CEO of CAPR to retire after successful career

We are writing to share the bittersweet news that Bob Haennel Ph.D., FACSM, who has led CAPR as our CEO since January 2023, will be retiring at the end of 2025.

As CAPR’s CEO, Bob’s guidance and expertise have been invaluable as we pivot to a new governance model, a new working relationship with regulators, and updating our entry-to-practice assessment services via Evaluation Services Re-envisioned.

Throughout his career, Bob has been committed to helping the next generation of rehabilitation professionals in Canada. As an academic, he taught and conducted research on cardiac rehabilitation. He also held numerous leadership positions, including Director of the Dr. Paul Schwann Applied Health and Research Centre at the University of Regina and Chair of the Department of Physical Therapy at the University of Alberta. At the University of Alberta, he went on to be Dean of the Faculty of Rehabilitation Medicine where he helped establish the first physiotherapy satellite program in Canada, initially at the U of A Augustana campus in Camrose, Alberta, and then at the University of Calgary. His trailblazing work also included working on the establishment of the first physiotherapy bridging program in western Canada, which was designed to assist internationally trained physiotherapists as they worked towards licensure.

Bob has also been a trusted advisor, serving on the Board of Directors for the Institute for Reconstructive Sciences in Medicine and two University of Alberta clinical research facilities, the Glen Sather Sports Medicine Clinic and the Institute for Stuttering Treatment and Research.

From now until his retirement, Bob’s top priorities include completing the CAPR governance transition, forging a strong positive relationship with the regulators, and delivering the components of Evaluation Services Re-envisioned.

We wish Bob a wonderful retirement and thank him for his remarkable contributions to our organization and the physiotherapy profession in Canada. The search for a new CEO will start soon, with details to follow.