Archipelago Rehab is a collection of healthcare providers across Vancouver Island.

Occupational Therapist and founder of Archipelago Rehab, Stephanie initially became interested in Occupational Therapy volunteering with children with complex disabilities and concurrent mental health disorders. She fell in love with the focus on function and enabling individuals, and continues to use this in her practice today, supporting clients to reach their goals and maximize function in their recovery from illness, injury, or disability.  

Stephanie completed her undergraduate degree at the University of Victoria (Honours BSc in Psychology with a minor in Hispanic Studies) and her Masters in Occupational Therapy at the University of British Columbia. She has conducted research and worked as a teaching assistant, and holds a Clinical Instructor position in the UBC Faculty of Medicine. She worked in physical and psychosocial rehabilitation in the public sector before transitioning to community based private practice. 

Stephanie has been accepted as an expert in Functional Capacity Evaluations and Cognitive Functional Capacity Evaluations by the Supreme Court of British Columbia. She is a member in good standing with the College of Occupational Therapists of British Columbia and the Canadian Association of Occupational Therapists, as well as several local special interest groups and online rehabilitation communities. 

Stephanie grew up on northern Vancouver Island within the traditional Kwagu’ł First Nation territory, and after living and working in the Lower Mainland for seven years, moved back to the island to the traditional territory of the K’ómoks First Nation. She is a mom of two busy little boys, and when not working with clients she can be found watching cooking shows, or spending time outdoors with her family - hiking, kayaking, skiing, or losing at tennis.

Carmen is  a registered psychologist in the British Columbia and Alberta with extensive experience in health and human services, counsellor training and education, mental health and addictions, rehabilitation, and health promotion. She completed her doctorate (PhD) in Counselling Psychology at the University of Calgary.

Over the course of her career, Carmen has provided psychological assessment and treatment to individuals and groups in a variety of settings, with current emphasis on promoting wellbeing across the lifespan, mental health, couples, military populations, and return to work after injury or illness.

Carmen works as part of the Archipelago Team tha specifically provide services to clients with Post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD).

Danita is a registered Occupational Therapist, with special training in manual and power wheelchair assessment and custom seating prescription. 

She initially became interested in Occupational Therapy working as an Inclusion Worker with children who use wheelchairs to move and participate in summer camp. She enjoys the merge of complex problem-solving and creativity involved in providing systems that meet the unique needs of the individuals she supports.  Danita studied Occupational Therapy at the University of British Columbia and has pursued continued education to develop a specialty in the area of wheelchair seating and positioning assessment.  She has completed the Access Community Therapists Wheelchair Seating and Positioning Advanced Applications Workshop and is a certified RIDE 2 Custom Seating Practitioner. Her professional experiences include work in the North Island Hospitals and Health Services for Community Living. She has also volunteered as a Seating Therapist with Joni and Friends Wheels for the World teams on outreaches in El Salvador and the Dominican Republic. 

Having grown up in the Comox Valley, Danita is grateful to practice Occupational Therapy in many of the communities on Vancouver Island.

Earl obtained three Masters degrees in leadership, ministry, and counselling and post-graduate training in adult education, public relations, and communications. Earl is accredited as a Canadian Certified Counsellor (CCC) and is a certified Myers-Briggs Type Instrument (MBTI) practitioner.

A survivor of trauma and PTSD, Earl’s focus is on clients and couples suffering from the effects of past trauma, enabling and empowering them to move forward with the skills they lost or never obtained.  Earl’s goal is to make a difference in the lives of those affected by poverty, substance dependence, and traumatic life events, allowing each client to manage their anxiety, develop interpersonal skills, regulate their emotions, and tolerate stressful situations. 

Earl works as part of the Archipelago Team that specifically provide services to clients with Post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD).

Elli is an occupational therapist and certified health coach with Archipelago Rehab

Evynn is committed to enhancing the lives of her clients through innovative therapeutic practices. Originally from New Brunswick, she made the move to the Island two years ago after earning her Master of Science in Occupational Therapy from Dalhousie University in 2022.

