| Ingrid Fetell Lee Founder The Aesthetics of Joy & Author of Joyful Ingrid Fetell Lee is a Brooklyn-based designer and writer whose work focuses on the way that design affects our health and happiness. As founder of The Aesthetics of Joy and in her role as IDEO fellow, she empowers people to find more joy in daily life through design. Ingrid has over twelve years of experience in design and branding, most recently as Design Director of IDEO's New York office, having led design work for Target, Condé Nast, Eileen Fisher, American Express, Kate Spade, Diageo, Pepsico, and the US government, among others. She has been featured as an expert on design and joy by outlets such as The New York Times, Wired, PRI's Studio 360, CBC's Spark, Psychology Today, and Fast Company. She was a founding faculty member in the Products of Design program at the School of Visual Arts in New York City. Her design work has been exhibited at imm Cologne, Germany. Sponsored by:  | |
| Awards Gala Emcee & Closing Keynote - Bill Carr Actor, satirist, writer, speaker and coach Bill’s career has seen him perform on stages across the country most notably in Nova Scotia at Neptune Theatre, Mermaid Theatre and the Atlantic Theatre Festival. He has written and performed in numerous radio dramas and news programs for CBC and has appeared on countless television programs, several movies and more advertisements than he would care to think about. Bill studied Philosophy, English and Theatre at Acadia University, and Theology at Christian Theological Seminary in Indianapolis, Indiana, and the Atlantic School of Theology in Halifax. Bill is a dedicated volunteer and serves in various capacities for a number of good causes such as the Alzheimer Society of Nova Scotia, Community Justice Society, ACTRA, Unicef, Canadian Breast Cancer Society, CNIB, YMCA, and the Abilities Foundation. He is an honorary Trustee of the IWK Hospital for Children and helps to host the IWK Telethon each year. He is a founding partner of the Atlantic Restorative Company, a social entrepreneurship focused on creating space for authentic human exchange and the use of restorative practices in all aspects of social life. Bill’s has recently published his first bookActing Up with Pottersfield Press. He continues to be active in film and television with a recent role in a Spike TV’s series based on Stephen King’s “The Mist” release din 2017. Sponsored by: 
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| ACT II Studio ACT II Studio performing No Longer Relevant? The Estelle Craig ACT II STUDIO developed out of an acting workshop offered by Ryerson University and is part of the Programs for 50+ in The G. Raymond Chang School of Continuing Education. It has since grown to become a prominent leader in the area of older adult theatre education and creativity. No Longer Relevant?is based on several research studies including interviews and focus groups undertaken by CareWatch Ontario, ACT II STUDIO, and researchers at the Sunnybrook Health Centre Nursing Research Unit and York University. In total more than 300 senior citizens ranging in age from 63 to 93 have contributed to informing this play. Other important research material includes the 2009 Canadian Senate Committee Report on Aging, and various Canadian and American reports, articles and studies on health care, aging and eldercare. Sponsored by: 
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| Rebecca Agar Vice President, Operations Hogan Pharmacy Partners Rebecca Agar, is a clinical pharmacist specially trained in geriatric care. She has a successful background in clinical telepharmacy, and leadership in operations, and projects. | |
| Danielle Alcock PhD Candidate Western University Danielle works in healthcare supporting Indigenous seniors and is a caregiver of a loved one living in long term care. Danielle’s research focuses on story telling of Indigenous female caregivers of loved one’s with Alzheimer’s disease and other dementias. She is a member of the Ontario Caring Advisory Circle where she supports work to develop and identify resources to support Indigenous residents in LTC. Danielle is Anishanaabe kwe and a member of the Chippewas of Rama First Nation. | |
| Barb Antone Tsi’ Nu: Yoyantle Na’ Tuhuwatisni Oneida LTC Home Barb started working as a Health Care Aide in long term care in 1987 and then transitioned into a recreation role in long-term care after receiving her diploma in Recreation & Leisure in 1995 and later to a Activities Manager in 2009. Barb is a member of the Ontario Caring Advisory Circle where she supports work to develop and identify resources to support Indigenous residents in LTC. | |
| Saima Awan Director of Integrated Care Pathway (ICP) Program Centre for Addiction and Mental Health Ms. Awan is the Director of the Integrated Care Pathways program at CAMH. She has successfully implemented innovative and sustainable solutions to enhance clinical processes, patient care and efficiency. Ms. Awan received her MBA from Queens University; she holds certifications in LEAN/Six Sigma Black Belt, PMP and Quality Improvement/Patient Safety. | |
| Trish Barbato SVP, Innovation and Strategic Partnerships Revera Inc. Trish provides strategic leadership for Revera in innovation and oversees the IT function. Previously, she served as SVP of Revera Home Health from 2010 to 2015. Before joining Revera, she held positions as President and CEO of COTA Health, VP, Corporate Services and CFO of Providence Healthcare, and Managing Director of Bayshore Healthcare. She’s a CPA Fellow, holds an Economics degree from the University of Waterloo and is a Queen’s Diamond Jubilee award recipient. | |
| Wendy Beckles President and CEO Shepherd Village Wendy Beckles is an accomplished and innovative executive with a professional career that spans North America, Europe and the Caribbean in a variety of sectors including: healthcare, oil and gas, international business, public and non-profit. Starting her professional career at Ernst & Young, she went on to setup and manage a number of International Business Companies before choosing to dedicate 10 years as the International Financial Controller to a humanitarian charity working to improve the health and wellness of children in Haiti the Dominican Republic. In 2003, Beckles accepted the role of Chief Financial Officer at Kensington Health and over the next fourteen years, Beckles had significant financial and operational oversight for the establishment and expansion of ten Kensington business entities. Beckles is currently the President and CEO of Shepherd Village, one of the largest single site seniors’ complexes in Ontario serving up to one thousand seniors on a daily basis on its 8.4 acres in Scarborough. The purpose-built accommodations range from independent, retirement and assisted living to long term care and offer a variety of luxurious amenities. A Harvard Business School graduate and Certified Public Accountant, Certified General Accountant (CPA, CGA), Beckles successfully completed the U of T, Rotman School of Management, Advanced Health Leadership Program, the Advantage Ontario, Administrator Leadership Program and the Institute of Corporate Directors Not-for-Profit Program. Happily married for thirty years, this mother of three in her spare time, is an entrepreneur and cofounder of the Canadian Multicultural LEAD Organization for Mentoring and Training, a charity focused on working with youth and adults to find and reach their true potential. Beckles also volunteers on a number of Boards to support organizations to the best of her ability. | |
