Helen Primrose LeVesconte: occupational therapy clinician, educator, and maker of history

The Canadian history of our profession is not well known and our identity is thought to suffer as a result. Helen Primrose LeVesconte (7896-1982) is one pioneer in our development whose story has not been told.

Our purpose is to explore LeVesconte's life and work in order to expand knowledge of our roots and thereby strengthen our identity.

Using interpretive biography methods we draw on LeVesconte's own writings, articles written about her, and archival documents to describe turning point moments in her life and to display meaningful patterns in her work.

LeVesconte's work as a clinician and her role and reputation as an educator, show her to have been a strong and visionary leader. Her views on the client's role, the importance of the therapist-client relationship, prevention, community-based programs, and vocational rehabilitation are of particular interest.

Because LeVesconte educated over 1,850 students while director of the occupational therapy program at the University of Toronto, her influence has been felt throughout the country. Her perspective is compared to current practice; and questions are raised as to aspects of her legacy and philosophy that might now be reconsidered.