We lead with the heart, because law should work for the people.
Athlete of Influence Scholarship
In 2017, our Personal Injury Team created the Athlete of Influence Scholarship to recognize outstanding young people in our Community. The Award highlights those who have shown resilience in the face of adversity and a dedication to healthy living; two traits the Personal Injury Team knows will take young people far. In June each year, an overall winner is chosen and receives a $1000 Scholarship, along with media coverage. We also share their unique story and contributions to the community.
Ayla Salyn’s Story
On July 10, 2011, Ayla got the call that no one wants. Her father had been severely injured in an accident in Spain. As the primary decision maker for her father’s care, over the next 6 months Ayla navigated complex international medical, legal and insurance systems. Ultimately, at the end of a long road of recovery and hope, her father did not survive his injuries.
Ayla intimately understands what a catastrophic injury brings, physically and emotionally, for those injured and their loved ones. That’s why her work doesn’t stop when she leaves the office. Passionately serving as a director of the Kamloops Brain Injury Association and a member of their fundraising committee, Ayla actively pursues ongoing support for brain injury survivors and their families. She speaks at conferences and high schools, and consults privately with the medical community about various issues overlapping medicine and law.
Ayla spends as much quality time as possible with her family, as she has lived the meaning of “life can change in a instant”. Bringing all this perspective to her legal practice, Ayla ensures that her clients and their families are supported and treated fairly.
Jessica Vliegenthart’s Story
On Friday, August 6, 2004, while working as a forest firefighter in the Northwest Territories, Jessica was involved in a workplace accident and acquired a spinal cord injury. Permanently paralyzed from the waist down, she endured 7 months in hospital, many more months of rehabilitation, on top of dealing with her own legal claim. She understands the process from every single angle.
Now, as a practicing lawyer, Jessica gives back in many other ways. She is a Rick Hansen Foundation ambassador. She sits on the Board of Spinal Cord Injury BC. Along with her husband Jon, she founded Kamloops Adapted Sports Association and continues to sit on the Board. She is also a committee member of the Canadian Paralympic Committee.
Jessica’s work doesn’t stop when she leaves the office, because she knows that life with a disability is all hands on deck. It takes ingenuity, creativity, and a relentless passion for inclusion. Jessica brings all of this perspective to her legal practice, for the benefit of her clients and their family.