Connor Willis, MScPT, BScKin
Physiotherapist
Connor graduated from the University of Victoria with a Kinesiology degree and has returned to the island after completing his Masters in Physical Therapy from McMaster University in Hamilton Ontario. Connor is originally from Vancouver Island and grew up immersed in athletics and the outdoors in the Comox Valley. Connor was heavily involved in soccer, football, and rugby. He played with the U16 and U17 BC Provincial Rugby club as well as the U18 Canadian National Rugby Team representing Canada in World Championships in England. Various injuries in rugby had him working closely with physiotherapists to get back on the field which sparked his interest in physiotherapy.
Connor is passionate about working alongside his patients to help them maximize their function and attain their goals. His treatment style includes manual therapy, IMS/Dry needling, emphasizing education to help patients understand the origin of their injury, and providing targeted exercises to help the origin of the injury and reduce the risk of reinjury.
Connor is excited to be back in Victoria where he enjoys weightlifting, hiking, disc golfing, and kayaking the inner harbour through the Gorge. You can find Connor outside enjoying the weather, or inside cheering on his beloved Vancouver Canucks (or Seattle Seahawks).
Connor is always advancing his manual therapy skills, has his dry needling credentials, and is continuing to research evidence-based strategies to support patients with a variety of injuries and condition.
The framework to continue to heal
After being treated by Ashley Fradette at Arbutus, I felt the need to come back and edit my previous review.
Ashley is without a doubt, the best physiotherapist I’ve ever had the pleasure of working with. Ashley’s welcoming and warm demeanour meant that coming to physio was always a highlight of my day. In addition to that, she would take the time to explain her methods of treatment in easily understandable terms.
I initially came to Ashley with foot pain that was resistant to all treatment, I could barely walk for years – which meant that I couldn’t continue my previously active lifestyle. Because of this, I had gained some weight – and then most doctors had told me that my foot pain was due to the weight gain and wrote me off.
Ashley listened when I told her that the weight gain was a symptom of my pain – I haven’t been able to do much of anything for a few years. She said, after doing some tests, that she didn’t think the pain was originating in my foot, and was likely connected to the nerves or tendons connecting to my foot.
When I told her that my foot pain had gotten better with some stretching of the hips and back, she moved to treating my back, which nobody else had ever done before. Ashley would take the time after she was done work to email me and ask how things were going. It feels like she really cares about her clients, in addition to being very knowledgeable.
I’m happy to say that I am now pain-free with regards to my foot and back. Ashley has given me the framework to continue to heal – and hopefully return to my passions of running, squash and lifting weights.
I can’t recommend Ashley and the rest of the team at Arbutus enough – and I know if I am in pain in the future, I won’t hesitate to come back.
Braeden Parrott
Sweet, understanding and actually helped
“Amazing people here. Friendly and awesome. My physiotherapist Fawn Whiting was sweet, understanding and actually helped relieve back pain from which I was suffering for a few years. She taught me few excercises which i still do from time to time to relieve back pain. Thanks Arbutus and Fawn š”
Shraddha Saraf
