Justin Turner, PhD, MOT, BA, Reg. OT (BC)

Lecturer

justin.turner@ubc.ca

Profile

The occupational therapy community is full of amazingly empathetic and creative people who strive to make the world a better place. Helping to train the next generation of occupational therapists is a true honour. I aspire to ground my teaching practice in storytelling, critical perspectives, humour, joy, and inclusivity. I’ve been involved in teaching clinical and research skills at UBC since 2020. 

After obtaining my Bachelor of Arts (Honours) in Psychology from the University of Lethbridge, I completed UBC’s Master of Occupational Therapy program (class of 2017). Following a few years of full-time clinical practice, I returned to school to undertake a PhD in Rehabilitation Sciences at UBC under the supervision of Dr. Pat G. Camp from the Department of Physical Therapy. My doctoral research focused on individual and community resilience, culminating in a six-chapter dissertation I finished in 2025 titled ‘Garden of Resilience: Individual, Clinician, and Indigenous Community Stories of Disruption and Adaptation During the 21st Century‘. 

From a personal standpoint, I am Red River Métis through my mom’s side of the family, and I am a citizen of Métis Nation British Columbia. I also have mixed European ancestry, including Scottish, English, and Norwegian from my paternal side. I was born and raised in the southern Alberta Badlands but have lived for most of my adult years in BC (including in Vancouver, Prince George, and Castlegar). Some of my favourite leisure occupations include hiking in the forest or along the beach, trying out new vegan recipes, enjoying live music, and watching movies (which I diligently track and review on Letterboxd).