About Us
Clearwater Physical Therapy is a locally owned private clinic operated by a registered Physical Therapist. The organization has its roots in the Regional Municipality of Wood Buffalo and has proudly served the public there for over 17 years. Our centrally located clinic in Fort McMurray, AB., with a convenient location in Thickwood, serves the community with our great team of Physical Therapists and Massage Therapists.
Our founder, Shellene Dirk, has followed her expansion dream to the Okanagan with a clinic in the heart of Vernon, BC. Our growing team of Physical Therapists and Massage Therapists are excited to serve the public and experience all that this great community has to offer.
We believe in the value of our employees and their contribution to the organization’s success. and are grateful for the old and new relationships we have created within our team, our clients and our community. Our clinic environments are purposefully open and inviting to facilitate the sense of belonging to our Clearwater group in a physio clinic near you. Family and friendship are very important to all of us and we strive to create that feeling of belonging for every client that trusts us with their health and wellness. At Clearwater Physical Therapy, we don't just treat your injury, we treat you and connect you back to your best life.
Mission Statement
To empower our team and clients to experience their best lives. Collaboration with our allied health professional network, referral sources and business colleagues contribute to our client focused model for optimum health and wellness.
Below are the core values upon which our clinic stands:
Integrity
Acting with integrity in the relationships with our employees, our clients, our community and our professions.
Transparency
Operate with transparency by communicating internally and externally honestly and responsibly.
Respect
Respecting ourselves, our colleagues and our clients to facilitate a nurturing and positive environment for everyone to succeed and have fun!
Happiness
We are committed to being courageous to create the best environment and culture for our team and our clients.
Courage
We strive to continuously engage with our team and our clients to foster happiness and a sense of general well-being.
Meet the Teams
Fort McMurray
Chantelle Reid
BKin, MPthySt
Born and raised in Fort McMurray, Chantelle graduated from the University of Queensland with a Masters of Physical Therapy Studies. She completed her Bachelors of Kinesiology at the University of Alberta.
During her time at Clearwater Physical Therapy, Chantelle has completed her Level 3 acupuncture training with Acupuncture Canada and is a certified Complete Concussion Management and Pelvic Health practitioner. Chantelle focuses her treatment on functional exercise, education and manual therapy to get you back on track!
Chantelle loves the city of Fort McMurray, the people and the sense of community. She enjoys staying active by playing recreational ringette, hockey and soccer.
Brendan Smith
MScPT, CAFCI
Originally from Gander NL, Brendan attended St. Francis Xavier University and graduated with an Honours degree in Kinesiology in 2008. He then attended Dalhousie University and graduated in 2011 with his Master’s degree in Physiotherapy.
Brendan has been with Clearwater Physical Therapy for 11 years and now calls Fort McMurray home. He has always lead an active and healthy lifestyle as a former competitive swimmer and university level lacrosse player. He is currently an active member of the Northern Lights Triathlon Club. His other interests include cooking, reading, travelling and watching hockey.
Brendan believes leading a healthy and active lifestyle is the best long term solution for everyone and part of his treatment is education and advice on home exercise so his clients are empowered to help themselves and reach their goals. His in-clinic treatment focuses primarily on manual therapy and needling techniques (both acupuncture and dry needling) for pain control and functional restoration.
Allie Wait
MScPT
Allie graduated from the University of Alberta in 2008 attaining her Bachelor of Science with Distinction. She then went to the University of Alberta and graduated in 2010 with a Masters of Science in Physical Therapy. She began her Physiotherapy career here in Fort McMurray and is excited to continue helping the people of Fort McMurray.
Allie has a special interest in pelvic health and pediatric physiotherapy and has been catering her practice to helping adults and children achieve their goals and return to the activities they love. Previous experience working at Northern Lights Regional Health Center and at Alberta Children’s Hospital has allowed Allie to develop skills with a variety of neurological, and orthopedic conditions including but not limited to cerebral palsy, spina bifida, global developmental delay, down syndrome, autism, developmental coordination disorder, scoliosis, idiopathic toe walking, brachial plexus injury, plagiocephaly and torticollis.
