varsity news

UOIT & Durham College Athletics Media Release
Tuesday, August 04, 2009

Durham College/UOIT Athletic Therapist getting prepared to take part in the Canada Games

OSHAWA, Ont. – Since 1967, the Canada Games has evolved to become the pinnacle of national competition for Canadian athletes. The games include Canada’s top athletes, coaches and sports staff coming together to showcase sport across the nation. Durham College and UOIT will have a presence at this summer’s national event as Alison Chasczewski (Oshawa, Ont.), the school’s lead athletic therapist has been chosen to attend the games as a member of the medical staff.
 
“It is a huge honour to be selected for the Canada Summer Games as it is recognition for the years of hard work and dedication to the profession,” said Chasczewski. “I am excited to take part in such a large event where all of the top athletes in Canada come together.”

As a member of the Canadian Athletic Therapists Association (CATA), Chasczewski was able to apply to a selection committee who reviewed the applications and selected those applicants who had the experience and skills for the available positions. The selection committee then sent the applications to the Canada Summer Games committee for a final review by their medical team, where Chasczewski was chosen.

This is not the first major event Chasczewski has had the chance to participate in as she worked in preparation with the national women’s field lacrosse team for the World Cup in Baltimore, MD in 2005 and the national women’s (U19) field lacrosse team in Peterborough in 2007. She has also been the lead athletic therapist at Durham College and UOIT for the past nine years working at several provincial and national competitions.

Though her role is yet to be defined at the Canada Summer games, Chasczewski says that just being selected to go to Prince Edward Island is a great recognition of her years of hard work. Everyone within the College and University is excited for her for being selected to the staff.

“This is a great opportunity for Alison, both professionally and personally,” said Kathy Lazenby, Director of Health Services. “Her work with the team and her work with our Durham College and UOIT varsity teams have proven her ability to provide treatment and therapy in multiple sporting events. Alison has an outstanding reputation in the Athletic Therapy field and we are proud and privileged to have her on our team. She is a good fit for this new position as she cares about her patients, loves new challenges and will be a good representative for our campus.”

“This is an amazing opportunity for Alison,” said Durham College and UOIT athletic director Ken Babcock. “She has been doing great things for us for nearly a decade and being selected to the medical staff at the Canada Games demonstrates the high-caliber athletic therapy staff we have at Durham College and UOIT.”

Chasczewski said that this opportunity is a stepping stone toward being able to work as a therapist at some more of the largest sporting events in the world.

“I plan to use these major games as well as the nine years of experience at the College and University as a stepping stone to other prestigious games such as the World University Games, Pan-Ams, and ultimately the Olympics,” Chasczewski said.

The 2009 Games are being organized and staged by the Prince Edward Island 2009 Canada Games Host Society, and will run from August 15 to August 29. Fans can find all of the information on the Canada Summer Games including schedules and results online at www.2009canadagames.ca.


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FOR MORE INFORMATION:
Scott Dennis
Sports Information and Marketing Coordinator
Durham College and UOIT Athletics
905.721.2000 Ext. 2784 (P)
905.721.3117 (F)