We are pleased to host a fantastic line-up of inspiring and knowledgeable speakers. This page is a comprehensive list of all keynotes, session speakers, moderators, and panellists.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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
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.
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.
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
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.
Megan Hincks is a dedicated registered social worker with 10+ years of experience working with older adults in Calgary. Megan has been involved with the Way in Network prior to supporting the development of the social prescribing approach in Calgary. Currently, she works at Carya (Calgary) as Program Manager of the In Place – Social Prescribing Network, which is a partnership of community-based seniors serving agencies that are dedicated to enhancing the quality of life and access to services and supports for older adults through social prescribing. In addition, she supports the implementation of the provincial approach to social prescribing across Alberta.
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.
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
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.
Dr. Sharon Anderson has a Master of Education in Community Rehabilitation and Disability Studies from the University of Calgary, a Master of Science in Public Health and PhD in Family Gerontology in the Department of Human Ecology from the University of Alberta. She has worked with Dr. Jasneet Parmar in the Caregiver-Centered Care Health Workforce Education Program of Applied Research & Innovation in Health Services Delivery in Family Caregiving in Department of Family Medicine, University of Alberta since 2018.
Agnes Somuah is the program manager of Sinkunia Community Development Organization. Sinkunia connects with new immigrant children, youth, seniors, and their families to get accustomed to Canadian culture through informal activities. I started working with Sinkunia in the Summer of 2009.
Hi! My name is Amanda.
For the past 7 years I have been working with PCN meeting with Older Adults in our community and with community partners, to bring full wrap around services to those living at home. My work involves initial intake, program development and ongoing evaluation. I am always looking for opportunities to present to local, provincial and national groups sharing our program, model and passion for this work.
When I am not in the office I enjoy farm life, raising 2 kids and a whole lot of critters on our cattle ranch!
Ben Ehlers developed Together We Grow as a Community Librarian at EPL. Now a Digital Literacy Librarian, Ben remains passionate about innovative, community-led library services and finding resourceful, sustainable ways to meet community needs, particularly exploring how libraries of all sizes can leverage their strengths to build stronger, more connected communities.
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.
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.
Carol Blair is a dedicated health consultant with over 30 years of experience spanning public and population health, home and community care, continuing care, and Indigenous health and wellbeing. As owner of Carol Blair and Associates Inc., she has led multiple initiatives at federal, provincial, and regional levels. Most recently she coordinated the Community Ecosystems Case Study led by the Alberta Association on Gerontology in collaboration with other partners. Carol is passionate about grassroots collaboration and believes in the power of community organizations working together to enhance older adults’ health and overall well-being.
Cheryl Cameron is an Advanced Care Paramedic and the Director of Operations with Canadian Virtual Hospice, a registered charity that provides support and personalized information about advanced illness, palliative care, and loss and grief, for the public and healthcare providers. Across her career, she has held leadership, strategic policy, program development, and education roles with post-secondary institutions, government, and paramedic services. She is currently collaborating with Health Excellence Canada on programming to support paramedic organizations across Canada to embed and systematize social prescribing within their service. She is also studying engagement practices in the development of integrated health and social care programs as a PhD candidate with Monash University.
Colleen Derksen, RSW, Sage Seniors Association
Colleen Derksen is a Social Work Manager with Sage Seniors Association (Sage) in Edmonton, Alberta. She has been with Sage since 2014 and employed as a manager since 2018. As part of her work, Colleen coordinates This Full House, a program that assists persons living with hoarding behaviours, and co-facilitates a monthly support group for people aged 55+ who are working through this issue. She also chairs the Edmonton Hoarding Coalition to further community education and support around hoarding, and its impact on individuals and the community. The Coalition is a collaboration between various agencies, the City of Edmonton, Alberta Health Services, and people with lived experience.
Darrel Gregory has over 25 years of senior leadership experience in the nonprofit sector. Prior to joining Caregivers Alberta in 2022, he was a Director with MS Canada for 15 years. His communications and strategic skills helped navigate MS Canada – Alberta & NWT Division – through significant change management challenges. Based in Calgary for the last five years of his tenure with MS Canada, Darrel led the Society’s Southern Alberta Division through a challenging economic environment. He is an innovator, a relationship builder, connector, and, above all, fiercely committed driving positive change for Alberta’s family caregivers.
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!
Diana Wark is a Registered Social Worker and has been with the Centre for Sexuality since 2007. Diana has over 25 years of front-line experience working with diverse populations. She was a member of the Change Collective and currently provides Professional Development Training on the Natural Supports Framework
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).
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.