With a specialization in pediatrics, Evynn possesses a strong understanding of sensory processing differences, the integration of primitive reflexes, and maternal and infant health. Her extensive background in physical health and injury rehabilitation stems from her years of experience as a personal trainer, where she focused on working with post-stroke patients. 

Evynn has a rich history in competitive sports, having participated on high performance teams for soccer, alpine ski racing, lacrosse, volleyball, and track. She has also dedicated years to coaching youth sports and adult Special Olympics teams.
Her firsthand experience with multiple concussions and resulting chronic symptoms gives her a unique perspective that allows her to relate to clients with mild brain injuries on a personal level.

Outside of her professional life, Evynn is passionate about the outdoors. Whether she’s hiking up or skiing down a mountain in the backcountry, or exploring coastal tide pools, she finds joy in nature. A strong advocate for animal and nature-based therapy, Evynn embodies her beliefs through her volunteer work with horses and playtime with her cats. She is excited to continue making a positive impact in the lives of her clients! 

 Jade’s passion for helping others and her strong interest in mental and physical health drew her to occupational therapy. She obtained her Bachelor of Arts in Psychology, Neuroscience, and Behaviour with a specialization in Mental Health from McMaster University. During her undergraduate degree, she also earned a certificate in Applied Behaviour Analysis from McMaster University/Mohawk College. Jade continued her education at McMaster University, completing her Masters of Science in Occupational Therapy.

Throughout university, Jade spent her summers supporting children and adults with developmental and physical disabilities to participate in recreational activities. She also found joy in her various volunteer positions, which included helping people with disabilities safely engage in physical activity and participate in therapeutic horseback riding. Jade has professional experience working in acute medicine, hospital and community mental health, and private community practice. Jade recognizes the unique needs of each client and believes in providing collaborative and holistic care. She holds a great appreciation for the value of participating in everyday tasks and looks forward to learning about and supporting her clients' meaningful activities.

Originally from Ontario, Jade has recently moved to Vancouver Island and is excited to experience all it has to offer. Outside of work, she enjoys baking, caring for her plants, reading, hiking, and mountain biking. 

Katie has always known she was wanted to pursue a career within health care serving and helping others in need. Katie graduated in 2015 with a Bachelor of Science in Psychology from the University of Victoria. With this degree, Katie worked as a Behaviour Interventionist in Kelowna, BC, supporting families and children with developmental disabilities. Additionally, Katie has devoted her time to volunteering in various community organizations and programs to support people of all ages and abilities. 

Katie’s passion to serve those in her community led her to pursue further education. Katie recently completed her Master of Science in Occupational Therapy in 2022 from the University of Alberta. During Katie’s degree, she completed additional course offerings in the Stigma of Mental Health, Grief and Loss, and Chronic Pain. Katie has professional experience in Long-Term Care, Community Mental Health, and Acute Care (General Medicine, Cardiac Care, Intensive Care). Katie believes in supporting individuals where they are at, providing evidence-based and collaborative practice, and helping individuals to do what is meaningful to them.

Born and raised on Vancouver Island, Katie is excited to be back after traveling the world and completing her degree. When Katie is not at work, she can be found completing DIY projects around the house, camping, spending time outdoors with friends and family, and walking her dog.

Mathilde was born and raised in the south of France. Her interest in rehabilitation and helping others started early in her life. After a childhood injury, she discovered the world of physiotherapy and recovery process. As an Occupational Therapy student, she would spend her summer breaks helping older adults and working at a medical equipment store (when not fixing tractors with her dad or helping in a vineyard!).

Once she graduated as an OT, she worked in different settings, providing services to children with various physical disabilities, adults with progressive neurodegenerative disorders or requiring mental health support, before transitioning to working with older adults in care homes.

After moving to Canada in 2010, she continued her career in long term care homes in Vancouver, and started providing community services to the Vancouver Island and Powell River in 2019, helping clients return to meaningful activities, or age at home in an safe and accessible environment.

