KEYNOTE SPEAKER

Dr. Olive Bryanton is a renowned advocate for the rights and dignity of older people, dedicating over three decades to promoting healthy aging, challenging ageism, and preventing elder abuse. A respected expert in her field, Dr. Bryanton holds key roles in various national and international organizations, including the Canadian Coalition Against Ageism, the National Seniors Council, and The Lancet Commission. 

Her work has been instrumental in raising awareness about ageism and promoting evidence-based solutions. A recipient of numerous honours, including the Order of Prince Edward Island and Queen's Jubilee Medals, Dr. Bryanton received her PhD at 82, focusing on the voices of women aged 85+ living in rural PEI. She continues to inspire and inform policy and practice, promoting a culture of respect and empowerment for older people. 

Shantel is a registered social worker with the City of Medicine Hat working as a Community Resource Worker. She holds a Degree of Social Work from the University of Calgary and is currently working on her masters.  

Shantel has been working with older adults for the last twenty years. She is very passionate about elder abuse and volunteered on the Alberta Elder Abuse Awareness Council for the last 12 years, taking on the role of the Chair for the last 8 before moving over to the CLC in June of this year. Shantel is a champion for advance care planning and has been a Designated Capacity Assessor since 2010. Shantel established and continues to coordinate the Seniors Service Providers Group in Medicine Hat. 

Kristen Chambers is the Chief Administrative Officer for The Evergreens Foundation and a leader in advancing seniors and community housing in Alberta. Kristen brings to the table 18 years of experience in housing management, starting her career as the Assets and Project manager and moving on to become the CAO of the Evergreens Foundation.

The Evergreens Foundation is a Housing Management Body with a Head Office based in Hinton, Alberta, responsible for a variety of different housing programs including the Rental Assistance Benefit Program, Family Housing, Seniors Self-Contained Apartments, Lodge accommodations and more. Their geographical area spans over six municipalities in the West Yellowhead Region, including Yellowhead County, Town of Edson, Town of Hinton, Municipality of Jasper, M.D of Greenview and Parkland County.

With the support of her Board and surrounding communities, and through her own mandate, Kristen has been instrumental in the creation and execution of a highly successful capital program for housing within the region she serves. Through her emphasis on advocating for the quality of life of seniors, she has transformed seniors housing in these communities. The most recent facility is an Indigenous Elders lodge near Grande Cache. This fully serviced, culturally appropriate indigenous lodge is the first of its kind in Alberta and stands as a testament to her commitment to service under-represented communities of rural Alberta.

Kristen currently serves in her second term as the President of the Alberta Public Housing Administrators Association (APHAA). She is the recipient of the Queen's Jubilee Platinum medal as well as the 2022 Minister’s Seniors Service Award for her outstanding work in the housing sector.

Apart from her busy professional life, she is also a mother of three kids and an active community advocate. She also serves as a municipal councillor for the Town of Hinton.

Paul Vanden Broek brings 17 years of experience in nursing, senior care, and community-based leadership, making him a passionate advocate for culturally appropriate care and reimagining what is considered “normal” in the housing sector. He manages Eventide Home near Lethbridge, Alberta, and together with his wife Janice they have six young and busy children. Paul’s career spans acute care roles at Chinook Regional Hospital and the Fort Macleod Emergency Department, owning and operating a foot care practice, and 14 years in senior care at a private home in Picture Butte. He has also served as a SIM specialist and clinical instructor at Lethbridge Polytechnic. With deep roots in frontline care, Paul brings a grounded, community-focused lens to the evolving intersection of housing, health, and senior well-being. 

After retiring from a career as a teacher and a school administrator, LaVerne and her husband moved to Medicine Hat to be closer to family. Since 2007, LaVerne has been active directing and serving on the Medicine Hat Duplicate Bridge Club, including teaching beginner classes, which has grown membership to over 100. 

 LaVerne was introduced to Medicine Hat’s seniors centre, the Veiner Centre, through her love for playing the game of bridge. In 2013, the centre was flooded, and LaVerne supported its redevelopment as Co-Chair of the building committee. Since 2005, LaVerne has served on the Senior Citizens Advisory Committee.  

 More recently, LaVerne has been co-leading the exploration and development of an innovative aging-in-place model for her neighbourhood. With support from the City of Medicine Hat, the University of Alberta, and Queen’s University, LaVerne and the team are in the process of bringing the Oasis model to Alberta. The Oasis program is designed to strengthen and sustain healthy communities of older adults by addressing important determinants of healthy aging, including social connections, nutrition, physical well-being, and sense of purpose. It was co-developed with older adults as an innovative solution to support aging well at home and started in Kingston over 15 years ago.  

