Recipients of the 2018 Awards of Excellence
in Brain Injury Rehabilitation

Kathy Gravel
I have worked in social services and healthcare for 29 years.  After graduating from Queens University with a Bachelor's degree in Psychology in 1989, I worked for Community Living Kingston, supporting children and adults who have developmental disabilities.  My experiences in social services inspired me to earn my Masters of Social Work (MSW) degree from the University of Toronto in 1999.

Leigh Craney
If I ever became seriously injured and was provided a label of being “catastrophic”, how would I handle this, and what would I want?  Who would I want guiding me through this recovery process? I would want someone to make me feel heard, and see me as an individual, not just my injuries.  I would want someone to help me regain control when I feel like I’ve lost everything important to me.

Beverlee C. Melamed
Beverlee C. Melamed is a “seasoned” Occupational Therapist qualified to work in Ontario. She has “seen it all”! Her years of experience have demonstrated her compassion for her clients, team and colleagues. Her creativity and insights have resulted in satisfactory accomplishments over the years.

Brain Injury Association of Ottawa Valley (BIAOV)
The Head Injury Association (Ottawa Valley) was founded in 1984 by a group of concerned parents of patients and professionals from St. Vincent`s Hospital. Our mission is to offer education, information, hope and support to persons with brain injury, their family members, friends, caregivers and professionals in the Ottawa Valley Region.