Vestibular Rehabilitation, Pain Management, Matheson FCE evaluator, Orthopedics and Sports Injury, Pool Therapy, REACT Program Therapist
Denise Mend graduated with a Bachelors in Science in Kinesiology at Simon Fraser University, before completing her Bachelors in Science in Rehabilitation in 1993. She has been an associate with Dale Charles Physiotherapy since 1995.
Denise has completed her Level III orthopedic division courses, and continues to have an active interest in musculoskeletal courses. She has also developed an interest in treating persistent pain, and has taken many courses over the past few years to enrich her practice.
A past basketball player at SFU and competitive swimmer, Denise now enjoys standup paddle boarding, yoga, running, cycling, skate skiing, and downhill skiing to keep her “Moving for Life”. Now that her two young-adult children are in university, she and her husband Paul have more free time to enjoy all that the Okanagan offers.
Acupuncture (CAFCI), WorkSafeBC Therapist, Myofascial Release Therapist
Grant is our resident Kiwi sports junkie at Dale Charles Physiotherapy Community Centre. Coming from Southern Hemisphere involvement with rugby, softball and cricket teams, he has spent the past decade gradually making the Canadian transition to snow and ice sports.
Grant’s special interest is the mechanism and prevention of sports injuries. He was instrumental in establishing an ACL injury prevention program for teenage soccer players in Penticton, and is now working at the other end of the injury prevention spectrum, to reduce the risk of falls in the older population.
Trained in manual therapy, dry needling and acupuncture, and myofascial release techniques, Grant brings a unique blend of treatment tools to the table.
You’ll find Grant “Moving for Life”, running and biking in the hills around Penticton, or just trying to keep pace with his two very mobile daughters.
COMT(Aus), SPC(c), Registered Physiotherapist
Shandia graduated from the University of Alberta in 2000 with her Bachelor of Science degree in Physical Therapy. After working at a large sports clinic in Calgary she headed to Australia, where she completed her certificate in orthopedic manual therapy (COMT). She then returned to Canada to work in Whistler for a season, before returning to work in her home town of Kelowna. She eventually moved to the beautiful South Okanagan and joined the Dale Charles Community Centre team in 2009.
Shandia has advanced certification in orthopedic manual therapy and continues to attend conferences and courses whenever she is able. She is also certified to practice acupuncture (CAFCI) and intramuscular stimulation (CGIMS) and completed her Titleist Performance Institute (TPI) Level 1 golf assessment certification. She has also completed her Sport Physiotherapy Canada certificate.
Shandia has been a physiotherapist with the Canadian National Snowboard Team since the 2010/2011 season. Since that time she has travelled with teams all over the world to several world cups, world championships, and in 2014, joined the team at the Winter Olympics in Sochi. She continues to travel on the world cup circuit with Canada’s Snowboardcross Team. She was a volunteer in the Whistler Polyclinic during the Vancouver 2010 Olympic and Paralympic Games. In addition, Shandia has volunteered at many other local, provincial and national sporting events over the years.
Shandia enjoys working with all age groups, helping patients return to their favorite activities, their occupation or to simply improve their quality of life. She combines manual therapy, needling, education and exercise prescription to help individuals reach their specific rehab goals.
A former collegiate basketball player, Shandia enjoys travelling and can be found “Moving for Life” SUPing with her dog Kula, mountain biking, kiteboarding, golfing, waterskiing, playing basketball or hockey and downhill skiing.
Orthopaedic and Sports Injury, Acupuncture (CAFCI), REACT Program Therapist, Pain Management
Crystal is a physiotherapist who is actively involved in the community and raising her two children, Matt and Kate. You can find her most evenings at the hockey rink.
Crystal graduated from the University of Alberta with a Bachelor of Science in Physical Therapy. She joined the Dale Charles Physiotherapy Clinic in 2001.
Working for over twenty years as a physiotherapist in private practices, she continues to love helping and educating her patients. She helps clients establish a home program to correct their muscle imbalances, improve their posture and decrease their pain. She encourages patients to take an active role in their recovery.
Crystal likes to keep active herself and enjoys hiking, travelling, biking and has most recently started playing hockey herself.
But most of all she enjoys playing with her family!
Kinesiologist, Exercise Physiologist, CSEP-CEP, Aquatic Rehab Specialist, PGAP Provider
Jenn completed her Bachelor of Human Kinetics degree from UBC Okanagan and is registered as a BCAK Practicing Kinesiologist. Her certifications include CSEP Certified Exercise Physiologist, BCRPA Supervisor of Aquatic Fitness leaders, and WaterArt Aquatic Rehab Specialist. She has a long history in aquatics as a lifeguard, swim coach and fitness instructor.
At the Community Centre Clinic, Jenn helps people get back to work, life and leisure through active rehabilitation programs. Her main roles are with the Occupational Rehabilitation 1 and Work Conditioning Programs, but she also provides one-on-one aquatic and gym based exercise programs, as well as individualized support with the Progressive Goal Attainment Program (PGAP).
When she is not in the gym or the pool, you will find Jenn outdoors, glued to a good book, or spending time with her daughter, husband, and two dogs. Hiking, snowshoeing and skiing top the list of her favorite activities, but you may also find Jenn digging in the garden, clinging to a rock face, lounging on the pontoon boat or reeling in a big one.
IMS Practitioner, Orthopaedic and Sports Injury Therapist, Myofascial Release Therapist
Ashley graduated with her Master’s degree in Physical Therapy from McGill University in 2010. Since then, she has made her way west, working for some time in Ontario and across British Columbia, before deciding to make Penticton her home.
She has training in dry needling and uses it in collaboration with manual therapy techniques and exercise prescription. Outside the clinic, Ashley can be found on many of the trails, either on foot, or on two wheels. She also enjoys yoga, running, snowboarding and snowshoeing.
