After long term injuries from being hit as a pedestrian altered his way of living, Tyson Creechan ‘23 needed a change in perspective. He turned to Mohawk College to find a new lease on life.

In 2018, Tyson began his studies by pursing the one-year Human Services Foundation certificate program at Mohawk. He wanted to figure out his path before moving forward with a more specialized program.

Through obtaining his certificate, Tyson discovered his passion for recreation therapy. Folks in that field had a great impact on his journey to recovery, so he decided to enroll in that program and figure out how he could give back in a meaningful way

“I've had a lot of assistance from a recreational therapist and practitioners while I was going through recovery,” he says. “This inspired me to further my knowledge on individuals with disabilities in the hopes of becoming a professional recreational therapist myself.”

Mohawk’s Recreation Therapy program utilizes leisure as a tool to improve quality of life for people of all abilities on every level. Students learn person-centered, evidence-based knowledge and how to apply these skills in order to continue breaking barriers so that everyone can live their best life.

While in this program, Tyson was able to connect his purpose with his education. He drew from his lived experiences leaning on recreational therapy to heal which helped him to understand what others may need and enjoy for a balanced lifestyle.

“When I was studying, I wanted to learn how to properly facilitate and coordinate programs for individuals who need guidance,” he says. “Mohawk helped me learn how to do that.”

Putting his skills to practice, Tyson completed co-op placements during his two-year program at local retirement homes. One of the places he worked as a co-op student was in the long-term care branch of Schlegel Villages.

Tyson says, “My goal is to provide clients with assistance in pursuing meaningful and beneficial practices of leisure in their daily lives.”

Today, Tyson works as a recreation aid with Schlegel Villages. Being employed by the same place he completed one of his placements is a joy in itself, as he continues to work with the residents that he began assisting during his studies.

“I love being able to help and I feel happy being at work,” he says. “The residents and staff make it easy to go to work and I enjoy it. I love seeing residents laugh and smile.”

As one of Mohawk College’s Future Ready Premium Employers, Schlegel Villages reflects community values in its care and commitment to training future ready graduates. In partnership with Mohawk, Schlegel has created unique living classrooms at two of its locations. These campus sites include various amenities that replicate those at long-term care facilities in order to properly train future personal support workers for the future of geriatric care.

Recreation therapy and leisure is an ever-evolving field. As Tyson continues on in his career, he has advice for anyone looking to create their own career in this field.

Tyson says, “I would tell a prospective student to put in the hours and really find time to practice what is taught. Recreation Therapy is a great program to be involved in and a good field to start your career, especially if you put the time and effort into what you learn.”