Massage & Myotherapy Connect
Massage & Myotherapy Australia's broadcast show Connect provides therapists in the industry with Association news, tips, techniques and special opportunities to assist you in improving and developing your skills as a therapist in this busy industry!
Massage & Myotherapy Connect
Episode 103 – RMTBC Conference 2026
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In this episode of Connect, Massage & Myotherapy Australia CEO Ann Davey attends the Registered Massage Therapists Association of British Columbia (RMTBC) Conference 2026 in Vancouver, CA and chats with:
• RMTBC President Robyn Lancaster and Vice Chair Catherine Ryan
• Owner of Professional Health Systems Nik Vizniak
• International Presenter Robert Libbey,
• and Executive Directors of the Massage Therapy Foundation Terri Mayo and Annie LaCroix
Intro
SPEAKER_03Hello, Anne Davy here, and welcome to this episode of Massage Myotherapy Connect. In this episode, we come to you from the RMTBC conference held in Vancouver, Canada. President Selena Hagan and myself were delighted to be invited to attend. And I was also very privileged to participate as a part of a panel discussion. In this episode, I sit down and I chat with the president of the RMTBC, Robin Lancaster, the owner of Professional Health Systems, Nick Disniak, international presenter Robert Libby, and the vice chair of RMTBC, Kath Ryan. I also have a great conversation with Terry Mayo, who's the Executive Director of the Massage Therapy Foundation, along with Annie LaCroix, who's the Associate Director of the Massage Therapy Foundation. We hope you enjoy the podcast. Thank you.
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SPEAKER_03Hi everyone, and Davy here from Massage and Myotherapy Australia, and we are on Massage and Myotherapy Connect, and I have the fabulous Robin Lancaster, who is the president of the MRM TBC. So great to chat, Robin. Thanks for having me. Oh look, and then I have to apologize. We were both at the MRM TBC, which is the registered massage therapists of British Columbia here in Vancouver. And we were both at the conference, and I just did not get around to scuming. So the conference, I have to congratulate you and the board and the team at the office. The conference was just absolutely fabulous. I learned so much. Everyone knows, all the viewers know I'm not a therapist, but I learned so much and made so many connections. So congratulations on such a fabulous couple of days.
SPEAKER_04Oh, thank you. Yeah, it was a really it was a special gathering and and the speakers were phenomenal. And Gordon and the team at RMTBC do a fabulous job.
SPEAKER_03They do. Well done to everybody. Shout out to them. So the the theme was innovation and practice, which is a bit broad, but it when you look at the program, it really did fit. So it you know, that because this profession just seems to go through all these challenges and it just keeps, you know, kicking goals, I think. I mean, we get pushed down a lot, and I'm sure it's the same over here, but we just keep plugging away and you know, to be recognized and taken seriously. And you've got the same issues here as what we've got over in Australia.
SPEAKER_04Yeah, I think that everyone in the profession is is wrangling with the same issues, right? Of pursuing that um integration into mainstream health more so than previously, and and trying to get really get more people available to have massage.
SPEAKER_03Yes, and for it to be recognised as healthcare, not a nice to have, that's the risk. Yeah, and it is so. But the the first session at the conference, which I found super interesting because you are the RMTBC is a registered massage therapist. So as you're aware, we're self-regulated in Australia. But depending on what province you live in, am I correct? Depending on what province you live in in Canada, depends on whether you're regulated or not. Is that correct? Yeah.
SPEAKER_04Yeah, so we have kind of a wide variety, and we have a number of provinces that are regulated, and then a number of provinces that aren't, and then a number of provinces that are like somewhere in between trying to gain that regulation.
SPEAKER_03Yeah, and the first plenary was um like it started off with the competency framework modernization project. Do you want to tell us a bit about that?
