Some of Julie Barlett’s (BKin ’26) most meaningful lessons about health have happened during conversations with community members whose experiences challenged assumptions about well-being.

Throughout her studies at Brock University, the recent Kinesiology graduate sought to expand her knowledge outside the classroom, including enrolling in two experiential learning opportunities at the Brock Functional Inclusive Training Centre (Bfit).

Thanks to the Canada Summer Jobs program, Bartlett has been able build on everything she learned at the University during a full-time summer position at Bfit, allowing her to continue supporting the centre’s members while developing her professional skills.

Alex Rodriguez, a graduate of Niagara College’s Fitness and Health Promotion program, has also joined Bfit for the summer through the program, which helps young people aged 15 to 30 gain valuable work experience by offering wage subsidies to organizations.

“The Canada Summer Jobs program supports the transition from classroom to workplace, further building on valuable experience students can add to their resumes,” said Fred Davies (BA ’84), Member of Parliament for Niagara South. “By investing in opportunities like those at Brock University’s Bfit, we’re helping to equip the next generation of health-care professionals with career-ready skills while strengthening the community organizations that help people live healthier lives.”

Davies visited Brock on July 21 to learn about how Bartlett and Rodriguez are strengthening their professional skills and supporting Bfit’s work in the community.

“Julie and Alex have been tremendous assets to our team this summer, and without the funding from the Canada Summer Jobs program, hiring them would not have been possible,” said Ally Fast, Manager of Bfit. “These positions enabled us to continue to provide high-quality programming and support to our members with valuable social connection and encouragement and provide operational support to Bfit staff while the students gain valuable hands-on experience preparing them for future success in health care.”

During her placements and current role at Bfit, Bartlett has worked with older adults, individuals recovering from cardiac events and people living with neuromuscular disabilities — experiences that have given her a new appreciation for the human side of health care.

“The biggest lesson I learned is that health is people,” she said. “Exercise matters, research matters, but meeting people, hearing their stories and treating them with empathy is what brings those lessons to life.”

Rather than seeing participants through the lens of a diagnosis, Barlett has learned to focus on each person’s individual experiences and goals.

“Health conditions are just part of someone’s story, but they’re never the whole story,” she said. “Every person experiences life differently, and that changed that way I approach people.”

Working at Bfit has also reinforced that supporting health involves much more than physical activity alone. While exercise helps participants build strength, endurance and independence, Bartlett believes the connections they develop at Bfit are just as important to their well-being.

“A lot of people stay much longer than they need to because they’ve made friends here,” she said. “They have a built a community of people who understand them. Community isn’t an extra benefit of health care — it is essential. Physical, mental and social well-being all work together.”