On December 14th we gathered as a team to celebrate the end of another calendar year and recognize the excellence within our ranks. We are so lucky to have such a dedicated and driven team focused on the goals of our clients and their families and on each other’s growth. Each year we recognize one outstanding employee at Lake Ridge Community Support Services by awarding the Jim Reaume Award of Excellence. This is what that award is all about and who was nominated in 2022.

The Jim Reaume Award of Excellence, also referred to as the Jim Reaume award was created in 2013 to honour Jim Reaume’s dedication, values and contributions.  Jim was the founding Executive Director of Lake Ridge Community Support Services over 35 years ago and oversaw all aspects of the organization for 27 years.  When Jim decided to retire in 2013, this award was created to honour Jim by recognizing staff who demonstrate excellence through their clinical work and a passion for the vision of Lake Ridge Community Support Services, which is a commitment to treatment, education and research.

Although Jim is no longer with us, his memory lives on with those who knew him, and his dedication to the agency and the field of intellectual disabilities is still seen every day.  

This year we had 4 nominees (with one or more nominations from their co-workers).  The nominations were compiled, de-identified and shared with the Board of Directors.  The Board of Directors reviewed the nominations, asked clarifying questions and went through the difficult process of deciding on one recipient. 

The Board of Directors enjoys hearing about the great work and efforts of the Lake Ridge staff.  The final decision was again difficult as the nominated candidates exemplify the vision and values of our agency and Jim.  As part of the review process, the nominees are recognized, and nomination forms will be included in their personnel files. 

It is certainly a great honour to be recognized and nominated for this award. Here are this year’s nominees.

The Jim Reaume Award Nominees

1. Davidy Maidany

Davidy joined our LRCSS team in 2020. It was clear from the start that Davidy has a passion for learning, a strong commitment to helping others, and a drive to discover, create and facilitate changes in the world for good.  Davidy welcomes new challenges as an opportunity to learn and further develop his professional skill set. He is a flexible team player, always willing to step in where he is needed most. 

Davidy consistently delivers a high-quality service within a diverse clinical portfolio, including complex clinical cases and mediator models. He navigates each of these thoughtfully and pragmatically, applying his knowledge of ABA principles and the BACB Code of Ethics to guide him. Davidy contacts the current behaviour analytic literature and uses it to guide his decision-making. The outcomes are always based on improving the quality of life for his client. 

Davidy has been recognized for his excellent work by community partners, his colleagues, mentors and supervisees that have had an opportunity to work with him. 

Davidy actively and effectively contributes to the growth of others through mentorship and supervision, in addition to his involvement with the Meeting of the Minds and ACT Immersion Learning groups.  He is passionate about sharing his knowledge and supporting and developing others in their ABA journey. 

As a person, clinician, and teammate, Davidy has a friendly, fun, humble, and supportive way about him. He is passionate about learning, investigating, thinking outside the box, and taking on new challenges with intention. 

Congratulations Davidy!

2. Heather Redmond

Heather exemplifies excellence in treatment, education and research, and passion in her role as Clinical Manager. She has seamlessly been able to transition into a Clinical Manager role and be a part of the new Entry to School program.  

Heather shows her dedication and commitment to the clients she supports within the Entry to School program by thinking 'outside of the box' when necessary. She is more than willing to share resources and work through new processes and plans as needed, and teach others along the way and has a passion for ensuring this new program is bigger and better for next year.  

Heather has led and worked closely with the Clinical Management team to develop a thorough and efficient evaluation process for all clinicians.  Her dedication towards this project has assisted Lake Ridge to be consistent, efficient and effective in giving feedback and promoting professional development for all clinicians.  

Heather also shares her passion for supervision with her co-leadership of the Meeting of the Minds where she drives change and gathers literature and resources to help all our BCBAs deliver meaningful and educational supervision.  In addition, she organizes RBT Group Supervision for the agency. Her commitment to mentorship and professional growth in the agency for our staff is inspiring and appreciated.  

Heather is dedicated to supporting her team and Lake Ridge staff and promoting growth and learning to ensure high-quality clinical service for clients and their caregivers.

Congratulations Heather!

3. Katrina Zealand

Katrina is a determined and enthusiastic learner who is passionate about helping others, empowering her clients and furthering the field of ABA through both her clinical work and through clinical research. 

Katrina’s focus and strong clinical understanding of conceptual, technical and applied components of ABA empower her to take on new challenges, and different client profiles, and to take on new opportunities while meeting the demands involved with working within multiple programs effectively. 

Katrina has been part of the Facing your Fears (FYF) research team since it launched in 2020, and she is an integral team member and leader on the team. Katrina is collaborative, organized, compassionate, and our technical wizard. She strengthens the passion and purpose of the FYF team and brings support to children with mental health needs in Durham and conducts clinical research in the real world to improve services for families and push our field forward. 

Katrina loves to learn and also demonstrates a commitment to give back. Over the last two years, Katrina became a Board Certified Behaviour Analyst, co-supervised a practicum student, co-facilitated a training workshop, and successfully completed a certificate in the Foundations of Cognitive Behaviour Therapy. 

Katrina’s positive attitude about life, her work, clinical activities and case challenges, through COVID restrictions and working from home, has been empathetic, flexible and adaptable and she continues to demonstrate dedication to do her best. 

Congratulations Katrina!

Our 2022 Jim Reaume Award Winner

This employee joined the Lake Ridge team in 2005.  They have several years of experience, knowledge and expertise delivering ABA services to children, youth and adults with varying diagnoses, across a wide variety of areas and goals, including but not limited to sexuality, anger management, emotional regulation and skill teaching.

Teammates sought out this individual for their skills and expertise in many different areas. Their strengths lie not just in their clinical skills but also in their ability to consult with different mediators, clients and agencies. 

Comprehensive behaviour plans are completed with individualized treatment recommendations. This individual has collaborated on safety and treatment plans with medical professionals and always gains input from those supporting the individual receiving services.

He is an asset when supporting complex cases for individuals at risk where multiple agencies and services are involved, such as risk from losing housing placement to preventing from entering the justice system.

He is highly sought out by his peers to provide mentorship on sexual health education and how to conduct sexual health assessments and is currently participating in the development of a new service offering of a specialized sexuality clinic.

He also wears multiple hats, from clinical work to leading training and re-certification to all agency staff for First Aid and CPR and is the health and safety lead for our agency.

Congratulations to Scott Wildman!