Cultivating Growth & Inclusion: Horticulture, Recreation Therapy and Employment for Wellness & Community Connection

Vicki is the Vocational Services Senior Manager at Open Door Group with over 19 years of experience in both public and private sector career services. With a master’s degree and extensive training in psychology, she has worked with clients facing mental health challenges and diverse needs. Additionally, she has developed career programs, coaching manuals and standardized assessments, as well as delivered professional training for those in education and human services. Since joining Open Door Group in 2019, she has been dedicated to serving individuals with disabilities specializing in Customized Employment services.

Radka Prihodova, Program Coordinator/ Rehabilitation and Wellness Manager at Open Door Group Thrive, bringing a decade of experience in the mental health field. Her work in this field began as a student research assistant on a community-based participatory research project investigating the lived experience of mental illness. She is dedicated to promoting positive attitudes towards people with mental health issues and tackling the stigma associated with mental illness. To this end, she is certified to facilitate Mental Health First Aid training for adult learners. Alongside her management role, Radka is collaborating with Douglas College as a co-investigator on a research project assessing the impact of therapeutic recreation interventions on employment preparedness. Currently, she leads a Peer Support Work Pilot project, ensuring that individuals with lived experience receive training, work experience and resources to gain employment in the peer support work field. Radka holds a master’s degree in Adaptive Physical Education from Charles University in the Czech Republic and a bachelor’s degree in Therapeutic Recreation from Douglas College.

Grew up on Vancouver Island and moved to Fraser Valley where my family bought small farm which I worked on during my teen years. Graduated from UFV in 1995 with Human Service Diploma and began working with children, youth and families. In 2006, my family and I moved to Kamloops, BC where I began working for ODG in the Gardengate program where I continue today.

Christine Buchanan is the Director of Vocational and Wellness at Open Door Group (ODG). Under her guidance, the organization has expanded its reach, offering free employment and training services across 18 locations in British Columbia. Her strategic efforts have significantly increased the number of individuals served, surpassing 5,000 annually. Christine supported ODG’s CAN WiN Initiative, which helps employers meet workforce needs by connecting job seekers with disabilities to accessible employers across British Columbia, Alberta, Saskatchewan, Manitoba, and Ontario. Her leadership was instrumental in the creation of a toolkit for newcomers with disabilities, the development of the Disability-Related Employment Needs Assessment, and the authoring of a staff manual on how to deliver the Employment Program for People with Disabilities for people who are experiencing barriers. Currently, she serves as the Chair of the Technical Committee on the Employment Accessibility Standard in BC, where she is actively collaborating to develop recommendations for ground-breaking employment accessibility standards. Ms. Buchanan also serves on the board of directors for the BC Career Development Association.