The 2025 Summit will be hosted both in-person and online! In-person sessions will be live-streamed to the virtual audience with unique engagement and collaboration opportunities for both audiences.
We are pleased to share this draft agenda for the 2025 Healthy Aging Alberta Summit. Session times, speakers, and program details are subject to change. Room capacity for in-person breakout sessions is limited; we will email registrants in September to sign up for sessions.
Please check in at the registration desk when you arrive.
In-person only.
Join us for coffee and informal networking before the opening session.
In-person only.
An official welcome to set the tone for the Summit, introduce key themes, and acknowledge the contributions of all partners and communities represented.
In-person and Virtual broadcast.
Connect with fellow attendees over refreshments as we celebrate the beginning of the Summit.
You must RSVP to attend this event as capacity is limited.
If you expressed interest in attending the reception when you initially registered for the event, please RSVP to this session to secure your spot.
In-person only.
Registration Check-in and Breakfast.
In-person only.
A warm welcome and orientation to the day’s programming.
In-person and Virtual broadcast.
Mark Hazelden
National Institute on Ageing
Dr. Bryanton, a passionate advocate for aging well, will be sitting down with Bukola Ojemakinde to reflect on her doctoral research, Pioneers in Aging: Voices of Women 85 Years and Older Aging in Place in Rural Communities. Olive will also speak about her instrumental role in founding the first multi-purpose Seniors Centre and Seniors College on Prince Edward Island. Her commitment to lifelong learning and strengthening communities will inspire all those committed to aging well.
In-person and Virtual broadcast
Dr. Olive Bryanton
Advocate
Bukola Ojemakinde
Bridge to Oasis Foundation
This session will introduce the emerging Community-Based Seniors Serving (CBSS) Service Delivery Model, developed through a collaborative design sprint with provincial sector leaders. The model is designed to strengthen coordination, integration, and access to non-medical supports that enable older adults to age well in community.
Grounded in core values like older adult-centered design, community-developed solutions, and equity and inclusion, the model includes key components such as service groupings (non-medical services, navigation and supported referral, and community development), integrated funding flows, pathways for system integration with health and housing, and a shared measurement framework.
Participants will explore the model as a flexible framework—not a one-size-fits-all approach—that reflects Alberta’s diverse communities and emphasizes local autonomy. This session will also share progress made since the December 2024 sprint, including next steps such as community consultations through regional gatherings, an engagement strategy, and the development of an implementation roadmap to align with funders, policymakers, and government.
In-person and Virtual broadcast.
Karen McDonald
Sage Seniors Association
Mariam Elghahuagi
Healthy Aging Alberta
Informal Networking and Refreshments - in-person
Networking time online - Please visit the lounge and exhibitors hall!
Join the AAG as they share learnings from a province-wide case study featuring communities that exemplify integrated, community-focused services. Learn about promising practices and approaches to building robust local ecosystems that support individual well-being and community-led decision-making. Participants will also have a chance to speak directly with these communities during a follow-up breakout session.
In-person and virtual Broadcast
Marlene Rassock
Alberta Association on Gerontology
Carol Blair
Alberta Association on Gerontology and Carol Blair and Associates Inc.
Amanda Panisiak
Big Country Primary Care Network, Drumheller
A description of what will happen after lunch.
In-person and online broadcast.
Networking time in-person and online
Breakout sessions will be hybrid unless otherwise noted.
In-person and virtual broadcast.
Stream: Leadership
This session will introduce you to the Natural Supports Practice Framework including new updates for 2025. We will create a shared understanding of why a natural supports approach is important and define the foundational constructs and core principles. We will share the unique opportunities the Natural Supports Practice Framework can provide when supporting older adults.
In-person and virtual broadcast.
Dr. Rose Joudi
Carya Calgary
Diana Wark
Centre for Sexuality
Stream: Integration
Here is your chance to engage with the communities who were involved in the Ecosystems project. Participants will have approx. 18 minutes to sit down with three different communities of their choosing to learn more about how successful collaborations were created.
Speakers: Representatives from Bashaw, Calgary Chinese Elderly Citizens' Association, Cold Lake, Drumheller, Fort McMurray, Smoky River, Stettler, Vulcan, and Westlock
In-person and virtual broadcast.
Stream: Integration
In-person and virtual broadcast.
