"Myriam Benoit is a student-athlete. She planned to intern at the Voyageur Athletic Therapy Clinic at Laurentian University. She and other students are concerned about the loss of the clinic."
Thursday, July 21, 2011
Wednesday, July 20, 2011
Laurentian should keep therapy clinic open
"We are writing to express our concern about the closure of the athletic therapy clinic at Laurentian University.
First and foremost, this clinic is an absolutely essential service for all Laurentian athletes, be they physical education majors or members of a varsity team such as the basketball team. They need an onsite facility where they can be treated expertly and immediately in order that they can return as quickly as possible to their studies or to the team.
A student should not have to look off-campus for therapy, since a typical treatment at $55 and up is too costly and it usually takes two to three weeks to get an appointment.
I also fear that visiting teams may be hesitant to bring their athletes to a facility where there is no medical support for them."
Monday, July 18, 2011
Closing clinic at LU a mistake
"Gymnasts stumble and don't land the dismount. One defensive error and a goal is scored.
Quality athletes will correct these errors and move forward.
Which opens a door to Laurentian University to admitting it was a mistake to close the Athletic Therapy Clinic and find a way to reinstate its therapists.
The cuts came, ironically, in June, which was Athletic Therapy Month in Canada. The emphasis this year was on the prevention and treatment of head injuries.
Therapists Wendy Hampson and Shawn Charron were released, along with 23 other Laurentian employees, many of them long-time.
Charron has since opened up in his space, Athletic Therapy Services North, at 705-690-7512."
...
"This week, the assistant athletic therapist for the Calgary Flames delivered a harsh letter denouncing the "ignorant" decision to close the clinic. Schad Richea asks the university to reconsider and find other ways to fund the clinic to best serve student-athletes.
...
"This week, the assistant athletic therapist for the Calgary Flames delivered a harsh letter denouncing the "ignorant" decision to close the clinic. Schad Richea asks the university to reconsider and find other ways to fund the clinic to best serve student-athletes.
As he says, "Jarome Iginla doesn't seem me as redundant."
So, mistakes happen. Athletes get back up and they fix things, make it right."
Thursday, July 14, 2011
Schad Richea's Letter to President of Laurentian University
July 14, 2011
Dominic Giroux
President, Laurentian University
Sudbury, Ontario, P3E 2C6
Canada
Mr. Giroux:
My name is Schad Richea. Currently, I am the Assistant Athletic Therapist for the Calgary Flames. Previously to my work here, I was the Head Athletic Therapist at the University of Calgary. I recently have become aware of the terrible situation with Laurentian Athletics and the dismissal of my colleague Wendy Hampson CAT(C). This letter is meant to show the deplorable situation your Athletics Department is now in with this very ignorant decision.
Athletic Therapy services for varsity athletics is redundant at Laurentian? Who is going to coordinate and cover the on-court/field/ice practices and games for your student athletes? Who is going to accept this liability when someone is hurt with nobody there? Who is going to coordinate the pre-season medicals for your student athletes? Do you think you can simply “piece work” this type of care? Who is going to help your coaches decide who is in or out of the line-up? Who is going to mentor Athletic Therapy students with experiential learning? Who is going to provide a very important link between the community and Laurentian University with regards to being a voice for Athletic Therapy expertise for active citizens of Sudbury? Wendy Hampson is world renown and a great leader! This decision seems purely political and budgetary with no prudence as to other models which are best for the student athlete at Laurentian.
Here with the Flames, the NHL athletes have the means to access an array of specialist providers: Sport Medicine Physicians, Orthopedic Surgeons, Dentists, nutritionists, chiropractors, physical therapists, etc. However, these medical professionals do not deal with the day to day activities, treatments, rehab, coordination of care, etc. This is paramount to compete at a maximum level. We handle all of this! Jarome Iginla doesn’t see me as redundant!
There are many ways to fund an Athletic Therapy program for Laurentian University varsity athletics. By simply “gassing it” and patching you have given up and your student athletes will suffer. Also, you have passed the buck for Laurentian Athletics medical coverage to other CIS universities in your conference (it would seem both home and away). I plead you take a look at this situation and tactfully evaluate its impact.
Sincerely:
Schad Richea MEd.,BSc., ATC, CAT(C)
Assistant Athletic Therapist - Calgary Flames Hockey Club
Dominic Giroux
President, Laurentian University
Sudbury, Ontario, P3E 2C6
Canada
Mr. Giroux:
My name is Schad Richea. Currently, I am the Assistant Athletic Therapist for the Calgary Flames. Previously to my work here, I was the Head Athletic Therapist at the University of Calgary. I recently have become aware of the terrible situation with Laurentian Athletics and the dismissal of my colleague Wendy Hampson CAT(C). This letter is meant to show the deplorable situation your Athletics Department is now in with this very ignorant decision.
Athletic Therapy services for varsity athletics is redundant at Laurentian? Who is going to coordinate and cover the on-court/field/ice practices and games for your student athletes? Who is going to accept this liability when someone is hurt with nobody there? Who is going to coordinate the pre-season medicals for your student athletes? Do you think you can simply “piece work” this type of care? Who is going to help your coaches decide who is in or out of the line-up? Who is going to mentor Athletic Therapy students with experiential learning? Who is going to provide a very important link between the community and Laurentian University with regards to being a voice for Athletic Therapy expertise for active citizens of Sudbury? Wendy Hampson is world renown and a great leader! This decision seems purely political and budgetary with no prudence as to other models which are best for the student athlete at Laurentian.
Here with the Flames, the NHL athletes have the means to access an array of specialist providers: Sport Medicine Physicians, Orthopedic Surgeons, Dentists, nutritionists, chiropractors, physical therapists, etc. However, these medical professionals do not deal with the day to day activities, treatments, rehab, coordination of care, etc. This is paramount to compete at a maximum level. We handle all of this! Jarome Iginla doesn’t see me as redundant!