| Azi Boloorchi Director of Innovation and Project Management Revera Inc. Azi Boloorchi is the Director of Innovation and Project Management at Revera, a leading owner, operator and investor in senior living with more than 500 properties across Canada, US, and the UK. In her role, Azi is responsible for the design and execution of the company’s innovation strategy and startup investments focused on improving the aging experience. In addition, Azi overseas the business planning process and the execution of strategic projects through the Project Management Office. Previously, Azi was Manager of Personalized Cancer Medicine Strategy at Techna Institute and the Princes Margaret Cancer Centre where she started up the office of Strategy and led planning, execution and measurement of technology initiatives. Prior to this role, Azi was the Lead of Strategy and Policy at the Ministry of Health and Long-Term Care where she worked with health system stakeholders to design and implement policies to improve the quality of healthcare in Ontario. Azi holds an MBA and MSc both from the University of Toronto. A lover of technology, passionate about helping entrepreneurs and a frequent speaker, Azi is a member of the Rotman School’s Healthcare and Life Sciences Advisory Board. LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/aziboloorchi/ Twitter: @aboloorchi | |
| Olivia Boukydis Social Worker Ontario College of Social Workers and Social Service Workers Olivia Boukydis is a Social Worker on the Behaviour Support Team at Kensington Gardens. She has her diploma in Social Service Work, Her Honours Degree in Social Work and Masters in Social Work. Olivia has worked in Dementia Care for the last seven years and has been working specifically in the area of Behaviour Management since 2017. | |
| Kaela Burchell Social Worker Health PEI Kaela is Health PEI's lead long-term care Social Worker promoting best practices at provincial and facility levels. She earned a Master of Social Work from the University of Waterloo. Supporting a diverse range of populations, key elements of her role include enhancing young resident, restorative and dementia care programming, as well as optimizing placements for residents with specialized needs. Kaela is passionate about enhancing residents' quality of life, promoting social change and empowering vulnerable populations. | |
| Andrea Cassano-Piché Human Factors Engineer, Consultant ISMP Canada Andrea Cassano-Piché is a Human Factors Engineer. She has over 15 years of experience applying human factors science to healthcare safety issues in operational, research, and private sector contexts. Andrea's work has focused on procurement and implementation of health technology, evaluation of new technology during device design, proactive risk management (e.g., failure mode and effects analysis), incident investigation (e.g., root cause analysis), and education of human factors methods and safety culture. Andrea has led national projects on complex topics such as ambulatory intravenous chemotherapy safety and multiple intravenous infusion safety, which culminated in nationally and internationally recognized recommendations on clinical practice, technology design and education. Andrea is the lead author of the book Human Factors for Health Technology Safety (2015) available at www.ifmbe.org. Andrea joined ISMP Canada’s consultant team in 2016. She teaches incident analysis and proactive risk assessment workshops, and assists with consultation projects. She is also a consultant with Human Factors North. | |
| Candace Chartier Chief Executive Officer Ontario Long Term Care Association Candace brings a wealth of sector experience to her role as Chief Executive Officer. She is a strong leader, effective communicator and practiced health care professional who leads and delivers results on wide ranging and complex projects. Previously, Candace held positions such as Chief Operating Officer, Corporate Project Director, Administrator and Director of Care in long-term care. She started her career as an RN and worked in the Acute Care Sector, Rehabilitation, Community Nursing and the Aeromedical Nursing fields. Candace is a strong advocate for long-term care both provincially and nationally as an executive with the Canadian Association for Long Term Care. Candace holds an MBA from Western University Richard Ivey School of Business and is a graduate of Queens University Executive Development Program and the University of Toronto Rotman School of Management, Advanced Health Leadership Executive Program. Candace also holds the ICD.D designation with the Institute of Corporate Directors. | |
| Paula Chidwick Director, Research & Corporate Ethics William Osler Health System Dr. Paula Chidwick is the Director of Research & Corporate Ethics and Ethicist at William Osler Health System. She was the first full-time Ethicist to be hired at a community hospital. Paula has a PhD in Philosophy specializing in Bioethics from the University of Guelph and a Fellowship in Clinical Ethics from the University of Toronto Joint Centre for Bioethics. Paula provides ethics services to health care organizations throughout Ontario. | |
| Sharon Clarke Coordinator Practical Living Program Conestoga College Sharon Clarke, RN, DipEd, MHScN, is Conestoga College Coordinator for the Living Classroom at Schlegel University Gates, where she oversees the Practical Nursing and Personal Support Worker programs. Sharon has taught nursing for 45 years, first in Montreal and then at Conestoga College. She has always had an interest in gerontology and requested to come to the Living Classroom when this location opened in 2015, where she enjoys every day in the stimulating, friendly environment. | |
| Stacey Colameco Director of Long-Term Care Inspections Branch Ontario Ministry of Health and Long-Term Care Stacey is the Director of Long-Term Care Inspections Branch–she has been in this role since April of 2018. Prior to this she held the position of Senior Manager in the program and had a responsibility for Central Support Corporate functions and oversight of the Service Area Offices. Stacey was also previously responsible for ensuring data quality across the health system in her role as the Manager of Data Quality in the Health System Funding Policy Branch for over seven years and during this time has been at the forefront of leading provincial data quality improvements across all health care sectors. Previous to coming into the Ministry she spent 14 years in acute care, specifically in Health Information Management, Quality and Risk Management, Decision Support and IT Management. | |