Beth Mansell
Healthy Aging Alberta
Megan Hincks
Carya (Calgary)- the In Place – Social Prescribing Network
Melissa Tucker
City of Grande Prairie
Cheryl Cameron
Canadian Virtual Hospice
Stream: Futurism
Rural Alberta has long relied on innovative, community-driven approaches to address healthcare workforce challenges. This session will explore how "grow your own" strategies—designed to attract, train, and retain rural healthcare providers may be adapted to support workforce development in Senior Services. Learn how early engagement, mentorship, local training pathways, and community partnerships can help build a sustainable, homegrown workforce to meet the evolving needs of seniors in Alberta.
Speakers: Tracey Sopkow, Rural Heathcare Providers Action Plan and Guests
In-person and virtual broadcast.
Tracey Sapkow
RhPAP (Rural Health Professionals Action Plan)
Stream: Innovation
Edmonton Public Library’s Together We Grow brings classic children’s songs, interactive rhymes, and stories into retirement residences in a program that helps children aged 0-3 develop early literacy skills while fostering meaningful connections and greater understanding among older adults, young children, and parents.
Using Together We Grow as an example, this session will inspire and prepare participants to create a similar program in their own community and will include ideas for adapting an existing early literacy program, strategies to facilitate meaningful interactions between seniors and young children, equipment requirements, and suggestions for building strong community partnerships to collaborate on program delivery.
In-person and virtual broadcast.
Elaine Jones
Edmonton Public Library (EPL)
Ben Ehlers
Edmonton Public Library (EPL)
Discover innovative research, programs, and ideas that are advancing healthy aging in Alberta. This session features over 20 posters from researchers, students, practitioners, and organizations showcasing community-based initiatives, emerging trends, and cross-sector collaborations. Connect, learn, and be inspired by the diverse threads shaping the future of aging in our province. Poster presenters will be available to speak to their work.
In-person only.
Transition time between breakout sessions.
Stream: Innovation
Leaders from across Alberta’s community-based seniors-serving sector share their experiences in delivering transportation and non-medical support services. Panelists will discuss the successes, partnerships, and innovative financial models that make these services work across Alberta.
In-person and virtual broadcast.
Dawn Mitchell
Edson Seniors Transportation Society - Moving Edson & Area
Doray Veno
Lynks Harvest Sky Services & Supports
Dr. Haidong Liang
Westend Seniors Activity Centre and WESeniors Strathcona County
Kari Cameron
Camrose & District Family and Community Support Services (FCSS)
Lauren Slavik
Healthy Aging Alberta
Stream: Integration
In-person and virtual broadcast.
Elizabeth Ly
Alberta Elder Abuse Awareness Council
April Tucker
Alberta Elder Abuse Awareness Council
Myrtle Bealieu
Alberta Elder Abuse Awareness Council
Stream: Futurism
Speakers:
James Janeiro – Canadian Centre for Caregiving Excellence
Sharon Anderson – University of Alberta
Darrel Gregory – Caregivers Alberta
In-person and virtual broadcast.
Sharon Anderson
Caregiver-Centered Care
Darrel Gregory
Caregivers Alberta
Stream: Leadership
CBSS organizations operate in diverse and dynamic environments where the ability to measure and articulate impact is critical. By fostering a collaborative space for sharing and learning, this session will strengthen the collective capacity of the CBSS sector, driving innovation and resilience. Participants from CBSS organizations will explore how evaluation can transform challenges into opportunities for growth and meaningful impact.
Together, we will:
- Highlight the intrinsic value of evaluation in achieving organizational goals.
- Share common challenges faced by CBSS organizations in integrating evaluation practices using learnings and examples from our 54 funded partners.
- Exchange innovative ideas and solutions to foster a culture of continuous improvement.
This session will provide practical tools and real-world examples in the CBSS sector, ensuring participants leave with actionable insights tailored to their unique context.
In-person and virtual broadcast.
Sandeep Kaur Lotay
Healthy Aging Alberta
Melissa Beck
United Way Calgary and Area
Stream: Integration
In-person and online broadcast
Dyan Harke
Niginan Housing Ventures
Networking time in-person and online.
Finish the day on a high note with the return of Dr. Olive Bryanton. Together, we will reflect on the current aging narrative and how we can turn it on its head!
In-person and Virtual broadcast
Dr. Olive Bryanton
Advocate
- Dinner – 6:00–7:00 PM
- Keynote (TBA!) – 6:30–7:30 PM
- Awards Ceremony – 7:40–9:00 PM
Celebrate the individuals and organizations driving innovation and impact in healthy aging across Alberta.