There are many ways to fund an Athletic Therapy program for Laurentian University varsity athletics. By simply “gassing it” and patching you have given up and your student athletes will suffer. Also, you have passed the buck for Laurentian Athletics medical coverage to other CIS universities in your conference (it would seem both home and away). I plead you take a look at this situation and tactfully evaluate its impact.
Sincerely:
Schad Richea MEd.,BSc., ATC, CAT(C)
Assistant Athletic Therapist - Calgary Flames Hockey Club
Monday, July 11, 2011
Cornwall leaving its mark on the Ontario Hockey League
"Andrew Brown brought the Robertson Cup (OHL Championship trophy) to his parents' home in South Stormont this weekend. Andrew is a former Cornwall resident who attended Sir John Johnson grade school on Mohawk Drive. As the Athletic Therapist and head trainer for the Owen Sound Attack, Brown plays a key role in ensuring the players (and sometimes the coaches) get the proper care they need when nursing injuries, big and small. "
Friday, July 8, 2011
Better get used to Ice Caps
"Expect to see multiple introductions at the press conference next week in St. John's that will officially reveal Keith McCambridge as the new coach of the St. John's AHL team.
Two members of the club's training staff have also been hired.
Ian Cox, who worked with QMJHL's Halifax Mooseheads last season, will be the equipment manager, while Alain Chabbert, who had been an athletic therapist with the Q's Cape Breton Screaming Eagles, is also expected to move to the AHL."
Volunteers get knowledge boost
"Volunteers for Community Care will now be able to do their jobs more efficiently, thanks to a two-day training course.
More than 25 of Community Care for Central Hastings' 40 volunteers took advantage of a training course with athletic therapist Jenna Coe from Centre Hastings Sport and Physio, July 4 and 5.
Coe worked with volunteers on strategies to help seniors in and out of vehicles. Volunteers make more than 8,000 trips a year taking seniors with ailments and physical disabilities to medical appointments, shopping and to social outings."
Thursday, July 7, 2011
Eagles athletic therapist moving up
"Much is said and written about players developing in the Quebec Major Junior Hockey League and moving on to new challenges in professional hockey. Sometimes we hear of coaches doing the same thing. The Cape Breton Screaming Eagles announced Thursday that Athletic Therapist and Equipment Manager Alain Chabbert is the latest to make the move.
Chabbert has accepted a position with the Winnipeg Jets organization. He will join the Jets American Hockey League affiliate in St. John’s, Newfoundland as that team’s new Athletic Therapist effective immediately.
Originally from Winnipeg, Chabbert spent the past three seasons with the Screaming Eagles after graduating from the University of Manitoba.
“Alain did an excellent job for the Screaming Eagles”, President Paul MacDonald said.”He carried out his duties in an extremely professional manner and was a pleasure to work with. Although we’ll certainly miss him we are thrilled that he is moving onto the next level.”"
Canada Basketball men's head therapist gets key Olympic job
"Canada Basketball is proud to announce that Sam Gibbs, Canada Basketball’s head therapist for the men’s national program, has been named assistant chief therapist for the 2012 Olympic Games in London by the Canadian Olympic Committee.
“We are very proud of Sam and excited for his opportunity with the Canadian Olympic Committee at the 2012 London Olympic Games,” said Andrew Cook, Canada Basketball’s manager of men’s elite performance. “As our men’s national team program’s head therapist, Sam has given nearly 20 years of tremendous dedication to Canadian high performance athletes and he is very deserving of his selection to serve as the assistant chief therapist.”
Gibbs’s experience with high-performance athletes is extensive. He has worked with many professional and amateur athletes and national medical teams for a number of major international competitions including the Goodwill Games, Pan-Am Games, World Women’s Hockey Championships, World University Games as well as the Olympic Games.
In addition to the work he has done internationally, Gibbs has also worked with the Toronto Raptors as the team's assistant athletic trainer."
Athletic therapist left reeling from LU job cuts
The recent job cuts at Laurentian University has resulted in the closure of the Voyageur Athletic Therapy clinic and the termination of athletic therapists, Wendy Hampson and Shawn Charron. Below are Wendy's comments on the situation:
"I have been left reeling from this decision and it has been the most painful experience I have ever had to live through. One moment you are functioning normally and making plans for the week-end, and the next you are tossed out the door and kicked to the curb like you are a criminal. After 33 years of bringing international recognition to the university, doing research, generating significant revenue for the clinic, placements for course credits for the students, all the volunteer hours I have put in over the years, etc., this is how I have been rewarded for my loyalty? It is truly shocking!
And of course, the student athletes will be lost. The University cannot contract this service out so how are they going to provide pre-practise taping, on field care, post injury assessment, etc.? And rehab is going to be very difficult for them to access. The university is geographically an island so it takes 20 minutes by bus at least to get off campus to any other clinic. So what was once before free and extremely accessible treatment for them, now they will have to pay and travel for it. Faculty and staff who used to access it easily, will now have to take more time away from work to get off campus for their treatment. I don't think the U. factored in these intangibles in their decision.
Students, faculty and the general public are very angry and are writing the following senior administraors. So if you can post this information, then please do so. Thanks for your help.
Dominic Giroux, President president@laurentian.ca http://www.facebook.com/dgiroux1
And...
Carol McAulay Vice President, Administration cmcaulay@laurentian.ca
And...
Floyd Laughren Chair, Board of Governors floydlaughren@hotmail.com
And...my union LUSU@laurentian.ca
It is a sad day for Laurentian athletics that is all I can say."
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