Tonight, 2nd September, The Great British Bake Off kicks off a brand new series. Like millions across the UK, I will be tuning in to see the first batch of nervous contestants step into the tent. Bake Off is more than just a television show. Over the years it has become a shared cultural occupation, and for me, it is also the perfect way to think about one of occupational therapy’s most important models.
This is the fourth blog in my series exploring occupational therapy models through the lens of popular culture. Having reflected on Ade Adepitan in Shark! Celebrity Infested Waters, Taylor Swift, and Rosie Jones on Taskmaster, this time I turn to the Canadian Model of Occupational Participation, and who better to help us explore it than Bake Off’s own Lizzie Acker.
A quick reminder: what do we mean by occupation?
In occupational therapy, the word occupation refers to the everyday activities that people need, want, or are expected to do. These can include self care tasks such as washing and dressing, productive roles like education or employment, and leisure activities such as hobbies, sports, or, in this case, baking. Occupation is about how people fill their time and find meaning in their lives.
Lizzie Acker and participation in the tent
Lizzie Acker from Series 12 in 2021 is a baker who made a lasting impression. With brightly coloured hair, infectious laughter, and a unique style, Lizzie brought energy and authenticity to the tent. She lives with ADHD, dyslexia, and dyspraxia, and chose to share her experiences openly.
One of her most memorable moments was a showstopper bake she described as representing her “brain fuzz.” It was colourful, textured, and unapologetically messy, capturing the way her mind works. The judges saw the imperfections, but viewers saw something different. Lizzie’s bake was meaningful, expressive, and deeply personal. It showed us that baking is not only about technical performance, it is also about participation, identity, and connection. This is at the heart of the Canadian Model of Occupational Participation.
From performance to participation
The Canadian Model of Occupational Performance was first developed in the 1980s by the Canadian Association of Occupational Therapists. It placed the person at the centre of practice, surrounded by their occupations, such as self care, productivity, and leisure, and their environment, with spirituality, the essence of who they are, at the core.
In 1997 the model evolved into the CMOP-E, which added engagement, recognising that meaning and involvement matter as much as technical performance.
In 2022, Mary Egan and Gayle Restall introduced the Canadian Model of Occupational Participation. The Competencies for Occupational Therapists in Canada (2021) define occupational participation as “having access to, initiating, and sustaining valued occupations within meaningful relationships and contexts.” As of 2022, CanMOP is recognised as the national model of occupational therapy in Canada, centring the profession firmly on participation rather than performance (ACOTRO, ACOTUP & CAOT, 2021; HHR, 2022).
Structurally, CanMOP highlights:
- occupational participation at the centre, influenced by the person’s history, meaning, and occupational possibilities
- the environment, physical, social, cultural, and institutional, as a key shaper of participation
- a stronger focus on identity, meaning, and belonging
- alignment with broader frameworks such as the International Classification of Functioning, Disability and Health, the Social Model of Disability, and the Recovery Model
Where CMOP-E asked, “Can you do this task,” CanMOP asks instead, “How does this occupation enable you to participate, connect, and find meaning in your life.”
Goal setting in practice
CanMOP is closely linked with the Canadian Occupational Performance Measure, which many occupational therapists will know well. The COPM provides a structured way to:
- Identify which occupations are most important to the person
- Set goals collaboratively
- Measure performance and satisfaction over time
The shift to CanMOP changes how we set goals. It is not only about achieving independence in tasks, it is about enabling meaningful participation.
- Old framing: “Bake a cake without help.”
- CanMOP framing: “Take part in baking, share the cake, and enjoy the experience.”
That is exactly what Lizzie did in the Bake Off tent. Her “brain fuzz” bake was not just about making a cake, it was an act of expression, participation, and connection.
Bake Off as a cultural occupation
Bake Off itself has grown far beyond being a television show. It is now a shared cultural occupation.
- Families bake together after watching an episode
- Workplaces run their own mini bake offs
- Social media fills with photos of cakes, recipes, and baking stories
- Bake sales and fundraisers, such as Macmillan’s World’s Biggest Coffee Morning, use baking to raise money and build community
In CanMOP terms, Bake Off is a clear example of how an occupation extends beyond individual performance to become a collective act of participation and belonging.
Personal reflection
As I think about Lizzie’s story, I also reflect on my own lived experience of dyslexia. Like her, I know what it feels like when the world values neatness and accuracy above all else, while the creativity and meaning behind how you think and work often go unseen.
I will admit, I have mostly been a watcher of Bake Off rather than an active baker in recent years. But perhaps this new series will give me the nudge I need to try again. I know that one of the rehabilitation units where I provide clinical supervision for occupational therapists is running their own Bake Off this year, and it is a brilliant reminder that baking is about participation, connection, and enjoyment, not just perfect presentation.
I first trained in the Canadian Model of Occupational Performance years ago, but it has not been a framework I have leaned on much in my practice. Writing this blog has renewed my interest, especially because the Canadian Model of Occupational Participation puts participation at its heart. This feels much more aligned with my values and my understanding of disability, valuing people for the ways they can take part, share, and create meaning in life, rather than focusing only on what they might not be able to do.
It also echoes Restall and Egan’s call for collaborative, relationship focused occupational therapy, which emphasises rights, nuance, and context to promote true participation (Restall & Egan, 2021).
Final reflection
Lizzie’s “brain fuzz” cake was not just a dessert. It was a statement of identity, an act of participation, and a reminder that imperfection can be beautiful.
The Canadian Model of Occupational Participation makes the same point for occupational therapy. Our role is not only to focus on performance, it is to enable people to take part in occupations that connect them to others, express who they are, and bring belonging and joy.
So as Bake Off returns tonight, I will be cheering for the new bakers, remembering Lizzie’s colourful showstopper, and reflecting on how, whether in baking or in therapy, it is never just about the cake.
References
- ACOTRO, ACOTUP & CAOT. (2021). Competencies for occupational therapists in Canada. Retrieved from acotro-acore.org
- Restall, G., & Egan, M. (2021). Collaborative relationship-focused occupational therapy. Canadian Journal of Occupational Therapy, 88(3), 231–241. PubMed
- HHR. (2022). Occupational therapists: Canada’s health workforce. Retrieved from hhr-rhs.ca
Read other blogs in this series:
Popular Culture Through an OT Lens: Exploring Shark! Celebrity Infested Waters with The Model of Human Occupation (MOHO)
Read more: Popular Culture Through an OT Lens: Lizzie Acker, Bake Off and the Canadian Model of Occupational ParticipationPopular Culture Through an OT lens Taylor Swift and the Kawa Model of life flow
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