Canadian RMT Magazine Spring 2016 Volume 1 | Page 9

Does Ontario
Really Need Two
Conferences?
By Eric Brown

This is a special year for massage therapists as
the Canadian Massage Conference comes to Ontario twice
in 2016, first with the Spring Education Conference in April
and then the Canadian Massage Conference and Tradeshow
September.
With the announcement, many therapists have been asking,
“Do we really need two conferences in Ontario?” So we went out
into the field and asked Ontario therapists what they thought.
In general, respondents were excited about having options. As
Parisa Moallemian, Massage Therapy Program Coordinator at
CDI College puts it, “Ontario RMTs are very fortunate to have
access to these two great conferences right in their own province.
The beauty of the two is that they are both uniquely different
from one another and carry a different energy.”
Each conference has a different format with the spring event
featuring longer one and two-day workshops by some of the top
educators from around North America, whereas the fall conference features dozens of short presentations and a trade show,
along with longer workshops. So there is something for everyone.
As Parisa adds, “Some longer topics are better broken down in
shorter workshops and presented over time to allow practitioners to practice one level before taking the next. Other times
shorter workshops are great for introduction to longer modalities and a good way for a therapist to see if a larger investment
is something they may want to commit to. The great thing about
having the option is one’s day can be scheduled in such a way to
allow for both the longer and shorter options available.”
But conference are about more than just education. As Faz
Moosa, RMT says, “Although continuing education opportunities
abound in Ontario, a conference with multiple educators, a structured curriculum and a chance to network is a unique opportunity that should not be missed.”
It seems as though the environment to share, network and
connect with other professionals is one of the features therapists
appreciate most with these events. Faz adds, “To bring a critical
mass of Massage Therapists together, all sharing their knowledge
and experience can only happen in a large scale event. Conferences provide the perfect venue for this sharing to take place.
Just to know the possibilities of what exists in therapy makes me
a better therapist.”
Massage therapist Dan Morrison appreciates other elements

as well: “Aside from new techniques and approaches to healthcare, the camaraderie is great. I enjoy the trade show where I can
learn about new products and talk to the suppliers of the triedand-true products that I have u ͕