Recreation Therapy aims to enable all individuals to achieve a quality of life and optimal health through meaningful experiences in recreation and leisure. 

Recreation Therapy provides service to and advocates for individuals with physical, mental, social, behavioural or emotional limitations in various settings such as hospitals, long-term care settings, day programs, community-based programs, and mental health centres. (Adapted from TRO)

Program Highlights

• Mohawk College is committed to providing the best experiential learning by integrating theory and practice. This commitment to experiential learning is supported by faculty who understand its value.
• As a student in the program, you will receive a student membership with Therapeutic Recreation Ontario (TRO).
• Develop facilitation practice skills while taking a course in a community RT setting.
• Faculty who understand its value support experiential learning through integrating theory and practice.
• Mohawk College’s Therapeutic Recreation curriculum has been successfully reviewed and determined to be in alignment with the Therapeutic Recreation Ontario (TRO) and Essential Competency Framework (ECF).  

As a result, graduates of this program (283, 963) are eligible to apply for the Registration designation with the Therapeutic Recreation Ontario (TRO) upon graduation.

• individual and group presentations are a core competency in the program

What you'll learn

• Theoretical foundation and practical skills to plan, implement and evaluate leisure services for individuals at all stages in life who experience barriers to healthy leisure.
• Recognize leisure, recreation and play as integral components of quality of life.
• Assess the needs and passions of an individual to provide person-centred care.
• Focus on inclusion and empowerment to help people live their fullest life despite limitations.
• How to give as much power and choice as possible back to the participant.
• Provide services to individuals who have physical, mental, emotional or social limitations that impact their ability to engage in leisure experiences.

• A copy of Passport - Picture and Address Pages
• All Academic Transcripts - High school and higher
  • High School Transcripts/Mark Sheets and Completion Certificates
  • Degree/Diploma Transcripts/Mark Sheets and Completion Certificates
  • Notarized and translated into English
• English Proficiency Score Cards or equivalent (if applicable)
• Notarized Custodian Declaration (for those under the age of 18 by the start of the class)

• OSSD or equivalent, including:
  • Grade 12 English, C or U or equivalent (70% guideline)
• Mohawk College will individually consider advanced standing and credit for prior learning with related experience.
• Volunteer experience in Recreation Therapy recommended
• Attendance at program orientation is strongly recommended
• Applicants should note that some employment opportunities require that certain physical standards must be met as a condition of employment

Options are available for mature applicants.

• Mature applicants aged 19 and over
• Applicants who are not currently in secondary school

Mohawk recognizes that life changes people’s directions. That’s why Mature Students don't need to have completed a secondary school diploma to enter a Mohawk College program.

Mohawk welcomes students from many backgrounds:

• Many Mohawk students arrive after being away from school and/or in the labour force for one year or more
• Almost 1/3 of Mohawk students are aged 23 or over, and there are students from every generation.
• Mohawk considers a mature applicant to be anyone 19 years of age or older who is planning to attend a full or part-time program at Mohawk College.
• Adult learners are an important part of our Mohawk community.
• With various work and life experiences, adult learners contribute their valuable perspectives to classroom and training programs while simultaneously obtaining new knowledge and skills.