Mathilde loves to think outside the box (both in French and English!), she enjoys brainstorming with her clients, families and being part of multidisciplinary teams, always striving to provide the most appropriate support and services for her clients.

Although she sometimes misses French gastronomy and the sound of summer cicadas, she embraces her life in Canada and loves Vancouver Island’s nature, beauty and relaxed pace. When she is not at work, she can be seen fishing from her paddle board, practicing taekwondo with her son, talking to her chickens, or planning a camping adventure with her family and friends.
 

Pamela discovered the field of Occupational Therapy shortly after discovering the concept - that remains a fascination to her - of the complex mind-body connection while she was working as a Support Worker with residents with developmental disabilities. 

She completed a Bachelors of Science in Behavioural Neuroscience (Psychology, Physiology, & Kinesiology) at Simon Fraser University and a Masters of Applied Science in Occupational Therapy at McGill University. 

Her professional experiences have consisted of inpatient neuro rehab, pediatrics (age 1-12) in summer rehab camp setting and an autism development centre, 3 clinical research projects, community practice in remote Indigenous communities (northern Quebec and northern Vancouver Island) involving a mix of home-safety and facilitating hospital-discharge / outpatient rehab/ and long-term care, and most recently community based mental health & substance use. 

Her clinical practice pursuits include family wellness (particularly the perinatal and early childhood years); neurological and psychological recovery, wellness, and resiliency including trauma healing.Pamela believes a collaborative approach with her clients, where clients bring the expertise of their own lives to the therapeutic process, is most effectual in the facilitative work an OT does in re-engaging the client in a meaningful and purposeful life.  

Grateful to have returned to her homeland of the Island, Pamela can be found spending her free time snipping cut flowers for bouquets, hobbying in a garden, foraging along west coast trails on a hike, seeking out the sun rays, exploring the Island in her little car, learning or practicing French, reading something to learn, or engaging in various ways of wellness for herself.

With a passion for nurturing people, education, and business, John has been helping to steer Archipelago Rehab as its Director of Growth & Development since its founding.

His dedication to this role is fueled by a deep commitment to making a positive impact on clients' lives and supporting the clinic’s talented team of clinicians.

Before diving into the world of rehabilitation management, John was immersed in education and professional development. He led dynamic teams, spearheaded engagement initiatives, and managed substantial budgets to ensure student programs thrived, gaining invaluable experience in interpersonal support and service development along the way.

When he's not at work, John can often be found playing one sport or another, or enjoying the great outdoors with his family—camping, hiking, paddling, or trying to convince a friend to take him out on their boat.

Born and raised on Vancouver Island, he treasures every moment of island life, especially when it involves camping or exploring the Island with his two energetic boys and his wonderful wife, Stephanie (and no, he’s not JUST saying that because she’s the boss!).

In his role at Archipelago Rehab, John is excited to blend his love for community engagement with his professional skills, helping the clinic grow and ensuring top-notch support for their clients. 

From age 10, Tianna`s personal experiences with weight struggles, diet plans and personal training sessions has led her into a career in the health and fitness industry. From a young age she knew she wanted to change the stigma around the health and fitness industry and create a well-balanced client centred approach. Tianna completed her diploma in Exercise Science in Lethbridge, AB before moving ahead and obtaining her degree in Kinesiology from Camosun college in Victoria.

Tianna comes with a background of working with the general population, seniors, teenagers and those with disabilities. During her time in Victoria she volunteered with Oak Bay and MOVE Rehabilitation to assist patients with physical disabilities and exercise. Tianna comes with a background in working in municipality recreation in Victoria where she ran fitness programs including 50+ fitness, Graduated Take Heart Program and circuit classes. Additionally, she comes with a background in seniors’ fitness from working at a long-term care facility. Tianna believes each client’s health and fitness should be tailored to their specific needs, wants and goals and supported by evidence supported practice.

Originally from Alberta, Tianna fell in love with the island and loves to take advantage of our mild weather all year round. When Tianna is not at work, you can find her camping, paddle boarding, mountain biking, spending time outdoors with family and friends and searching for the next big adventure she can tackle.