KEYNOTE SPEAKER
Dr. Patricia Makokis is a distinguished Indigenous leader and knowledge keeper on Turtle Island, with a three-decade legacy of advocacy. Internationally recognized, her profound connection to community, traditional wisdom, and her people's rich history.
Renowned for her servant leadership in education, policy development, and community engagement, she has significantly advanced conversations and actions toward equality, justice, hope, access, and transformation across communities and nations. Committed to shedding light on historical truths, she fosters awareness of her people’s realities and propels actions toward reconciliation and a world that embraces unity.
Dr. Rose Joudi (Ph.D. Psych.) is a certified consultant specializing in ageing and ethnic diversity, an international speaker on ethnocultural diversity, older adult mistreatment, and ageism, and a facilitator with expertise in Psychological First Aid, Natural Supports, and Trauma-Informed Care.
In 2024, she developed a program centred on Compassionate Approaches to Ethnocultural Older Adult Mistreatment and Abuse in Alberta, which has since been disseminated across Canada.
She is committed to empowering professionals to implement inclusive, person-centred, directed strategies promoting dignity and respect. Currently, she serves as the Project Manager for The Way In Network (TWIN) at Carya (Calgary), a collaborative initiative to enhance the quality of life and access to services for older adults and their families.
Dr. Joudi is a board member of the Alberta Association on Gerontology (AAG) and an advisor on older adult welfare and safety for Alberta's Ministry of Assisted Living and Social Services.
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.
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.
Dyan Harke is a proud Indigenous Registered Nurse for 35 years. She has 10 years’ experience in an Acute care setting, working in Oncology and Palliative Care, and 25 years’ experience working with Indigenous communities in vast areas of health, education, and social programs. Her passion for Indigenous health has landed her in many northern Alberta communities in various capacities of community work such as Home Care, Maternal Child Health, Public Health, and managerial positions. She has a company called Raven Spirit Ltd where she does contractual work in Mental Health and Grief and Loss Recovery.
She is currently employed with Niginan Housing Ventures as a Director of Health Services. Dyan is committed to working with the most vulnerable, marginalized houseless populations while providing care and loving support that embraces Indigenous culture.
She is a mother of two grown children and a grandmother of two beautiful Granddaughters.
Elaine Jones is Manager of Youth Services at the Edmonton Public Library (EPL) where she provides system-wide leadership in programs and services to children from birth to age eighteen and manages partnerships and collaborative initiatives related to children. Prior to joining EPL, Elaine was a regional library consultant for school and public libraries and a sessional instructor at the School of Library and Information Studies at the University of Alberta.
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.
Janet Webonga is a community grandmother who was nominated for the HAA Ubuntu award. She encourages older people to share their talents in the community. Sinkunia’s motto is “those who bring the sunshine to others cannot hide it from themselves.
Jen is a human-centered designer focused on improving health and social care systems. As Co-Director of the NORC Innovation Centre at UHN, she leads the Centre’s design and innovation strategy—developing and testing scalable models that support aging in place and strengthen community-based integrated care. Under her leadership, the program has expanded to more than 30 naturally occurring retirement community buildings across Toronto, reaching over 4,000 older adults. She also led the development of the NORC Ambassadors program, which supports over 100 older adults to lead peer support and local engagement efforts in their buildings.
With a background in systems thinking and social innovation, Jen brings over a decade of experience in design research and strategy. Her work applies a human lens to complex systems, helping people shape how they live, age, and access care.
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
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.
Kathy McGrenera (BA, MEd) is a co-founding member of Quayside Village Cohousing where she has lived for 27 years; her daughter Elise was a newborn when they moved in. Kathy recently worked as the group facilitator through the 5 year development processes for two other Cohousing projects in Vancouver. Working to find creative and collaborative ways forward, Kathy loves to work together with groups to plan engaging and interactive workshops when they are stuck or facing a tough issue, and also offers training in consensus, conflict resolution, facilitation, and many other topics. Kathy also loves to cycle, bake and join in on local community engagement!
Keri currently has a Bachelor of Arts degree in Native Studies and Canadian History from the University of Alberta. As a member of the Bigstone Cree Nation, Cardinal has lived in Northern Alberta for most of her life. Currently, she calls amiskwacîwâskahikan (Edmonton) home. She lives with her husband and two dogs. She has three adult children, two grandsons and twin granddaughters.
Most of Keri’s career has been in public service, primarily working with vulnerable an/or Indigenous people. When asked about making the transition into her new role, she said it felt natural to explore a related industry with strong advocates who operate from a place of compassion. Her new role started in October 2022, and since then, she has already felt closer to her Indigenous identity. Cardinal says she’s happiest when she feels connected to Indigenous Peoples and that this work makes it possible for her to stay meaningfully involved.