SPEAKER_04Yeah, so um in an effort to kind of define what massage therapy is, because sometimes we get put down and that is misunder, or not misunderstood, it's just understood very differently across different provinces, across different practitioners, and and so to know that base level entry level competency is so important for education and regulation. So our regulators, um, which is the Federation of Massage Therapeutic regulators across Canada have uh have taken over this project, which is great. Um, and Dr. Alan Batt is heading it and he's done a number of different healthcare professions um and their competency documents and has studied them, which is wonderful. So we are in the process of trying to develop a new document in that way. We had one from a number of years ago, and it's just outdated because things keep changing. Um so and and things needed to be cleaned up. So the hope, I think, for most of us is we start with this competency document,
Robyn Lancaster
SPEAKER_04um, and we're hoping it'll be done kind of in the next year to 18 months, and then from there things grow. So um we maybe get a national curriculum out of that, and then maybe we get a national exam. Um so that because I think ideally um across Canada, if you could be a Canadian registered missile therapist as opposed to just in one province, and we do have labor mobility, which is great, but if you live in an unregulated province and you are competent the same way, why can't you be recognized the same way? And that helps protect things in insurance, right? And um and recognize those who are doing the education. Um and so that they are so they are safer, really, safer and and more educated in approaching the public. Um so it's a great project, and I'm excited to see what happens. It felt like a slow start for me, but in talking to Dr. Bat and Carl, they're right on track. So the experts say we're good to go.
SPEAKER_03And I think, I mean, we're fortunate in Australia a lot, whilst we're self-regulated, it is a national health training package, and that creates that standard, that training standard, that benchmark. Whereas with all of your provinces, it's all very different. Yeah.
SPEAKER_04Yeah. And healthcare is like it is handled provincially in Canada. So it isn't a federal, it isn't under the federal umbrella, which is why they're all different, and we are spread out just like Australia, right? There's lots of differences there. So, but for so many things, it would be nice to just have one.
SPEAKER_03It would, it might make some of our lives easier, or some of your lives easier. Yes. And Australia got a a lot of mentions at the conference, and I was quite surprised. A lot of the presenters from research to you know, practical, and they talked about people in Australia, and certain people do this, and um, which was very nice to hear. But I think the, you know, I think it was such a good mix of practical like you had a Karim Khan do a bit of a practical and get the um registrants talking to each other about how they do this, how they do that. But then there was high-level research, and then there was research. Um I've got a bit of a blank about names, but the one that really impressed me was um where she talked about how much of your hand you actually use to provide massage therapy. That was super interesting, wasn't it?
SPEAKER_04Yeah, Dr. Joe Abbott.
SPEAKER_03That's right.
SPEAKER_04And I was, I will admit, she was the highlight. I was looking forward to um her presentation absolutely the most, and I found so many interesting things and coming back even into the treatment room, and it was research-based, certainly, um, but very functional research. And that's always nice to see. I am a bit of a research geek, so um I like that part of it. I love hearing researchers talk about their research. I think it's easier to engage, but the ability that she has sort of distilled to um to use hands as a as a measuring tool, and I think we see that so much in the research, right? Is is like unverified or like unreliable and all of those things. And and the conversation is just like, well, yeah, because we haven't got a standard, we haven't, we're not relying on uh calibrating those hands, all of those things. And the idea that we can, because I think we've for a long time it's been a like, well, they're we're all individuals and our hands are all different, and you know, there's bodies interacting, and just the idea that she has found a way to calibrate that, to maybe hopefully be able to measure, um, measure what we're doing a little bit better in a more in a more real-world way, as opposed to, you know, you came in and and we told you to do five efforages and two strings, and then, you know, and it wasn't organic and nobody treats that way, so it doesn't work.
SPEAKER_03Yeah, exactly. And she was very apologetic of saying we've done it the wrong way, we've done research the wrong way to our own detriment. And I thought that was a very interesting thing to say because she's right, you know, it hasn't worked. We've, you know, across the world, you know, via Massage Therapy Foundation, via, you know, we've got a university in Australia of complimentary medicine. And whilst there's research out there, it's just not listened to. Yeah, so well, you know, it's fabulous to see you and fabulous to chat, and you know, who knows when our paths will cross, but you know, it it look, I have thoroughly enjoyed and I have learned so much over here, along with our president Selena Hagen, who was here with me, and um just meeting the people. And I think you know, we always look at the challenges, but there's so much positive going on in this profession, and I think when you hear it from across the world, it's just so exciting. So thank you for chatting with me, and everybody stay tuned for the rest of our interviews. I did into I did chat with several people while I was several, a few people while I was at the conference. So it's great to chat with you, Robin, and maybe we'll do this again in a a year or so and see where you're at.
