The University of Manitoba campuses and research spaces are located on original lands of Anishinaabeg, Ininiwak, Anisininewuk, Dakota Oyate, Dene and Inuit, and on the National Homeland of the Red River Métis. More
University of Manitoba
Winnipeg, Manitoba Canada, R3T 2N2
Department of Occupational Therapy
College of Rehabilitation Sciences
University of Manitoba – Bannatyne Campus
Room P121, 700 Bannatyne Avenue
Winnipeg, MB R3E 0W2
Phone: 204-977-5631
Fax: 204-789-3927
Email: leanne.leclair@umanitoba.ca
Dr. Leanne Leclair’s research focuses on understanding how occupational therapists engage with communities, their preparation and ongoing professional development related to community development practice, the organization and delivery of community rehabilitation services, and the integration of occupational therapy in primary care teams. She also engages in research on occupational therapy education.
Current research interests include:
Dr. Leanne Leclair is vice-dean academic affairs of the Rady Faculty of Health Sciences and an associate professor in the Department of Occupational Therapy at the College of Rehabilitation Sciences.
Dr. Leclair has more than 25 years of experience as a faculty member in the Department of Occupational Therapy at the College of Rehabilitation Sciences, Rady Faculty of Health Sciences. During this time, she has also served for seven years as department head.
Dr. Leclair’s professional journey has included diverse experiences as an occupational therapist in different regions of Canada, including Northwestern Ontario, Manitoba, and the Northwest Territories. Throughout her career, she has worked in various public health system roles in adult mental health, acute neurology, medicine, orthopedics, and emergency medicine, pediatrics, and school therapy. She also worked as a community-based private practitioner with children and adults.
Dr. Leclair has developed and taught a wide range of courses across the Master of Occupational Therapy, Master of Science in Rehabilitation Sciences, and Applied Health Sciences PhD programs, with a strong commitment to fostering inclusive teaching and learning environments. She has supervised numerous graduate students and served on several graduate committees. She has led initiatives to meaningfully integrate Indigenous Knowledges into occupational therapy curriculum, along with accreditation and program review processes.
Dr. Leclair has conducted participatory research in partnership with communities to enhance school health in Cuba and strengthen community supports for parents of young children in Winnipeg. Her current program of research focuses on community rehabilitation and primary care, with particular emphasis on interprofessional primary care teams and community-based health systems. Her work emphasizes occupational therapy community development approaches that extend beyond individual care to support community and population-level health and well-being. Her research on education focuses on weaving Indigenous Knowledges into curricula and fostering leadership development among student occupational therapists.
Dr. Leclair has held significant national service roles, including president of the Association of Canadian Occupational Therapy University Programs, chair of the National Occupational Therapy Certification Exam Committee and co-chair of the Equity and Justice Position Statement Working Group for Occupational Therapy Canada.
College of Rehabilitation Sciences
P304 - 770 Bannatyne Avenue
University of Manitoba
Winnipeg, MB R3E 0W2 Canada
