Christine Morris-Bolton rolls into new role at Lansdowne Children’s Centre

Physiotherapy career inspired by gymnastics background

Christine Morris-Bolton is the new Occupational Therapy/ Physiotherapy Services Manager at Lansdowne Children’s Centre.

Christine Morris-Bolton has been aware of how bodies move pretty much her whole life.

“I was a gymnast and a gymnastics coach as a child and young adult,” she said.

She noted that in gymnastics, participants learn how to do things like cartwheels and flips.

So, “When I saw a physiotherapist working with children, I thought, ‘Oh, instead of flips, we're teaching them to roll or sit or walk,’ so it felt very connected to what my passion was as a kid.”

Morris-Bolton went to McMaster University, where she got her Bachelor of Kinesiology, and then her Bachelor of Health Science in Physiotherapy. Currently, she’s wrapping up the second year of her three-year Masters of Health Management program.

At the same time, she’s adjusting to her new role as the Occupational Therapy/ Physiotherapy Services Manager at Lansdowne Children’s Centre.

Morris-Bolton first came to Lansdowne in 2000 to work as a physiotherapist; she left for a bit to work in hospitals, as well as in a private clinic.

“I had switched to working with adults, but then I missed the kids, so I came back here about a year and a half ago,” she said.

Before taking on her new management role at Lansdowne, Morris-Bolton had been working in school and community-based services in the Simcoe and Brantford areas.

“I'm excited to move into this role as an internal hire, because I have a good awareness of many of the strengths of the therapy team members, and the challenges they face in the different environments we work in,” she said.

Morris-Bolton said she plans to bring a collaborative approach to managing her team’s services, and looks forward to helping clients indirectly now, by supporting the OTs and PTs involved in their direct care.

“I'm hoping to continue to improve the therapy services that children and teens in our area receive, and be a support to our staff,” she said.

“Most of my career has been dedicated to pediatrics. I feel this is a great opportunity to help improve children and their family's journey through the healthcare and rehabilitation systems.”