Janet Rogers, the founder of Sports Centre Physiotherapy, passed away January 12th. The PEI health care community and the sporting world are now without one of their great pioneers.
Janet was a physiotherapist for 44 years and during that time she was a tireless worker for the benefit of others. She introduced sport physiotherapy to PEI and worked many long days after her shifts at the hospital to ensure Island athletes were properly cared for. She has earned many well deserved accolades in her long career. The two she was most proud of were a life membership to the Canadian Physiotherapy Association (CPA) and an induction into the UPEI sports hall of fame. These two awards represent so much about Janet. She worked constantly promoting the profession of physiotherapy, the benefits received from physiotherapy and a high standard of practice and patient care. The CPA graciously recognized her for her contributions to physiotherapy. She loved sports and for close to two decades was a permanent fixture in hockey rinks, gyms and sport fields at UPEI ensuring the safety of “her” athletes. UPEI acknowledged her tremendous contribution to the success of their varsity programs with her induction.
Janet was very generous with her time, skills, and service ensuring that all of her patients, athletes or not, were properly cared for – many times without her charging for her service. She was a lucky person who truly loved her work and it showed. She told me a few years ago that all of the accolades and acknowledgements were nice but the reason she worked and the satisfaction she received from her job was from helping her patients reach their maximum physical potential.
I have been fortunate to be a patient, employee, and friend of Janet’s. I have learned a lot from her and have a tremendous respect for her as a physiotherapist and a person. You will be missed Janet. Rest in Peace.
Colin Moore