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.
Provincial Community Support Services Manager – Lauren Slavik (she/her)
Lauren Slavik is the Provincial Community Support Services Manager at Healthy Aging Alberta, where she leads initiatives that strengthen community-based supports for older adults across the province. With a background in health promotion, community development, and public health policy, she has over eight years of experience spanning roles in Alberta Health Services, CommonSpirit Health, Engineers Without Borders, and healthcare administration executive search. Lauren holds both a Bachelor of Science in Environmental Science and a Master of Public Health in Health Promotion and Policy from the University of Missouri-Columbia. She is passionate about fostering collaboration, advancing age-friendly communities, and creating innovative solutions that enable older adults to thrive. Outside of work, Lauren enjoys life in the mountains with her two dogs, where she can often be found trail running, mountain biking, skiing, or exploring new places with a good cup of coffee in hand.
Lorna Dancey is a storyteller who has spent over a decade capturing the voices and lived experiences of individuals whose stories often go untold. What began as a commitment to social impact advocacy through storytelling has grown into a practice that centers healing, connection, and legacy.
Lorna facilitates storytelling workshops and curates’ powerful exhibits that showcase the people behind the stories, bringing their words and images into public spaces where they are witnessed, honoured, and remembered. Her work invites reflection and dialogue across generations, bridging the past and future through voice, photo, and presence.
With a trauma-informed, relational approach, Lorna helps others share where they’ve come from, what they’ve lived through, and what they want to pass down. She believes storytelling is not just about remembering, it’s about being seen, building trust, and creating change that lasts.
Luana is the Executive Director of St. Aidan’s Society in the Regional Municipality of Wood Buffalo, where she has led since 2001. With a background that includes 10 years as a Child Welfare Investigator and previous roles as a Parole and Probation Officer and Foster Care Program Coordinator, Luana holds a Bachelor of Social Work from the University of Calgary. In 2014, Luana spearheaded a significant shift at St. Aidan’s, transitioning the organization’s focus from child and family services to senior service delivery. Since then, St. Aidan’s has become a prominent advocate for seniors, amplifying the voices of older adults and increasing community awareness of their needs. This advocacy has been especially vital in times of crisis, as demonstrated during the 2016 wildfire and the major flood in 2020, which occurred amid the global pandemic.
Luana is dedicated to making the Regional Municipality of Wood Buffalo an Age-Friendly Designated Community under the World Health Organization. Her strong commitment to data collection, outcome measurement, and impact assessment ensures that the region becomes increasingly age-friendly and supportive of seniors. Collaboration is a cornerstone of her approach, deeply embedded in the operations and practices of the agency.
Healthy Aging Alberta Director- Mariam Elghahuagi (she/her)
Mariam brings over a decade of leadership at United Way of Calgary and Area, where she’s worked across community development, social innovation, and systems change. She now leads the operational work of Healthy Aging Alberta, helping bring to life the vision set by the Community Leadership Council through strategic partnerships, funding, and team support.
With a background in media, project management, and a Master of Social Work focused on Indigenous trauma and resiliency, Mariam’s work is deeply shaped by her frontline experience with Indigenous communities — particularly in the areas of intergenerational trauma and sexual violence. This grounding in community healing continues to inform her systems work, reminding her of the importance of staying connected to those directly impacted.
Mariam’s commitment to reconciliation is personal and ongoing, rooted in how we show up with authenticity, humility, and care. Her Arab and Latin heritage, and her ability to connect across cultures in English, Arabic, and Spanish, also shape her relational approach — building trust and depth in the partnerships she stewards across community and systems.
She’s a proud mom of two young adults and is motivated every day by the opportunity to lead with integrity, support an incredibly capable and passionate team, and contribute to a movement that is changing how older adults are supported in Alberta. trauma and resiliency.
Mark Hazelden (he/him) is a highly regarded leader within public policy having spent the past two decades working across the private, not-for-profit, and public sectors to develop and implement future-oriented policy solutions designed to enhance shared prosperity for Canadians.
For the past nine years at Toronto Metropolitan University (TMU), Mark has served as the Senior Director of Partnerships at the Dais and was a co-founding member of the Brookfield Institute for Innovation + Entrepreneurship. Throughout his time at TMU, Mark has been instrumental in building strong partnerships and driving consequential policy initiatives that have left a lasting mark on the university community and Canada’s innovation ecosystem.