 LaVerne’s Naturally Occurring Retirement Community (NORC) in Medicine Hat hopes to be the 21st site operating Oasis across Canada. 

She has been working in the community-based seniors serving sector for over 8 years. Prior to joining the HAA team, she worked at Sage Seniors Association in Edmonton as the Strategic Initiatives Manager. Her work included various project management roles, including the development of the Seniors Equity Collective, the introduction of an NP-led primary care clinic, and the implementation of a frailty identification and assessment pathway. During this time she also completed her Masters in Public Health from the U of A with a specialization in Health Policy and Management. 

Beth is a Member at Large on the Alberta Association on Gerontology Board and has previously served as the Co-Chair of the Age Friendly Edmonton Aging in Place Committee. Beth has worked closely with the Canadian Institute for Social Prescribing since its inception and has participated in many working groups to develop and grow social prescribing initiatives across Canada. 

Larry Mathieson has been an organizational leader of charities and government departments for over 35 years. Larry was the CEO of Easter Seals Alberta. For over ten years, he was the CEO for Ronald McDonald House Charities in Alberta. During this time, he built a new $14 million House in Calgary, an $11-million-dollar expansion to the House in Edmonton, the first new RMH built in a new Canadian city in Red Deer in over 20 years. His team brought Canada’s first and only two Ronald McDonald Care Mobiles to Canada. He was a member of the Ronald McDonald House Charities national board in Canada and the Easter Seals Canada national board.  

Larry was a founding staff member of Closer To Home Community Services, and he worked for the Alberta Government as a CEO of one of the Child and Family Service Authorities. Larry has a Bachelor of Arts in Psychology from the University of Calgary, a Master of Business Administration from California Southern University and a Master of Science in Strategic Fundraising from BayPath University. Larry and his wife Cathy live in High River, Alberta and are the proud parents of five children and six grandchildren.

Monica Morrison worked with seniors for 30 years. Her career started in downtown Toronto with the Second Mile Club of Toronto and ended as the Executive Director of the Golden Circle Seniors Resource Centre from 2011 to her retirement in 2022. Monica’s other roles included President of the Alberta Association of Seniors Centres, Treasurer of the Board for the Alberta Elder Abuse Awareness Council, member of the Central Alberta Falls Coalition, and on the operations team of the Central Alberta Poverty Reduction Alliance. Monica remains a continuing education instructor with Red Deer College's ASCHA certificate program in the area of aging and older adult fitness. Her experience covers a diverse client group, including people with physical disabilities, dementia, and multicultural and LGBTQ communities. Her mission is to ensure all seniors have fun and have a good quality of life for their entire lives. 

Elizabeth Ly is the Education Coordinator with the Alberta Elder Abuse Awareness and works with Case Mangers throughout the province and their Community Coordinated Response teams in any educational needs and/or interests. One of her main focus areas is on the coordination and delivery of the Taking Action Against Elder Abuse training that is delivered to service providers working in elder abuse. For the past 25 years Elizabeth has specialized in the area of Diversity, Inclusion and Hate/Bias.  

April is the Indigenous Liaison with the Alberta Elder Abuse Awareness Council, representing the southern communities throughout the province. She focuses on centering the voices and experiences of Indigenous Elders who have experienced, or remain at risk of, mistreatment—while also carrying the ongoing impacts of intergenerational trauma. A key focus of her work is raising awareness and sharing knowledge provincially within Indigenous Nations to build understanding, strengthen relationships, and support respectful engagement. April Tucker is from the Cayuga Nation from Six Nations of the Grand River, with ancestral ties to the lands now known as Ontario.  

Myrtle works with the northern communities throughout the province as the Indigenous Resource Liaison with Alberta Elder Abuse Awareness Council. Her role with the council is to strengthen relationships within Indigenous communities and provide tools to address elder abuse. She is passionate in providing education and building awareness in Indigenous communities. She is a strong advocate on issues of injustice and how we can alter the current perspective to better support Indigenous people. Myrtle Beaulieu is a proud Metis Woman  

Although her background is originally in Science, as she has a MSc. In Analytical Chemistry, she has a strong passion for Community Development work. Sandeep has experience in program creation, design, and evaluation, for various populations, especially in the food insecurity ecosystem. Sandeep brings in an analytical, process-minded approach to her work with a client-centric focus. She has a Project Management certificate and enjoys organizing and managing projects of various scopes. 

