We are pleased to host a spectacular line-up of inspiring and motivating speakers and keynotes.
Please check back regularly for updates on our Keynote Speakers!
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 neighbor and as the founder for the Learning Tree, a business he has built with his neighbors 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
Dr. Kate Mulligan is the founder and Scientific Director of the Canadian Institute for Social Prescribing, where she builds the research evidence, implementation support, policy structures, collaborations and inspiration for social prescribing – a health promotion and community development intervention focused on codesigned, supported referrals between healthcare and community services.
She is also an award-winning health geographer, policy expert and Associate Professor at the University of Toronto’s Dalla Lana School of Public Health, and a globally recognized expert on innovative health systems interventions, public health advocacy, and collaborative, community-driven approaches to well-being. Kate is the 2025-2026 Canadian Harkness Fellow in Healthcare Policy and Practice regular advisor to health systems decision makers, and collaborates with social prescribing leaders around the world. Check out her recent media here: Maclean's Magazine, CTV, CBC Radio.
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.
Blake Eves is a member of the Healthy Aging Alberta Community Leadership Council. Blake spent the last 20 years of his career travelling throughout the United States, implementing Payroll and HR systems for large hospitals. In 2013, he was asked to join Rady Children’s Hospital in San Diego as a technical analyst in their information technology department. In 2017, Blake and his wife retired to the small town of Magrath. Blake wanted to be an active member of the community and accepted a nomination to the Magrath Seniors Board of Directors in 2018. Last year, he was asked to join the board of directors for the local theatre, where he volunteers his carpentry skills to set design and construction
Blake is on the board of directors for the Magrath Handibus. Blake is passionate about the town and each of the seniors living in Magrath. Blake spends a portion of every day volunteering his time to help individuals or groups to make their lives just a bit easier.
Bukola Ojemakinde is a member of the Healthy Aging Alberta Community Leadership Council and the Executive Director of the Bridge to Oasis Foundation. She is also a Chemical Engineer and a passionate community leader, and has made an extraordinary impact in Calgary. Through her two non-profit organizations and partnerships with other civic societies and funders, she has raised significant funds and received prestigious accolades, including the Queen Elizabeth II's Platinum Jubilee Medal and the Innovative Leadership Award from the Bhayana Family Foundation. Bukola serves on multiple boards, actively supports Healthy Aging Alberta, and tirelessly works towards addressing social issues that Older Adults from the Afro-Caribbean communities face.
Her unwavering commitment to community service and dedication to creating positive change have transformed the lives of marginalized individuals, making her an inspiring force in the city.
Karen McDonald’s career has focused almost exclusively in the field of gerontology, including a decade in seniors’ supportive housing and over a decade with the Sage Seniors Association, most recently as Executive Director. Sage is an Edmonton-based community-based seniors serving organization that provides social services, community development, and life enrichment programming, primarily serving seniors who experience barriers to service delivery.
In 2015, Karen co-founded MatchWork, an interactive employment assessment tool used by employment support organizations to more effectively guide and support those who face barriers to employment. Karen completed both her BA and MBA at the University of Alberta and is currently a member of the Board of the Muttart Foundation. Karen is currently the Chair of the Healthy Aging Alberta Community Leadership Council.