Courses & Presenters

Your Saturday Full Day registration will include all presentations until 4:30pm as well as lunch. Click here to register for the Saturday Session.

If you plan to stay for the Keynote presentation and AGM, you must register for those separately. Click here to register for the Keynote & AGM.

Sign in, grab a coffee or tea and visit the exhibition booths.

Chronic Disease in Practice: An Integrated Care Panel for RMTs

•  Justin Monton, B.Comm (Hons), O.T.Reg (MB) (he/they/siya)
• Sandy Koropas, RN, CDE
• Jillian Paulmark, RD, CDE

Session Description:
Chronic disease is increasingly shaping the clinical landscape, with many clients presenting with complex, overlapping health conditions that impact function, recovery, and quality of life. This interdisciplinary panel brings together an occupational therapist, a registered nurse and certified diabetes educator, and a registered dietitian to explore how chronic disease affects clients across physical, metabolic, and functional domains.

Through real-world clinical perspectives, the panel will examine common chronic conditions such as diabetes, obesity, and systemic disorders, and discuss practical considerations for registered massage therapists, including client participation, risk management, clinical boundaries, and integrated care pathways. Attendees will gain a clearer understanding of how different health professionals approach chronic disease management, and how RMTs can safely and effectively collaborate within a broader care team to support client outcomes.

Time to stretch, grab a snack and do a quick shop!

Metabolic Health in Practice: Diabetes, Bariatric Care & Clinical Considerations for RMTs

• Jillian Paulmark, RD, CDE

Session Description:
As rates of diabetes and obesity continue to rise, registered massage therapists are increasingly working with clients managing complex metabolic conditions, including those who have undergone bariatric surgery. This session will provide RMTs with a practical, clinically grounded overview of how metabolic health influences tissue integrity, healing capacity, sensation, and tolerance to manual therapy.

Drawing on expertise in diabetes and obesity care, this session will explore common clinical risks, red flags, and safety considerations relevant to massage practice. Topics will include the impact of blood glucose regulation on soft tissue health, circulation and neuropathy, post-bariatric physiological changes, and implications for treatment planning. Emphasis will also be placed on professional scope of practice, effective communication, and appropriate referral pathways to support safe, collaborative, and client-centred care within an interdisciplinary health context.

Chronic Pain & Medical Cannabis: What RMTs Need to Know

• Jennifer Anderson, MD, CCFP

Session Description:
Medical cannabis is increasingly being used as part of chronic pain management for a wide range of conditions, and many clients receiving massage therapy may be using cannabis for therapeutic purposes. This session will provide registered massage therapists with a medical overview of how cannabis is commonly used in chronic pain care, including indications, general mechanisms of action, and common side effects that may be relevant to clinical practice.

From a physician’s perspective, this session will explore practical considerations for RMTs, including how cannabis use may impact pain perception, sensation, fatigue, cognition, and treatment tolerance. Emphasis will be placed on clinical safety, professional boundaries, and appropriate communication when working with clients who use medical cannabis, as well as recognizing when referral or additional medical input may be warranted. The session will support RMTs in understanding their role within a broader interdisciplinary care context, without crossing scope of practice.

Whiplash & Motor Vehicle Collisions: Clinical Considerations for RMT Practice

• Carolyn Weiss, MSc, DC

Session Description:
Motor vehicle collisions are a common cause of whiplash and complex soft tissue injury, and many clients seek massage therapy as part of their recovery process. This session will provide registered massage therapists with a clinically grounded overview of whiplash-associated disorders, including typical injury mechanisms, symptom patterns, and recovery trajectories.

From a chiropractic and musculoskeletal perspective, the session will explore key assessment considerations, common red flags, and clinical risk factors relevant to massage practice. Topics will include tissue healing timelines, pain presentation, neurological symptoms, and considerations for treatment modification during different stages of recovery. Emphasis will be placed on clinical reasoning, scope of practice, documentation, and appropriate referral pathways to support safe, effective, and collaborative care for clients recovering from motor vehicle-related injuries.

Time to enjoy lunch, visit with colleagues and exhibitors.

Brain Injury in the Clinic: Lived Experience, Behaviour & Practical Considerations for RMTs

• Graham Todd
  Board Vice-Chair/Secretary, March of Dimes Canada

Session Description:
Clients living with brain injury may present with a wide range of cognitive, sensory, emotional, and behavioural changes that can significantly impact their experience of care. This session draws on lived experience and community-based perspectives to help registered massage therapists better understand how brain injury can affect communication, processing, regulation, and participation in clinical settings.

