This Occupational Therapy Month, we celebrate Alex Horner and all our OTs who help patients regain independence, build resilience, and live life to the fullest.
From hockey to health care
For Alex Horner, a Vancouver native with a lifelong love of sports and community, the journey to becoming an occupational therapist (OT) was shaped by a blend of personal passions and meaningful experiences. From competitive hockey in his youth to summers spent working at Zajac Ranch, a camp for children and young adults with disabilities, Alex discovered early on the joy of helping others thrive.
“I always knew I wanted to work in health care,” Alex shares. “But it wasn’t until my third year at UBC that I even heard about occupational therapy. Once I did, it just clicked. It was everything I was looking for: a chance to support people in so many areas of their lives.”
Supporting mental health at St. Paul’s
After graduating from UBC in 2022 with a degree in Biology, Alex pursued his dream of becoming an OT. Today, he’s part of the float mental health line at Providence Health Care, working primarily in the inpatient psychiatry units at St. Paul’s Hospital. Soon, he’ll be expanding his experience across other areas of mental health care.
“What drew me to Providence was the strong sense of community,” he says. “It’s a smaller health authority, and that means you get to know the people around you. I feel supported every day—there’s always someone willing to help or answer a question.”
Learning and growing as a new grad
As a new grad, Alex is embracing the learning curve with enthusiasm. “They say there’s no such thing as a silly question, and I’ve definitely tested that,” he laughs. “But it’s true—everyone here is so open and encouraging.”
When asked to describe his job in one sentence, Alex doesn’t hesitate: “It’s engaging, dynamic, varied and involves a lot of explaining what occupational therapists do!”
He’s passionate about the role OTs play in healthcare and encourages others to explore how occupational therapy can support both patients and teams. “There are so many ways we can help. If you’re ever unsure whether OT could be of benefit, just ask we’re here to collaborate.”
Looking ahead, Alex hopes to see continued progress in cultural safety across health care and expanded access to mental health services. “Prompt, reliable, and long-term support is so important,” he says. “I’m hopeful we’ll keep moving in that direction.”
Life outside the hospital
Outside of work, Alex stays active with hockey, golf, and basketball “pretty much anything that gets the heart rate up,” he says. And when he’s not playing sports, you’ll likely find him relaxing at the beach, enjoying the sunshine and watching dogs stroll by.
For more information on nursing careers at Providence, including our latest opportunities, please visit careers.providencehealthcare.org.
Story by Jessica Collins, Digital Recruitment Marketing Specialist