Allie has completed specialized training in Pelvic Health including Levels 1, II, III, Pregnancy and Pelvic Girdle Pain, Training the Female Athlete and Runner, as well as Pediatric Incontinence and Pelvic Floor Dysfunction. Helping adults, families and children attain goals and milestones through functional exercises, education, play and fun makes working as a physiotherapist a constantly changing and exciting job to have!
Joshua Granadillos
MScPT
Joshua graduated from the De La Salle University Health Sciences Institute in 2007. He is originally from Muntinlupa, Metro Manilla, Philippines.
He has worked in a variety of physiotherapy settings including the hospital medical center, home physiotherapy and eventually opening his own clinic and gym.
He has a lot of knowledge that he is excited to share with the city of Fort McMurray! He specializes in functional exercise based treatments.
In his spare time, Joshua is interested in gaming, building PCs and diving into sci-fi films.
He is exciting to now be serving the community of Fort McMurray and plans to build a life here in the coming years.
Katharine Haywood
RMT
Katharine received her diploma in Massage Therapy in 2004 from the Okanagan Valley College of Massage Therapy in Vernon, BC. before moving to Fort McMurray. Katharine joined the Clearwater team in May 2016. When Katharine isn't working, she is out spending time with her family, camping or at the ski hill.
Katharine specializes in deep tissue therapeutic massage, pre and post natal massage, myofascial release, headaches, back/neck and shoulder pain. Katharine offers relaxation massage as well.
Kelie Slaney
RMT
Kelie received her diploma for Massage Therapy in 2010 from Academy Canada in St. John's NL. She registered with the MTAA in 2011 and worked in Brooks, AB. before moving to Fort McMurray in 2013 and joining the Clearwater team!
Kelie likes to include a combination of Swedish Massage techniques, soft tissue release, trigger point therapy and cupping into her massage treatments. Her main focus is deep tissue/therapeutic massage but can also offer excellent relaxation techniques.
Kelie has additional certification in pre/postnatal massage and taping, cesarean scar massage, breast massage focusing on breast pain/congestions. blocked milk ducts during lactation as well as post surgical (mastectomy, augmentation/reduction), non-internal pelvic health, TMJ dysfunction and aromatherapy massage.
Setshego Seloro
RMT
Setshego is a welcome addition back to the Clearwater team! She has completed her training in 2018 at Alberta College of Massage Therapy in Fort McMurray and is enjoying her new career immensely! She values client interaction and strives to ensure each of her clients receives a great treatment every visit to her table.
Vernon
Shellene Dirk
BScPT, MClSC, FCAMP
Clearwater Physical Therapy owner Shellene became a health-minded entrepreneur in 2003 and has ambitiously managed and worked within her own company ever since. She graduated in 1992 with a Bachelor of Science in Physical Therapy from the University of Saskatchewan and received her Masters in Clinical Science (Manipulative Therapy) and her FCAMPT designation from Western University in 2019.
Shellene moved to Fort McMurray, AB in 1999 as a practicing Physical Therapist but felt the region was lacking a clinic with heart. Clearwater Physical Therapy opened its doors as a clinic where patients, employers, and employees felt empowered to pursue positive objectives. Shellene and her clinic’s intentions have always gone far beyond injury treatment with a collaborative focus on patient wellness.
Brittany
Niemantsverdriet
MScPT, Intuitive Coach, Energy Practitioner
Since graduating in 2011 from the University of Alberta with her Master’s in Physical Therapy, Brittany has been exploring and expanding her knowledge of the physical body and how it heals. She has discovered through personal and professional experience that approaching the body holistically, as a multi-layered being, allows us to improve our capacity to heal and pursue the things we love. For her, that means having the freedom and ability to travel and explore nature, and being in alignment allows her to do those things in abundance.
Brittany has designed a unique blend of Physical Therapy, Intuitive Coaching, and Energetic Healing to guide you back into alignment in your physical, emotional and spiritual bodies and get you back to the things you love with ease. With this approach, she guides you to the root issue of your pain, providing you with an individualized roadmap to heal your body.
Amanda Miller
RMT