DEFY - Key Persons

Alexie Michaud, best known as Lex, is a Certified Athletic Therapist and Registered Massage Therapist. She is a graduate of the Bachelor of Applied Health Science in Athletic Therapy at Sheridan College in 2019, and Advanced Standing Massage Therapy Diploma at Ontario College in 2020. She is in good standing with the Canadian Athletic Therapy Association and College of Massage Therapists of Ontario.

Andrew grew up as a multi-sport athlete, particularly excelling at basketball. After high school he developed a passion for ultimate frisbee. Playing Ultimate has led him to compete at the Canadian Ultimate Championships the past 5 years in a row. Andrew has completed rigorous training in Active Release Technique, completing the Full Body certification. The team members at Defy rely on Andrew for his anatomy and soft tissue knowledge and often consult with him on clients' injuries.

Originally from the UK, Claire immigrated to Canada nearly a decade ago with a desire to kickstart her international hospitality career. Alongside her degree in Hospitality & Business Management from the University of Portsmouth, she brings with her 10 years of experience in providing quality customer service. Over the last few years, Claire has been living out West in Whistler, BC, where she reaped the benefits of an active mountain lifestyle. Claire grew up as an avid racquet sports enthusiast, particularly excelling in badminton in her youth. She continues to play badminton and loves skiing, snowboarding, kayaking and biking… aka all the fun activities Whistler is renowned for!

Danielle was a competitive downhill ski racer and a varsity field hockey player in university. She has been coaching downhill ski racing for the past 16 years at various levels. She enjoys hiking, HIIT workouts, snowshoeing and spending time outdoors. While Danielle enjoys treating all ages of clientele, she has a special passion for treating children. She believes that rehab should be an active, motivated, and committed process involving both client and therapist.

Dr. Burzin is an avid sports enthusiast, with a keen interest in running, badminton, and soccer. Beyond merely guiding individuals through injury recovery, he's on a mission to elevate you past pre-injury levels, dedicating himself to conditioning bodies for both sports and daily life demands. Specializing in lower limb and low back injuries, Dr. Burzin takes an integrative approach that combines rehabilitative exercises focusing on mobility, stability, and strength, alongside education, self-management strategies, and manual therapy, kickstarting your journey towards achieving your health goals.

Dr. Megan stays active by playing competitive volleyball in Guelph. She also enjoys running, having completed four half-marathon distance races as well as her new challenge, triathlon. She believes in the importance of healthy active living including nutrition, sleep, and movement for both herself and her patients. She strives to teach her patients the importance of whole-body health and how to optimize their function in sport, activity, and everyday life.

Elaine is an avid distance runner, having completed many marathons; her favourite being the Walt Disney World marathon events. Along with running she enjoys paddle boarding, cycling and hiking with her husband, two grown kids, and their family dog Smokey. You will find Elaine at the front with her welcoming smile.

Estee enjoys participating in all recreational sports, with a particular interest in snowboarding. She loves being part of a team and is passionate about optimizing recovery and athletic performance. Estee completed a Sports Physiotherapy Fellowship after she graduated, where she treated varsity athletes through their athletic seasons. She is currently pursuing her Sports Physiotherapy Certificate, in the hopes of one day working for a professional team.

Frank is a lover of team sports, and continues to play recreational basketball in Guelph. He was a former competitive soccer and basketball player. Frank understands the importance of communication and formulating a game plan to reach a common goal. He prioritizes listening and communicating with his clients to establish personalized treatment plans that align with their goals. Frank places a strong emphasis on educating his clients, prescribing therapeutic exercises, and performing manual therapy and dry needling when beneficial. Frank grew up in Toronto, where he played soccer and basketball competitively. After experiencing chronic knee pain for several months, he was exposed to physiotherapy and sports medicine which helped to get him back to playing the sports he loved. Frank completed his Bachelor of Kinesiology at York University, where he competed in intramural basketball all four years. It was rare not to find Frank at the basketball court in between classes or at the end of the day, every single day. He then went on to complete his Master's of Science in Physical Therapy at Queen's University, where he competed in intramural basketball all two years, and intramural soccer for one year.

