Lesley Shaw-MacLaren, Dir. of Communication

As the director of Communication, I hope to contribute some "fresh blood" to the board. I graduated from Douglas College’s Therapeutic Recreation Diploma Program a mere two and a half years ago and have worked at Guildford Seniors Village since graduation.

The things I love most about being a recreation therapist are helping people experience joy and satisfaction in leisure, exposing people to new and exciting ideas and opportunities, and contributing to overall quality of life for people living in a residential care setting.

Aside from the wine that I hear goes along with board meetings, I am looking forward to contributing to the ongoing development of BCTRA, particularly in the area of communication. I’d like to see the website become more user friendly and to ensure that all members feel they are kept "in the loop". I feel that my organizational skills and ability to be task oriented will be valuable in this position.

When asked how I walk the talk and bring leisure into my life, it usually involves what most people might see as simply physical activity. For me, hockey, golf or skiing, for example, can fulfill a variety of needs and help me to experience that Flow we’re all looking for.