Date: 20 Nov, 2025
Time: 10:00 am - 11:00 am (MT)
This presentation will provide an overview of a research project exploring how fitness professionals and fitness class leaders can support physical activity participation through social support strategies. Bobbie-Ann will share findings from two review studies that identified nine categories of social support strategies used in physical activity settings. She will highlight the training developed to translate these findings into practice, with a focus on how fitness professionals and fitness class leaders can create supportive environments that promote engagement and well-being.
Andy will speak to how the City of Calgary is using research-driven insights to help instructors create stronger social connections, which in turn supports participants in maintaining consistent exercise habits.
Sarah will speak about how she has successfully incorporated the University of Calgary research-driven insights on social support and physical activity interventions for older adults into the Unison adult day program at the Kerby Centre.
Learning Objectives:
- Participants will be able to describe the role of social support in promoting physical activity participation and engagement, identify the nine categories of social support strategies used in physical activity contexts, and understand how research findings can be translated into practical training approaches for fitness professionals and fitness class leaders.
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Participants will understand how supporting instructors’ ongoing education can enhance social connections in fitness settings, ultimately promoting long-term participant engagement.
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Participants will understand how to integrate balance and mobility training with creativity, social connection, and inclusivity, enhancing physical strength, cognitive engagement, and community among senior clients.
Speaker Bios:
Bobbie-Ann Craig; MSc, PhD Candidate, Faculty of Kinesiology, University of Calgary
Bobbie-Ann is a doctoral candidate at the University of Calgary within the Faculty of Kinesiology. She received her Master of Science in Health, Exercise, and Sport Psychology at the University of Calgary and her Bachelor of Science in Psychology at the University of Alberta. Her research focuses on psychosocial (e.g., social support, self-compassion) aspects of physical activity in adult populations. With a background in psychology and kinesiology, Bobbie-Ann is particularly interested in how evidence-based strategies can help fitness professionals foster supportive and motivating environments that enhance participation and well-being.
Andy Kitchen (she / her); BSc-Kin, CSEP-CEP, NSCA-CSCS, Fitness AB Trainer
Andy is a Clinical Exercise Physiologist (CSEP), Certified Strength & Conditioning Specialist (NSCA) and Fitness Alberta Leader and Trainer. Andy has been a Recreation Program Specialist supervising community fitness programs for 18 years and is also the creator for the City of Calgary Gentle Fitness Program model. Known for her high energy, she has a passion for creating inclusive and fun filled fitness environments that offer appropriate challenges for each individual.
Sarah Cook, Manager Kerby Centre Adult Day Program, Disability Studies, HCA, RTA
Sarah Cook is a Disability Studies professional with additional certifications in Health Care and Therapeutic Recreation. As Manager of the Adult Day Program at Kerby Centre, she is dedicated to creating an environment where older adults with disabilities and cognitive decline can thrive physically, cognitively, socially, and emotionally.
Date: 7 May, 2025
Time: 11:00 am - 12:00 pm (MDT)
Join us for this virtual event on 7 May, 2025 from 11:00 am - noon (MST) to learn about the Spot the Hazard Home Safety Checklist tool and its use in practice.
The Spot the Hazard Home Safety Checklist is a practical, accessible tool designed to empower older adults in Alberta to identify and address fall hazards in their homes. By providing a visual and user-friendly resource, the checklist helps reduce the risk of falls, promoting greater safety and independence for community-dwelling older adults. Through its integration into a variety of settings, this tool is making a significant impact in promoting home safety and fall prevention across the province.
Learning Objectives:
- Recognize the Spot the Hazard Home Safety Checklist as a resource for community-dwelling older adults and their caregivers to identify and fix home safety hazards.
- Understand rationale and methods used to adapt tool for local needs.
- Identify components of Spot the Hazard Home Safety Checklist.
- Describe how Spot the Hazard has been implemented so far.
- Discuss and reflect on potential uses of Spot the Hazard Home Safety Checklist in community, health settings and more.
