Ontario Chiropractic Association

08/22/2025

Our most prestigious and celebratory award – the 🏆 OCA Chiropractor of the Year Award - is honoured to a member who has gone above and beyond to advance the chiropractic profession and elevate patient care throughout their career.

Last year’s recipient was Dr. Igor Steiman, who has served countless patients and mentored hundreds of aspiring chiropractors throughout his 40-year career. Now we’re seeking nominations for the 2025 recipient of this highest recognition in Ontario’s chiropractic profession,

Do you know a chiropractor deserving of this prestigious award? Submit a nomination for the 2025 OCA Chiropractor of the Year Award today. Nominations close this Sunday!

https://chiropractic.on.ca/about-oca/for-our-members/oca-awards/criteria/

08/19/2025

Our two Members Choice awards - the 🏆 Dr. Michael Brickman Heart and Hands Award and the 🏆 Community Service Award - are chosen by you – our members.

Last year, our community of chiropractors chose Drs. Sunyatta Guild and Evelyn Lock to be our 2024 recipients. This year, we’re looking for new names to add to the ballot.

If you know a dedicated and passionate chiropractor who makes a difference for their patients and community, nominate them for an award today!

Deadline: August 24, 2025. Learn more: chiropractic.on.ca/about-oca/for-our-members/oca-awards/criteria/

08/18/2025

If you're experiencing jaw pain, read this! 🔽

Temporomandibular disorder (TMD) is a group of conditions that affect the jaw joint (TMJ), surrounding tissues, and muscles responsible for movements like chewing, speaking and yawning.

What are some symptoms of TMD?
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✅ Jaw pain / tenderness especially near the ear
✅ Clicking or popping sounds when opening / closing mouth
✅ Locking of the jaw
✅ Headaches or earaches
✅ Pain while chewing
✅ Facial pain or swelling

Potential factors leading to TMD may include:
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✅ Jaw injury
✅ Teeth grinding or clenching
✅ Stress
✅ Arthritis
✅ Poor posture affecting jaw/ neck alignment
✅ Misaligned bite and/ or other dental issues

DID YOU KNOW? Chiropractors can help address TMD by:
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✅ Identifying and treating muscle and joint imbalances contributing to jaw pain and tension
✅ Providing guidance on posture, sleep position and ergonomics
✅ Customizing self-care plans, suggesting exercises to help manage pain and improve range of motion.

Chiropractors are spine, muscle and joint experts. In Ontario, you can book an appointment with a chiropractor to help manage your jaw pain without a referral from a family physician or other health care professional.

08/18/2025

Our 🏆Health System Ally Award (formerly Chiropractic Champion Award) and 🏆Chiropractic Health Assistant (CHA) of the Year Award honour those who help move the chiropractic profession forward – even if they’re not practicing chiropractors.

Last year, we were delighted to present the awards to Dr. Adrienne Junek and Barb Smilde respectively, and now we’re searching for this year’s recipients. If you know an amazing CHA or an advocate of the chiropractic profession in Ontario, submit their name for one of these prestigious awards today!

Deadline: August 24, 2025.

https://chiropractic.on.ca/about-oca/for-our-members/oca-awards/criteria/

08/15/2025

From August 3 to 8, Dr. Janet D’Arcy, OCA board chair, accompanied cyclists riding from Toronto to Montreal for the PWA's Friends For Life Bike Rally. Joining her were also OCA members Drs. Lee Brotherston and Nick Peterson.

Dr. D’Arcy has volunteered with the bike rally since 2015, which raises funds in support of the Toronto People with AIDS (PWA) Foundation. Each year, eight Canadian Memorial Chiropractic College interns are selected in a competitive application process to take part in the ride and provide hands-on chiropractic care to riders and crew.

“I’ve heard of the bike rally experience being referred to as transformative – it’s a big word, but I think it’s fitting,” says Dr. D’Arcy.

Congrats to everyone involved in this year’s rally! Learn more and get involved at https://bikerally.org/.

08/13/2025

New researcher profile alert! We spoke with Dr. Patricia Tavares (chiropractor, OCA board member and, OCA Research and Knowledge Translation Committee Chair) about the various research projects she’s been involved in throughout the years, with an overall mission to support greater integration of chiropractors in the broader health system.

“I hope that the work of the teams that I’ve been fortunate to be part of will contribute to the provision of evidence-based high value care in communities and populations who are currently underserved, and that reliance on medication and imaging for people in these communities decreases,” says Dr. Tavares.

Dr. Tavares has been a practising chiropractor for over 30 years. She is also heavily involved in mentoring and training the next generation of chiropractors at Canadian Memorial Chiropractic College.

Learn more about her incredible contributions to the profession on our Research Matters webpage:

https://chiropractic.on.ca/research-matters/member-driven-research/dr-patricia-tavares/

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08/12/2025

Drs. Alex Lee and Stephen Gray received last year’s Research and Academic Award and Early Career Chiropractor Award, respectively during the 2024 OCA Awards. Now they want to know who will follow in their footsteps!

Do you know an outstanding chiropractor who could be this year’s winner of the 🏆Research and Academic Award or 🏆Early Career Chiropractor Award? Submit a nomination today at chiropractic.on.ca/about-oca/for-our-members/oca-awards/criteria/

Deadline: August 24, 2025.

08/11/2025

Calling all OCA Members: Join the OCA Mentorship Program!

Registration for the OCA Mentorship Program is now open. OCA members can register to become either a mentor or a mentee for the Fall 2025 and Winter 2026 terms.

https://chiropractic.on.ca/news-professional-development/pd/mentorship-program/

MENTOR A COLLEAGUE if you’re a chiropractor who’s been practising for 10+ years and want to help younger colleagues thrive.

CONNECT WITH A MENTOR if you’re a chiropractor who’s been in practice for one to seven years and want to learn from colleagues who’ve succeeded in practice.

Registration closes on August 24, 2025 at 11:59 p.m.

07/30/2025

Camping is a great summer activity but it can be tough on our bodies! Sleeping on uneven ground and carrying heavy rucksacks can lead to spine, muscle or joint (musculoskeletal, or MSK) pain.

On Tuesday, July 29, Dr. Leah Lawson, chiropractor and clinic owner at Level Health in Parry Sound, spoke with CTV News Northern Ontario about the common aches that can result from camping and maintaining proper body position to prevent injury.

"Optimizing your sleeping position is one step to avoid injury," says Dr. Lawson. "For example, you can put a pillow between your knees if you're a side sleeper, or under the knees if you're a back sleeper."

Watch the clip for more information and tips on managing MSK issues outdoors this Civic Holiday weekend and beyond.

07/24/2025

OCA members: Did you know that Aspire users save 5% on their OCA membership fees? If you’re not an Aspire user, register by July 31 to be eligible for the discount. Renewing your also membership supports advocacy, digital marketing, continuing education, research and more that we do to support you and promote the chiropractic profession. Renewing soon also means you'll avoid the 2% late fee! Please contact oca@chiropractic.on.ca for membership support.

07/23/2025

OCA Award Nominations close in just a few weeks! Nominate an outstanding Ontario chiropractor or health care ally for a 2025 OCA Award. You can easily submit an online nomination to honour a chiropractor and OCA member who delivers exceptional health care and embodies the breadth and depth of chiropractic care.

Visit this page, choose an award category, and complete the corresponding nominations form: https://chiropractic.on.ca/about-oca/for-our-members/oca-awards/criteria/

Anyone can submit a nomination, including a health team member, patient, or non-chiropractic colleague. Nominations close on August 24, 2025 at 11:59 p.m.

07/21/2025