Along her career journey, Sandeep has developed a keen interest in empowering teams to make evidence-based decisions that align with organizational goals. With expertise in developing evaluation frameworks, managing multiple datasets, and ensuring compliance with data governance standards, Sandeep plays a key role in facilitating informed decision-making processes. 

Sandeep has been around the world; born in the UK, raised in Kenya, has lived in Mississauga, Ontario but now calls Calgary her home. Sandeep is a mom to two very active boys, a toddler and preschooler, and enjoys spending time with her family during her time away from work. 

Dawn Mitchell is the Executive Director of the Edson Seniors Transportation Society—operating as Moving Edson & Area—a role she has held for the past three years. Under her leadership, the organization continues its mission to provide safe, reliable, and affordable wheelchair-accessible transportation to Edson residents 55+ and individuals 54- with cognitive and/or mobility challenges. The work is personal: her grandmother was one of the society’s original founders in 1984, and she remains deeply committed to carrying that legacy forward. 

In addition to her executive role, Ms. Mitchell has served as an elected Councillor for Yellowhead County for the past 12 years, advocating for rural needs and infrastructure sustainability. Her background as a long-time Correctional Officer, followed by a transition into accounting, gives her a unique, pragmatic lens on operational management and fiscal responsibility. 

Ms. Mitchell’s combined experience in public service, nonprofit leadership, and municipal governance offers valuable insight into what makes rural transportation systems work—including the partnerships that strengthen them, the financial realities that challenge them, and the solutions that keep them moving forward. 

Rooted in rural Alberta and driven by a passion for community, Doray brings over 30 years of experience across government, private, and nonprofit sectors. As Executive Director of Lynks – Harvest Sky Services and Supports Society (formerly Hanna Learning Centre) since 2011, She leads a dynamic team delivering programs in learning, employment, community development, voluntary sector, and business services. A lifelong learner and advocate for rural resilience, Doray holds a BA in Recreation Administration – Community Development from the University of Alberta and is a register Primary Care Paramedic. Her career spans roles as a business owner, rancher, paramedic, municipal councillor, and regional convener—each rooted in her strong commitment to fostering capacity and strengthening connections within and between communities. Doray is a proud recipient of both the Queen Elizabeth II Platinum Jubilee Medal and the King Charles III Coronation Medal. 

Dr. Haidong Liang is a dedicated gerontologist who earned three degrees in aging studies in Canada and seamlessly bridges academic research with real-life practice. He serves as the Executive Director of Westend Seniors Activity Centre and WESeniors Strathcona County. Using the Innovative WE Seniors platform, his organization founded the Alberta Seniors Alliance, supporting multiple organizations in the Greater Edmonton areas by connecting underserved seniors (e.g., racialized seniors, seniors in the rural areas) to services provided by the public, private, and nonprofit sectors. His work has been recognized with awards such as Edmonton's Top 40 Under 40 (2019), the Minister's Seniors Service Award (2021), Queen Elizabeth II's Platinum Jubilee Medal (2022), and the King Charles III Coronation Medal (2025). 

Kari Cameron is the Director of Older Adult Services with Camrose & District Family and Community Support Services (FCSS), where she has been a dedicated team member for over 18 years. Throughout her career with the organization, Kari has held a variety of impactful roles, including Program Manager for the Camrose Family Resource Centre, Roots of Empathy Facilitator, Triple P Parenting Practitioner, and Certified Infant Massage Teacher. Each of these roles has allowed her to make meaningful connections and provide critical support across all ages in the community. 

Her transition to Case Manager for Elder Abuse was a turning point, where she discovered a deep and lasting passion for advocating for older adults. That experience shaped her path to her current role, where she now leads Older Adult Services with compassion, integrity, and a strong commitment to the well-being of older adults in the city and county of Camrose.  

Kari thrives on creating strong, connected communities. She is deeply committed to collaboration, volunteering, and fostering community well-being—principles that guide both her professional work and personal life. 

Outside the office, Kari lives and works on a mixed family farm south of Tofield alongside her husband, children, and grandchildren. Their busy operation includes grain, beef, sheep, chickens, turkeys, and pigs. Known for her creativity and lively spirit, Kari brings joy and humor to everything she does—even dressing up her chickens, painting their nails, and teaching them to play the xylophone 

KEYNOTE SPEAKER

Dr. Samir Sinha, is a renowned Geriatrician at Sinai Health System and the University Health Network in Toronto, and a Professor of Medicine at the University of Toronto. Dr. Sinha is also the Director of Health Policy Research at Toronto Metropolitan University’s National Institute on Ageing and a Fellow of the Canadian Academy of Health Sciences. 