Keynote and awards will have in-person and virtual broadcast.
In-person only.
A warm welcome and orientation to the day’s programming.
In-person and Virtual broadcast.
Join Dr. Patricia Makokis, a Nehiyô (Plains Cree) leader, educator, and changemaker from Saddle Lake, Alberta, for an inspiring keynote rooted in Indigenous knowledge, lived experience, and decades of community engagement.
Drawing from their work in education, health, policy, and reconciliation, Dr. Makokis shares powerful insights on building bridges between Indigenous and non-Indigenous Peoples. With a focus on allyship, Indigenous wellness, and systems change, this session will challenge, inform, and ignite new pathways for collaboration, understanding, and action.
In-person and Virtual broadcast.
Dr. Patricia Makokis
Indigenous Leader and Knowledge Keeper
Together, we will reflect on Dr. Patricia Makokis’ insights, connect them to their own experiences, and consider tangible ways to apply learnings in their communities and organizations.
In-Person and Virtual Broadcast.
Dr. Patricia Makokis
Indigenous Leader and Knowledge Keeper
In-Person Networking Challenge and refreshments.
Networking time in-person and online.
This expert panel will explore how communities are creating inclusive, connected housing for older adults. From naturally occurring retirement communities to Indigenous-led initiatives and co-housing models, learn how these efforts were developed and what others can take away from their successes.
A follow-up breakout session in the afternoon will allow for deeper conversations with panellists.
In-person and Virtual broadcast.
Kathy McGrenera
Quayside Village Cohousing
Suellen Beatty
Sherbrooke Community Society
Jen Recknagel
NORC Innovation Centre at UHN
Kristen Chambers
The Evergreens Foundation
Keri Cardinal
Niginan Housing Ventures
Informal Networking and Lunch
Breakout sessions will be hybrid unless otherwise noted.
In-person and virtual broadcast.
Stream: Futurism
In-person and virtual broadcast.
LaVerne Noble
Medicine Hat NORC
Paul Vanden Broek
Eventide Housing
Shantel Ottenbreit
City of Medicine Hat
Kristen Chambers
The Evergreens Foundation
Kathy McGrenera
Quayside Village Cohousing
Nicole Smith
Sage Seniors Association
Colleen Derksen
Sage Seniors Association
Keri Cardinal
Niginan Housing Ventures
Renate Sainsbury
Pioneer Court
Sandy Lennox
Pioneer Court
Stream: Integration
In-person and virtual broadcast.
Shelley Sabo
Bosco Foundation and Rotarian
Janet Webonga Kayiluse
Sinkunia Community Development Organization
Agnes Yaa Serwaa Somuah
Sinkunia Community Development Organization
Stream: Innovation
This session will introduce the new Safe Spaces initiative and explore how older adults' experiences from rural and Indigenous communities—have positively influenced their lives. Safe Spaces offer flexible and community-based support for older adults experiencing harm. We will also look at how the integration of mediation practices within Safe Spaces initiatives to support older adults transitioning from abusive environments. Attendees will gain insights into mediation strategies that foster trust, empower older adults, and facilitate collaborative resolutions between the older adult and the person causing harm.
In-person and virtual broadcast.
Jennifer Wells
Alberta Elder Abuse Awareness Council
Lilian Omorefe
Alberta Elder Abuse Awareness Council
Stream: Leadership
Don't have enough funding? How do you make sure your Seniors Centre is sustainable and a going concern in your community. What is the role of Seniors' Centres and Senior Drop-in's in aging well in the community: This workshop will look at why senior gathering places are important in the tapestry of aging well in the community. What are some of the synergies that can be created between the gathering places and the community-based senior services, and ways to look at sustainability.
In-person and virtual broadcast.
Larry Mathieson
Unison Alberta at Kerby Centre
Monica Morrison
Former Executive Director, Golden Circle Seniors Resource Centre
Stream: Innovation
In-person and online broadcast
Lorna Dancey
Discover innovative research, programs, and ideas that are advancing healthy aging in Alberta. This session features over 20 posters from researchers, students, practitioners, and organizations showcasing community-based initiatives, emerging trends, and cross-sector collaborations. Connect, learn, and be inspired by the diverse threads shaping the future of aging in our province. Poster presenters will be available to speak to their work.
In-person only.
A transition break between sessions.
