Human Performance Centre Team
The HPC athletic trainers are a highly qualified team who work together to provide the most up to date, cutting edge programs in a positive and motivating training environment. Every athlete will have the knowledge of the entire team assisting them in attaining their goals. The HPC team utilizes scientifically supported methods to help athletes attain their maximum levels.
Performance Team Members:
Peter Dobbin
Athletic Therapist/Athletic Trainer
Peter has been in the performance-rehabilitation field for the past ten years and brings with him a vast array of knowledge and experiences to the White Oaks Human Performance Team. Peter obtained a Bachelor of Physical Education in 1997 from Brock University where he first began his sport development career through internships with the Brock hockey and baseball teams. This first hand experience led Peter to Sheridan College where he pursued a post graduate diploma in Athletic Therapy. During his time at Sheridan, Peter worked with many varsity, amateur, national and professional athletes, coaches and teams, and in several prestigious Sport Medicine clinics in and around the Greater Toronto and Niagara Regions.
In 2002 Peter's company, White Oaks Athletic Therapy, was created to bring the very latest research, techniques, and trends in the field of Rehabilitation and Sports Performance to the Niagara Community. During this time Peter has also worked as Assistant Clinical Supervisor at Sheridan College's Sport Medicine Clinic, a lecturer at Niagara College, Head Athletic Therapist and Head Sport Conditioning Coordinator of the Niagara College Knights.
Baseball is a passion for Peter, and in 2005 he was appointed as Athletic Therapist for Canada's National Baseball Team. In this capacity he was responsible for the prevention, primary care and rehabilitation of the players. As his role with Baseball Canada continues Peter is involved with the development of the National Senior/Junior Olympic Team players to address their rehabilitative needs.
Peter's focus includes youth athlete development and elite athlete development in various sports. Also he will be devoted to meeting the rehabilitation needs of the White Oaks community.
Mark Smith
Athletic Trainer
Mark is a Can Fit Pro certified personal trainer and has worked in the fitness industry for the past 7 years. He is also a certified Spinning Instructor with Mad Dog Athletics which has given him the opportunity to deliver group cardiovascular training to a broad cross-section of participants. As an avid mountain biker, Mark has enjoyed introducing many beginners to the sport of cycling.
Mark’s passion is training hockey teams. Working recently with his own son, a AAA peewee goaltender, has given him a unique training perspective for this particular sport. He has most recently received a Twist / Can Fit Pro, Sport Balance level 1 certification and looks forward to applying his new knowledge to all sports within our Human Performance Centre.
Mary Bamford
Registered Dietician
Mary Bamford is a Registered Dietician, a regulated health professional, working in private practice in Niagara. Mary’s academic background includes a Bachelor of Science (honours) Degree in Clinical Nutrition from the University of Western Ontario (1988), a Dietetic Internship from the University of Alberta Hospitals (1989), and a graduate degree in Marketing from McMaster University (MBA 2000).
Mary’s work experience includes several clinical nutrition positions at McMaster University Medical Center including The Children’s Exercise and Nutrition Centre, Cardiac Care Unit and Neonatal Intensive Care Unit. Her nutrition knowledge and counselling techniques are current and evidence-based.
Mary will help you to apply sports nutrition principles to real life. Mary understands how important it is to maintain pleasure in eating while optimizing nutrition for physical activity, athletic performance and recovery from exercise.
Nutrition does not make an average athlete elite, but it can make an elite athlete average. Mary can help you make the most of your athletic gifts and talents.
Dean Hipwell
Athletic Trainer
Dean is a graduate of Niagara College in both Police Foundations and Fitness & Health Promotions. He is a Personal Training Specialist (CFP), Sports Conditioning Specialist (Twist), Resist-A-Ball Certified L1 (CFP) and is also certified in Sports First Aid. Dean's passion lies within sports and working with athletes of all ages and skill levels. He played baseball through St. Catharines Minor Baseball Association for 6 years, 3 of them on the All-Star team.
Dean has a long history of coaching children and teens with experience in pee wee baseball, high school basketball and is on official Raptorball instructor for children ages 10-12. Dean is still an avid basketball player and also enjoys playing squash and golf in his free time.
Dean's passion lies within sports and working with athletes of all ages and skill levels. He played baseball through St. Catharines Minor Baseball Association for 6 years, 3 of them on the All-Star team. Dean has a long history of coaching children and teens with experience in pee wee baseball, high school basketball and is on official Raptorball instructor for children ages 10-12. Dean is still an avid basketball player and also enjoys playing squash and golf in his free time.
Wayne Oliver
Athletic Trainer
Wayne is enthusiastic about health and fitness and has been since he was a youth playing competitive sports. He began training in the martial arts at the age of 16 and hasn’t looked back, winning nine Grand Champion titles and one national title in tournaments across Canada. Earning his Diploma from Niagara College in Recreation and Leisure Services Wayne joined the White Oaks team in 2001 as a co-op student in the fitness department.
After enrolling and passing his Personal Trainer course, Wayne was hired to begin training clients at White Oaks. In 2002, he earned a certificate in Nutrition and Wellness allowing him to consult his clients on the importance of nutrition to overall health. Wayne has achieved his certification in Pilates, attaining his Level 1 in Mat Pilates in 2004 and in 2005, his Stott Pilates certification of Reformer, ISP Level 1 Trainer. Most recently, Wayne has earned his Level 1 TWIST Conditioning SCS certification and will continue to the next level in the future.
Currently, Wayne’s many clients include an elite men’s soccer team that has won numerous national titles. Working on a holistic approach to golf with seminars and workshops in partnership with a CPGA professional is innovating and exciting to Wayne. In his numerous years training in the Martial Arts Wayne has worked with athletes as young as 8 and as mature as 50, giving him the experience to understand the fundamentals of fitness at every stage of life. Wayne is looking forward to beginning another chapter in his career at White Oaks with the Human Performance Centre.
Mario Toffolo
Athletic Trainer
A lifetime physical fitness enthusiast, Mario has run 10 marathons and many other shorter distance races, participated in several triathlons and duathlons as well as many cycling races. Mario retired after 30 years as a manager in GM and began to help others become better athletes as a certified personal trainer, fitness instructor and spinning coach.
Now he has taken his training to a new level as a Twist certified conditioning coach. He wants to help all athletes perform at their best. For the past 4 years Mario personally trained and escorted groups to Europe for week long cycling adventures. Mario enjoys training athletes of all ages and backgrounds. Mario’s philosophy in life and in fitness is that you should always look to continual self-improvement regardless of your age or gender.