Recreational Therapist

KidsAbility Centre for Child Development; Southwestern Ontario; On-site; CAD 74,000 - 85,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Extended health and dental benefits

Disability income protection

Group RRSP (optional)

Vacation entitlements

Paid personal leave

Well-being programs

Job summary

KidsAbility Centre for Child Development in Ontario is seeking a Recreation Therapist to work with children, youth and families, helping them participate in meaningful activities and overcome participation barriers. You will collaborate with families and partners to design, implement, and evaluate recreation interventions that promote belonging and independence.

The role is a permanent full-time position (37.5 hours/week) across Waterloo, Kitchener, Guelph and Cambridge, with a salary range of

Qualifications

• University degree with specialization in Therapeutic Recreation.
• Professional TRO membership or eligibility.
• Ability to work across multiple sites and travel as required.

Responsibilities

• Promote engagement in meaningful recreation activities for children with disabilities through a variety of interventions.
• Develop community partnerships to promote inclusive recreation opportunities.
• Contribute to continuous quality improvement and partnerships within KidsAbility.
• Plan and document information to develop resources and methods.
• Collaborate with an interdisciplinary team to support a family-centered, strengths-based approach.

Skills

Team collaboration

Effective communication

Time management

Confidentiality

Education

University degree in Therapeutic Recreation

TRO membership (or eligibility)

Job description

Salary Range: $74,211.00 To $85,021.00 Annually

Posting Date : November 6, 2026

Closing Date : November 22, 2026

Status: Vacancy

Recreation Therapist

Permanent Full Time, 37.5 hours/week | Start Date: As soon as possible

Location: This position serves all sites (Waterloo, Kitchener, Guelph, Cambridge)

OPSEU 258 Annual Salary Range: $74,211 to $85,021

Why Join KidsAbility?

Every year, more than 22,000 children and youth access services across KidsAbility programs to support their growth, development, and well-being. Through innovative, family-centred services, we help children and families navigate challenges, celebrate successes, and achieve meaningful goals. As a non-profit organization serving the Waterloo and Guelph-Wellington regions, we believe that when we work together with compassion, expertise, and purpose, we can make a lasting impact. Join us in helping children, youth, and families discover a future of possibilities.

The impact we make starts with our people. That's why we foster a supportive and purpose-driven workplace where employees can grow, contribute, and thrive. We offer:

• Ongoing professional development, leadership growth, and learning opportunities
• A collaborative and inclusive culture that values diverse perspectives and teamwork
• Opportunities to contribute to innovation, research, and continuous improvement initiatives
• Programs that support employee well-being, connection, and work-life balance
• A comprehensive total rewards package, including extended health and dental benefits, an optional group RRSP, disability income protection, generous vacation entitlements, and paid personal leave

The Opportunity:

As a Recreation Therapist, you will work alongside children, youth and families to build the skills, confidence and connections needed to participate in meaningful activities and experiences. Through consultation, education, advocacy, collaboration and community partnerships, you will help reduce barriers to participation, create opportunities for inclusion, and support children and youth in pursuing goals that foster belonging, independence, personal growth and lifelong engagement in their communities.

Your Impact:

In this role, you will:

• Promote and support engagement in meaningful recreation activities for children with disabilities through a variety of interventions by consulting, designing, implementing, recording, and evaluating.
• Participate in community education and outreach to create, maintain and improve working partnerships with community organizations and groups to promote community recreation opportunities for children with disabilities.
• Contribute to the development and continuous quality improvement of KidsAbility and will develop community partnerships and opportunities by participating in projects and groups.
• Plan and document information with the goal of developing methods and resources.
• Work collaboratively within an interdisciplinary team to promote a family- centred , strengths -based and community-focused approach to service delivery.
• Build and maintain positive relationships with clients, families, colleagues, community partners, and other stakeholders to support shared goals and meaningful participation.
• Practice in accordance with professional standards, ethical guidelines, organizational priorities and evolving best practices in Therapeutic Recreation.

Your Experience and Expertise:

To be successful in this role, you will have a University degree with a specialization in Therapeutic Recreation. You must be a professional member of Therapeutic Recreation Ontario (TRO)

In addition, you will bring:

• Proven ability and willingness to work as an integral member of a team.
• Exceptional oral/written communication capabilities coupled with demonstrated consultation, problem solving and time management skills.
• High levels of attention to detail and confidentiality.
• Experience or knowledge of community development practices and experience with children who have a variety of developmental, physical, and communicative disorders.
• Strong collaboration skills and the ability to work effectively with diverse groups, with a customer-focused approach.
• A consultative approach, focused on meeting others where they are at, and knowledge of or experience working in a tiered model of support, with a strong focus on universal supports.
• Valid Ontario Driver's Licence and access to a reliable vehicle to support work across multiple sites is required.

KidsAbility strives to create an accessible and inclusive application and selection process and is committed to working with and providing reasonable accommodations to job applicants who may require provisions to participate in the selection process. Should any applicant require accommodation please contact Human Resources in advance for assistance.

Equity, Diversity, and Inclusion are the core values of KidsAbility. We are a diverse workforce with wide perspectives and creative ideas that benefit our clients and the community. It is the policy of KidsAbility to ensure equal employment opportunity without discrimination or harassment. We welcome applications from visible minority groups, women, Indigenous Peoples, persons with disabilities, religion, age, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, marital or domestic/civil partnership status, genetic information or any other ground protected by applicable law.

Please note that all prospective KidsAbility employees are subject to mandatory immunization requirements, including the full and ongoing COVID-19 vaccination, as a condition of obtaining and maintaining employment. We will make accommodations as directed by the Ministry of Children, Community and Social Services and the Chief Medical Officer of Health.