Speaker Bios:
Naomi Fowler, BSc Kin, MSc OT
Naomi Fowler is an Occupational Therapist and Health Promotion Facilitator on the Edmonton Zone Population Health Promotion Team. Prior to this position, Naomi worked for over a decade in community settings as a home care OT in Ontario, Connecticut and Alberta. Many of the clients Naomi worked with experienced a life altering injury due to a fall or were at risk of falling. This led her to want to be involved in more upstream programming that focused on falls prevention. Naomi enjoys working with different communities throughout Edmonton and empowering individuals to learn new skills so they can continue participating in meaningful occupations throughout their life. In her spare time, Naomi enjoys spending time with her family, running, coaching her kids’ ice hockey teams and playing ball hockey.
Shelley Dallas-Smith
Shelley currently works as the Finding Balance AB Project Coordinator (older adult falls prevention education program and campaign) for the U of A School of Public Health in the Injury Prevention Centre.
Prior to this role, Shelley worked in public health for many years as a Health Promotion Facilitator working in community development, and prior to that as Injury Prevention Specialist focusing on child, youth and older adults. Shelley also worked as a Recreation Therapist for many years in continuing care, mental health, acute care and neuro rehabilitation. Shelley graduated with a BA degree in Recreation & Leisure Studies from the U of A.
On a personal note Shelley enjoys everything outdoors, a good read, and spending time with family and friends.
Date: 11 March, 2025
Time: 10:00 am - 11:00 am (MST)
Join us for this virtual event on March 11, 2025 from 10:00-11:00 am (MST), along with guest speakers Candi Raudebaugh and Rachel Uniat.
Older adults who are concerned about falling may restrict their activities and make their lives smaller as they try to prevent falls. Cognitive behavioural techniques can help individuals and support persons to identify thinking distortions that lead to maladaptive responses and to make positive changes in thinking and behaviour. This workshop will describe ways to apply practical safety strategies, cognitive behavioural approaches, and relaxation techniques to help individuals with concerns about falling engage in meaningful activities with confidence. Strategies discussed can be helpful for those concerned about falling as well as support persons for individuals who have a fear of falling.
Learning Objectives:
- Describe the impact fear of falling may have on an older adult’s life.
- Identify maladaptive thinking and behaviour changes that can occur due to concerns about falling.
- Identify practical safety strategies that can be applied throughout one’s journey in returning to daily activities.
- Identify equipment options to increase safety and confidence.
- Identify cognitive behavioural strategies to make positive changes in thinking and behaviour, and describe how to apply cognitive behavioural strategies for individuals who have concerns about falling.
- Discuss relaxation techniques targeted at reducing anxiety around concerns about falling.
Speaker Bios:
Candi Raudebaugh, OT, DSc (RHL), MSc (OT)
Candi Raudebaugh is an occupational therapist with experience in mental health, outpatients, pediatrics, acute care, community, and private practice. She has been an instructor in the Occupational and Physical Therapist Assistant (OPTA) Program at Red Deer Polytechnic since 2013. Candi has specialized training in a variety of areas such as cognitive psychotherapy for depression and anxiety, solution focused therapy, and motivational interviewing.
Candi is a graduate of the Doctor of Science in Rehabilitation and Health Leadership program at Queen’s University. Her doctoral research focused on life skills training for students in therapy assistant diploma programs. She developed and evaluated online life skills training modules on performance management, money management, and manual skills. The modules are available as an open educational resource entitled, Life Skills Training Modules, available at https://openeducationalberta.ca/life-skills/. Her research can be applied to contexts where college students would benefit from explicit support in developing life skills.
Candi is the author of the book, Peaceful relaxation scripts: group facilitation guide (2022), a guide for mental health practitioners and other professionals who use relaxation techniques.
Rachel Uniat, MSc (OT)
Rachel is an occupational therapist who has been teaching in the Occupational and Physical Therapist Assistant Program at Red Deer Polytechnic since 2017. She began her post secondary education at the University of Alberta where she obtained a Bachelor of Science with Specialization in Physiology and Developmental Biology in 2010. Following completion of a Bachelor of Science in Environmental Health after degree in 2012, Rachel continued on to pursue her Master of Science in Occupational Therapy from the University of Alberta. Her clinical work was focused in the area of neurology, specifically post stroke rehabilitation in acute care, inpatient and outpatient settings. She continues to work clinically and is passionate about furthering her education in teaching and learning.