SPEAKER_04Yeah, sounds great. Well, thanks very much for catching up.
SPEAKER_03Awesome. Thanks.
Nik Vizniak
SPEAKER_03Hi everyone, here we are at RMTBC in Vancouver, and they've put on some magnificent weather for us, but we're all about massage here and research and books. So I'm here with Nick, and I've forgotten how to say his surname. Bisniak. Bisniak, yes. So, and you are from Pro Professional Health Systems here. Which is what?
SPEAKER_00So we are a multidisciplinary publishing company, and we write books for massage therapists, physios, kairos, all that that are used around the world. So we focus on topics like muscle palpation, massage therapy, orthopedic assessment, joint mobilizations, pathology, and even nutrition and a lot of other fun things that you might want to know as well.
SPEAKER_03So, how's all this come about? Like, what's your background?
SPEAKER_00My background is I have a doctor of chiropractic designation as well as a RMT designation. And I was always frustrated in school when I saw the resources that were available, and I'm like, I have to buy this book, this book, this book, this book, but I can just buy one book that has all the information I need for muscles, including muscle testing, anatomy, palpation, trigger point referrals, and home care exercises you might give as well.
SPEAKER_03Fantastic. And they're all illustrations, yes?
SPEAKER_00They're all heavily illustrated. You'll see samples of the books. We can give you samples to review, of course, and all that kind of stuff. Oh, yes.
SPEAKER_03So look out in the journal, there will be several book reviews coming. So yeah.
SPEAKER_00And we also do a lot of CE courses as well, which I'm looking forward to doing for you guys in the future because I've never been to Australia. Yes. We're sitting here in Canada. Can you see it? In Canada. Okay, yeah. Sitting here in Canada. Sorry, too much exposure. Way too much.
SPEAKER_03So, but we we have talked about doing some webinars and some online workshops, that sort of thing to start with. So look out for Nick and look out for the
Robert Libbey
SPEAKER_03books and look who I found.
SPEAKER_08Look who she found.
SPEAKER_03Uh, our favorite, well, I can't say favourite because I have far too many favourites across the world, but everybody knows Rob. So it's great to see you again. Yes, absolutely. It's been almost a year since you launched in Australia. So, how's it going?
SPEAKER_08It's going amazingly well. I'm super proud of the comments and the testimonials that everybody in Australia has been sending me about the book, how they've been incorporating it into their practice, using it with their clinicians or with their patients. Uh, it was an absolutely amazing event when I was out there. Uh, and I still tell everybody it was the best conference I've ever been to in my whole career. Because it's the truth, it absolutely was. The hard work that uh the elves did behind the scenes.
SPEAKER_03And it's not me, it's everybody. It's everybody. Yes, absolutely.
SPEAKER_08Yeah, the whole team should have been on the front cover of the magazine because they deserved it. It was fantastic.
SPEAKER_03Yeah, it was. They do work really hard, and I'm really proud of the event that we create. But more so, you went to an AFL game. I did, yes, and you've got your shirt on.
SPEAKER_08So I've got my Geelong Cat's shirt on. Absolutely.
SPEAKER_03So if you barrack for Geelong, he's your man. He even got up and watched the grand final with his shirt on when he got back to Vancouver last year. So yeah. So, what have you got planned for the future?
SPEAKER_08Uh I've got uh a couple more books that are in the brain that are coming out, and uh just promoting the League Mate Pain book and uh just promoting that more.
SPEAKER_03Awesome. Well, you never know, we might see you again. Absolutely.
SPEAKER_08I'd love to come back down.
SPEAKER_03Enjoy the rest of the conference.
SPEAKER_08Great, thanks, you too. Thanks, guys.