| Lisa Corrente Lawyer Torkin Manes LLP Lisa Corrente is a partner with Torkin Manes LLP. She regularly provides assistance to long-term care homes, retirement homes and other health facilities with respect to Ministry compliance matters, professional complaints and discipline proceedings, privacy, residential tenancy matter, and issues concerning residents and their family members. Lisa also conducts neutral workplace investigations into matters such as resident abuse and neglect, discrimination and harassment. Lisa represents her Firm in its membership in the OLTCA and ORCA. | |
| Steven J. Crawford CEO McCormick Care Group Steven joined the McCormick Care Group as CEO in the spring of 2000. Prior to this position, Steven was Vice President, Finance for Cuddy Food Products, a food processor located in London. Steven moved to London and joined the Cuddy group of companies in 1992 and served in various capacities, including as Director of Tax and Treasury, Cuddy International and as General Manager, Cuddy Food Products. Prior to joining Cuddy, Steven worked as a Senior Manager, Tax at KPMG in Waterloo, and after articling with KPMG in Ottawa, he received his CA designation in 1985. Steven completed his MBA in 1998 on a part-time basis at Wilfrid Laurier University while working at the Cuddy Group of Companies. Prior to that, Steven completed a Bachelor of Business Administration at Wilfrid Laurier University in 1984. Steven is currently a member of the South West Local Health Integration Network (LHIN) Long-Term Care Homes Network Council and a member of the OLTCA’s Financial Liaison Committee. | |
| Tammy Cumming Manager, Ontario Centre for Learning, Research and Innovation in Long-Term Care UW-Schlegel Research Institute for Aging Tammy manages the Ontario Centre for Learning, Research and Innovation in Long-Term Care at the UW-Schlegel Research Institute for Aging where she leads a dynamic team that supports the development and identification of resources for long-term care homes. Tammy’s career includes 15-years with the University of Waterloo executing large national and provincial programs that inform policy change. Tammy has expertise in research and program methodology, team leadership and stakeholder engagement. | |
| Jonathan Davis Founder Trualta Jonathan Davis is the founder of Trualta, an eLearning platform focused on skills-based, senior care training. Prior to starting Trualta, he was a management consultant with McKinsey & Company and a private equity investor at Providence Equity Partners. Jonathan has an HBA from the Richard Ivey School of Business at Western University. He became inspired to start Trualta while working with companies that provided training and education to healthcare professionals, recognizing that the content was not available to paid and unpaid caregivers who often need it most. Trualta is a member of the Biomedical Zone accelerator at St. Michael’s Hospital in Toronto, and the recipient of an innovation grant from the Center for Aging and Brain Health Innovation at Baycrest. | |
| Kate Ducak Gerontologist and Project Officer Schlegel-UW Research Institute for Aging (RIA) Kate Ducak is a gerontologist and Project Officer at the Schlegel-UW Research Institute for Aging (RIA) where she applies her expertise and experience to the Centre for Learning, Research and Innovation in Long-Term Care (CLRI) program. She enjoys exchanging ideas about person-centred, relational and dementia care, health equity, and culture change. Kate has 15+ years of professional and personal experiences in long-term care homes as an applied researcher, educator, consultant, care partner, and volunteer. | |
| Honourable Christine Elliott Deputy Premier of Ontario, Minister of Health and Long-Term Care As a mother, lawyer, businesswoman, and entrepreneur, Christine Elliott knows how to bring people together. She knows the importance of balancing a family budget and how to manage a successful business. Christine graduated from the University of Western Ontario with a Bachelor of Laws degree. She then built a successful career in business and law, working first as an auditor at one of Canada’s largest banks. Christine later co-founded a law firm with her late husband Jim Flaherty, where she specialized in real estate, corporate law, and estate law. Christine has worked tirelessly to help businesses all across the province expand and thrive. Christine also used her business and legal expertise to pursue her commitment to public service. Her pro bono legal work for charitable organizations gained her the recognition as a Rotary International Paul Harris Fellow, the highest award with Rotary. As well, Christine is a co-founder of the Abilities Centre in Whitby, a facility built with the vision of celebrating all people, regardless of ability. The centre has become a hub of its community, hosting various Parapan Am Games events in 2015. In 2006, Christine was elected MPP. She has won five elections, and for nine years has served the people of Ontario at Queen’s Park, including six years as Deputy Leader of the PC Party. In 2016, Christine became Ontario’s Patient Ombudsman, where she fought for better access to health care for all. She currently serves as the Deputy Premier of Ontario, Minister of Health and Long-Term Care, and is the MPP for Newmarket-Aurora. Christine has triplet sons, John, Galen and Quinn. | |
| Kyla English Leis Assistant Research Coordinator Schlegel-UW Research Institute for Aging Kyla joined the Schlegel-UW Research Institute for Aging (RIA) in 2017 as an Assistant Research Coordinator. Kyla completed her MSc. at Western University in 2014, where she was part of the Indigenous Health Lab. At the RIA, Kyla continues to explore ways to support Indigenous culture in long-term care. Kyla is non-Indigenous, of Irish, Scottish, English and Russian descent. She lives in Kitchener on the traditional territory of the Attawandaron [Neutral], Anishinaabeg, and Haudenosaunee peoples. | |
| Leslie Flor Behaviour Support Manager Cedarvale Terrace Long Term Care Home Ms. Leslie Flor has been a Registered Practical Nurse since 2004, she is currently the Behaviour Support Manager at Cedarvale Terrace Long Term Care in Toronto. Prior to this role she was previously the Manager of Clinical Informatics for 6 years and was also the lead in the implementation of the Montessori-based Program at Cedarvale Terrace. She is also a Certified GPA Coach and PIECES trained. | |
| Daniel Galessiere Interprofessional Educator Baycrest CLRI Daniel is an interprofessional educator for the Ontario Centres for Learning, Research and Innovation in Long Term Care, at Baycrest. As a registered physiotherapist, Daniel has 12 years of experience as a clinician in both the private clinic and geriatric hospital settings, with a focus in Complex Continuing Care.Additionally, Daniel has served as preceptor to physiotherapy students from McMaster University and the University of Toronto and has poster-presented at the Canadian Physiotherapy Association National Conference on the topic of the impact of ongoing physiotherapy on patients in Complex Continuing Care. Daniel received his Master of Physiotherapy degree (2005) from McMaster University and his Honours Bachelor of Science Degree in Kinesiology from York University (1999).He also has a background in theatre and numerous years of experience teaching and performing in the vocal arts. | |
