Nova Scotia Society of Occupational Therapists (NSSOT)

01/20/2026

Looking for your next read?📚

In celebration of Black History Month NSSOT’s book club will be reading The Skin We’re In by Desmond Cole for the month of February.

As always, this event is free to attend, and the book will serve as a guide for discussion - participation is still encouraged even if you aren’t able to finish the whole book!

All participants will receive a certificate confirming attendance of a professional development event 🎖️

Hope to see you there!!📖💫

Zoom Link: https://us02web.zoom.us/j/86327158013?pwd=K7q6CXXKI0krlIflRufhACTJNhynoK.1

01/19/2026

It’s snowy out there Nova Scotia!!🥶❄️

We might not be able to control the weather but these small shifts can help to make the chilly season more enjoyable for both you and the folks you work with!!💙

What’s your favourite way to make these snowy, icy days a little easier? Let us know below!!💫

01/10/2026

This year NSSOT is excited to offer its members access to all of the CAOT practice evidence webinars!📚💫

At the start of every month we will send out a list of upcoming webinars, and by filling out a survey of which sessions you’d like to attend, you’ll be emailed a link the morning of the webinar!💻

Can’t make the EST lunchtime sessions? No problem! By registering you’ll also get access to a recording of the webinar that can be sent to you upon request!⏰

Happy learning NSSOT!!📖

12/23/2025

🌟Meet our Executive Board 🌟

Please welcome Jenna Lewis (she/her), our final first year student representative!📚

Jenna is eager to learn all things OT, but more specifically pediatrics, seating, and community/in home occupational therapy!🤸‍♀️

As a First-Year NSSOT Representative, she aims to represent her class, ensure their voices are heard, and work toward positive, impactful change 💫

When she’s not advocating for her peers, you can usually find Jenna cozying up with a book or out thrifting for used books and CDs📖💿

Jenna can’t wait to get started bringing a student perspective to NSSOT - and we’re so lucky to have her!!

12/05/2025

🌟Meet our Executive Board 🌟

We’re excited to introduce Chloe McDermott (she/her), one of our first year student representatives!📚

Chloe is passionate about exploring all that OT has to offer, from acute rehab to feeding and lactation, and even prosthetics! She’s eager to keep learning and growing in each of these areas.

As one of the First Year NSSOT Representatives, Chloe’s goal is to amplify her class’s collective voice and help create meaningful change within the system! 💫

When she’s not advocating for her peers, you can find Chloe hunting for sea glass at the beach or walking her dog through Point Pleasant Park 🐾💙

11/12/2025

📚NSSOT Book Club Launch📚

You’re Invited: Decolonizing Therapy by Dr. Jennifer Mullan

🗓️ Date: November 20, 2025
🕛 Time: 12:00 – 1:00 PM AST
📍 Where: https://us02web.zoom.us/j/87509305118?pwd=5YT0nTabYrYBkYk5G5v7qR0JpKJDrK.1

❕Book will act as a guide to discussion, completion of the book is not necessary to participate!!

Join us for NSSOT’s first-ever Book Club event as we dive into Decolonizing Therapy: Oppression, Historical Trauma, and Politicizing Your Practice by Dr. Jennifer Mullan. This powerful book challenges us to reflect on the roots of colonialism in our practices and systems, and how we can work toward justice-informed care.
💬 This session is more than a book discussion – it’s a call to action.

📖 We’ll explore questions like:
🔹 How can we politicize our practice in ethical, client-centered ways?
🔹 What does decolonizing therapy look like in occupational therapy?
🔹 How can we move from reflection to meaningful action in our work?

👉 Let’s come together as a profession to learn, unlearn, and grow. Let’s respond to the TRC’s Calls to Action — not with silence, but with commitment.

11/12/2025

Say hi to Katie Scott (she/her)! 👋

She's one of our incredible advocacy committee members and works in Primary Care 🩺

Katie’s all about empowering OTs with the info they need — from union bargaining to tackling service inequities across the province and beyond. She’s passionate about making sure our voices are heard where it matters most 💬💥

When she’s not advocating for the profession, you’ll likely find her reading a good book or enjoying the outdoors 🌿📖

10/30/2025

✨ Behind the Badge ✨
We’re back with another look at the amazing OTs doing meaningful work across the province - in all kinds of roles you might not expect 👀💬

Meet Vanessa Donovan, an OT working as a Care Coordinator with the Disability Support Program at the Department of Opportunities and Social Development 🧠🗂️

Here’s what Vanessa shared about how her role reflects OT values:

“I think DSP registers with, and is a good fit for, me as an OT because I am meant to support people to break down an activity into pieces that are doable, that they can achieve and in this program, in an indirect way, we do that - we provide them with the tools, the funding, the support [in the form of a service provider or some sort of connection] that allows them to achieve something, or work towards achieving it. Working towards something meaningful often gives clients’ back their confidence and reaffirms that they are an active participant in their life, which is one of the main goals we OTs hope to achieve when we work alongside our clients.”

Even behind the scenes, OT is about enabling independence, access, and real progress 💡🙌

10/29/2025

Our amazing past president! 👏

In October we celebrate occupational therapists, who do important work in helping people living in Nova Scotia overcome physical, mental and cognitive barriers. With the help of OTs, people can participate fully in the activities that mean the most to them.

Chris McWilliam, an OT out of the Mental Health and Addictions clinic in Dartmouth, shares how a personal crisis shaped how he approaches his own clinical practice and what OTs can do to help people living with a mental health concern achieve their goals: https://www.nshealth.ca/news-and-notices/personal-crisis-drives-occupational-therapists-new-approach-care



📸 Photo of Chris McWilliam.

[ Nova Scotia Health Mental Health and Addictions Program ]

10/28/2025

🌟 OT Month Student Spotlight: Megan🌟

Megan is a second-year OT student with a strong interest in neurorehabilitation 🧠

What she loves most about OT? “Helping people participate in life more fully.”

Her passion for supporting meaningful engagement is exactly what OT is all about!

10/27/2025

🌟 Behind the Badge: Meet Allie MacEachern, OT! 🌟

Allie has been an Occupational Therapist at CBI Health for over 5 years, and what she loves most about her work is that no two days ever look the same! 💙

Allie works within the Traumatic Psychological Injury program, supporting individuals who have experienced trauma in their workplace. She uses therapeutic approaches such as in-vivo exposure therapy, cognitive behavioural therapy, acceptance and commitment therapy, and behavioural activation to help clients rebuild confidence and return to meaningful activities.

Her days can include anything from exposure therapy sessions in real-world settings and workplace visits to virtual education sessions or nature walks with clients 🌿

✨ For Allie, the most rewarding part of her job is seeing clients return to their favourite activities and re-enter the workforce in a healthy, sustainable way.

10/23/2025

✨OT Month Student Spotlight: Viviane✨

Viviane is in her second year of OT studies and hopes to work in mental health with children and adolescents 💚
Her favourite part of OT? “Empowering clients to engage in activities that matter to them and guiding them toward accomplishing their personal goals.”
Viviane’s commitment to client-centred care truly shines!