Meet the team at Kootenay Therapy Center

Our wonderful practitioners and staff members have a wide range of experience, and each of them comes to the clinic with their own expertise, education, and specialties.


But there’s one thing they all have in common: a commitment to creating a respectful and welcoming environment that prioritizes your wellbeing.

Get introduced to the people who are in your corner:

Suzanne Thompson

Physiotherapist

  • Suzanne’s passion for health, fitness, and exercise drew her to the profession of physiotherapy. She received her Bachelor of Science in Physical Therapy and Bachelor of Science in Physical Education (Honours) in 1988. She went on to complete her Masters of Rehabilitation Sciences from UBC in 2017. Suzanne worked in both public and private practices in Saskatchewan, Manitoba, and the lower mainland of BC before moving to Cranbrook in 2000.

    In 2005, Suzanne opened Kootenay Therapy Center, to help community members achieve their health goals and improve their quality of life. In her practice, Suzanne takes a comprehensive and whole-health approach to treatments, which she believes is foundational to recovery.

    A lifelong learner, Suzanne has completed many courses in women’s health, manual therapy, acupuncture, exercise, chronic pain, nutrition, and pelvic health. She aims to explore and integrate the latest research into her client-focused care.

    Outside of work and education, Suzanne loves outdoors — running, hiking, cycling, skiing, snowshoeing, and being by the lake. She loves spending time with her family, friends, and dogs in the beautiful Kootenays!

Candice Archibald

Physiotherapist

  • Candice received her Bachelor of Kinesiology and Health Sciences in 2007, and then her Masters of Physical Therapy in 2009, both from the University of British Columbia. Candice initially worked in orthopedics in Vancouver, before returning to the Kootenays, where she’s worked at Kootenay Therapy Center since 2012.


    Her post-graduate training includes McKenzie Part A/B/C/D, and several orthopedic courses focused on exercise prescription and manual therapy techniques. Candice is also a trained acupuncturist, and has her Certification in Acupuncture through the Acupuncture Foundation of Canada Institute.

    In Candice’s physiotherapy practice, she often treats the lumbar spine and pelvis.

Shannon Ryley

Physiotherapist

  • Shannon graduated from the University of British Columbia in 1992. She has spent more than 20 years with the Provincial Arthritis Program, working in Vancouver and Cranbrook and teaching arthritis workshops around the East Kootenays. Shannon has completed numerous arthritis, orthopedic, and pain management courses, including GLA:D and advanced practice total joint replacement care.

    Shannon joined the team at Kootenay Therapy Center in 2017. Her practice focuses on treating various musculoskeletal conditions and she has a special interest in hand therapy.


    More recently, Shannon has been educated in the management of post-COVID syndrome and is passionate about helping anyone requiring assistance with the management of this condition.

Jenn Baardseth

Physiotherapist

  • Jenn was born and raised in Calgary, and moved to British Columbia in 2011 and completed her Bachelor in Kinesiology from the University of Victoria. Following this, Jenn worked as a Rehabilitation Assistant in Whitehorse for 3 years, before returning to British Columbia and completing her Masters of Physical Therapy from the University of British Columbia as a part of the first northern cohort in Prince George.

    Jenn has also completed her Level 1 course in Advanced Integrated Musculoskeletal Physiotherapy from the Canadian Division of Orthopaedic Manual and Manipulative Therapy. She also offers vestibular rehabilitation and is a certified Level 2 Provider with Shift Concussion Management.

    With a previous and current history as a high-level athlete, Jenn understands what it takes to rehabilitate an injury and successfully return to the sport and activities that you love. She is keen to work with individuals from all walks of life to help them achieve their personal recovery goals.

    Jenn’s approach utilizes manual therapy techniques, active strategies, and evidence-based education to reduce pain, improve movement, and prevent further injury. Jenn has a special interest in concussion and vestibular dysfunction.

    Outside of work, Jenn is an avid mountain biker, trail runner, xc skier, snowboarder, climber, and anything involving the mountains! With this, Jenn has experienced her fair share of injuries and concussions ,and has gained valuable insight into the physical, emotional, and social implications that result from these. Come see Jenn to reach all of your rehabilitation goals!

