Jordan’s principle proponent

Pam Becker [BMROT/99, MOT/10] has provided occupational therapy to children with disabilities in rural and northern Manitoba – and as far north as Nunavut – for over 20 years. 

“I feel so fortunate to have seen parts of this country that most Canadians never do, and doing the work that I love,” she says. 

Becker was born in Dauphin, Man. and grew up mostly between there and Winnipeg. But when she was 12, her family spent a year in San Francisco while her father – Allan Becker [MD/69], an internationally recognized expert in pediatric allergy and asthma – completed a fellowship. 

Her father isn’t the only other UM-educated health-care expert in the family. Her mother, Lynne Becker [Dip.Physio/66, BMRPT/97], is a now-retired physiotherapist. Her younger sister, Marissa Becker [MD/99], became a global public health physician and is incoming executive director of Rady Faculty’s Institute of Global Public Health, and younger brother Lev Becker [B.Sc./96, MD/03] is an emergency physician. 

“Dinner conversations were interesting for others who were visiting, especially when most of us were in school.” 

Pam was interested in health care from a young age, particularly working with children. 

While at UM for her bachelor’s degree, Becker worked several pediatric placements, including at Rehabilitation Centre for Children (RCC). About a year after graduating, she joined RCC full time and spent years providing occupational therapy (OT) services to children throughout Manitoba. 

She was also drawn to working and experiencing culture in the North. In 2007, Becker had the opportunity to practice OT for four weeks in Iqaluit, leading to work with the Government of Nunavut, Arctic College and Ongomiizwin Health Services in Nunavut – all while maintaining her position at RCC. 

Since 2019, Becker has been RCC’s director of Jordan’s Principle and EDI (equity, diversity and inclusion). 

Jordan’s Principle is a legal rule passed by the federal government in 2016 to ensure that First Nations children do not face gaps in accessing government services. Prior to its implementation, Becker recalls working with children from nearby communities who had to travel to Dauphin for rehab appointments. 

“I was frustrated because it wasn’t equitable. Some of these kids had equipment at home that they couldn’t bring to their appointments. With urban kids, I could go to their house or their day care centre,” she says.   

In 2017, she wrote a request to see two of the children she worked with in their home community. RCC took the request to the federal government, launching a journey to where the organization is today – providing rehabilitation services to 63 First Nations in the province. 

In her current role, Becker manages a team of 42 therapists who work directly in the First Nation communities in collaboration with health directors, chiefs and councils to help tailor their Jordan’s Principle programs to their respective communities. 

“The most rewarding part is seeing how each community has envisioned their program. It’s different in each community, because they all have different visions and needs,” she says. 

Her current position also supports work with students, including clinical placements. She met recently with one of her mentors, College of Rehabilitation Sciences dean Jacquie Ripat [BMROT/92, M.Sc./98, PhD/11], about exploring opportunities for research and quality improvement projects. 

“We’ve started the conversation, looking at how we can work together in joint partnerships,” she says.