A Rhodes Scholar, Dr. Sinha holds degrees from Western University, the University of Toronto, Johns Hopkins University, and the University of Oxford. He has played a key role in developing Canada’s National Dementia Strategy and the National Long-Term Care Services Standard. Internationally, he serves on the American Red Cross Scientific Advisory Council and the Board of Trustees for HelpAge International. 

Currently, Dr. Sinha is a Visiting Fellow at the University of Oxford and AMS Fellow in Compassion and AI, exploring the ethical and other implications of leveraging AI and other technologies to enable healthy ageing and ageing-in-the-right-place.

Inspired by her personal experience with aging parents, Jennifer trained as an elder mediator. She now works as the Community Trainer for the Alberta Elder Abuse Awareness Council, promoting the It’s Not Right! program and supporting Elder Mediation through the Safe Spaces Initiative. 

Jennifer Wells – Community Trainer, Alberta Elder Abuse Awareness Council. jennifer.aeaac@outlook.com 

Lilian Omorefe is a community health professional with a background in elder care, education, and health promotion. In her current role with the Alberta Elder Abuse Awareness Council, she collaborates with case managers and housing providers across Alberta to establish safe spaces for older adults at risk of or experiencing elder abuse. Additionally, Lilian has lectured in Health, Safety, and Environmental Education at the University of Benin, Nigeria.  

Lilian Omorefe- Safe Spaces Navigator, Alberta Elder Abuse Awareness Council. Lilian.aeaac@outlook.com 

Wendy Evans, RN, BScN

Wendy is a Registered Nurse who has worked at the Wolf Creek Primary Care Network as a Geriatric Assessment Nurse since 2017. Her career in healthcare extends 40 years, beginning in Wales and continued when she moved to Canada in 1971. Her experience includes working at the Red Deer Hospital (RDH) in medical, surgery and rehabilitation units. With an interest in Gerontology, Wendy has been involved in several initiatives including the development of Specialized Geriatrics Services at the RDH, Clinical lead in RDH’s NICHE certification, development of the Healthy Aging program at the Wolf Creek PCN, member of the Alberta Dementia and Action Plan committee, Project lead for the Sparks grant from the Centre for Aging and Health Innovation which resulted in Dementia Friendly Innisfail community and founding member of the Community Partners in Action, Innisfail. Wendy’s experience and knowledge has demonstrated the crucial role of health, social and community partners’ collaboration in creating the best outcomes for older adults to live well in their communities. 

Arlene works for the Alzheimer Society of Alberta and Northwest Territories and has been with the society for over 23 years.  Arlene is the Vice President, Programs and Partnerships & Chief Service Officer and works with an amazing team who provide direct support to families and people living with dementia.  Arlene is passionate about supporting people living with dementia and their care partners to live well but recognizes that without the proper supports in place and community involvement, it is difficult to do this.  In her time at the society, she has worked directly with thousands of family care partners, has facilitated hundreds of support groups; information sessions; and education sessions.  Arlene was part of the very first planning group in Westview. 

Helen Lightfoot, BSW, RSW, MACE 

MODERATOR

Helen is a Senior Practice Consultant with Connecting People and Community for Living Well. Her background is in Social Work and Community Engagement in rural and urbans settings. She was a frontline Home Care Case Manager for 20 years and subsequently held management and practice lead positions. Throughout her career she has recognized the important role the community plays in supporting people’s wellbeing. Helen’s preferred pronouns are She/Her.

Dr. Treena Trustham is a Care of the Elderly physician in Stony Plain who is also on the local board for the Westview PCN. She also works in long term care and palliative care as a primary care physician. She was born and raised in the Westview area and is passionate about caring for those in her local community. She previously worked as an RN before becoming a physician and has a unique lens when caring for her patients and serving the community. She has been involved on the Dementia Collaborative for several years now wanting to make an impact for our community.  

Mary-Ann Shantz is a researcher, writer and educator. Mary-Ann has a doctoral degree in history from Carleton University and six years of experience teaching history at MacEwan University. She has worked with the Covenant Health Palliative Institute since 2020, first as project coordinator for the Palliative Care Public Awareness project and more recently as the Institute’s research coordinator. 

KEYNOTE SPEAKER

De’Amon Harges is the original Roving Listener. He is a social banker. His calling in life is as an artist in a wide variety of ways, including with people.  This led to him being hired to do what he was already doing, identifying the gifts, talents, dreams and passions of his neighbours in order to grow community, economy and mutual delight.  He continues that work today as a neighbour and as the founder for the Learning Tree, a business he has built with his neighbours that has taken him (and others) around the world to help people remember the ways in which community is present and powerful everywhere - particularly in places where people are pushed to the margins.  He serves as a consultant around the country with not-for-profits (public benefit groups), philanthropies, government, and religious organizations.  He is a business owner, a husband, a father, a good friend, a neighbour, and so much more.  Meet De’Amon Harges! 