Prior to joining TMU, Mark spent a decade with the Government of Ontario, including serving as the Director of Economic Policy for the Premier of Ontario.
Mark holds a Bachelor of Science in Biology from McMaster University. He lives with his wife and high-spirited children in the west end of Toronto
Marlene Raasok BSPharm, MHSA (Master of Health Services Administration). Retired Healthcare and Post-Secondary Education Leader
Over 30 years of leadership for continuing care in Alberta, BC, and Saskatchewan, and post-secondary education in Alberta and Ontario.
Retired and volunteering to advance systems and services for healthy aging for older Albertans:
Lifelong passion (personally & professionally) to enhance quality of living for older persons, living well in community, based on experience as a family caregiver.
Melissa Tucker is the Acting Social Policy Manager for the City of Grande Prairie, where she leads initiatives to build a more inclusive and caring community. She is passionate about community development, Collective Impact, and using data-informed approaches to drive innovative and collaborative solutions to tackle complex social challenges.
With a background in political science, education, and a Master of Educational Technology degree, Melissa brings an interdisciplinary lens to social policy planning. Most recently, she led the development of the City's Aging Well Together Priorities and Goals, a framework shaped by community input to enhance quality of life for residents aged 55 and older. She also played a key role in the early design of Grande Prairie’s Social Prescribing Program and continues to support data collection and outcome measurement.
Melissa Beck-Ryan, MPH
Melissa is an Evaluation and Insights Coordinator at United Way Calgary and Area. She currently supports the evaluation for a variety of initiatives, including Community Hubs, Planet Youth, All In for Youth, and Action Table Calgary. She has also worked in government and research settings. Melissa believes strongly in upstream approaches and her she centres the social determinants of health in her work. Her approach to evaluation is community-centred and collaborative. She aims to be a ‘translator’ of data to help project teams make informed decisions that will benefit the community they are serving.
Nicole Smith, MEd, Sage Seniors Association
Nicole Smith is the Director of Research with Sage Seniors Association (Sage) in Edmonton, Alberta, and the author of Hoarding Behaviour and Housing Insecurity for Older Adults, a research paper that explores the complexities related to addressing hoarding behaviour, and considers the potential of a coordinated, systems-level approach to better meet the needs of seniors struggling with the impacts of this disorder.
Renate K. Sainsbury received her B.A. Rec. Administration (Major in Special Population) degree at the University of Alberta in Edmonton, AB in 1981. Since then, she has held various positions including travel manager, recreation director, recreation therapist, and small business owner.
From 1983 to July 1995m she was responsible for setting up therapeutic recreation programs at the Misericordia Hospital in various areas as pediatrics, psychiatry, long-term care, and geriatric assessment.
Renate set up and operated two group homes for seniors/special needs individuals called Lifestyle Options Inc. in 1993. The homes offered 24-hour care and support that allowed individuals to live in the community as independently as possible.
In 1996, Renate partnered with local private developer, Ken Ferchoff. With their vision, they worked to build and develop Lifestyle Options Whitemud to offer quality affordable housing for senior citizens. Since that time, they have built four other sites including: Lifestyle Options Terra Losa, Lifestyle Options Riverbend, Lifestyle Options Leduc, and Chateau Schonsee opening in May 2019, that was purpose-built for the Butterfly Care Home model. Renate has been involved in numerous Boards that look at senior’s issues relating to quality of life. She also chaired a community health council looking at grass roots solutions to healthcare.
Provincial Committees and Research Involvement - Currently, she sits as a member of a Provincial Committee: “Alberta Dementia Strategy Steering Committee” which is working on, on how to improve care and support for Alberta living with dementia. She is also a member of Institute for Continuing Care Education and Research’s (ICCER) Steering Committee, which allows her to advocate for continuous education and research. A lot of research partnered with University of Alberta and other learning facilities have moved forward because of her support. Renate is also a long-time member of Alberta Association on Gerontology, (AAG) a province-wide interdisciplinary organization that works improving the lives of older adults. At present, Renate is the Treasurer of the Board and heads up the sub-committee for Marketing and Publicity.
Education and Coaching Involvement - Renate has also been involved with the University of Alberta for many years. She developed and taught various Therapeutic Recreation courses. She is currently one of the facilitators with the University of Alberta’s Inter-professional Health Team Development (IntD 410) Continuing Care Stream. Renate is a firm supporter of investing in our future by mentoring and supporting students. The IntD 410 class offers students the opportunity to develop the inter-professional team skills that will prepare them to meet the challenges of their future work environments.
