From motorcycle mechanic to “mechanic for humans”

Jordan Davis

When Jordan Davis arrived at the University of Alberta to finish his bachelor of kinesiology, he wasn’t chasing a perfect, straight-line path. He was chasing a second chance, one built on hard-earned perspective, a renewed sense of purpose and a desire to help people feel capable in their bodies again.

A former tradesman and motorcycle mechanic from Red Deer, Alta., Davis transferred into KSR after a turning point that reframed everything: sports injuries that wouldn’t resolve, a difficult stretch with his mental health and a moment of clarity about the kind of life and legacy he wanted to build.

“I hit a place where I had to ask myself: what am I doing with my life?” he says. “I didn’t want to be the person who just goes to work, goes home and that’s it. I wanted to do something that gives back.”

That “something” led him to kinesiology and to The Steadward Centre, where he became the first student to complete a newly structured in-field learning practicum placement through KSR. What he found there, he says, was more than hands-on experience. It was a community that changed how he sees his future in rehabilitation and health.

“I’d tell any student considering The Steadward Centre: do it,” he says. “It’s a fun atmosphere, it’s meaningful work and you really feel like you’re helping people.”

A kinesiology degree with real-world impact

Davis came to KSR because it was a clear path toward physiotherapy, a goal sparked by his own experience as an athlete navigating injury.

“After sports, I had knee problems again and the doctors wanted another surgery,” he says. “I saw a physiotherapist and he figured out what was going on in minutes. I remember asking, ‘How do you know where to look?’ He joked, ‘I’m basically a mechanic for humans.’ And I was like, ‘Yes, that’s what I want to be.’”

At first, Davis saw kinesiology as a stepping stone. But that changed once he got into the coursework.

“Going in, I didn’t really know what kinesiology was,” he says. “But then you take anatomy, physiology, biomechanics, sport psychology – and it’s a whole world. Every term I finish, I realize how much of it connects to being a better clinician one day.”

He also found that KSR’s learning environment didn’t stop at lectures and labs.

“The biggest thing I learned is: your profs are people,” he says. “A lot of students put them on this pedestal, like you can’t approach them. But most of them genuinely want you to succeed, so ask the questions. Don’t stay confused.”

Discovering The Steadward Centre through in-field learning

Davis first learned about The Steadward Centre through a class visit organized by associate professor Jo Shepherd. The tour gave him a glimpse of a setting he hadn’t experienced before, one where physical activity, rehabilitation, inclusion and community come together in practical, human ways.

“I’d always worked with athletes and people who are fully able-bodied,” he says. “This was a demographic I hadn’t had exposure to, and it’s the demographic I want to be able to support. I knew I needed that experience.”

When another opportunity fell through close to the start of term, the timing aligned and Davis was placed at The Steadward Centre.

“It was fast,” he says. “But once I got there, I realized how welcoming it was. It’s calm, it’s friendly and it was easy to connect with people.”

“It’s not like going to work – it’s like a gathering place.”

At The Steadward Centre, Davis supported multiple programs, including para swimming, one-on-one resistance training and fall prevention programming. The variety, he says, was one of the most valuable parts of the placement.

“It was honestly like three jobs at once,” he says. “But in a good way. You’re working with kids, adults, athletes; people with different goals, different needs, different communication styles. You learn how to adapt.”

He also saw, firsthand, the role The Steadward Centre plays in people’s lives beyond fitness.

“I’d ask people, ‘Would you do this program again?’ and so many told me it wasn’t their first time,” he says. “A lot of people said, ‘I don’t know what I’d do without this place.’ Even when the centre closes for a short break, people really miss it.”

For Davis, that sense of community wasn’t an abstract concept, it was something he felt in everyday moments.

“It’s not like you’re just showing up to work,” he says. “You’re seeing how people are doing. You’re catching up. It’s like a gathering place.”

Learning professionalism by living it

Davis admits he walked into the placement with nerves, especially as someone coming from a very different work culture.

“My biggest fear was saying the wrong thing or coming across as unprofessional,” he says. “And if I’m going into physiotherapy, I also wanted to learn how to support people properly; how to help someone move safely and how to communicate well.”

Over time, he realized that what he worried were weaknesses became strengths, especially with guidance and feedback from Steadward staff.

“Coming out of it, people told me I’m good at reading the room,” he says. “I can pick up on someone’s vibe and respond to it. If someone needs space, you give space. If someone’s having a good day, you match that energy. That’s not something you learn in a classroom – you learn it by doing it.”

He credits Steadward staff, particularly his supervisor, Sarah Szabo for helping him grow into that learning curve with support and accountability.

“She walked me through how to correct a mistake I made, and how to handle it professionally,” he says. “She was compassionate, clear, and just…steady. It taught me that you don’t have to be perfect as a student. You’re there to learn.”

Why this experience matters for KSR students

For students considering a career in physiotherapy, occupational therapy, recreation therapy, adapted physical activity, coaching or health promotion, Davis believes in-field learning placements, like The Steadward Centre, offer something that coursework alone cannot.

“You can learn concepts in class,” he says. “But the real skill is applying them with real people, in real situations, where things change fast.”

That includes learning to adapt on the fly, something Davis says he learned in trades and saw again at The Steadward Centre.

“You make a plan, but you stay ready to change it,” he says. “That’s real life. That’s practice.”

It also includes learning how powerful inclusive spaces can be for participants and for students.

“If you’re in the academic bubble, it helps to have a place where you’re moving, interacting and building relationships,” he says. “The Steadward Centre gave me that.”

“If you’re thinking about it – do it.”

As he looks ahead to graduation and the goal of physiotherapy school, Davis says his time at The Steadward Centre clarified what he wants his future work to feel like: practical, people-centred and grounded in community.

“The work is fulfilling,” he says. “And you can tell it matters.”

His advice to current and prospective KSR students is straightforward:

“If you’re considering a placement at The Steadward Centre – do it,” he says. “You’ll learn a ton, you’ll feel useful and you’ll be part of something that’s bigger than just a practicum.”