Courtney Pelletier

Physiotherapist

  • Courtney was born and raised in Cranbrook. Following high school, she graduated from the University of Lethbridge in 2020 with a Bachelor of Science majoring in Kinesiology. She then moved further east to Saskatchewan and graduated in 2022 from the University of Saskatchewan with a Masters of Physiotherapy. In 2023, Courtney completed Level 1, 2, and 3 pelvic health education through Pelvic Health Solutions. Courtney has since moved back home to Cranbrook and joined the team at Kootenay Therapy Center.

    Courtney believes in working as a team with her clients to understand their goals and develop a collaborative treatment plan. Education, exercise, and hands-on techniques form the foundation of her individualized treatment programs, based on individual goals and lifestyles. “The more we understand our bodies and how they work,” Courtney says, “the quicker we can get back to the things we love and prevent future injuries and pain.”

    In her spare time Courtney enjoys spending time outdoors in the mountains, catching up with family and friends, and adventuring with her partner and their two dogs.

Jordan Olexyn

Physiotherapist

  • Jordan graduated with a Masters of Science in Physical Therapy as part of the first class of the MPT-North program through the University of British Columbia in 2022. Prior to this, he completed his Bachelors of Kinesiology in the Active Health and Rehab Stream at Simon Fraser University, where he graduated with Distinction in 2017.

    Jordan was born and raised in Prince George, so he’s always been surrounded by nature and embodied an active, outdoor lifestyle. He spent many of his summers in the Kootenays when visiting family, which ultimately influenced his decision to move to Kimberley in 2022. Since then, he has utilised his skills in soft tissue release techniques, manual therapy, evidence based pain management strategies, and exercise prescription to help others to reach their goals, recover to the fullest, and safely reintroduce activity into their daily life. Jordan’s philosophy and approach to treatment involves helping others to feel empowered in their journey, focusing on what can be done as opposed to what may be temporarily lost.

    Jordan has completed his Level 1 course in Advanced Integrated Musculoskeletal Physiotherapy from the Canadian Division of Orthopaedic Manual and Manipulative Therapy, as well as level 1 certification for soft tissue release through the Bilotta technique. As a former high-level athlete, Jordan also has a specific interest in concussion management and dry needling techniques, which he plans to pursue future certification for in the near future.

    Outside of the clinic, you can find him on the slopes, trails, or one of the many lakes and rivers that surround the area with his wife and two dogs.

Dr. Megan Ure

Sports Medicine Physician

  • Dr. Ure is a medical school graduate from the University of Calgary, and she completed her family medicine residency training at the University of Alberta. She has a special interest in musculoskeletal medicine, and is currently enrolled in the IOC (International Olympic Committee) Sport Medicine Diploma program.

Angela Kemperman

Registered Clinical Counsellor

  • Angela completed her Master of Arts in Counselling Psychology, and has a wide range of experience, including working with child and youth mental health, community services, and private practices.

    Angela’s approach to therapy draws from several theories, all with the aim of helping her client grow and heal. She has extensive training in Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing (EMDR), Emotion-Focused Family Therapy, Gottman Method Couples Therapy, Dialectical Behaviour Therapy for adolescents, and Sandtray Therapy.

    In her practice, Angela works closely with her clients to provide them with acceptance, support, and understanding to help them access better mental health and well-being. She sees children, youth, and adults, for individual, family, or couples counselling, and her practice is primarily focused on depression, anxiety, anger, trauma, abuse, self-esteem, grief, loss, stress, life transitions, communication, conflict management, and borderline personality disorder.

    Angela also designs and facilitates educational and therapeutic groups and workshops. She’s thankful to be at Kootenay Therapy Center, as a part of a team that offers multidisciplinary care.

    When she’s not at work, Angela enjoys cooking, hiking, watching good shows, reading, and spending time with her partner and three children.

Andrea Taylor

Kinesiologist

  • Andrea has been an athlete all her life, and has always been committed to an active lifestyle and involvement in various sports. She played five years of college volleyball at College of the Rockies in Cranbrook, where she developed her training skills with high-performance athletes.

    After this, Andrea continued her education at the University of Regina, which led her to six years of working with High Intensity Interval Training.


    After graduating, Andrea worked as an exercise therapist, offering a healthy weights program for sedentary individuals. Later, she continued her journey to Victoria BC, where she worked as a Kinesiologist coordinating an occupational rehabilitation program.

    She recently returned to her roots when she relocated back to the Kootenays, where she continues her training and rehabilitation programs.

