We Are IH: Recreation therapist dedicated to supporting clients

February 15, 2024

Jenelle and her two sons on the National Day for Truth and Reconciliation

Name: Jenelle Butchart (she/her/hers)
Job Title: Recreation Therapist
Years of Service: 11
Worksite: Cottonwoods Care Centre
Community: Short Stay Unit
Ancestral Territory: Syilx/Okanagan
Favourite Quote / Advice to live by: "Don't let yesterday take up too much of today." – Will Rogers

Born in St. Albert, AB., and later moving to Coquitlam, Jenelle has embarked on an 11-year journey in health care as a recreation therapist. Therapeutic recreation is a person-centered health-care profession that uses evidence-informed leisure and recreation activities to improve and maximize a client's overall quality of life.

In her role, Jenelle aims to see the able, not the label, and says that seeing her patients reach their goals and increase their independence are the most inspiring things about her role.

In this Story…

Learn more about Jenelle’s journey with IH

Explore Recreation Therapist Careers@IH

Learn more about Jenelle’s journey with IH

Jenelle is responsible for implementing and overseeing individual and group leisure and recreation therapy programs, including leisure education, community information presentations, resource and community awareness, and a diverse range of programs that promote cognitive, physical, social, emotional and spiritual wellness.

You can discover more about a person in an hour of play than in a year of conversation.

-- Jenelle Butchart

Jenelle graduated with a Bachelor of Therapeutic Recreation from Douglas College in 2013, and earned her certification with the National Council for Therapeutic Recreation. She decided to join Interior Health (IH) shortly after, and is now delighted to be in her current position on the short stay unit (SSU) team.

Jenelle says being an outgoing, nurturing, passionate and collaborative member of the rehabilitation team has created a brand-new appreciation for teamwork and workplace camaraderie. Before joining SSU, Jenelle was in the role of recreation therapist in other long-term care facilities, including Cottonwoods Care Centre and Three Links Manor.

Seven people posing for a photo — Jenelle (green shirt) and her recreation therapists team.

“I am proud to represent the field of therapeutic recreation within Interior Health,” says Jenelle. “February is Recreational Therapy Month and I want to recognize and celebrate everyone who is working in the field. The work we do is so valuable - so hats off to all my fellow recreation therapists (RecTs) and recreation therapy assistants (RTAs).”

A family stands to take a picture by the beach — Jenelle and her husband, Brett, and their two boys Finnley and Tanner.

Outside of work, Jenelle loves to stay active by playing volleyball, doing yoga, practising photography, and spending time with her family. Jenelle and her husband Brett have two boys – Finnley, who is six years old and Tanner, who is four. Jenelle was a competitive springboard diver for 13 years growing up, so it was important to her that her two boys were also active and involved in sports at a young age. Jenelle and her family also love to go camping, hiking and having dance parties in the living room.

A woman with long brown hair wearing a jean shirt, holding a small black and brown dog, poses for a picture — Jenelle with one of the dogs brought in for a pet therapy session at the short stay unit at IH.

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