Through real-world examples and practical insights, the session will explore common challenges RMTs may encounter, including fatigue, sensory sensitivity, emotional regulation, and behavioural responses. Emphasis will be placed on trauma-informed practice, effective communication strategies, clinical boundaries, and environmental considerations to support safety, dignity, and client-centred care. RMTs will gain practical tools to adapt their approach when working with clients affected by brain injury, while remaining within professional scope and supporting integrated care pathways.

Pressure, Performance & Burnout in Youth

• Nicole Koropas, BSc, Double Major in Physical Education & Corporate Fitness Varsity Volleyball Coach | Assistant Coach, High School Baseball

Session Description:
Youth today face increasing levels of pressure related to performance, achievement, and expectations across academic, athletic, and social environments. These pressures can contribute to stress, burnout, and both physical and emotional symptoms that may present in clinical settings, including fatigue, tension, sleep disruption, and pain.

This session will explore how stress and burnout can impact youth wellbeing and how registered massage therapists may encounter these patterns in practice. Through a practical and youth-informed lens, the session will discuss common signs of stress, the role of the nervous system in performance and recovery, and considerations for creating supportive, safe, and developmentally appropriate clinical environments. Emphasis will be placed on communication, boundaries, and recognizing when additional supports or referral may be appropriate.

Thriving Through Midlife: A Clinical, Compassionate Approach to Menopause Care

• Annabelle Reimer, NP
  Co-founder of The Menopause Practice Inc.
• Melina Elliott, MSc
  Co-Founder, Body Measure Inc. & The Menopause Practice Inc

Session Description:
Perimenopause and menopause are significant life transitions that can impact nearly every system in the body, influencing pain patterns, sleep, mood, energy, cognition, and overall quality of life. Yet many individuals experience long delays in diagnosis, limited access to care, or normalization of symptoms that meaningfully affect daily functioning.

This session explores menopause through a clinical and whole-person lens, drawing on current evidence and integrated care models to examine how hormonal change influences musculoskeletal health, metabolic function, nervous system regulation, and pain perception. Participants will gain insight into common symptom presentations, clinical considerations, and the role of interdisciplinary care in supporting women through midlife transitions.

Designed for registered massage therapists, the session will emphasize practical awareness, communication considerations, and scope-appropriate collaboration within a broader healthcare context. RMTs will leave with a stronger understanding of menopause-related patterns they may encounter in practice and how to support clients with compassion, safety, and informed clinical reasoning.

Lumbo-pelvic and Hip Pain and Pelvic Floor Dysfunction: Clinical Pearls for RMTs

• Jamie Donaldson, B.A., BMR (PT)

Session Description:
Pelvic floor dysfunction is a common yet often under-recognized contributor to and/or result of musculoskeletal pain.

Jamie will illustrate how common adaptive postures observed in lumbar, pelvic and hip pain, may also be associated with pelvic floor dysfunction.  She will offer appropriate questions for history taking; draw associations in maladaptive postures commonly observed in clients with musculoskeletal pain and pelvic floor dysfunctions; and offer simple, practical exercises which will compliment the massage therapist’s toolbox.

The session emphasizes clinical awareness, professional boundaries, and appropriate referral considerations to help RMTs gain a stronger understanding of supporting clients through collaborative and interdisciplinary healthcare.

Time to stretch, grab a snack and do a quick shop!

Presenters:

• Steven Piotrowski, BSc, MSc, MPAS, CCPA
• Stéphane Gray, BA
• Carolyn Weiss, MSc, DC

Session Description:
Registered massage therapists routinely encounter complex and unpredictable clinical situations that require sound judgment, clear boundaries, and a strong understanding of professional scope of practice. This closing plenary brings together a multidisciplinary panel to explore real-world clinical scenarios that challenge decision-making in the treatment room.

Using case-based examples, the panel will examine situations related to clinical risk, red flags, informed consent, professional boundaries, and referral decision-making. Participants will be guided through how different health professionals assess and respond to uncertainty, changing clinical presentations, and situations that fall outside the typical scope of massage therapy practice.

Designed to support clinical confidence and professional safety, this session emphasizes critical thinking, communication, and risk awareness. RMTs will leave with practical strategies to support safe, ethical, and defensible clinical decision-making in day-to-day practice.

The Nacho Bar will be back by popular demand!

Visit with colleagues, shop the exhibition, and enjoy a variety of appetizers, dainties, coffee, and tea. There will be a cash bar.

After we hear from the keynote speaker (speaker and topic to be announced shortly) we’ll gather for the Annual General Meeting for an update on MTAM’s activities and finances for the past year. We’ll also elect the Board of Directors for the coming term.

Sign in, grab a coffee or tea and visit the exhibition booths.