| Brent Gingerich Chairman & CEO peopleCare Communities Brent Gingerich a Social Entrepreneur is Chairman & CEO of peopleCare Communities. As a creator of senior living communities, peopleCare is celebrating 50 years in Ontario and has been recognized for being one of Canada’s most engaged employers, Canada’s50 Best Managed Companies, Workplace of the year by OLTCA and has earnedExemplary Standing with Accreditation Canada. Brent is passionate about growth, innovation and fostering a dynamic culture at peopleCare and in the entire sector. | |
| Marion Godoy Senior Nurse Consultant Responsive Health Management Inc. Ms. Godoy is the Senior Nurse Consultant for Responsive Health Management Inc. and holds a Bachelor of Science in Nursing from Ryerson University. Throughout her nursing career she has focused on Long Term Care services. She joined RHM in 1990 and has worked in several key positions. Marion has participated in several task groups with the OLTCA and is a member of the PCC’s Clinical Advisory Panel, CLRI Stakeholder Advisory Committee and Nursing Education Consortium. | |
| David Golden Chair, Health Care Institutions Group; Co-chairs, Health Law Group Torkin Manes LLP David chairs the firm’s Health Care Institutions Group and co-chairs its Health Law Group. David’s civil litigation practice focuses on commercial litigation, health law and professional liability and regularly appears before all levels of court, boards and tribunals that regulate the health care industry and the professions. David is counsel to the Ontario Long Term Care Association and the Ontario Retirement Communities Association. | |
| Cathy Granger Director of Long Term Care The Region of Peel Cathy Granger is the Director of Long Term Care for the Region of Peel. In this role, Cathy is responsible for overseeing five Long Term Care homes, ensuring that residents receive the highest quality, person-centered care. Cathy’s career at the Region has spanned more than 20 years and includes a variety of positions ranging from a public health nurse, up to and including supporting the Chronic Disease and Injury Prevention Division in a Director role. | |
| Julie Greenall Director of Projects and Education ISMP Canada Julie has more than 35 years of clinical and management experience in pharmacy practice in community hospitals, long-term care and community pharmacy. Julie joined ISMP Canada in 2004. In her current position as Director of Projects and Education, she is responsible for ISMP Canada’s consultation and education programs. Julie has participated in numerous medication system reviews, root cause analyses of critical medication incidents and proactive risk assessment projects. Associated with these reviews. Julie has been an expert witness for coroner inquests. Julie has been an author and reviewer of medication safety-related articles and is actively involved in the development of ISMP Canada Safety Bulletins. Julie is a co-author of the 2006 Canadian Root Cause Analysis Framework and the revised Canadian Incident Analysis Framework released in 2012. She led the updating of ISMP Canada’s Hospital Medication Safety Self Assessment program in 2015-16 and ISMP Canada’s Failure Mode and Effects Analysis Framework, released in 2017. Julie has provided educational presentations and workshops on a variety of medication safety topics across Canada and internationally, and is a media spokesperson for ISMP Canada. | |
| Krista Griffin National Director, Rehabilitation & Recreation Revera Inc. Krista is responsible to develop and implement a national strategy for recreation and rehabilitation that will position Revera as a leader in Long Term Care and create person-centred programs that enhance resident safety and well-being. Krista has worked in clinical and management roles for 19 years in both the United States and Canada, with a focus on the senior population.Krista’s prior roles have included strategic development, monitoring, and ongoing updating of clinical programming to ensure innovative and best practice service delivery models.Krista has been a contributor to many publications and presented at various conferences across North America. | |
| Homaira Haqdad Manager Apotex Jewish Home for the Aged, Baycrest Homaira Haqdad's bio will be available soon. | |
| Amy Harbin Program for Active Living Coordinator Schlegel Villages Amy, a Registered Kinesiologist, supports the teams in the delivery of the Program for Active Living, one of Schlegel Villages’ key signature programs encouraging residents to strive for functional independence. Based on a holistic approach involving resident and family, an individualized program is developed for each resident to maintain and improve their independence. Amy also supports the villages with safe lift and transfer, falls prevention, PASD and restraint minimization, mobility and general well being. | |
| Vinita Haroun Director of Research and Knowledge Translation Ontario Long Term Care Association Vinita is an accomplished health sector leader with 15 years of experience in research operations, stakeholder relations, applied research and knowledge exchange. Her efforts have elevated OLTCA, as the leading knowledge broker for the long term care sector. Vinita obtained a Master’s of Science, Health Administration/Health Services Research with a specialization in Knowledge Translation from the University of Toronto and an Honours Bachelor of Science, Health Studies and Gerontology from the University of Waterloo. | |
| Angela Harvey Administrator Finlandia Village Angela is the Administrator at Finlandia Nursing Home. Having been with the organization since 2004, Angela sits on a number of working groups and committees throughout the. Angela is a graduate of the Bachelor of Science in Nursing degree program from Laurentian University and the Long-Term Care Management (LTCM) Program. Angela is accredited as a Long-Term Care Administrator and is dedicated to caring for Canada’s aging population and committed to fostering a culture of excellence. | |
| Jennifer Hawkins Director of Care Finlandia Village Jennifer is the Director of Care at Finlandia Nursing Home. She has a Bachelor of Science in Nursing and is currently working on a Masters of Nursing. Jennifer has a genuine compassion for the residents of Finlandia and is dedicated to fostering a culture of change, excellence and a feeling of family and belonging throughout those who work, visit and live at the Village. | |
| Apryl Hery Facilitator HCPT College Apryl Hery is a facilitator at HCPT College and has over 23 years of healthcare experience in Mental Health. For over 15 years, Apryl has been facilitating training to assist in understanding and managing aggressive behaviour in a variety of settings from hospitals, post-secondary institutions, long term care homes, residential treatment centres and within the community. Apryl’s background includes working in acute care as a counsellor with youth, adolescents and their families as well as a crisis worker providing Mental Health Assessments to patients who arrive into the Emergency Department. In addition, Apryl is a Certified Dialectical Behaviour Therapy Therapist and conducts one on one and group sessions to individuals experiencing mental health issues. | |
