Dr. Abe Avender

Special Interests

  • Sports Injury / Athlete Rehab         
  • Paediatric & Children                      
  • Complex Injury Cases                   
  • Functional Movement                    

 

Professional Affiliations

  • Owner Director: Island Optimal Health & Performance
  • 55+ BC Games - Medical Director – 2025
  • Canadian Red Cross: Sports Med First Responder - 2013-current
  • PACSPORT Sport Health Partners - Since 2012
  • Sport Med BC: Professional Member - Since 2008
  • British Columbia Chiropractic Association: Professional Member - Since 2007
  • College of Chiropractors of British Columbia: Professional Member - Since 2007
  • National Strength & Conditioning Association: Certified Professional Member- Since 2007
  • National Strength & Conditioning Association: Certified Professional Member - Since 2007
  • Titleist Performance Institute: Professional Member - Since 2007
  • Gatorade Sport Science Institute: Professional Member - Since 2005
  • FIVB: Team Canada Doctor - Member# 180749

     

     

Education

  • Active Release Techniques®: Masters Certification – 2009
  • Canadian Memorial Chiropractic College, Doctor of Chiropractic – Clinical Honours - 2007
  • National Strength & Conditioning Association - Certified Strength & Conditioning Specialist (CSCS) - 2007
  • University of Victoria, Bachelor of Science – Major Kinesiology / Minor Biology -  2003

Achievements

  • PACWEST Conference Coach of the Year -2021-22
  • CCAA & PACWEST – National & Conference Coach of the Year - 2016-17 
  • Business & Community Achievement Awards - Top 20 Under 40 Award Winner - 2015

Coaching

CCAA: VIU MARINERS MEN’S VOLLEYBALL:

  • 2025-26 PACWEST Silver Medalist
  • 2024-25 PACWEST Bronze Medalist
  • 2024-25 PACWEST Coach of the Year
  • 2023-24 CCAA National Championship, Victoria BC – Bronze Medalists
  • 2023-24 PACWEST Champions – Gold Medalists
  • 2022-23 PACWEST Bronze Medalist
  • 2021-22 PACWEST Silver Medalist
  • 2021-22 PACWEST Coach of the Year
  • 2020-21 COVID-19 - No season
  • 2019-20 PACWEST Bronze Medalist
  • 2018-19 CCAA National Championship, Red Deer AB – Bronze Medalists
  • 2018-19 PACWEST Champions – Gold Medalists
  • 201-18 CCAA National Championship, Victoria BC – 5th Place
  • 2017-18 PACWEST Silver Medalists
  • 2016-17 CCAA & PACWEST – National & Conference Coach of the Year
  • 2016-17 CCAA National Championship, London ON – 5th Place
  • 2016-17 PACWEST Silver Medalist
  • 2015-16 PACWEST Bronze Medalist
  • 2014-15 PACWEST Provincial Bronze
  • 2012-13 CCAA National Championships, Niagara Falls, ON – 4th Place
  • 2012-13 PACWEST Silver Medalist
  • 2011-12 PACWEST Silver Medalist
  • 2010-11 PACWEST Bronze Medalist

PROVINCIAL: TEAM BC

  • 2017 - Volleyball Canada/NCCP–High Performance Coach–Gatineau, Que
  • 2013 - Volleyball British Columbia:Men’s U19 Head Coach National Team Challenge Cup
  • 2012 - Canada Games-Sherbrooke, Que:Team BC Volleyball-Assistant Coach
  • 2012 - Team BC Volleyball:US Open Volleyball Championships-Assistant Coach–Louisville, KY
  • 2010 - Volleyball British Columbia:Men’s U19 Assistant Coach National Team Challenge Cup
  • 2009 - Team BC Volleyball:US Open Volleyball Championships–Team Doctor/Assistant Coach-Minneapolis, MN
  • 2009 - Canada Games–Charlotte Town, PEI: Team BC Volleyball-Team Doctor/Assistant Coach

