Spring 2026 Director's Message

New season, new beginnings

Spring is such a wonderful time of the year.  A time for renewal, new life, building a strong foundation for a future of sustainable growth and of course, warmer weather. I am hopeful everyone in our physiotherapy community was able to find some space for health and wellness over the past months. Old Man Winter sure blew in this year!

New beginnings are often sought after as we transition to brighter, warmer, longer days ahead. Indeed, looking back through the fall and winter months, your School of Physiotherapy saw its share of challenges, with the biggest challenge, some may say, yet to come as we relocate our programming for the Spring and Summer, to make way for extensive renovations to our Forrest Building. We are resilient, engaged, and continually ready to meet our vision of leading regionally, nationally, and internationally in collaborative, inclusive physiotherapy education, research, and service that advance health, policy, and practice: new season, new beginnings.

It is fitting that May is National Physiotherapy Month in Canada. We all work together; move forward as we recognize the vital contributions of physiotherapists to health and well-being. There is a sense of health and happiness in the School of Physiotherapy as we enter this new season. This newsletter is filled with great stories that make us all proud to be members of our community.

You will read about research insights and successes, engagements with Patients with Lived Experience through the Praxis Spinal Cord Institute, some great stories from the students, and find details about our upcoming Student Research Day, our next PT Matters Research presentation and our highly anticipated alumni reunion. We want to share the great times we are having here in the school with you as we both consider a new season, new beginnings.

Our alumni are vital to the school's vision and the future of Physiotherapy. Many alums support our students through practice education experiences and research, while others donate to the school through our giving page. Thank you for all that you do! We truly appreciate your continued dedication to the profession, your Alma Mater, and our students. We wish to continue our engagement, building a strong foundation, a solid community of excellence to develop a future for health care in Atlantic Canada and beyond.

In closing, I would like to extend congratulations to the class of 2026. It was great to work with you, study with you, and educate you on your pathway to physiotherapy. May your new beginnings be exactly that, a new beginning. Wishing everyone well and hoping you enjoy reading our newsletter.

Kind regards, 

Dr. Derek Rutherford
Director