Chuck Badcock Special Recognition Award
“This award is in memory of Mr. Charles “Chuck” Badcock for his outstanding contributions to the profession of Athletic Therapy.
Mr. Badcock is a founding member of both the Canadian and Manitoba Athletic Therapists’ Associations and was voted Trainer of the Year by the CATA in 1970 and 1973. In addition to his work in the creation of both associations, Mr. Badcock played an instrumental role in mentoring numerous individuals during their training towards becoming an Athletic Therapist. Mr. Badcock began working in Manitoba in 1970 as the head Athletic Therapist for the Winnipeg Blue Bombers Football club. In 1980 he moved to the Winnipeg Jets Hockey Club to hold the same position until his retirement from professional sport in 1991. Mr. Badcock had a rough and gruff exterior but beneath that was a heart of gold and a respect and affection for all the athletes under his care. Mr. Badcock was fondly remembered by his peers as “a man with extensive knowledge and experience who continued to have a willingness to learn new approaches to help his athlete’s recover quicker from their injuries”.
Mr. Badcock in a letter to the CATA executive in 1972 urged the immediate implementation of a “certification exam” to ascertain the status and qualifications of all members. Former CATA president Mr. Evert Van Beek later commented that “the demand for certification is one of the most significant changes in the CATA since its inception.” Mr. Badcock has left a lasting legacy and charged future generations of Athletic Therapists to continue to advance the profession as he did.” - MATA
I am honored to have been nominated and awarded the Chuck Badcock Special Recognition Award. I am even more honored to have had three amazing colleagues and friends share their nomination letters with me. I could not have gotten here with out them, and without all my family, friends, mentors, and colleagues encouraging me throughout my life and career.
I, Nikki Dudeck, am excited to nominate Ashley Burr for the Chuck Badcock Award.
Ashley’s tireless pursuit for excellence in the Athletic Therapy field has fostered connections throughout
the health industry worldwide. Her presence has been an asset to promoting our profession.
Ashley’s ongoing choice to seek professional development from therapists outside the Athletic Therapy
community creates an opportunity for other therapists to see the value we bring to the table. As an
example, she participated in Antony Lo’s (Australia) courses and now assists with course auditing before
they are rolled out live to other professionals. She has authored and co-authored courses which include
External Approaches to Pelvic Health, Before you Refer – Busting Pelvic Health Myths, and Myofascial
Cupping. Most of her courses include working alongside or drawing resources from other therapy
professionals such as Athletic Therapists, Physiotherapists, Chiropractors, Personal Trainers, Coaches,
Massage Therapists, and Occupational Therapists.
In the public, Ashley has created resources accessible for both clients and therapists seeking helpful
information. She has run free women’s health courses on Embodia (an online educational platform
geared toward physiotherapists), has a Podcast called ‘Athletic Therapy Now’ helping inform new
Athletic Therapists entering the private sector, and has created online content on Teachable to educate
moms during their postnatal journey. On social media, she consistently creates content to help both
athletes and the general population manage their aches and pains. Most recently, Ashley was an expert
panelist at the Massage Therapy Association Conference discussing interprofessional networking and
collaboration.
Ashley approaches Athletic Therapy with a curious mind, a desire to educate anyone who will listen, and
an eagerness to collaborate with other therapy professionals. Overall, she is a great therapist who
continues to further the field of Athletic Therapy to the public and health professionals.
Nikki Dudeck (Smith)
Owner, Certified Athletic Therapist
Revolution Rehab
Dear MATA,
I would like to formally nominate Ashley Burr for the Chuck Badcock award.
This award is designed to recognize an individual's contribution to the
profession of athletic therapy in Manitoba. As such, I believe Ashley is an
excellent nominee because of her incredible dedication to the profession
evidenced by her high standard of care in clinic and sport as well as her work
as an educator and ambassador of the profession.
Not only does Ashley hold herself to a high standard as she strives to
continually improve as a therapist, she also supports and mentors
up-and-coming therapists through student clinical placements and Facebook
Community groups including students and recent grads.
Despite Ashley's busy schedule and thriving clinical practice, she provides a
host of educational courses and workshops to Manitoba's Healthcare
professionals including athletic therapists, massage therapist, physiotherapist
and more.
Ashley's glowing personality, keen knowledge, and impressive work ethic
continue to make her an excellent example for athletic therapists both new &
old. Her work to promote the profession of Athletic Therapy locally, nationally,
and internationally make her an invaluable ambassador for our profession and
an individual deserving of this prestigious honour.
For the above reasons, I implore you to strongly consider Ashley Burr as the
recipient of the Chuck Badcock Award.
Sincerely,
Nathaniel Simon - CAT(C), Owner
Never Average Therapy & Exercise
Dear MATA board of directors,
I am writing to you today to nominate my friend and colleague, Ashley Burr, for the
Chuck Badcock award.
Ashley and I got to know each other during our kinesiology undergrad at the University
of Winnipeg when we were both doing our field practicums with the Kelvin high school football
team. Fortunately for me, Ashley was one step ahead, doing her P2 while I was doing my P1, so
she took me under her wing. Despite being “ahead,” Ashley always made me feel like an equal - she’s
worked in collaboration mindset from the get-go.
Perhaps it was her cadet background, but something about the way Ashley worked
commanded respect. She took her role as an AT student seriously, and this was reflected in the
way the athletes, coaches, and parents quickly grew to trust her. In the seven years or so that
we worked together with this team, I could always count on Ashley to be timely, prepared,
communicative, and attentive to her work. In her spare moments she’d be studying and
practicing to improve her skills. Working alongside her made me proud to be an AT. Amazingly,
she is still involved with this team, these days in a supportive role to the practicum students
there. The upcoming 2024 season will be her 15th year!
With a similarly steady fashion, Ashley has built her clinical practice at Arora Family
Chiropractic, where’s she’s worked since her certification in 2014. Generously, she’s continued
to be a regular mentor for practicum students from both University of Winnipeg and Manitoba.
The year 2021 was pivotal for Ashley. It was during the pandemic lockdowns that she
took on coursework with Antony Lo on the pregnant and postpartum athlete, and I witnessed
her perspective on her role as a therapist truly broaden. She connected strongly with the topic
itself as she had experienced challenges herself through her own pregnancy and postpartum
period, but it was the directive of challenging personal biases and remaining open-minded and
empowering that was truly expansive for Ashley. From here she dove into further continuing
education courses and research in the area of women’s health, and eventually began teaching
her own coursework on the topic.
Ashley has now authored or co-authored four courses that she’s shared with athletic
therapists and other health professionals in Manitoba, Ontario, and Quebec. This is exciting for
the athletic therapy profession as she is looping in ATs into the conversation of women’s health
in a concrete way. Another topic Ashley instructs on is myofascial cupping and minimalist
footwear. And she sure practices what she preaches. In 2022, it was exciting to see Ashley at
the finish line of her first half marathon, which she completed wearing minimalist style shoes.
So neat to see, particularly as just a few years previously she did not consider herself “a
runner.” She embodies the growth mindset. It makes me proud to think of her teaching, as I
know her open mind creates a good learning environment for her students.
This spring, Ashley’s started an athletic therapy podcast, first of its kind as far as I know.
And gosh- she’s already posted eight episodes! This woman’s on a roll with no sign of slowing
down. I am proud to nominate Ashley Burr for your consideration for the Chuck Badcock award.
Sincerely,
Akosua Knowles, CAT(C), DipOMP
Thank you, Thank you, Thank you to Nikki, Nate, and Akos for their wonderfully kind words!!
