Stephanie Quirke

My name is Stephanie Quirke and I recently graduated with an MS. Recreation (Therapeutic Recreation Emphasis) from Northwest Missouri State University. I have over seven years of experience enabling children, youth and adolescents with disabilities to experience meaningful recreational and leisure through my work as an Inclusion Worker/Program Leader with Halifax Recreation. I am currently seeking summer inclusion or recreational therapy employment.

December 2022- May 2023 | Recreation Director | Regina Cleri | Massachusetts |

• I planned and facilitated therapeutic recreation groups to enable adult clients to participate in personally valued meaningful leisure activities in the physical, social, psychological, and spiritual domains thereby enabling them to achieve therapeutic outcomes to promote health and wellbeing. 

• I have planned and facilitated a variety of therapeutic recreation groups which have enabled clients to experience meaning and fulfillment to enhance quality of life and promote independence. 
• I have also engaged in ongoing assessment, planning, implementation, evaluation, and documentation of therapeutic recreation outcomes.

• I have spent over 550 hours supporting over 700 Canadians who have texted the Crisis Text Line during a time of crisis. In doing this, I have helped texters develop coping skills and move from a “hot moment” to a “cool calm”. 
• I have also participated in ongoing training opportunities to enhance my Crisis Text Responder Skills. 

•  I conducted rigorous, evidenced-based research related to the lived experiences of adults with autism spectrum disorder and wrote manuscripts related to these experiences.

• I was responsible for coordinating meetings, taking meeting minutes and researching ways to enhance the delivery of UpLift, a school-university-community partnership that aims to promote the health of future generations, within schools. 

• I engaged in ongoing collaboration and communication with an interdisciplinary health care team to aid in promoting and enhancing the health and wellbeing of patients. 

• I planned and facilitated engaging, fun and informative science-based programs for children and youth to enhance their knowledge of science, technology, engineering and math. 

• I administered a semi-structured interview to participants of the Canadian Longitudinal Study on Aging and recorded their answers in a secure database. 

• I contacted potential donors for Ronald McDonald’s silent auction, planned and developed school-based fundraising initiatives, and entered data into the fundraising database, Raisers Edge. 

• I led themed day camps, soccer and creative movement classes for children and youth. I have also provided one-on-one support to children and youth with (dis)abilities to enable them to fully participate in recreational programs. 

• I provided support to young adults with disabilities enrolled in a Friday night, Inclusive Movement Dance Class and supported children and youth with disabilities who were enrolled in a week-long Halifax Dance Inclusive Movement Dance Camp to enable them to express themselves creatively and engage in artistic expression.

• I was responsible for providing emotional support to adults living with mental illnesses and providing them with opportunities to engage in recreation and leisure using therapeutic recreation treatment modalities. 

• As a volunteer with Halifax Regional Library’s Love of Reading Program, each week, I supported and mentored an inner-city grade 4 student and encourage her to promote literacy skills and encourage her love of reading. 

• I visited the home of an older adult living with a visual impairment and provided assistance and support to enable her to achieve her daily activities of living. 

• Each week, I assisted patients in getting to the recreation room, supported and enabled patients to participate in therapeutic recreation groups and developed trusting, professional relationships with patients. 

• As a volunteer with the Club Inclusion, on a weekly basis, I empowered children and youth with (dis)abilities to engage in recreational activities that they found meaningful and rewarding to improve their quality of life. 

• I dedicated over 800 hours to providing support and recreation opportunities to patients and family members staying at the IWK Children’s Hospital located in Halifax, NS. I have performed administrative duties, completed chores to contribute to the daily upkeep of the room, and lead engaging recreational activities for patients and their families to improve their hospital stay.

• Through my participation in annual MS Walks, I have raised over $1000 to fund innovative research and services for Canadians living with Multiple Sclerosis. 

• I have volunteered at an annual fundraiser for children and youth called the Children’s Wish Foundation’s Princess Tea Party to help raise funds for the organization to help fulfill the dreams of children living with terminal illnesses. As a volunteer, I engaged in face painting and provided entertainment as a clown for children and youth attendees. 

• I led an engaging, hands-on educational science program for inner-city children who attended Veith House Community Centre and may not otherwise have been able to experience the benefits of science-based programs. 

Master of Science in Recreation (Therapeutic Recreation Emphasis)

Northwest Missouri State University (September 2021-October 2022)

Distinction (4.0 Cumulative GPA)

Bachelor of Science in Health Promotion, Certificate in Disability Management

Dalhousie University (September 2013- May 2018)

Distinction (4.19/4.3 Cumulative GPA)