Tazmeen Lalani

Taz is an exceptional Occupational Therapist whose commitment to quality care is evident in every interaction. Her thoughtful approach, professionalism, and dedication to improving lives have had a meaningful impact on countless people. This nomination is a reflection of the outstanding care and expertise she brings to her profession each and every day. Congratulations on this well-deserved recognition. You have my vote.

Taz is a remarkable OT and person. Her efforts in supporting others through her direct client work, education to the community, volunteering on the Brain Injury Board of York Region are greatly appreciated. She deserves this recognition!

Taz and I have worked together on many ABI files. It is always a pleasure working with someone who is knowledgeable, experienced and values input from all team members. Taz works collaboratively with all team members, brainstorming goals and ideas to help clients move forward. Taz is compassionate and caring. Her approach is client- and family-focused, ensuring that the client’s needs are always at the center of therapy. Congratulations on the nomination, Taz.

Congratulations Taz on the nomination. Taz and I have worked closely for many years. I appreciate her insight and compassion into the most complex cases. I have viewed her advocacy for brain injury clients in her conduction of complex catastrophic assessments. Taz has a deep and unique understanding of the clinical and legal parameters which makes her effective in her ability to not only provide opinions but rather give the reader an inside view into the effect of brain injury on daily life. She works collaboratively with a diverse multi-disciplinary team and communicates effectively with respect and kindness. Good luck Taz on this deserved recognition!

I have had the privilege of working alongside Tazmeen for the past year and knowing her for much longer, and I cannot think of anyone more deserving of this recognition. She is genuinely one of the most generous, thoughtful, supportive, and ethical people I know. She consistently goes above and beyond for every person she works with, always making sure they feel heard, supported, and valued. Her commitment to the brain injury community extends far beyond her role as a healthcare provider, and she has dedicated her life to volunteering, advocacy, and supporting others. She gives so much of her time and energy without ever expecting recognition in return. She is an exceptional healthcare provider, advocate, mentor, teacher, and volunteer, and I truly cannot think of anyone more deserving for this award.

Taz has my vote without question from a professional and personal point of view. I had the privilege of working with Taz at Humber College as another professor for OTA’s and could not help but notice how well she balanced kindness, firmness and exceptional teaching to her students. I am certain she is this way with her clients based on how enthusiastically she advocates for them whenever we get to generally discuss a case scenario or two. I’m also very aware of the knowledge and commitment she brings to the brain injury community. I have witnessed many examples of her work and advocacy for many years. From a personal perspective, she is equally wonderful as a friend, and was incredibly helpful and supportive when I was dealing with the loss of one parent and then the next. She has an amazing inner character. Taz is a kind and trustworthy person, as an Occupational Therapist, Educator, and simply a wonderful human being. I am proud to be her colleague and friend. She deserves this nomination and I hope she wins this award!

Congratulations Taz on this well deserved nomination. It is such a pleasure working with you on the Board at Brain Injury Association of York Region (BIAYR). You are our fearless leader and I have learned a great deal from you. Your passion, enthusiasm, and commitment to giving your time and expertise make such a difference. I am so glad you are being recognized for your expertise, hard work and dedication.

Congratulations, Taz, on this nomination! I have known Taz as a colleague sharing mutual patients, as a fellow board member at the Brain Injury Association of York Region, and as a friend, and each of those vantage points has taught me something.

What stands out first is how she treats people. Her professionalism and kindness are not separate with Taz; they arrive together and are extended to everyone, whether that is a client, a family member, a student, or a colleague. When she speaks, she is eloquent and precise, using that skill on behalf of patients who cannot advocate for themselves. I have watched her do the same for BIAYR, giving her time and her voice to strengthen the supports available to survivors and caregivers in York Region.

She is also someone I look up to as a woman, a leader, and a mother. Taz holds all of those roles with a steadiness that makes it look easier than it is. She has been my sounding board more than once, and her advice on my career and my life has consistently been thoughtful, honest, and generous with her time.

Brain injury care in this province is better because of how Taz practises and how she gives back. She has my vote and my gratitude.

Congratulations Taz on this nomination.

I am fortunate enough to spend time weekly with Taz as she helps me navigate recovery from an automobile accident last year. She has helped me to find an optimistic outlook through her ongoing support. She is incredibly hard working – but beyond that she shares her knowledge, validation, positivity and emotional encouragement. . She is so generous with her time and energy, and she has helped me to understand the things that are important in all aspects of my ongoing health and physical wellbeing.

There are times in life when one needs an advocate. Taz is this and more for me. I cannot imagine how this year would have progressed without her.

As you go through trauma in your life it makes such a difference to have someone who understands – who assesses your whole situation and works to find solutions that fit your life, including family dynamics and friendship circles. Taz took on my world last year, and she has made it such a better place.

Thank you Taz – this nomination is so deserved. You are one of a kind.

The work that Taz does as a volunteer board member and chair of the Brain Injury Association of York Region shows her commitment to people with needs that extends far beyond what an OT would normally do. As a fellow board member, I have listened to her speak passionately about what needs to be done to improve the system, and I have witnessed the considerable hours of her own time that she has put in to make the lives of others a little better. For her, being a health care provider isn’t just a career. It’s her calling.

It’s always a pleasure working with you, Taz. Professionalism, dedication, and the quality-of-care you provide to the clients truly stand out. Huge congratulation for this truly deserving nomination.

This is so well deserved Taz! Your compassion, dedication, and commitment to supporting children and families while respecting their diverse cultural needs and practices truly shine through in everything you do! I feel very fortunate to work alongside such an amazing OT. Congradulations!!

I had the privilege of interviewing Taz for a podcast on Diverse Abilities for a community organization. What I noted was that in addition to her wealth of knowledge, her ability to navigate multiple disciplines in her responses – public health, education, law, psychology – was impressive. All the while, she brought a deeply heartfelt human perspective that would engage and comfort any listener. Even in the limited time I have known her, it is of no surprise to me at all that she would be nominated for this award.

Congratulations, Taz, on this well-deserved nomination! For as long as I can, remember, you have been a fierce and incredibly generous advocate for those in need, and this is clearly demonstrated in all that you do, and the passion with which you do it: volunteering in the community tirelessly, providing empathy and support to those in need, always finding a balance between professionalism and passion, always finding time to be there in any capacity, always going above and beyond. It is truly a privilege to call you a friend and a mentor and I’m so pleased that you are being recognized in this way. – you deserve to win this award:)