Stream: Integration
This panel will provide real life descriptions of how their rural communities have built a web of support which encompasses identifying cognitive frailty and dementia, accessing services, and building an inclusive community. By building trusting relationships across health, social and community partners, effective collaboration has resulted in those living with dementia and caregivers continuing to contribute to and be supported by their local community.
In-person and virtual broadcast.
Wendy Evans
Wolf Creek Primary Care Network
Arlene Huhn
Alzheimer Society of Alberta and Northwest Territories
Helen Lightfoot
Connecting People and Community for Living Well
Dr. Treena Trustum
Westview PCN
Sharon Cornelius
WestView Dementia Community Collaborative
Stream: Integration
How do we engage ethnocultural communities in conversations about a deeply sensitive and often stigmatized issue, such as the mistreatment of older adults? This session shares the process and approach behind Older Adult Mistreatment From An Ethnocultural Lens: Empowering, Safety, Dignity, and Well-Being, a community-informed project that prioritizes relationship-building, cultural humility, and strength-based dialogue. Through stories, reflections, and practical strategies, the presentation explores:
- How trust was built with diverse stakeholders and communities.
- Why language, cultural norms, and lived experiences matter in defining and identifying mistreatment.
- What engagement methods were used to gather input while promoting safety and dignity.
Key learnings include inclusion, cultural safety, and empowerment in research and programming.
Attendees will leave with insights on culturally responsive engagement, real-world considerations when working across ethnically diverse backgrounds, and how to foster more inclusive and community-led responses to older adult mistreatment.
In-person and virtual broadcast.
Dr. Rose Joudi
Carya Calgary
Stream: Innovation
Sickness, aging, death, and grief will affect us all – so how do we prepare people and support open dialogue around these topics?
This presentation will provide introductions to the topics of advance care planning and palliative care. Advance care planning includes thinking about, talking about, and documenting the health and personal care you want now and in the future. Palliative care is an extra layer of support to relieve the symptoms and stress of living with a serious illness.
The Covenant Health Palliative Institute has developed five health literacy tools that will be showcased in this presentation. Attendees will hear practical examples of how Alberta organizations are using these resources to help community members support each other through aging, illness, caregiving, and loss.
In-person and virtual broadcast.
Mary-Ann Shantz
Covenant Health Palliative Institute
Stream: Futurism
Learn from Alberta organizations who are using innovative models to support the sustainability of their food response programs.
Speakers: To be announced soon!
In-person and online broadcast
Stream: Leadership
In-person and online broadcast
Suellen Beatty
Sherbrooke Community Society
Transition time between breakout sessions.
In-person and Virtual broadcast
Dr. Samir Sinha
Sinai Health System
In-person and Virtual broadcast.
In-person only.
A warm welcome and orientation to the day’s programming.
In-person and Virtual broadcast.
De’Amon Harges, known as the “Original Roving Listener,” will explore how communities can build inclusion and belonging by shifting from needs-based approaches to asset-based community development. Through “radical listening” and uncovering local strengths, he will share practical ways to transform relationships, spaces, and systems by focusing on what already exists within communities.
In-person and Virtual broadcast.
De'Amon Harges
The Learning Tree
Building upon his talk De’Amon Harges will lead a workshop that will give us practical ways to apply the knowledge from his talk and draw out the latent strengths in our communities.
In-person and Virtual broadcast.
De'Amon Harges
The Learning Tree
Informal Networking and Refreshments in-person.
Networking time in-person and online
With the rules of geopolitics being rewritten, Canada’s economy is in unfamiliar and unpleasant territory. Traditional pillars of the economy that were so reliable in the past have shifted under our feet. Calm, clear and complacent approaches to the economy have been replaced with chaos,
In times like these, COMMUNITY becomes more important than ever.
This presentation will approach the idea of COMMUNITY and AGING from an economic perspective:
- What are the drivers of disruption in Alberta’s economy in 2025 and ‘26?
- How has disruption affected individuals and communities?
- What is at the HEART of the economy? And how can we strengthen that?
The talk will draw heavily on story and metaphor, and will include a series of strategic tools that we can use to navigate the uncertainty. The main conclusion is that at the CENTRE of all economic activity is HUMAN CONNECTION. And that by strengthening community and drawing on the experience and skills of our aging population, our economy becomes more resilient.
In-person and virtual broadcast.
Todd Hirsch
Speaker and Author
Join us as we conclude the Summit with final reflections, words of gratitude, and a collective sense of possibility for the path ahead.