Catherine Ryan
SPEAKER_03Hi everyone. So I'm still here in Vancouver, and our very dear friend and colleague, Kath Ryan. Hello. Hello, it's so great to see you again. I know I can't believe it. It's like the fifth time in two years because the gods are with us. Yes. So, yeah, so we're here at the RMTBC, of which you are vice.
SPEAKER_05I am currently the vice president of the RMTBC Board of Directors. Yeah, and you're enjoying the role? Oh, that's fantastic. Oh it's just always so great to get us out of our shallows and get out and connect with friends and connect with our members and connect with our vendors and celebrate the speakers, and which is great.
SPEAKER_03So, so for you, what's been going on? We reviewed your book, a couple of journals can go. Thanks so much for doing that. I appreciate it. Okay, well, I know the reviewer thoroughly enjoyed reading it, so she did it in like two days. So that's fantastic, yeah. That's nice to hear.
SPEAKER_05So it must have been nice to hear it wasn't like poking a fork in their eye or something. Yeah.
SPEAKER_03So you I think, are you teaching for Heal Well? Are you doing uh Homecoming?
SPEAKER_05I am, yeah. I'll be at Heal Well Homecoming in October. So I'll be doing um a four-hour presentation along with one of the Heel Well staff, uh Laura Brian Erner. And we're going to be presenting on fascia, fibrosis, and lympastasis. Um, I'm also doing a sub talk similar to that uh tomorrow, virtual, a virtual conference, the Society for Oncology Massage. Oh, it's their healing summit. So you're very, very busy. Well, I'm I'm busy as I would like to be at this stage in my career. That's good. So you get to pick and choose the good things to do. Yeah, you know, I'm very fortunate that I get to do that. And you know, most of the time when I'm teaching, it's she's in the realm of post-surgical massage therapy and scar tissue management, which is my practice focus as well. So it's nice that I get to get out and talk about something that um I'm doing every day as a clinician in my practice, um, and something that's really interesting and hopefully meaningful for my community. And you're passionate about it, which makes a difference when you're teaching. I am, you know, this is year 36 in practice for me. Congratulations. So it's still interesting and exciting. So I'm just really grateful that I continue, can continue to be a massage therapist.
SPEAKER_03And the profession has come so far would be very different from when you first started.
SPEAKER_05So different from when I started. Yeah, so which is and the research, the quality of the research. I mean, it was virtually non-existent when I started, really. And now, and as we're seeing at this conference, because we've had some some great research presented. Yes.
SPEAKER_03It's amazing there is, and there's a lot coming out of Australia as well. There's a lot of sites. I know Australia.
SPEAKER_05We've been keeping an eye on you guys for a really long time, even before we met. I had been keeping an eye on you guys.
SPEAKER_03So yeah, so we're getting there. I think we forget that the challenges of today for the profession are a far cry from what they were when you first started. Absolutely.
SPEAKER_05Yeah, and there are still challenges, but they're different challenges for sure.
SPEAKER_03Yeah, and that's you know, to the credit of practitioners and associations like Massage of Myotherapy Australia and RMTBC and all the other ones across the world.
SPEAKER_05And I am waiting for the research that uh your current president is involved in. So I'm keeping an eye out for that.
SPEAKER_03Oh, yeah, she's very excited too. So that is coming. So yeah. Well, it's so good to see you. Thanks for having a chat with me.
SPEAKER_05Um thank you so much, Anne, and thank you for traveling all this way to join us. We appreciate the relationship that we have with Massage Mail Therapy Australia. So thank you very much.
SPEAKER_03And thank you for the invitation. You know, it's uh I've met some amazing people that I've got so much work to do when I get home. Okay, enjoy the rest of the conference. Thank you too.
Terri Mayo and Annie LaCroix
SPEAKER_03Hi everyone, and now I'm here, still in Vancouver, still at the RMTBC with our good friends Terry and Annie from Mass Arch Therapy Foundation. So good to see you both. Great to see you.
SPEAKER_02Yeah, and now so what's going on? What's going on with the Massage Therapy Foundation? Research, research, research. Yeah, and I saw that you've got all the advertising for the grants, which happened.