KEYNOTE SPEAKER

De’Amon Harges is the original Roving Listener. He is a social banker. His calling in life is as an artist in a wide variety of ways, including with people.  This led to him being hired to do what he was already doing, identifying the gifts, talents, dreams and passions of his neighbours in order to grow community, economy and mutual delight.  He continues that work today as a neighbour and as the founder for the Learning Tree, a business he has built with his neighbours that has taken him (and others) around the world to help people remember the ways in which community is present and powerful everywhere - particularly in places where people are pushed to the margins.  He serves as a consultant around the country with not-for-profits (public benefit groups), philanthropies, government, and religious organizations.  He is a business owner, a husband, a father, a good friend, a neighbour, and so much more.  Meet De’Amon Harges! 

KEYNOTE SPEAKER

Todd Hirsch is an internationally renowned economist, keynote speaker, and author whose research and work focuses on enhancing adaptability in an ever-changing world. Having had a front row seat to key issues transforming the global economy for the past 25 years, he delivers dynamic, clear-eyed talks on adaptability, creativity, and resilience to help industry and business leaders prepare for a future that is volatile, uncertain, complex, and ambiguous.

An economist by training, Hirsch recently served as the Director of Energy Transition Centre, an incubator of tech startups focused on navigating our path toward net-zero carbon. Prior to this, he spent 15 years as the VP and chief economist for ATB Financial, taught economics at the University of Calgary and the University of Alberta, and worked in the research department of the Bank of Canada. 

In recognition of his work, Hirsch has received the Queen Elizabeth II Platinum and Diamond Jubilee Medals, the University of Alberta’s Alumni Honour Award, and an honorary degree from Mount Royal University. He has also spoken to hundreds of business audiences across the United States and Canada, and international audiences from Venezuela to Dublin. 

The author of four books, Hirsch’s latest, Spiders in COVID Space: Adapting During and After the Pandemic, shares the inspiring and compelling stories of businesses and not-for-profits that reinvented themselves during the pandemic.

Shantel is a registered social worker with the City of Medicine Hat working as a Community Resource Worker. She holds a Degree of Social Work from the University of Calgary and is currently working on her masters.  

Shantel has been working with older adults for the last twenty years. She is very passionate about elder abuse and volunteered on the Alberta Elder Abuse Awareness Council for the last 12 years, taking on the role of the Chair for the last 8 before moving over to the CLC in June of this year. Shantel is a champion for advance care planning and has been a Designated Capacity Assessor since 2010. Shantel established and continues to coordinate the Seniors Service Providers Group in Medicine Hat. 

Kristen Chambers is the Chief Administrative Officer for The Evergreens Foundation and a leader in advancing seniors and community housing in Alberta. Kristen brings to the table 18 years of experience in housing management, starting her career as the Assets and Project manager and moving on to become the CAO of the Evergreens Foundation.

The Evergreens Foundation is a Housing Management Body with a Head Office based in Hinton, Alberta, responsible for a variety of different housing programs including the Rental Assistance Benefit Program, Family Housing, Seniors Self-Contained Apartments, Lodge accommodations and more. Their geographical area spans over six municipalities in the West Yellowhead Region, including Yellowhead County, Town of Edson, Town of Hinton, Municipality of Jasper, M.D of Greenview and Parkland County.

With the support of her Board and surrounding communities, and through her own mandate, Kristen has been instrumental in the creation and execution of a highly successful capital program for housing within the region she serves. Through her emphasis on advocating for the quality of life of seniors, she has transformed seniors housing in these communities. The most recent facility is an Indigenous Elders lodge near Grande Cache. This fully serviced, culturally appropriate indigenous lodge is the first of its kind in Alberta and stands as a testament to her commitment to service under-represented communities of rural Alberta.

Kristen currently serves in her second term as the President of the Alberta Public Housing Administrators Association (APHAA). She is the recipient of the Queen's Jubilee Platinum medal as well as the 2022 Minister’s Seniors Service Award for her outstanding work in the housing sector.

Apart from her busy professional life, she is also a mother of three kids and an active community advocate. She also serves as a municipal councillor for the Town of Hinton.