In-person and Virtual broadcast.
We will have special experiences that will be running the duration of the event Oct 7 - Oct 9. See individual descriptions for experience hours of activation.
The Ceremony Room is a space dedicated to quiet reflection, respect, and intentional pause throughout the Summit. Open to all participants, it offers a place to ground oneself, honour lived and ancestral experiences and reconnect with purpose. Whether used for individual moments of reflection, collective ceremonies, or cultural acknowledgments, the space encourages presence and mindfulness. The Ceremony Room acknowledges that our work in healthy aging is deeply rooted in relationships—with ourselves, with each other, and with the land—and it creates a space where these connections can be felt, honoured, and renewed.
Accessible to all participants throughout the Summit in Red Deer Room.
In-person only.
Step inside the Men’s Sheds Experience—an immersive and interactive exhibit designed to replicate the feeling of walking into a real Shed. Men’s Sheds are grassroots, peer-led spaces where men come together to build, create, and connect over shared interests in a safe, informal setting. This experience will give attendees a hands-on understanding of how a Shed functions, the activities that happen within it, and why it plays such a vital role in promoting mental health, social connection, and purpose for men in later life. Expect to engage with tools, stories, and conversations that bring the spirit of a Shed to life.
Drop in Medicine Hat Room during the Summit to experience what it’s like to visit a Shed.
In-person only.
Healthy Aging Alberta is proud to feature a dedicated Poster Presentation hall that brings research and real-world practice together. This space will showcase both academic studies and community-led initiatives that are advancing healthy aging across Alberta. We will also have two dedicated poster breakout sessions where attendees will have the opportunity to engage directly with researchers, program leads, and practitioners, ask questions, and exchange ideas. These sessions are designed to foster learning and connection between sectors and to spark future collaborations between academic institutions and community-based organizations. From pilot projects to province-wide evaluations, the posters reflect the diversity, innovation, and impact of Alberta’s healthy aging movement.
Poster hall available for viewing throughout the Summit. Visit the Glacier Gallery Room to view in-person or visit the virtual poster hall to view online. Meet researchers, program leads, and practitioners in one of the two dedicated breakout sessions.(Poster Session #1 and #2)
In-person and Virtual set-up.
Get your photo or headshot taken by a professional photographer!
The Photobooth will be open:
October 6 - 4:00-6:00 p.m.
October 7 - 12:00-3:00 p.m.
October 8 - 12:00-3:00 p.m.
In-person special experience.
Sponsored By Infinity Healthcare.
Come visit the in-person Exhibitor and Sponsor booths in the Exhibitor Hall on the main floor Crystal Gallery.
The in-person hall will be open the following hours:
The Virtual Exhibitor Hall will be live for the duration of the summit and accessible on the website and the app. Individual exhibitors will set their "office hours" to chat with you live or you can leave a message for when they return to their virtual booth.
Healthy Aging Alberta will have some experiences throughout the summit at the Reception table.
Explore our Systems Map and Healthy Aging Framework Digital Tool and learn how they can be used for your work and organization.
Participate in the art project!
HAA Experiences will be active from Oct 7 noon - Oct 9 noon
Breakout sessions will be hybrid unless otherwise noted.
In-person and virtual broadcast.
Stream: Leadership
This session will introduce you to the Natural Supports Practice Framework including new updates for 2025. We will create a shared understanding of why a natural supports approach is important and define the foundational constructs and core principles. We will share the unique opportunities the Natural Supports Practice Framework can provide when supporting older adults.
In-person and virtual broadcast.
Dr. Rose Joudi
Carya Calgary
Diana Wark
Centre for Sexuality
Stream: Integration
Here is your chance to engage with the communities who were involved in the Ecosystems project. Participants will have approx. 18 minutes to sit down with three different communities of their choosing to learn more about how successful collaborations were created.
Speakers: Representatives from Bashaw, Calgary Chinese Elderly Citizens' Association, Cold Lake, Drumheller, Fort McMurray, Smoky River, Stettler, Vulcan, and Westlock
In-person and virtual broadcast.
Stream: Integration
In-person and virtual broadcast.
