Director's Message Fall 2024

It's reinvigorating seeing students returning to the Forrest Building in the fall while inviting a new cohort of promising students looking to start their occupational therapy journey. You can also sense a feeling of pride throughout the School faculty and staff as a new graduating class crosses the stage to receive their degrees—marking a milestone in their lives. I hope that you, our OT community, also feel a sense of pride in knowing that through your support, you are part of launching new OT professionals that will impact our neighbourhoods and our world.
 
The energy of a student-infused building and the settling into a new academic year creates the perfect environment for chiselling out the details of our new strategic plan. Part of what excites me about our plan is our redefined values. To pursue justice and equity in all we do, to foster inclusion and belonging for everyone, to engage in collaborative and reciprocal relationships, and our commitment to be proactive, responsive, and transformative. These are not just words on a screen but values that inspire and support our mission of "Radically inclusive and dynamic education, research, and occupational therapy practice that impacts everyday lives."
 
As you can see in the image below, the School of Occupational Therapy, based on feedback from the OT community, established four areas we are committing to enhancing: Education, Research, Administrative Service, and Communities and Culture. Please take a moment to read about how we are looking to grow in these focus areas.
 
As with all best-made plans, we know we'll have to pivot and adapt to our ever-changing academic landscape and unforeseen roadblocks. Still, we can commit to and achieve our ambitious vision of "transforming everyday lives" with our dedicated faculty, staff, stakeholders, and community members.