Paul Vanden Broek brings 17 years of experience in nursing, senior care, and community-based leadership, making him a passionate advocate for culturally appropriate care and reimagining what is considered “normal” in the housing sector. He manages Eventide Home near Lethbridge, Alberta, and together with his wife Janice they have six young and busy children. Paul’s career spans acute care roles at Chinook Regional Hospital and the Fort Macleod Emergency Department, owning and operating a foot care practice, and 14 years in senior care at a private home in Picture Butte. He has also served as a SIM specialist and clinical instructor at Lethbridge Polytechnic. With deep roots in frontline care, Paul brings a grounded, community-focused lens to the evolving intersection of housing, health, and senior well-being. 

After retiring from a career as a teacher and a school administrator, LaVerne and her husband moved to Medicine Hat to be closer to family. Since 2007, LaVerne has been active directing and serving on the Medicine Hat Duplicate Bridge Club, including teaching beginner classes, which has grown membership to over 100. 

 LaVerne was introduced to Medicine Hat’s seniors centre, the Veiner Centre, through her love for playing the game of bridge. In 2013, the centre was flooded, and LaVerne supported its redevelopment as Co-Chair of the building committee. Since 2005, LaVerne has served on the Senior Citizens Advisory Committee.  

 More recently, LaVerne has been co-leading the exploration and development of an innovative aging-in-place model for her neighbourhood. With support from the City of Medicine Hat, the University of Alberta, and Queen’s University, LaVerne and the team are in the process of bringing the Oasis model to Alberta. The Oasis program is designed to strengthen and sustain healthy communities of older adults by addressing important determinants of healthy aging, including social connections, nutrition, physical well-being, and sense of purpose. It was co-developed with older adults as an innovative solution to support aging well at home and started in Kingston over 15 years ago.  

 LaVerne’s Naturally Occurring Retirement Community (NORC) in Medicine Hat hopes to be the 21st site operating Oasis across Canada. 

She has been working in the community-based seniors serving sector for over 8 years. Prior to joining the HAA team, she worked at Sage Seniors Association in Edmonton as the Strategic Initiatives Manager. Her work included various project management roles, including the development of the Seniors Equity Collective, the introduction of an NP-led primary care clinic, and the implementation of a frailty identification and assessment pathway. During this time she also completed her Masters in Public Health from the U of A with a specialization in Health Policy and Management. 

Beth is a Member at Large on the Alberta Association on Gerontology Board and has previously served as the Co-Chair of the Age Friendly Edmonton Aging in Place Committee. Beth has worked closely with the Canadian Institute for Social Prescribing since its inception and has participated in many working groups to develop and grow social prescribing initiatives across Canada. 

Larry Mathieson has been an organizational leader of charities and government departments for over 35 years. Larry was the CEO of Easter Seals Alberta. For over ten years, he was the CEO for Ronald McDonald House Charities in Alberta. During this time, he built a new $14 million House in Calgary, an $11-million-dollar expansion to the House in Edmonton, the first new RMH built in a new Canadian city in Red Deer in over 20 years. His team brought Canada’s first and only two Ronald McDonald Care Mobiles to Canada. He was a member of the Ronald McDonald House Charities national board in Canada and the Easter Seals Canada national board.  

Larry was a founding staff member of Closer To Home Community Services, and he worked for the Alberta Government as a CEO of one of the Child and Family Service Authorities. Larry has a Bachelor of Arts in Psychology from the University of Calgary, a Master of Business Administration from California Southern University and a Master of Science in Strategic Fundraising from BayPath University. Larry and his wife Cathy live in High River, Alberta and are the proud parents of five children and six grandchildren.

Monica Morrison worked with seniors for 30 years. Her career started in downtown Toronto with the Second Mile Club of Toronto and ended as the Executive Director of the Golden Circle Seniors Resource Centre from 2011 to her retirement in 2022. Monica’s other roles included President of the Alberta Association of Seniors Centres, Treasurer of the Board for the Alberta Elder Abuse Awareness Council, member of the Central Alberta Falls Coalition, and on the operations team of the Central Alberta Poverty Reduction Alliance. Monica remains a continuing education instructor with Red Deer College's ASCHA certificate program in the area of aging and older adult fitness. Her experience covers a diverse client group, including people with physical disabilities, dementia, and multicultural and LGBTQ communities. Her mission is to ensure all seniors have fun and have a good quality of life for their entire lives. 

Elizabeth Ly is the Education Coordinator with the Alberta Elder Abuse Awareness and works with Case Mangers throughout the province and their Community Coordinated Response teams in any educational needs and/or interests. One of her main focus areas is on the coordination and delivery of the Taking Action Against Elder Abuse training that is delivered to service providers working in elder abuse. For the past 25 years Elizabeth has specialized in the area of Diversity, Inclusion and Hate/Bias.  