SPEAKER_07So we have several grant cycles. Well, they're not open, they're under review right now, all happening simultaneously.
SPEAKER_06Yes, yes, they're under review, they happen simultaneously. They'll reopen again in the fall, fall to um late fall. And but right now we're reviewing several um community service applications, which is great. We had the most that we've ever had before, 83 this year, which has been amazing. And then um two we have our two large grants, larger grants that we do, and we're reviewing those applications right now as well. So what's a community service grant? The community service awards are for people that are offering massage in their community to people that might not be able to normally access massage, and they're creating they're a nonprofit that's created some program for people to be able to get massage, and then they track what's happening during that time and give us that that information so we can see how this program impacted their community.
SPEAKER_02Oh wow, that's fantastic. It is 83 DJ. 83.
SPEAKER_06That's fantastic.
SPEAKER_03Most of our and what's changed? Do you think more people are aware or more people are actually doing that?
SPEAKER_06I think the biggest thing that's changed is our community service awards have um traditionally been up to 5,000. And this starting last year, they went up to 20,000. So now there's more money available, which is great because it does take money to for people to start these amazing programs. And but we've seen over the years that even people getting these community service awards at a lesser amount have created programs that are sustainable and long-lasting, which is something that we really look for when we are vetting our applicants. Is this something that's sustainable that could continue on past this award? So it's been great.
SPEAKER_07It really touches a wide range of veterans sometimes. It's people who've experienced domestic abuse, it's children, it's people with AIDS. It's it's such a wide range of touching people in their community with a need that might have bigger challenges accessing such on a regular basis.
SPEAKER_02Wow, that's fantastic. And the bigger grants are available internationally?
SPEAKER_06Everything's available internationally. The CSAs, um, most of them are international applications, actually. But all of our our um research grant, our research support award, and our community service awards are all available internationally. Fantastic.
SPEAKER_02And of course, we have had an Australian awarded grants, yes, Sarah Fogetty, who is talking at our conference this year.
SPEAKER_03So yes, absolutely, which is fantastic. And I I just think the fact that MTF reaches the world, yeah, you've got the journal, which I always get the open and roll, IJ TMB TMB, so International Journal of Massage Therapy and Body Work. Which is I know I do listen and it's not behind a paywall. So viewers, yes, just free access, free access to research, which is fantastic. And now that you've all learned AI, you can even ask AI to summarize the research papers if you do not have time. Yeah, but I wouldn't recommend that. I would recommend reading the entire research. But there is a plethora, there is just, and you reach a hundred and something countries with the lot.
SPEAKER_06I don't know the answer to that, but it's it's a lot, is a lot. I mean, the the journal is available to anyone, so yeah, it's absolutely it's something, it's just a resource that we feel that everyone should just you can sign up for it, you can get it delivered to you. It's just an easy resource that everyone uh should be getting because it's the fastest way to see the research that's being done out there for massage therapy.
SPEAKER_02And it's supported Massage Therapy Foundation supported by the American Massage Therapy Association, is that correct?
SPEAKER_07They're they're our founder and our underwriter. Right. And um, it's important to note that our friends here at RMTBC help to fund the journal. Oh, okay. So while we we have managerial oversight and and we we direct, we support it, RMTBC contributes a significant amount year over year, and so we partner with our comedian friends to make it more accessible and to help it continue to grow.
SPEAKER_02Yeah, so and research is what we need. That's what we need to advance this profession and to get over some of the challenges that we all have across the world in this profession.
SPEAKER_06So and we're happy to help people when they say, How would I get involved in research? We're happy to help people find discover that at any level. So they can reach out to us. Awesome.
SPEAKER_02So you don't have to be a seasoned researcher, you don't have to have done ever been involved in research. That's what Massage Therapy Foundation is all about. So what's the website? Massage Therapy Foundation.org.org.
SPEAKER_03Awesome. Well, thank you so much. It's so good to see you both in person. It's amazing rather than on Zoom.
SPEAKER_02So watch this space. Yeah, thank you. Thanks for having us.