| Debbie Hewitt-Colborne Project Coordinator Advisor Behavioural Supports Ontario Debbie Hewitt Colborne is an Advanced Practice Nurse with experience and expertise working with older adults within long-term care, the community and hospital settings. Her current work at the Behavioural Supports Ontario (BSO) Provincial Coordinating Office is centred on activities that support and advance the BSO initiative. | |
| Michelle-Ann Hylton Director, Licensing and Policy Branch Ontario Ministry of Health and Long-Term Care Michelle-Ann Hylton joined the Ministry of Health in 2016 in the capacity of Manager, Aging and Long-Term Care Unit within the Long-Term Care Homes Division. In this role, she provided leadership to the policy team responsible for delivering on significant advancements for the sector including key components of the Strengthening Quality and Accountability for Patients Act, 2017, Aging with Confidence: Ontario’s Action Plan for Seniors and recent regulatory amendments such as the introduction of Reunification Priority Access Beds. Michelle-Ann has also worked to strengthen relationships with sector partners resulting in increased opportunities to co-design and refine policies with stakeholders. Prior to joining government, she led the development of two United Way-led community hubs and managed the operations of two community health centres in the Greater Toronto Area. She is currently Acting Director for the Licensing and Policy Branch with responsibility for long-term care policy, funding, programming and licensing. | |
| Andrea Iaboni Geriatric Psychiatrist and Clinician-Researcher Toronto Rehab, University Health Network Dr. Andrea Iaboni is a clinician researcher and geriatric psychiatrist based at Toronto Rehab. She is an Assistant Professor in the Department of Psychiatry at the University of Toronto. Her clinical work is largely in the area of dementia care- on the inpatient dementia unit at TRI, in long-term care, and in memory clinics. Her research is focussed on the relationship between psychiatric disorders, their treatment and mobility and falls in older adults. | |
| Sasha Johnston Behaviour Support Lead Ontario College of Nurses Sasha Johnston has over 5 years of front-line experience as an RPN working in Dementia Care. She has been with Kensington Gardens for over 5 years working on the front lines and now focusing on behaviour management. She is an exceptional leader, educator and a responsive behaviour enthusiast. | |
| Dan Kaniuk Executive Vice President of Operations Responsive Health Management Inc. Dan has dedicated over thirty-five (35) years to the field of seniors’ care and services, in both small family-run and large multi-national organizations. As Executive Vice President of Operations at the Responsive Group, Dan has executive oversight of two business divisions within the Responsive Group, with responsibilities which include execution of the company's strategic direction, business development, operations, LTC re-development, stakeholder relationships, partnerships and employee relations. Having served on several committees and as a Board member of the Ontario Long Term Care Association (OLTCA) over a number of years, Dan is the current Board Chair of the OLTCA.He has had a long standing involvement with the Canadian Association of Long Term Care (CALTC), and served as a provider representative on the Ontario Provincial Task Force on Resident Care and Safety. Dan holds an Honours B.Sc. from the University of Toronto and has completed the Executive Program at Queen’s School of Business. | |
| Jennifer Killing Vice President, Quality & Innovation peopleCare Communities Jennifer Killing, Vice President Quality & Innovation at peopleCare Communities. 20 years of operational experience in ontario long term care, with specializes in the use of Technology in Health Care, Quality assurance & Legislative Accountability, Leadership, and Systems Development. | |
| Julia King Chief Operating Officer Jarlette Health Services A Registered Nurse by profession, Julia graduated from the diploma nursing program at Conestoga College in 1989. After gaining front line experience in the acute care sector, Julia moved into long term care in 1995. Since that time, Julia has held a number of senior management positions, both at the home level in the capacity of Director of Care and Administrator, as well as at a corporate level, including most recently Director of Long Term Care Operations and Care Services Coordinator. Dedicated to continuing education, Julia has pursued studies such as Long Term Care Departmental Management and Long Term Care Organization and Management. Julia has served on a variety of provincial committees, including Resident Care and Services Committee with the Ontario Long Term Care Association, and the Medication Management Task Force with the Ministry of Health and Long Term Care. Julia currently resides in the Orillia area with her husband Jason and their daughter Emily. Avid travelers, Julia, Jason and Emily value time spent together as a family, exploring new sights both within the local surrounding area and abroad. | |
| Jon Ingar Kjenes CEO Motitech Jon is a former motorcycle mechanic, who together with public and private health care in the Nordics, have developed a concept who turns elderly and people with dementia into dedicated athletes. The concept is called Motiview and it is spreading across the Nordics, England and Canada right now. Soon to be introduced in Asia and the US, based on an endless need for solutions who can make elderly more independent and to increase life quality for people living with dementia. | |
| Metzie Lacroxi Director of Resident Services Sienna Senior Living Metzie Lacroxi is currently the Director of Resident Services at Sienna Senior Living. Metzie is a RN with over 20 years of extensive experience in senior’s care. Metzie has a Bachelor’s in Health Administration from Ryerson University, holds credentials as a Certified Administrator, Canadian Nurses Association Certificate in Gerontology and the Director of Care in Clinical Leadership Certificate from York University. | |
| Brad Lawrence General Manager Schlegel Villages The Village of Winston Park Brad Lawrence is the General Manager at the Village of Winston Park in Kitchener, a continuum of care. He has been with Schlegel Villages since 2008. Brad has a Bachelors Degree in Health Service Administration as well two college diplomas – Food Service Supervisor and Hospitality Administration.He is excited to be on the Culture Change journey with Schlegel Villages and is happy to share the experience of becoming a LGBTQ-friendly community. | |
| Dr. Clare Liddy Tier 2 Chair and Associate Professor (1); Clinical Investigator (2); Senior Researcher (3), Practicing Family Physician 1. University of Ottawa; 2. C.T. Lamont Primary Health Care Research Centre; 3. Bruyère Research Institute Dr. Clare Liddy is a University of Ottawa Tier 2 Chair and Associate Professor, Clinical Investigator at the C.T. Lamont Primary Health Care Research Centre, senior researcher at the Bruyère Research Institute, and practicing family physician. Her achievements have been recognized by numerous awards, including the Ontario Ministry of Health and Long-Term Care’s Career Scientist Award (2007-2011). She is the Champlain BASE™ eConsult service Primary Care Lead and Ontario eConsult Centre of Excellence Co-Executive Director. | |
