Laurel is a Physical Therapist and is one half of the STRIDE Partnership. She is also very tall….
Laurel grew up on a mixed farm near Rosetown and has slopped many a hog stall in her day. She convocated from the University of Saskatchewan with a Bachelor of Science in Physical Therapy with Distinction in 2007. She received the Joan Eaton Memorial Award for her work in orthopaedics and well as the Elisa Rieder Memorial Award for academic achievement in community and aboriginal health. She played Huskie Athletics volleyball and was an “All Academic” award recipient. In addition, Laurel also co-authored a paper on clinical practice guidelines for the treatment of plantar fasciitis that received national honours during her university career.
Following convocation, Laurel worked at the Regina General Hospital for one year and then moved on to the U of R Physical Therapy Centre where she also provided event coverage for Cougars Athletics. Once back in Swift Current, Laurel continued to work private practice orthopaedics until founding Stride with Jodi in 2015.
Over the years, Laurel has gone on to complete extensive post-graduate work in her field. She has become an acupuncture provider through Acupuncture Canada, has received her Intermediate Certificate in Manual and Manipulative Therapy through the Canadian Orthopaedic Division, has become an Matheson trained ergonomic consultant, as well as a certified concussion management provider with Complete Concussion Management Inc. Laurel is also a recent co-author of a systematic review titled “Resistance Exercise Training in Fibromyalgia.” Watch the STRIDE blog for more details on that in the near future!
Laurel has always been involved in many sports at varying levels her whole life: volleyball, basketball, softball, hockey, track, and horseback riding. Laurel’s loves include spending time at the lake, reading a good book, sipping a “patio drink,” chasing after her kids, and helping and educating others…but not necessarily in that order.
In order for you to get to know each of our team members a little more, we had each of them sit down for a very telling “STRIDE Interview” consisting of 10 questions. Here’s what Laurel had to say…
Q. If you could invite 3 people to a dinner party, living or dead, who would they be?
A. Melissa McCarthy, Mindy Kaling & Jodi Williams. Three funny ladies!
Q. What is your most bizarre talent?
A. Flaring my nostrils
Q. Name 3 albums or books that really resonate with you?
A. Three Days Grace self-titled album; the book “Not Without My Daughter”…thats all I’ve got…
Q. Everyone has a guilty pleasure. What’s yours?
A. Curling up with a good book.
Q. If you could travel anywhere, where would you go?
A. A hot beach, doesn’t matter where.
Q. Tell us one thing that very few people know about you.
A. I used to show horse competitively on the provincial circuit.
Q. What inspires you?
A. Nature – the sunrise, smell of rain, sound of the birds…
Q. If you could choose one superpower, what would it be?
A. Being able to run at the speed of light.
Q. Describe yourself in 3 words.
A. Organized, ambitious, perfectionist.
And finally, a This or That Lightning Round!
- sky dive or bungee jump: sky dive
- chocolate or vanilla: vanilla
- cats or dogs: cats
- summer or winter: SUMMER!
- rain or snow: rain
- tea or coffee: coffee (although both are good)
- Batman or Superman: Superman
- TV or movies: TV
- mullet or mutton chops: mullet
- sweet or sour: salty 😉
- early bird or night owl: early bird
- cake or pie: cake
- silver or gold: silver
- comedy or horror: comedy
Laurel is ready to start seeing clients early October. Be sure to call, email, or use our online scheduler starting mid September to get booking your appointments! Free high fives to anyone who mentions “hog slopping” when you come in 🙂