Dear Conference Delegates,

On behalf of the conference planning committee I welcome conference delegates to the 12^th Annual Canadian Therapeutic Recreation Association Conference & AGM in the historic city of St. John‘s. As host partners, the Newfoundland and Labrador Therapeutic Recreation Association (NLTRA) and Eastern Health are truly excited to host this premiere therapeutic recreation education event.  We extend conference delegates a warm and friendly greeting and encourage you to explore our remarkable city and province. As visitors will see  - St. John’s is one of the best-kept vacation secrets on the continent. The air is clean, the people are friendly, and the land is spectacular!

The theme for this years conference is “Therapeutic Recreation: Respecting The Past - Embracing The Future”. This theme is especially fitting given the evolution and growth of both our profession and the province of Newfoundland and Labrador. The conference planning committee has been working extremely hard and is very pleased with the quality, depth, and diversity of presentation abstracts submitted. We are also truly honored to have Dr. David Austin of Indiana University providing us with a dynamic pre-conference workshop and conference opening address. 

At this time, I would like to thank the Canadian Therapeutic Recreation Association for giving the NLTRA and Eastern Health the honor of planning and hosting this year’s event.  I also wish to extend my sincere gratitude and appreciation to our 2008 Conference Planning Committee. The energy, enthusiasm and commitment of this team has been truly encouraging and I thank you all!

I invite you to make the most of this conference experience.  It will be an opportunity to learn, laugh, be inspired, motivated and re-charged.  Two hundred and fifty visiting Therapeutic Recreation professionals in St. John’s - WICKED (that means good in Newfoundland)!

We Look forward to seeing you and please enjoy the conference.

Wayne