| Karen Lubianetzky BSO PSW Avalon Care Centre Karen Lubianetzky started her career with Avalon Care Centre in June 2006. Karen worked as a PSW until 2009. In 2009, Karen accepted the position of Staffing Co-ordinator and worked in this role until 2013. Missing working with the residents and on the floor, Karen assumed the role of Avalon’s in-house BSO PSW in 2013. Karen obtained her certification in DementiAbility in 2016 and has been using and spreading DementiAbility Methods within the home. | |
| Meghan Marcil Physiotherapist Toronto Rehab Institute Meghan Marcil is a physiotherapist working at the Toronto Rehab Institute in the Geriatric Psychiatry and ABI services. She is the program practice leader for geriatrics and an educator for “Together in Movement and Exercise”, a partnership between Toronto Rehab and community fitness centers across Canada. She sits on the Toronto Rehab Falls & Least Restraints committee and has been involved in a number of projects related to preventing and managing falls within the organization. | |
| Tania Massa Director, Innovation Procurement Ontario Centres of Excellence Dr. Tania Massa is the Director, Innovation Procurement at the Ontario Centres of Excellence, responsible for the portfolio of Innovation Procurement programs: AdvancingHealth, AdvancingEducation, REACH, Health Technologies Fund and Small Business Innovation Challenge. During her 10 years at OCE, she brings expertise in the areas of biomedical engineering, industry-academic collaborations and intellectual property development. Tania holds a B.A.Sc. in Engineering Science and a Ph.D. in Chemical Engineering, both biomedical collaboratives from the University of Toronto. | |
| Caitlin McArthur Registered physiotherapist and postdoctoral fellow GERAS Centre for Aging Research, McMaster University Caitlin is a registered physiotherapist and postdoctoral fellow at the GERAS Centre for Aging Research at McMaster University. Caitlin is an expert in bone health and exercise, and her research focuses on improving rehabilitation in long-term care. Caitlin has a PhD in Kinesiology, with a specialization in Aging, Health and Well-being. | |
| Patrick McCarthy President and Chief Executive Officer, OMNI Health Care Pat McCarthy joined OMNI Health Care in 2008 as President and Chief Executive Officer, and has overall responsibility for the strategic direction of OMNI Health Care and the operations of OMNI homes. Prior to joining OMNI, he was Chief Executive Officer of a family owned company operating a portfolio of Long Term Care, Retirement and Multi-Residential Apartments located in Southwestern Ontario. Pat is a Chartered Accountant with over 20 years of experience in senior financial and operations management roles with private and publicly traded entities in the Long Term Care and Retirement housing markets with operations in Central and Western Canada and in several US states. Pat has held various board and committee positions with the the Ontario Long Term Care Association and the Ontario Retirement Communities Association. | |
| Raquel Meyer Manager, Ontario Centre for Learning, Research and Innovation in Long-Term Care Baycrest Dr. Raquel Meyer manages the Ontario Centre for Learning, Research and Innovation in Long-Term Care at Baycrest which evaluates educational innovations to enhance interprofessional competencies in the long-term care workforce. Her nursing career includes 10 years with the University of Toronto’s Nursing Health Services Research Unit where she completed her doctorate and an early career research award. Raquel’s expertise integrates the areas of educational innovations, health human resources, leadership, health policy and care delivery models. | |
| Tracy Milner CEO BrainFX Tracy Milner is the co-founder, co-creator and CEO of BrainFx. Her clinical background is >16 years in neurorehabilitation and her business background if in growing and leading multi-disciplinary rehabilitation companies with teams up to 100. Her mission has always been to maximize quality of life for people with brain disorders and her vision for BrainFx, although inspired by local frustration initially, is to intelligently unlock how the brain functions for earlier detection and targeted treatment to assist clinicians and patients globally. | |
| Scott Mitchell Knowledge Broker UW-Schlegel Research Institute for Aging Scott Mitchell is a Knowledge Broker at the Centre for Learning, Research and Innovation in Long Term Care (CLRI) hosted by the Schlegel-UW Research Institute for Aging in Waterloo. He is a co-founder and coordinating committee member of the Canadian Knowledge Transfer and Exchange Community of Practice and a board member of the Ontario Healthy Communities Coalition. | |
| Dr. Frances Morton-Chang Principal Morton-Chang Consulting Dr. Frances Morton-Chang has diverse academic and professional experience across the broader health care spectrum which includes the community-care, acute-care, and long-term care sectors, charities and research programs. As a Gerontologist and health services researcher, she specializes in the areas of health policy for those experiencing dementia, frailty, and other functional disabilities, integrated care approaches for complex populations, care for caregivers, and the impact of the built environment. | |
| Kristine Newman Assistant Professor Daphne Cockwell School of Nursing, Ryerson University Dr. Kristine Newman completed her PhD in Nursing Science (2012) from the University of Toronto and a Knowledge Translation Canada: Strategic Training Initiative in Health Research Post-Doctoral Fellowship (2013) at McMaster University. Her nursing background is in Geriatric Rehabilitation and Complex Continuing Care, Nursing Education and Nursing Professional Practice. Dr. Newman’s program of research relates to Informatics – individual and collaborative information-seeking, Problem-Solving, Knowledge Translation and Gernotechnology. | |
| Linda Norton Client Relations and Education Specialist Motion Specialties Linda is an Occupational Therapist who is passionate about the provision of appropriate seating and mobility equipment. Her diverse experience in various settings including long term care, hospital, community and industry; and experience in various roles including clinician, educator, manager and researcher give Linda a unique perspective. She is a PhD Candidate, teaches at two Ontario Universities and is the Education and Client Relations Specialist at Motion Specialties | |
| Jill Oliver Community Ethicist William Osler Health System Dr. Jill Oliver is the Community Ethicist at William Osler Health System. She has a PhD in Philosophy from the University of Waterloo, an Academic Fellowship in Clinical and Organizational Ethics from the University of Toronto Joint Centre for Bioethics, and has also completed internships in Clinical Ethics at both Baycrest Centre for Geriatric Care, and William Osler Health System. Jill is the lead of the PoET (Prevention of Error-based Transfers) Project (www.poetproject.ca). | |
