Heidi’s research interests include community development and collaborative community practice. She explores how occupational therapists and other health professionals can work in partnerships with communities to promote meaningful participation in collective community occupations. She is curious about meaning making and sense belonging and how these can be fostered through the meaningful daily activities we engage in. Recent/current research topics include: age-friendly communities, community participation among adults living with chronic physical conditions and mental health issues through “Steps to Connect” a leisure education program and “Recreation for Mental Health, social inclusion through collective social occupations in our outdoor spaces (gardening and dog walking), and interprofessional practice in long-term care and community settings. She explores these topics through qualitative methods and community-based participatory research approaches, including participatory action research and appreciative inquiry. She is also interested in community-engaged learning and scholarship (locally and internationally) and contemplative practices in education and occupational therapy practice.