Founder and Initiator - She was a Founding member of Alberta Therapeutic Recreation Association and has held various board, chapter and committee positions. She has been involved is numerous presentations as they relates to aging and has published Research on Life Satisfaction and the Elderly.
Renate was the President of Lifestyle Helping Hands Seniors Association (LHHSA) for several years. LLHSA, now operating as Drive Happiness is a non-profit society whose purpose is to assist Edmonton Seniors in remaining independent in their own homes as long as possible. She saw the need for accessible and affordable transportation for seniors who needs assistance of day to day activities. Drive Happiness operates with the help and support of more than 80 volunteer drivers. This initiative keeps individuals connected to the community and prevents social isolation that has shown to improve the quality of life not only of the members who access the service, but also the drivers, many of whom are seniors themselves who often report that this also gives them a reason to get up in the morning.
Ground Breaking of Innovation on Dementia Care – Renate was instrumental and actively involved in the launching of the U.K.’s Dementia Care Matters first Butterfly Care Home© project in Canada at Lifestyle Option Whitemud. Dr. Sheard’s philosophy on Dementia Care presents an understanding of the real meaning of person-centered Care and improving the lived experience for people living with dementia. To date, Lifestyle Options now has five Butterfly Households at three sites in Edmonton.
Leadership management- On a daily basis, as General Manager of the five Supportive Living buildings, Renate’s vision is not only to create job for staff, but to also inspire new leaders. The strength of the Lifestyle Options speaks for itself in how the staff provide person-centred care to people living with dementia.
Her Zest and passion - Renate is passionate about improving care for people with dementia. In 2014 she went on a study tour to Copenhagen and Amsterdam to learn more about how other countries care for the older adults. This trip inspired Renate as she realized that there is a better way to improve care.
Renate’s philosophy in life? “Live your life to the fullest; strive to be the very best you can; when one door closes another opens; and have lots of love and laughter in your life.”
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.
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.
Over the years, several members of Sharon Cornelius’ family have experienced dementia, including her mom. The importance of knowing more about dementia and having individuals living with dementia and their care partners feel included in the community is so important. Since 2017, the WestView Dementia Community Collaborative has worked with this in mind. Sharon has been involved from the start, and through her work world and personal experiences, she is passionate about the work of the Collaborative.
Shelley Sabo is the CEO of the Bosco Foundation and Rotarian. Bosco is home to 25 non-profits at their large site in NE Edmonton. Prior to this she was a community animator and grant writer.
Suellen is the CEO Emeritus at Sherbrooke Community Society in Saskatoon and a Global Partner with the Eden Alternative in Western Canada. Suellen has a Bachelor of Science in Nursing and a Masters of Science from the University of Saskatchewan.
Suellen was awarded a Meritorious Service Medal from the Governor General of Canada, a Centennial Medal from the Lieutenant Governor of Saskatchewan, the status of “Distinguished Alumnus” from the University of Saskatchewan, College of Nursing, the Athena Leadership Award, and a” Woman of Distinction Award for Management” from the YWCA,
She has trained over 5000 Certified Eden Associates in three-day and online training courses and many others in the dementia care course: Untie the Spirit. Suellen consults to organizations on leadership, environmental design, and culture change.
Through the Sherbrooke Learning Centre, Suellen has hosted many visitors from around the world who come to see the Eden Alternative ® Philosophy in practice and the design of the Sherbrooke Villages. Sherbrooke has received Milestone 4 Status with the Eden Alternative.
Suellen has recently finished her first book on the culture change journey at Sherbrooke with the goal of helping others navigate this challenging journey.
She is married to husband Tom Archibald and they live in Saskatoon, Saskatchewan, Canada. She is the proud grandmother of three.
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.
Tracy Sopkow is an accomplished executive with over 20 years of experience driving organizational growth, strategic partnerships, and governance transformation, with a particular focus on the healthcare and non-profit sectors. As Chief Executive Officer of RhPAP since 2022, Tracy has led the organization through an evolving and highly accountable public environment, strengthening RhPAP’s role as a critical partner in sustaining rural healthcare across Alberta. Her leadership has been instrumental in advancing high-impact initiatives and building collaborative relationships that help rural communities attract, integrate, and retain healthcare professionals.
Before joining RhPAP, Tracy served as Chief Executive Officer of the Covenant Foundation, where she successfully scaled the foundation’s reach.
Tracy serves on several boards, including MacEwan University’s Board of Governors, the Greater Edmonton Foundation for Seniors, and the Alberta Municipalities Services Corporation, reflecting her deep commitment to building stronger communities.
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.