April is the Indigenous Liaison with the Alberta Elder Abuse Awareness Council, representing the southern communities throughout the province. She focuses on centering the voices and experiences of Indigenous Elders who have experienced, or remain at risk of, mistreatment—while also carrying the ongoing impacts of intergenerational trauma. A key focus of her work is raising awareness and sharing knowledge provincially within Indigenous Nations to build understanding, strengthen relationships, and support respectful engagement. April Tucker is from the Cayuga Nation from Six Nations of the Grand River, with ancestral ties to the lands now known as Ontario.  

Myrtle works with the northern communities throughout the province as the Indigenous Resource Liaison with Alberta Elder Abuse Awareness Council. Her role with the council is to strengthen relationships within Indigenous communities and provide tools to address elder abuse. She is passionate in providing education and building awareness in Indigenous communities. She is a strong advocate on issues of injustice and how we can alter the current perspective to better support Indigenous people. Myrtle Beaulieu is a proud Metis Woman  

Although her background is originally in Science, as she has a MSc. In Analytical Chemistry, she has a strong passion for Community Development work. Sandeep has experience in program creation, design, and evaluation, for various populations, especially in the food insecurity ecosystem. Sandeep brings in an analytical, process-minded approach to her work with a client-centric focus. She has a Project Management certificate and enjoys organizing and managing projects of various scopes. 

Along her career journey, Sandeep has developed a keen interest in empowering teams to make evidence-based decisions that align with organizational goals. With expertise in developing evaluation frameworks, managing multiple datasets, and ensuring compliance with data governance standards, Sandeep plays a key role in facilitating informed decision-making processes. 

Sandeep has been around the world; born in the UK, raised in Kenya, has lived in Mississauga, Ontario but now calls Calgary her home. Sandeep is a mom to two very active boys, a toddler and preschooler, and enjoys spending time with her family during her time away from work. 

Dawn Mitchell is the Executive Director of the Edson Seniors Transportation Society—operating as Moving Edson & Area—a role she has held for the past three years. Under her leadership, the organization continues its mission to provide safe, reliable, and affordable wheelchair-accessible transportation to Edson residents 55+ and individuals 54- with cognitive and/or mobility challenges. The work is personal: her grandmother was one of the society’s original founders in 1984, and she remains deeply committed to carrying that legacy forward. 

In addition to her executive role, Ms. Mitchell has served as an elected Councillor for Yellowhead County for the past 12 years, advocating for rural needs and infrastructure sustainability. Her background as a long-time Correctional Officer, followed by a transition into accounting, gives her a unique, pragmatic lens on operational management and fiscal responsibility. 

Ms. Mitchell’s combined experience in public service, nonprofit leadership, and municipal governance offers valuable insight into what makes rural transportation systems work—including the partnerships that strengthen them, the financial realities that challenge them, and the solutions that keep them moving forward. 

Rooted in rural Alberta and driven by a passion for community, Doray brings over 30 years of experience across government, private, and nonprofit sectors. As Executive Director of Lynks – Harvest Sky Services and Supports Society (formerly Hanna Learning Centre) since 2011, She leads a dynamic team delivering programs in learning, employment, community development, voluntary sector, and business services. A lifelong learner and advocate for rural resilience, Doray holds a BA in Recreation Administration – Community Development from the University of Alberta and is a register Primary Care Paramedic. Her career spans roles as a business owner, rancher, paramedic, municipal councillor, and regional convener—each rooted in her strong commitment to fostering capacity and strengthening connections within and between communities. Doray is a proud recipient of both the Queen Elizabeth II Platinum Jubilee Medal and the King Charles III Coronation Medal. 

Dr. Haidong Liang is a dedicated gerontologist who earned three degrees in aging studies in Canada and seamlessly bridges academic research with real-life practice. He serves as the Executive Director of Westend Seniors Activity Centre and WESeniors Strathcona County. Using the Innovative WE Seniors platform, his organization founded the Alberta Seniors Alliance, supporting multiple organizations in the Greater Edmonton areas by connecting underserved seniors (e.g., racialized seniors, seniors in the rural areas) to services provided by the public, private, and nonprofit sectors. His work has been recognized with awards such as Edmonton's Top 40 Under 40 (2019), the Minister's Seniors Service Award (2021), Queen Elizabeth II's Platinum Jubilee Medal (2022), and the King Charles III Coronation Medal (2025). 