Certifications and Training

  • Canadian Red Cross – Sports Med First Responder - Calgary, AB - 2013, 2016, 2019, 2022
  • FIVB - Anti-Doping Education Program: Play Clean - 2021
  • Concussion Foundations – Dr. Benjamin Stevens - 2021
  • Nutrition for Sports Injuries & Rehabilitation - Dr. Geoff Lecovin – 2021
  • Canadian Centre for Ethics in Sport - True Sport Clean,  Creating a Campus Community Free of Sexual Violence, The Role of Athlete Support Personnel - 2021
  • Radiology Fundamentals for Musculoskeletal Rehab Practitioners - Victoria, BC - 2020
  • Advanced Continuing Education Institute, LLC - Evaluation and Treatment of the Knee – Boston, MA - 2020
  • Canadian Chiropractic Protective Association - Risk Management Training – Toronto, ON - 2007-2020
  • Functional Range Release Technique: Summit - Advanced Linear Loading Strategies – Costa Mesa, CA - 2019
  • Functional Range Release Technique: Summit - Portland, OR - 2018
  • Skeletal Radiology - Identifying Structural Abnormalities & Plan of Management – Nanaimo, BC - 2017
  • Advanced Continuing Education Institute, LLC - Functional Stability Training - Upper Extremity – Boston, MA - 2016
  • Advanced Continuing Education Institute, LLC - Functional Stability Training - Lower Extremity – Boston, MA - 2015
  • Dynamic Neuromuscular Stabilization: Part B - Prague School of Rehabilitation - Stanford University, CA - 2014
  • Dynamic Neuromuscular Stabilization: Part A - Prague School of Rehabilitation - Richmond, BC -2014
  • Functional Range Release Technique: Certified F.R. Lower Limb - Portland, OR - 2014
  • Canadian Centre for Ethics in Sport: True Clean Sport - 2013
  • The Running Clinic: New Trends in the Prevention of Running Injuries - Richmond BC - 2013
  • Royal College of Chiropractic Sports Sciences (CAN): Optimal Performance - Vancouver, BC - 2012
  • Active Release Therapy®: Long Tract Nerve Entrapment Certification - Vancouver, BC - 2012
  • FIVB - World Anti-Doping Certification Play Clean - Gatineau, QC - - 2012
  • R.E.D Management: Building the Ultimate Back: Rehabilitation to Performance - Vancouver BC - 2011
  • Titleist Performance Institute: TPI Certified Medical Practitioner - Level II - San Diego, CA - 2011
  • BC Strength, Conditioning & Fitness Conference: Effective Injury Prevention & Management - Vancouver - 2011
  • Royal College of Chiropractic Sports Sciences (CAN): Imaging & Managing Athletic Injuries – Vancouver - 2011
  • Clinical Examination Shoulder: Masters Certification - Performance Health Group - Vancouver, BC - 2010
  • Active Release Techniques®: Masters Certification - Calgary, AB - 2009
  • SPIN Summit: Recovery & Regeneration - Vancouver, BC - 2009
  • Petro-Canada Sports Leadership Sportif - Vancouver, BC - 2009
  • Sports Med BC: Functional Assessment Athlete Screening - Nanaimo, BC - 2009
  • College of Chiropractic Sports Sciences (CAN): Emerging Trends in Sports Sciences - Vancouver, BC -2009
  • VANOC: Creating Team 2010 - Vancouver, BC - 2009
  • PFOLA: The 11th Annual International Conference - Foot Biomechanics & Orthotic Therapy - 2008
  • VANOC: Interdisciplinary Sports Medicine Conference - 2010 Olympic & Paralympic Games - 2008
  • Active Release Therapy®: Lower Extremity Certification - San Francisco, CA - 2008
  • Evaluation & Management of the Upper Extremity Clinical Practice - Vancouver, BC - 2008
  • Titleist Performance Institute: TPI Certified Golf Fitness Instructor - Toronto, ON - 2008
  • C.H.E.K Institute: Certified Golf Biomechanical Specialist - Toronto, ON - 2007
  • Orthotic Group: Custom Orthotic Fitting - Toronto, ON - 2007
  • Orthotic Group: Gait Analysis - Toronto, ON - 2007
  • Active Release Therapy®: Spine Certification - Montreal, QC - 2007
  • National Strength & Conditioning Association: Certified Strength and Conditioning Specialist (CSCS)– Hamilton, ON - 2007
  • Trigenics Institute of Myoneural Medicine: Advanced Trigenics Practitioner - Toronto, ON - 2007
  • Active Release Therapy®: Upper Extremity Certification - Montreal, QC - 2006
  • Trigenics Institute of Myoneural Medicine: Registered Trigenics Practitioner - Toronto, ON - 2005

 

EVENT MEDICAL / MEDICAL SUPPORT STAFF:

  • Paris Olympics - XXXIII Olympiad - Team Canada Men’s Volleyball: Team Chiropractor – Paris, FR - 2024
  • Team Canada Men’s Volleyball: Team Doctor/Chiropractor – Volleyball Nations League – 2021-24
  • Team Canada Men’s Volleyball: Team Doctor/Chiropractor – World Championships – Ljubljana, SLV 2021
  • Vancouver Island University Athletics - Official Provider of Athlete Injury Rehabilitation – 2007-2026
  • Team Canada Men’s Volleyball: Team Doctor - Pan American Championship – Santo Domingo, DR - 2021
  • U-Sport National Championship – Trinity Western University: Team Doctor – Laval, QC - 2019
  • Team Canada Men’s Volleyball: Team Doctor – FISU America Games – Sao Paulo, Brazil – 2018
  • U-Sport National Championship – Trinity Western University: Team Doctor - Hamilton, ON - 2018
  • Ironman Canada: Athlete Treatment Staff - 2007-2019
  • U-Sport National Championship – Trinity Western University: Team Doctor – Edmonton, AB - 2017
  • U-Sport National Championship – Trinity Western University: Team Doctor – Hamilton, ON - 2016
  • Team Canada Men’s Volleyball: Team Doctor – Youth National Team – Fort Lauderdale, FL - 2015
  • U-Sport National Championship – Trinity Western University: Team Doctor – Calgary, AB - 2014
  • Canada Games - Sherbrooke, Que: Team BC Volleyball - Team Doctor - 2013
  • Team BC Volleyball: US Open Volleyball Championships - Team Doctor - Louisville, KY - 2013
  • Team Canada Men’s Volleyball: Team Doctor - U23 Pan American Cup - 2012
  • FIVB: Team Canada Doctor – Member N0 180749 - 2012
  • Canadian Sport Centre Pacific/Pacific Sport: Official Sport Health TM Partner – 2010-2026
  • Team BC Volleyball: US Open Volleyball Championships - Team Doctor - Minneapolis, MN – 2010
  • Canada Games – Charlottetown, PEI: Team BC Volleyball - Team Doctor - 2009