Jared is extremely passionate about helping runners get back to doing what they do best. He has completed multiple Ironman-distance triathlons as well as fulfilled his dream of qualifying and running in the Boston Marathon. Within the Defy team, Jared has taken numerous courses on both coaching and rehabilitating runners; combined with his experience in Strength & Conditioning this gives him a unique perspective on treatment of running-related injuries and running performance. Jared also has pursued a dual career in firefighting, and appreciates the unique physical demands of the job.

Julie was a collegiate Nordic skier and National-level rugby athlete in her youth. She continues to ski during winters, and enjoys running year-round. She is passionate about getting female youth athletes stronger and more resilient to injury. Julie strongly believes that proper mobility and stability are key for injury prevention and rehabilitation and uses manual therapy to open a window of opportunity to establish optimal movement patterning. As part of her treatment, Julie uses Functional Dry Needling, which she has trained for through Kinetacore.

Justine enjoys mountain biking and trail running in the summer and downhill skiing and hockey in the winter. She is fascinated by the adaptability of the human body and is passionate about returning individuals back to the activities they love. Justine has a special interest in working with sport and fitness athletes and enjoys bridging the gap between injury rehabilitation and performance.

Katie has always been an avid equestrian, having grown up on a breeding farm and competed in the sport of eventing most of her life. Katie is an avid outdoors-woman and hiker. If not on a horse, she spends most of her free time on a trail or on her paddleboard, and has fun with both paddle and hike-in camping trips through the summer. Katie enjoys working with a variety of patients. She has a special interest in equestrian populations. Beyond physio and her equestrian pursuits, Katie is an avid outdoors-woman and hiker. If not on a horse, she spends most of her free time on a trail or on her paddleboard, and has fun with both paddle and hike-in camping trips through the summer. On a recent trip to Alberta she also found a passion for whitewater paddle boarding between exploring mountains. She intends to continue to train for this sport, now back in Ontario.

Laura was a Collegiate soccer scholarship athlete, and a member of the National Training Program as a youth soccer player. She now coaches her son's soccer team, and enjoys cycling, weight lifting, and staying active. Laura divides her time between coaching and growing the amazing people on the Defy team, managing the clinic, treating clients, and taking care of her young family. She has a passion for women's health across the spectrum, from youth athletes to older individuals looking to stay active. Laura started playing soccer at the age of seven while growing up in Brampton, Ontario. By the age of ten, she was playing competitively and she never looked back. She was selected for Team Ontario, and advanced to participate with the National Training Centre of Ontario. A member of the Team Canada U-17 Training Camp, Laura's soccer career led her to a full scholarship at Fordham University in NY, NY. She excelled on the soccer field, as well as in the classroom. Her passion for sport, her positive experiences in physiotherapy, and her love of health and wellness led her to a career in physiotherapy. Laura received her Doctorate of Physical Therapy degree at Columbia University in NY, NY. After working as a staff PT, she opened and managed a successful new clinic for her employer SPEAR Physical Therapy. Laura's postgraduate studies include courses in Selective Functional Movement Assessment (SFMA), Mulligan Concept, Functional Range Mobility Specialist Certification (FRCms), NAIOMT, Kevin Wilk's Treatment of the Shoulder & Knee, The McKenzie Institute, as well as training in Vestibular Rehabilitation and Concussion Treatment. She is a member in good standing of the College of Physiotherapists of Ontario.

Mason is a grade 12 student at Centennial CVI. With participation in football, hockey, and downhill skiing, he has always enjoyed being active and specifically being active outdoors. In the summer, Mason also enjoys hitting the dirtbike and ATV trails.

Matt was a competitive hockey, field lacrosse and box lacrosse player in his youth, playing for the local Guelph Regals lacrosse team. He continues to stay active with a variety of activities including golf, hockey and powersports. From his experiences in sport, he has developed a special interest in working with hockey and lacrosse athletes. He believes in empowering his clients to achieve their goals through an active and collaborative approach to rehab.

Neel is a young marketing professional who thrives in pushing the creative envelope. Neel brings previous marketing experiences in the hospitality and entertainment industries to the Defy team.

Patty was an avid golfer and cross-country runner in her youth. She loves the outdoors and continues to enjoy hiking, kayaking, golf, yoga and pilates.Patty brings 30+ years of valued experience in orthopaedic, sports injury and post-surgical rehab. She has an encouraging nature and partners with her clients toempower them to get back to doing what they love.