Kari Cameron is the Director of Older Adult Services with Camrose & District Family and Community Support Services (FCSS), where she has been a dedicated team member for over 18 years. Throughout her career with the organization, Kari has held a variety of impactful roles, including Program Manager for the Camrose Family Resource Centre, Roots of Empathy Facilitator, Triple P Parenting Practitioner, and Certified Infant Massage Teacher. Each of these roles has allowed her to make meaningful connections and provide critical support across all ages in the community. 

Her transition to Case Manager for Elder Abuse was a turning point, where she discovered a deep and lasting passion for advocating for older adults. That experience shaped her path to her current role, where she now leads Older Adult Services with compassion, integrity, and a strong commitment to the well-being of older adults in the city and county of Camrose.  

Kari thrives on creating strong, connected communities. She is deeply committed to collaboration, volunteering, and fostering community well-being—principles that guide both her professional work and personal life. 

Outside the office, Kari lives and works on a mixed family farm south of Tofield alongside her husband, children, and grandchildren. Their busy operation includes grain, beef, sheep, chickens, turkeys, and pigs. Known for her creativity and lively spirit, Kari brings joy and humor to everything she does—even dressing up her chickens, painting their nails, and teaching them to play the xylophone 

Inspired by her personal experience with aging parents, Jennifer trained as an elder mediator. She now works as the Community Trainer for the Alberta Elder Abuse Awareness Council, promoting the It’s Not Right! program and supporting Elder Mediation through the Safe Spaces Initiative. 

Jennifer Wells – Community Trainer, Alberta Elder Abuse Awareness Council. jennifer.aeaac@outlook.com 

Lilian Omorefe is a community health professional with a background in elder care, education, and health promotion. In her current role with the Alberta Elder Abuse Awareness Council, she collaborates with case managers and housing providers across Alberta to establish safe spaces for older adults at risk of or experiencing elder abuse. Additionally, Lilian has lectured in Health, Safety, and Environmental Education at the University of Benin, Nigeria.  

Lilian Omorefe- Safe Spaces Navigator, Alberta Elder Abuse Awareness Council. Lilian.aeaac@outlook.com 

Wendy Evans, RN, BScN

Wendy is a Registered Nurse who has worked at the Wolf Creek Primary Care Network as a Geriatric Assessment Nurse since 2017. Her career in healthcare extends 40 years, beginning in Wales and continued when she moved to Canada in 1971. Her experience includes working at the Red Deer Hospital (RDH) in medical, surgery and rehabilitation units. With an interest in Gerontology, Wendy has been involved in several initiatives including the development of Specialized Geriatrics Services at the RDH, Clinical lead in RDH’s NICHE certification, development of the Healthy Aging program at the Wolf Creek PCN, member of the Alberta Dementia and Action Plan committee, Project lead for the Sparks grant from the Centre for Aging and Health Innovation which resulted in Dementia Friendly Innisfail community and founding member of the Community Partners in Action, Innisfail. Wendy’s experience and knowledge has demonstrated the crucial role of health, social and community partners’ collaboration in creating the best outcomes for older adults to live well in their communities. 

Arlene works for the Alzheimer Society of Alberta and Northwest Territories and has been with the society for over 23 years.  Arlene is the Vice President, Programs and Partnerships & Chief Service Officer and works with an amazing team who provide direct support to families and people living with dementia.  Arlene is passionate about supporting people living with dementia and their care partners to live well but recognizes that without the proper supports in place and community involvement, it is difficult to do this.  In her time at the society, she has worked directly with thousands of family care partners, has facilitated hundreds of support groups; information sessions; and education sessions.  Arlene was part of the very first planning group in Westview. 

Helen Lightfoot, BSW, RSW, MACE 

MODERATOR

Helen is a Senior Practice Consultant with Connecting People and Community for Living Well. Her background is in Social Work and Community Engagement in rural and urbans settings. She was a frontline Home Care Case Manager for 20 years and subsequently held management and practice lead positions. Throughout her career she has recognized the important role the community plays in supporting people’s wellbeing. Helen’s preferred pronouns are She/Her.

Dr. Treena Trustham is a Care of the Elderly physician in Stony Plain who is also on the local board for the Westview PCN. She also works in long term care and palliative care as a primary care physician. She was born and raised in the Westview area and is passionate about caring for those in her local community. She previously worked as an RN before becoming a physician and has a unique lens when caring for her patients and serving the community. She has been involved on the Dementia Collaborative for several years now wanting to make an impact for our community.  

Mary-Ann Shantz is a researcher, writer and educator. Mary-Ann has a doctoral degree in history from Carleton University and six years of experience teaching history at MacEwan University. She has worked with the Covenant Health Palliative Institute since 2020, first as project coordinator for the Palliative Care Public Awareness project and more recently as the Institute’s research coordinator.