Beth Mansell
Healthy Aging Alberta
Megan Hincks
Carya (Calgary)- the In Place – Social Prescribing Network
Melissa Tucker
City of Grande Prairie
Cheryl Cameron
Canadian Virtual Hospice
Stream: Futurism
Rural Alberta has long relied on innovative, community-driven approaches to address healthcare workforce challenges. This session will explore how "grow your own" strategies—designed to attract, train, and retain rural healthcare providers may be adapted to support workforce development in Senior Services. Learn how early engagement, mentorship, local training pathways, and community partnerships can help build a sustainable, homegrown workforce to meet the evolving needs of seniors in Alberta.
Speakers: Tracey Sopkow, Rural Heathcare Providers Action Plan and Guests
In-person and virtual broadcast.
Tracey Sapkow
RhPAP (Rural Health Professionals Action Plan)
Stream: Innovation
Edmonton Public Library’s Together We Grow brings classic children’s songs, interactive rhymes, and stories into retirement residences in a program that helps children aged 0-3 develop early literacy skills while fostering meaningful connections and greater understanding among older adults, young children, and parents.
Using Together We Grow as an example, this session will inspire and prepare participants to create a similar program in their own community and will include ideas for adapting an existing early literacy program, strategies to facilitate meaningful interactions between seniors and young children, equipment requirements, and suggestions for building strong community partnerships to collaborate on program delivery.
In-person and virtual broadcast.
Elaine Jones
Edmonton Public Library (EPL)
Ben Ehlers
Edmonton Public Library (EPL)
Discover innovative research, programs, and ideas that are advancing healthy aging in Alberta. This session features over 20 posters from researchers, students, practitioners, and organizations showcasing community-based initiatives, emerging trends, and cross-sector collaborations. Connect, learn, and be inspired by the diverse threads shaping the future of aging in our province. Poster presenters will be available to speak to their work.
In-person only.
Stream: Innovation
Leaders from across Alberta’s community-based seniors-serving sector share their experiences in delivering transportation and non-medical support services. Panelists will discuss the successes, partnerships, and innovative financial models that make these services work across Alberta.
In-person and virtual broadcast.
Dawn Mitchell
Edson Seniors Transportation Society - Moving Edson & Area
Doray Veno
Lynks Harvest Sky Services & Supports
Dr. Haidong Liang
Westend Seniors Activity Centre and WESeniors Strathcona County
Kari Cameron
Camrose & District Family and Community Support Services (FCSS)
Lauren Slavik
Healthy Aging Alberta
Stream: Integration
In-person and virtual broadcast.
Elizabeth Ly
Alberta Elder Abuse Awareness Council
April Tucker
Alberta Elder Abuse Awareness Council
Myrtle Bealieu
Alberta Elder Abuse Awareness Council
Stream: Futurism
Speakers:
James Janeiro – Canadian Centre for Caregiving Excellence
Sharon Anderson – University of Alberta
Darrel Gregory – Caregivers Alberta
In-person and virtual broadcast.
Sharon Anderson
Caregiver-Centered Care
Darrel Gregory
Caregivers Alberta
Stream: Leadership
CBSS organizations operate in diverse and dynamic environments where the ability to measure and articulate impact is critical. By fostering a collaborative space for sharing and learning, this session will strengthen the collective capacity of the CBSS sector, driving innovation and resilience. Participants from CBSS organizations will explore how evaluation can transform challenges into opportunities for growth and meaningful impact.
Together, we will:
- Highlight the intrinsic value of evaluation in achieving organizational goals.
- Share common challenges faced by CBSS organizations in integrating evaluation practices using learnings and examples from our 54 funded partners.
- Exchange innovative ideas and solutions to foster a culture of continuous improvement.
This session will provide practical tools and real-world examples in the CBSS sector, ensuring participants leave with actionable insights tailored to their unique context.
In-person and virtual broadcast.
Sandeep Kaur Lotay
Healthy Aging Alberta
Melissa Beck
United Way Calgary and Area
Stream: Integration
In-person and online broadcast
Dyan Harke
Niginan Housing Ventures
Breakout sessions will be hybrid unless otherwise noted.
In-person and virtual broadcast.
Stream: Futurism
In-person and virtual broadcast.
LaVerne Noble
Medicine Hat NORC
Paul Vanden Broek
Eventide Housing
Shantel Ottenbreit
City of Medicine Hat
Kristen Chambers
The Evergreens Foundation
Kathy McGrenera
Quayside Village Cohousing
Nicole Smith
Sage Seniors Association
Colleen Derksen
Sage Seniors Association
Keri Cardinal
Niginan Housing Ventures
Renate Sainsbury
Pioneer Court
Sandy Lennox
Pioneer Court
Stream: Integration
In-person and virtual broadcast.