| Zsofia (Sophie) Orosz Manager, Ontario Centre for Learning, Research and Innovation in Long-Term Care Bruyère Sophie manages the Ontario Centre for Learning, Research and Innovation in Long-Term Care at Bruyère. Previously, she researched designated specialized units and worked on special projects at Bruyère’s two LTC homes. Sophie also worked as the community and long-term care coordinator of the Champlain Regional Stroke Network, and at the International Development Research Centre on a team that managed research grants related to social and ecological determinants of health. | |
| Sharon Osvald Lived Experience Facilitator Behavioural Supports Ontario Provincial Coordinating Office Sharon Osvald is a Lived Experience Facilitator, working in partnership with the Behavioural Supports Ontario Provincial Coordinating Office and brainXchange. She also coordinates the South East Ontario Lived Experience Network for Providence Care Seniors Mental Health and the Alzheimer Societies of South East Ontario. In addition to these roles, Sharon also supports her mother who lives with vascular dementia in a long term care home. | |
| Christy Parsons Vice President of Support Office Services Schlegel Villages Christy is the Vice President of Support Office Services at Schlegel Villages responsible for the consulting and advisory services across the organization to enhance the overall customer experience. Christy has worked professionally with older adults for over 20 years and has gained extensive experience in both long-term care and retirement living through a number of key leadership roles. She previously served as an Associate Faculty member for the Recreation & Leisure Services Program at Conestoga College and Program Coordinator of a post-graduate program, Recreation Management in Working with Older Adults. Christy's education background includes a diploma from Conestoga College in Recreation Leadership and a Bachelor of Adult Education degree from Brock University. | |
| Angel Petropanagos Quality Improvement Ethicist William Osler Health System Angel Petropanagos is the Quality Improvement Ethicist at William Osler Health System (Brampton, Ontario). In 2013, she received her Ph.D. in philosophy from Western University, with specializations in bioethics and feminist theory. She then completed a postdoctoral fellowship in bioethics at Novel Tech Ethics, in the Faculty of Medicine at Dalhousie University and a clinical ethics residency at William Osler Health System. | |
| JoAnne Prokopchuk Clinical Care Partner Sienna Senior Living JoAnne is currently a Clinical Care Partner at Sienna Senior Living. JoAnne has over 30 years experience in senior’s care with a passion focused on Palliative and End of Life Care. JoAnne is a Registered Nurse and holds credentials with the Canadian Nursing Association in Gerontology. | |
| Sally Rakas National Director Clinical Support Revera Inc. Sally Rakas is a Registered Nurse with a Master’s Degree in Science who started work in Long Term Care as a Personal Support Worker. Throughout the years, she has held many roles in Long Term care, such as Registered Nurse, Care Innovation Coach, Convalescent Care Program Manager, and Director of Care. Sally is currently the National Director of Clinical Support for the Long Term Care division of Revera, Inc. In this role, she and her team provide support for the Clinical Programs at 70 homes across the country. Sally’s passion is to further simplify and standardize processes, to ease the work of the front line and engage teams to do the right thing. | |
| Rebecca Scott Rawn National Director, Communications and Strategic Partnerships Extendicare Rebecca Scott Rawn started volunteering in a long-term care home when she was 13 and has been involved in the sector ever since. She's made positive change for seniors as a political assistant, a bureaucrat, an Administrator, a Regional Director and now, as the National Director for Communications and Strategic Partnerships at Extendicare. As a communication and coaching expert, she strives to empower people to achieve their impossible, with support, coaching and laughter. | |
| Debby Riepert Chief Operating Officer Trinity Village Debby Riepert is COO at Trinity Village, a supportive retirement and long-term care community in Kitchener. She has worked at Trinity Village for over 34 years, dedicated to the health and wellness of seniors in Waterloo Region. Continuously seeking ways to improve the lives of Trinity Village residents and the work environment for staff, the primary goal driving her performance is a commitment to making Trinity Village both a great place to work and live. | |
| Dawn Roy Restorative Care Coordinator Avalon Care Centre Dawn Roy has been working with the Avalon Care Centre for over 20 years. Dawn first began her career as a PSW. She then transitioned to the Restorative Care Assistant role in 2000. In 2013, Dawn accepted the role of Restorative Care Coordinator. Dawn is the lead for Falls Prevention and Restraint Reduction in the home as well as a co-chair for the Health and Safety Committee. | |
| Ali Shahzada Executive Director Long Term Care Quality Collaborative Ali Shahzada has both a Bachelors and Masters Degree in Engineering, and is a seasoned facilitator, and change management professional. For over 10 years, Ali has been implementing change in the healthcare, logistics, not-for-profit, IT and manufacturing industries. Trained in both Lean/Six Sigma and human-centred design approaches, Ali's professional/personal work has been designated as a Leading Practice by Accreditation Canada, and nominated for Hamilton's Innovation of the Year. | |
| Jyll Simmons Project Manager Centre for Addiction and Mental Helath Jyll Simmons is a Project Manager in the Integrated Care Pathway (ICP) Program at CAMH and has over a decade of experience within the healthcare industry. She has been successful in the development, implementation, and evaluation of various quality improvement initiatives both internal and external of CAMH and led the expansion of the Dementia ICP to improve clinical outcomes in long-term care home and rural community hospitals. | |
| Jennifer Sipos Administrator R/TRO Alexander Place Jennifer is an Administrator working at Alexander Place in Waterdown | |
| Anna Slawski Director of Resident Care Kensington Gardens Anna is a Registered Nurse and has worked in the Long Term Care field for over 25 years. She joined Kensington Gardens in 2002 as a Resident Team Coordinator. In 2004 she assumed the role of Director of Resident Care. Anna leads a dynamic care team which supports quality improvement practices and evidence based approaches. Anna brings a wealth of experience in seniors care and long term care. She is passionate about innovation and strives to ensure that each resident’s experience promotes high quality of life in a safe and a home like environment. aslawski@kensingtonhealth.org | |
