Tony van der Waarde has over 30 years of experience in the Prosthetics field. He obtained his certification in 1975 after graduating from a 3-year college program and serving a 2-year internship. He was employed in hospital-based Prosthetic/Orthotic departments in Edmonton, Saskatoon, Winnipeg and Ottawa between 1973 and 1986. In 1981 he was appointed a Director of a new laboratory, which he was instrumental in starting up.

As CUSO volunteer Tony and his family went to Papua New Guinea in 1986 where he worked for 2 years training that country's staff in new technologies. Upon returning he was employed at the Sabolich Prosthetic Research Center in Oklahoma City, which is one of the largest and most advanced facilities in the U.S.A. In 1991 he moved back to Canada and has worked for two Vancouver-based private firms as chief prosthetist.

From September 1996 he has been working independently as a prosthetist/consultant under his own company, Award Prosthetics. Amputees from around the world, have come to be fitted by Tony.

Tony's specialty since 1980, has been the design and fitting of hemipelvectomy, hip disarticulation and very short transfemoral (above knee) amputees. His silicone socket and ischeal containment design has made a big difference in the lives of amputees.