With over 80% of people in Canada using substances, it’s time to reframe the conversation and recognize substance use on a spectrum that centers health, not illness, as the foundation for care and equity in our healthcare system.

Join health systems educator Shawn Fisk and OT leader Gord Unsworth, with host Justine Jecker, to explore how adopting a substance use health lens can help dismantle systemic stigma. Together, they challenge the dominant “addictions-only” approach that delays care until crisis and advocate for a more inclusive, health-centered model.

Tune in to learn and reflect on ways you can incorporate or acknowledge substance use health in your practice. 

CAOT - ACE

Explorez un enjeu critique, méconnu et trop souvent ignoré : la violence conjugale et les traumatismes craniocérébraux chez les femmes survivantes.

L’animatrice Soëla Bandaly s’entretient avec l'ergothérapeute et chercheuse Carolina Bottari pour examiner les répercussions profondes de ces blessures invisibles sur la santé, la sécurité et les occupations quotidiennes, tout en incitant à réfléchir au rôle de l’ergothérapie dans leur accompagnement. Participez à cette conversation incontournable pour approfondir votre compréhension, enrichir votre pratique et soutenir une approche plus humaine et éclairée.

Ressources:

• Violence, femmes et handicap : responsabilité sociale de l'Ergothérapie? (p. 23, 2023)
• Du refuge au foyer et au-delà : comment les ergothérapeutes peuvent devenir plus responsables vis-à-vis des femmes en transition. (p. 30, 2022)
• Outil de dépistage HELPS* peut identifier les survivantes qui risquent de subir ou ont subi une blessure au cerveau.
• Suivre les travaux de recherches de Carolina Bottari sur le sujet sur ou communiquer par courriel à [email protected].

Découvrer les Documents de pratique en ergothérapie de l'ACE.

Social occupational therapy is a concept that refers to politically and ethically framed practices that target individuals, groups, or systems to enable justice and social rights for people experiencing disadvantageous social conditions (Barros, Ghirardi, and Lopes, 2005). 

In this episode our guests, Canadian OT Keri Chambers and Brazilian OT Ana Malfitano, with host Justine Jecker, explore this unique field of practice and how any occupational therapy practitioner can address the social context of one’s environment. Tune in to hear about the role occupational therapy practitioners can play in driving systemic change to ensure the profession can effectively address socially contextual issues that may have historically been seen as outside of the profession. 

CAOT/ACE

Join Dr. Brenda Vrkljan, Editor-in-Chief of the Canadian Journal of Occupational Therapy (CJOT) and professor at McMaster University, and host Justine Jecker to explore why, amongst ongoing debates about accessibility, responsiveness, and the evolving definition of "evidence," peer-reviewed journals remain important today.

Brenda reflects on her journey to becoming CJOT’s Editor-in-Chief, the challenges of engaging newer generations of occupational therapy practitioners with scientific journals, and her thoughts on the future of academic publishing in occupational therapy.

La pandémie de COVID-19 a profondément transformé le quotidien des individus, des communautés et des professionnels de la santé, entraînant des défis sans précédent et nécessitant une adaptation rapide de la pratique et de la recherche en ergothérapie.

Dans cet épisode du Balado Conversations qui comptent en ergo, l’animatrice invitée, Josée Séguin, accueille deux expertes en la matière : la professeure et ergothérapeute Émilie Lagueux et l’ergothérapeute Dobrochna Litwin. Ensemble, elles explorent les répercussions de la COVID longue sur l’ergothérapie, les défis rencontrés par cette clientèle et les ressources mises en place pour les accompagner. Une discussion essentielle pour mieux comprendre le rôle des ergothérapeutes dans ce contexte en constante évolution.Ressources:

• Communauté de pratique COVID-longue et ergothérapie
• Ressources de COVID-19 de longue durée pour les ergothérapeutes
• Projet Co-Vie

OTA and Juno-nominated R&B artist Angie Akhinagba – known musically as Zenesoul – explores the intersection of occupational therapy and creative expression with host Justine Jecker. By day, Angie supports patients in the rehabilitation department at Cortellucci Vaughan Hospital, but in every spare moment, she’s crafting soulful music, often from the front seat of her car.

Dive into conversation with Angie to hear how she seamlessly blends her passions for therapy and music, highlighting creativity as an essential occupation. You’ll discover how personal passions can enrich professional practice!

Explorez le rôle essentiel des ergothérapeutes en tant que facilitateurs de changement avecSoëla Bandaly, notre nouvelle animatrice de la version francophone du balado, et ergothérapeutesAnne Pascale Ménard etGiovanni Arcuri. Ensemble, ils abordent des stratégies pour simplifier le langage, renforcer l’identité professionnelle et favoriser la collaboration interprofessionnelle. Ce nouvel épisode de Conversations qui comptent en ergo met en lumière l’importance du bien-être mental et des approches préventives en ergothérapie. 

Rejoignez-nous pour une discussion qui invite à repenser la pratique afin d’avoir un impact optimal auprès de la clientèle. Cet épisode fait écho à l’épisode 49, Facilitating Meaningful Change in Occupational Therapy Practice.

Discover the resources and support available to you as you approach graduation and begin your new career as an OT or OTA. CAOT has been helping new occupational therapy professionals navigate this important passage for decades, and can equip you with the knowledge and confidence you need to navigate your transition into the profession with ease. 

Tune in to hear Christine Dettwiler, CAOT’s Membership Team Manager, and Dustin Gelowitz, a new graduate leader, as they chat with host Justine Jecker about the unique pathways to practice, and how CAOT can help you be prepared for the exam, protected from liability, supported by our diverse resources and programs, and find a position that matches your distinct skills. CAOT is your career partner for life!

The Canadian OT Grad Guide: Start your career off right!

In 2025, OT Conversations that Matter: The Podcast will focus on innovative educational practices shaping the future of occupational therapy. To kick off this theme, Episode 51 highlights a capstone course for second-year occupational therapy students at McMaster University.

Join guests Sandra Moll and Briano DiRezze, OTs and McMaster University faculty, and host Justine Jecker as they discuss design thinking and entrepreneurship in occupational therapy.

The conversation explores how the McMaster course bridges design and business education with occupational therapy, strengthens connections with the occupational therapy entrepreneur community, and emphasizes the importance of exploring business-related competencies and strategic partnerships for advancing the profession.

Tune in now to hear about the benefits of equipping future occupational therapists with the skills to innovate and lead in a dynamic health care landscape!

In episode 50 of OT Conversations That Matter: The Podcast, host Justine Jecker is joined by OT Katie Churchill and former OT Amanda Björn to explore the intersection of professional identity and leadership in occupational therapy. They discuss why many OTs relinquish their title when stepping into formal leadership roles like CEO or Director, the challenges of maintaining a protected title, and how self-worth shapes leadership in the field. Tune in for a reflective conversation on the “art of occupational therapy” and the critical role of clear communication in defining professional identity and building meaningful connections.