| Kim Stelmacovich Director of Quality Transformation Revera Inc. Kim Stelmacovich is the Director of Quality Transformation at Revera, where she provides leadership, strategic guidance and operational support to advance Revera's quality agenda across the enterprise. Kim brings extensive experience to this role; building successful local, National and International partnerships, aligning with stakeholders, modernizing services, facilitating the culture change and promoting the learning systems required to implement and sustain evidence-based improvements to care and service. She is a contributing author to Dr. G. Ross Baker’s research: High Performing Healthcare Systems: delivering Quality by Design (2008) and hascompleted a multitude of courses in quality improvement through organizations such as the Institute for Healthcare Improvement. Kim holds a Master’s Degree in Health Administration from the University of Toronto Institute of Health Policy, Management and Evaluation, where she is Adjunct Faculty. She also holds a Bachelor Degree in Occupational Therapy from Western University. She is Chair of the Quality Committee for Safehaven Project for Community Living, Toronto. | |
| Jonathan Suckling Portfolio Manager Centre for Aging and Brain Health Innovation (CABHI) Jonathan Suckling is a Portfolio Manager at the Centre for Aging and Brain Health Innovation (CABHI). In his role, Jonathan is responsible for overseeing the performance of 50+ projects in CABHI’s innovation pipeline as well as operating the competitive funding programs through which CABHI has invested $35M into the development, validation and dissemination of innovative senior-care solutions. Jonathan comes from a background in health innovation research and project management in previous roles at the World Health Innovation Network and the Ivey International Centre for Health Innovation. He holds a Bachelor’s degree in Health Sciences from Western University and an MBA in Strategy and Entrepreneurship from the Odette School of Business at the University of Windsor. | |
| Alisha Tharani Manager Strategic Partnerships Canadian Centre for Aging + Brain Health Innovation Alisha Tharani is Manager of Strategic Partnerships at CABHI. She is responsible for identifying, building and leading relationships with key CABHI partners, including government, SQLI, and other network partners. Alisha has more than ten years of experience in the healthcare system, with a focus on driving and executing strategic collaborations between policy makers, industry, academia and healthcare providers. | |
| Karen Van Ooteghem Scientific Associate Toronto Rehab Institute Karen Van Ooteghem is a Scientific Associate at Toronto Rehab. The goal of her research is to enhance well-being in older age by helping individuals maintain their capacity for safe, independent mobility. Karen completed graduate training in Kinesiology at the University of Waterloo. In her post-doctoral work, she has focused on mobility in dementia and the integration of technology into the assessment of mobility and falls risk. | |
| Andre Vandenberk VP of Mobile Technology VitalHub Andre brings that rare combination of being proficient in both the strategy and tactical sides of IT and Healthcare to his role as VP of Mobile Technology. Andre is responsible for driving the innovation and progressive design of the VitalHub platform. He is excited to apply his knowledge and leadership to innovations in healthcare that focus on mobile device solutions (mHealth). | |
| Katelynn Viau Project Coordinator Behavioural Supports Ontario Provincial Coordinating Office, North Bay Regional Health Centre Katelynn Viau is a Project Coordinator for the Behavioural Supports Ontario's (BSO) Provincial Coordinating Office. Katelynn holds a Master's Degree in Ageing Studies from Swansea University in the UK and prior to her role with BSO, held positions in health research and hospice care. As part of her role with BSO, Katelynn is the the Lead Collaborator for all initiatives pertaining to the BSO Lived Experience Advisory. | |
| Audrey Webster Clinical Education Leader Motion Specialties Audrey is a Clinical Education Leader for Long-Term Care and Retirement with Motion Specialties where she provides up-to-date evidence-based education to residents, families as well as healthcare professionals. She also teaches workshops to community organizations and educational institutions, including the University of Toronto. She completed her Bachelor of Science degree in Kinesiology at the University of Waterloo and her Master of Science degree in Occupational Therapy from the University of Toronto. | |
| Katie Whidden Director of Recreation Schlegel Villages, The Village of Winston Park Katie Whidden has over a decade of experience working with seniors in Long Term Care and Retirement Homes. She has a Diploma in Recreation and Leisure Services and a Bachelor of Arts, Honours Gerontology from McMaster University. She has been a part of Culture Change with Schlegel Villages and Winston Park for the last 3 years as the Director of Recreation and Volunteer Services. | |
| James Wickham Director of Human Resources Kensington Health James graduated from the University of Windsor with an Honours Business Commerce majoring in Finance and MBA with a focus on International Business and Human Resources. James has worked in manufacturing, various departments within the Federal Government including CRA, Health Canada and Fisheries and Oceans and medical research and healthcare sector.James’ current position is the Director of Human Resources for Kensington Health Centre which focuses on long term care, palliative care and ambulatory services. | |
| Andrea Wilkinson CIHR-OLTCA Health Impact Fellow Ontario Long Term Care Association Andrea Wilkinson has a PhD in Psychology with a specialization in cognitive aging. She is a postdoctoral research fellow in the Department of Mechanical & Industrial Engineering at the University of Toronto, and is also a CIHR-Ontario Long Term Care Association (OLTCA) Health System Impact Fellow. Her research focuses on evaluating and enhancing quality of care and well-being for residents living in long-term care (LTC) homes, their families and LTC staff. | |
| Daisy Wong Supervisor of Life Enhancement Kensington Health Centre, Kensington Gardens Daisy Wong is currently the Supervisor of Life Enhancement at Kensington Health Centre: Kensington Gardens. She holds a Bachelor of Arts in Therapeutic Recreation from the University of Waterloo and Master in rehabilitation Science from The University of British Columbia. Daisy has presented “Beekeeping Project at Kensington Gardens” at the Together We Care Annual Convention 2018 in Toronto and at the Therapeutic Recreation Ontario 2018 Conference in Ottawa. | |
| Tommy Wong Director, Data and Analytics Ontario Long Term Care Association As the Director, Data and Analytics, Tommy provides leadership to the Association’s data infrastructure, develops business intelligence solutions and conducts analyses from several key long-term care data sources. He has conducted affordability analyses related to increasing preferred accommodation rates, developed the Association’s home-level financial benchmarking reports, and created a series of home and regional dashboard tools. Tommy has a Bachelor of Commerce degree from the University of Toronto related to finance and economics and has previously worked at several not-for-profit organizations. Tommy enjoys playing volleyball in his spare time. | |
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