press. “My part is going to be talking about the backstory—what are some of the issues that frame contemporary indigenous issues. Thinking about treaties, colonialism, land and dispossession, with a particular focus on New Westminster.” Edwards also said that she hopes students will take away from the forum a broader understanding of indigenous

fellow instructors, Rachfall believes that many people have misunderstandings about therapeutic recreation.

“I believe many people don’t understand and appreciate how the loss of leisure and recreation in their life could be life-altering, and how most people take it for granted that they can participate in what they want, when they want, how they want,” she said. “Using recreation and leisure as forms of intervention,

issues in New Westminster, and will in turn get involved in changing the way issues specific to indigenous peoples are dealt with in Canada.

“One of the things students will take away from [the forum] are the calls to action for the Truth and Reconciliation Commission at the individual level. Though we will also be discussing how communities and organizations can do the work of the Truth and Reconciliation Commission, we will focus on individuals and how they can get involved as well. Students will hopefully walk away with questions they want to ask themselves to follow up and frame

Photo of Tricia Rachfall (left) and Geri Paterson via Tricia Rachfall

therapeutic recreation practitioners improve overall] health and well-being and assist in the development of skills, knowledge and abilities in leisure, but also that can be transferred into other life skills such as work or relationships. Many people think that therapeutic recreation is just about play and participating in

an activity, but it is really developing

and improving knowledge, skills and abilities in a recreation environment.”

« u c 9 Ss U G 5 vu G c £ ° Q a 5 s > a o g G s 5 Lud o

indigenous issues in different ways.

In another note, Edwards also explained how Rob McCullough, manager of museums and heritage for the City of New Westminster, will be involved in the event.

“Rob will talk about some of the things that New Westminster is doing at the moment in order to follow through with the commission.”

The Other Press reported in October that McCullough is currently leading a City of New Westminster taskforce that is examining how the City can implement the Truth and Reconciliation Commission’s calls to action.