Caitlin Peet

Kinesiologist

  • Caitlin graduated from the University of Lethbridge with a Bachelors of Science in Kinesiology. Throughout her studies, she worked as a student athletic therapist and was certified as a personal trainer with the Canadian Society for Exercise Physiology in 2020.

    Caitlin is a certified kinesiologist with the BC Association of Kinesiologists, and has since completed her certification in FMS and SFMA Levels 1 and 2 which allow her to provide functional movement screens and customized exercise programs focusing on pain management.

    Caitlin also has Shift Concussion Management Level 2 training. Her goals are to assist with rehabilitation and recovery of acute and chronic injuries occurring from workplace injuries, car accidents, and sports injuries, as well as create training programs that help clients live healthy, pain-free lives.

    When not in the clinic, Caitlin likes to spend time with her family while enjoying days at the lake, visiting local markets, attending concerts, and relaxing with a good book.

Administration & Client Care

Janelle Traversano

Office Manager

  • Janelle has enjoyed working at the Kootenay Therapy Center since 2005. She graduated from the College of the Rockies, and works at the clinic as an office administrator and manager. Outside of the clinic, Janelle enjoys spending time with her family and friends, and a variety of outdoor pursuits.

Trish Hamel

Patient Experience Coordinator

  • Trish joined the Kootenay Therapy team as a receptionist in May 2017, and in those years has enjoyed welcoming clients into the clinic and helping make their experience as positive as possible as soon as they walk in. Trish has lived in the Cranbrook area since 2009, and appreciates all that the Kootenay life has to offer!

Anne Hutton

Patient Experience Coordinator

  • Most people know her as Annie! She made Cranbrook my home over 30 years ago, but is originally from Saskatchewan. You may know her from working at Cranbrook Photo for 10 years, or maybe even Walmart, where she worked for 19 years. Annie joined the wonderful team at Kootenay Therapy Center June of 2023, and she’s here to greet you and to make your journey with our clinic as positive as possible.

Kari Loftsgard

Co-Owner

  • Kari is the co-owner of Kootenay Therapy Center, as well as Creekside Physiotherapy in Kimberley. She graduated from the University of Saskatchewan, where she received her Bachelors of Science in Physical Therapy (2004), following a Bachelors of Science in Physiology (2001). She continued her education with a Certificate in Acupuncture from the Acupuncture Foundation of Canada Institute (2006), a Certificate in Gunn IMS (2012), and her designation as a Certified Hand Therapist (2018). 

    Hand Therapy has since become the focus of Kari’s clinical practice, and includes custom splinting, post-injury, and post-operative care for the elbow, wrist, and hand.

    Kari keeps an active mountain lifestyle with her husband Carson, a secondary school teacher, and their two boys. She enjoys golfing, skiing, and hiking around the beautiful peaks of the East Kootenays.

Ryan Sleik

Co-Owner

  • Ryan is a physiotherapist and the co-owner of Kootenay Therapy Center. He also co-owns Creekside Physiotherapy in Kimberley BC.

    Ryan completed his Masters of Science in Psychology at the University of Lethbridge, before going into graduate studies and graduating from MacMaster University in 2003. His Master's thesis examined how attention and anxiety affect balance, which inspired him to continue his education in Physiotherapy.

    Ryan joined the Shift Concussion Management Group in 2015. He started teaching nationally with their clinical team in 2016, and was their first Level 2-trained therapist in Western Canada.

    Ryan has integrated concussion management into his practice, and his background in vestibular rehabilitation, pain management, and post-concussive disorders.

    This expertise is complemented by pain management training through Pain BC and the NOI group, as well as disability management with the Progressive Disability Management Program (PGAP). He also obtained a Certificate in Vestibular Rehabilitation through Emory University in Atlanta in 2017.

    Ryan consults with research teams at York University and UBC, and is the Chair of the Rural and Remote Committee of Physiotherapy Association of BC.

    Ryan enjoys running, paddling, and skiing with his wife Joanna and their daughter Ruby.

Marie Milner

Administration

  • Marie has a long history of working in health-care support, first in Vancouver and then in Cranbrook. She retired in 2019, but after five years retirement lost its appeal, she was happy to join the KTC team in July 2024.

We’d love to meet.

Maybe you found a practitioner who resonates with you, and you’re ready to book. Or maybe you aren’t sure which type of treatment is best for your condition, and you’d like to ask some questions first. Wherever you’re at, we’re here to chat.