Presenter: Shelle Hagen RMT, BA (Exercise Science)
Elite Therapeutic Massage | Elite Massage Academy | CoreStone

Session Description:

Contrast therapy, using alternating heat and cold, is a well-established approach for supporting pain management, inflammation control, and tissue recovery. This full-day, hands-on continuing education course provides registered massage therapists with a comprehensive introduction to contrast therapy using heated and chilled CoreStones.

Participants will explore the physiological effects of thermotherapy and cryotherapy, including their impact on circulation, nervous system response, tissue tone, and recovery processes. The session will cover clinical indications and contraindications, safe handling and sanitation practices, and practical considerations for integrating contrast therapy into massage treatment planning.

Through guided instruction and supervised practice, therapists will learn how to apply CoreStones within full-body and regional protocols, adapt techniques based on client presentation, and document contrast therapy appropriately within professional standards. This course bridges theory and practical application, supporting RMTs in expanding their modality toolkit while maintaining clinical safety and evidence-informed practice.

Lunch is included with this course and is served from 12:00-1:00pm.

Register Here

Presenter: Monty Churchman (he/him), RMT, CSMTA Sport Fellow, HPC (Practitioner), Myofascial Cupping Certified Instructor 

Session Description: 

Cupping therapy is an increasingly popular modality within massage therapy practice, used to support soft tissue mobilization, pain management, and movement restoration.  

The Myofascial Cupping Technique (MCT) is a collection of specific techniques that were first developed in 2002 by David Sheehan, before cupping was widely recognised within allied health professions. David was a key driver in adapting traditional cupping methods for modern clinical application to the musculoskeletal and fascial systems of the body. 

The Myofascial Cupping Technique™ (MCT) is an energy-efficient and highly effective method designed for practical, evidence-informed clinical use. MCT applies the controlled gliding of negatively pressurised cups across soft tissue, assisted by massage creams and, when indicated, joint mobilisation.  

Through a combination of lecture and instructor-led demonstration, participants will explore different styles of cupping, including indications, contraindications, clinical reasoning for use, and safety considerations. The presenter will demonstrate common techniques and discuss how cupping may be integrated into treatment planning for a range of musculoskeletal presentations.

Lunch is included with this course and is served from 12:00-1:00pm.

Register Here 

Presenter: Tori Webber

1st Choice First Aid & CPR

Session Description:

This course provides participants with essential cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR) and basic life support skills in accordance with current recognized first aid and CPR training standards. The course is designed to equip wellness professionals with the knowledge and practical skills required to respond effectively in medical emergencies. 

Participants will receive instruction in adult, child, and infant CPR, use of automated external defibrillators (AEDs), and management of common emergency situations, including airway obstruction and cardiac arrest. The session includes both theoretical instruction and hands-on skill practice. 

Upon successful completion, participants will receive CPR certification recognized provincially. This certification may be used to meet professional, regulatory, or workplace requirements, subject to individual licensing body policies. 

Lunch is not included with this course.

Register Here

Make sure to finish your shopping by 1:00pm. The Exhibitor’s Hall will close at 1:00pm.

Presenter: Caleb Fenton, RMT, CSMTA (CC)

Session Description:
A strong understanding of anatomy is essential to effective assessment and safe clinical decision-making in massage therapy practice. This session provides RMTs with a practical, applied review of human anatomy, integrating musculoskeletal, neurological, and cardiovascular systems within a clinical assessment framework.

Participants will explore how anatomical structures relate to common symptom patterns and learn to connect structural knowledge with functional assessment strategies. The session will also address key pathological conditions and red flags that RMTs may encounter in practice, supporting clinical reasoning, risk awareness, and appropriate referral decisions.

Designed for both new and experienced practitioners, this session emphasizes practical application, clinical observation, and professional scope of practice. RMTs will leave with increased confidence in their assessment skills and a stronger foundation for safe, evidence-informed treatment planning.

Lunch is included with this course and is served from 12:00-1:00pm.

Register Here

Presenter: Tori Webber

1st Choice First Aid & CPR

Session Description:

This course provides participants with essential cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR) and basic life support skills in accordance with current recognized first aid and CPR training standards. The course is designed to equip wellness professionals with the knowledge and practical skills required to respond effectively in medical emergencies. 

Participants will receive instruction in adult, child, and infant CPR, use of automated external defibrillators (AEDs), and management of common emergency situations, including airway obstruction and cardiac arrest. The session includes both theoretical instruction and hands-on skill practice. 

Upon successful completion, participants will receive CPR certification recognized provincially. This certification may be used to meet professional, regulatory, or workplace requirements, subject to individual licensing body policies. 

Lunch is not included with this course.

Register Here