Shelley Sabo
Bosco Foundation and Rotarian
Janet Webonga Kayiluse
Sinkunia Community Development Organization
Agnes Yaa Serwaa Somuah
Sinkunia Community Development Organization
Stream: Innovation
This session will introduce the new Safe Spaces initiative and explore how older adults' experiences from rural and Indigenous communities—have positively influenced their lives. Safe Spaces offer flexible and community-based support for older adults experiencing harm. We will also look at how the integration of mediation practices within Safe Spaces initiatives to support older adults transitioning from abusive environments. Attendees will gain insights into mediation strategies that foster trust, empower older adults, and facilitate collaborative resolutions between the older adult and the person causing harm.
In-person and virtual broadcast.
Jennifer Wells
Alberta Elder Abuse Awareness Council
Lilian Omorefe
Alberta Elder Abuse Awareness Council
Stream: Leadership
Don't have enough funding? How do you make sure your Seniors Centre is sustainable and a going concern in your community. What is the role of Seniors' Centres and Senior Drop-in's in aging well in the community: This workshop will look at why senior gathering places are important in the tapestry of aging well in the community. What are some of the synergies that can be created between the gathering places and the community-based senior services, and ways to look at sustainability.
In-person and virtual broadcast.
Larry Mathieson
Unison Alberta at Kerby Centre
Monica Morrison
Former Executive Director, Golden Circle Seniors Resource Centre
Stream: Innovation
In-person and online broadcast
Lorna Dancey
Discover innovative research, programs, and ideas that are advancing healthy aging in Alberta. This session features over 20 posters from researchers, students, practitioners, and organizations showcasing community-based initiatives, emerging trends, and cross-sector collaborations. Connect, learn, and be inspired by the diverse threads shaping the future of aging in our province. Poster presenters will be available to speak to their work.
In-person only.
Stream: Integration
This panel will provide real life descriptions of how their rural communities have built a web of support which encompasses identifying cognitive frailty and dementia, accessing services, and building an inclusive community. By building trusting relationships across health, social and community partners, effective collaboration has resulted in those living with dementia and caregivers continuing to contribute to and be supported by their local community.
In-person and virtual broadcast.
Wendy Evans
Wolf Creek Primary Care Network
Arlene Huhn
Alzheimer Society of Alberta and Northwest Territories
Helen Lightfoot
Connecting People and Community for Living Well
Dr. Treena Trustum
Westview PCN
Sharon Cornelius
WestView Dementia Community Collaborative
Stream: Integration
How do we engage ethnocultural communities in conversations about a deeply sensitive and often stigmatized issue, such as the mistreatment of older adults? This session shares the process and approach behind Older Adult Mistreatment From An Ethnocultural Lens: Empowering, Safety, Dignity, and Well-Being, a community-informed project that prioritizes relationship-building, cultural humility, and strength-based dialogue. Through stories, reflections, and practical strategies, the presentation explores:
- How trust was built with diverse stakeholders and communities.
- Why language, cultural norms, and lived experiences matter in defining and identifying mistreatment.
- What engagement methods were used to gather input while promoting safety and dignity.
Key learnings include inclusion, cultural safety, and empowerment in research and programming.
Attendees will leave with insights on culturally responsive engagement, real-world considerations when working across ethnically diverse backgrounds, and how to foster more inclusive and community-led responses to older adult mistreatment.
In-person and virtual broadcast.
Dr. Rose Joudi
Carya Calgary
Stream: Innovation
Sickness, aging, death, and grief will affect us all – so how do we prepare people and support open dialogue around these topics?
This presentation will provide introductions to the topics of advance care planning and palliative care. Advance care planning includes thinking about, talking about, and documenting the health and personal care you want now and in the future. Palliative care is an extra layer of support to relieve the symptoms and stress of living with a serious illness.
The Covenant Health Palliative Institute has developed five health literacy tools that will be showcased in this presentation. Attendees will hear practical examples of how Alberta organizations are using these resources to help community members support each other through aging, illness, caregiving, and loss.
In-person and virtual broadcast.
Mary-Ann Shantz
Covenant Health Palliative Institute
Stream: Futurism
Learn from Alberta organizations who are using innovative models to support the sustainability of their food response programs.
Speakers: To be announced soon!
In-person and online broadcast
Stream: Leadership
In-person and online broadcast
Suellen Beatty
Sherbrooke Community Society