Healthy Aging - Alberta Summit 2023

Karen McDonald

Community Leadership Council Chair and Provincial Director- Healthy Aging Alberta

Executive Director, Sage Seniors Association

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 accessing services.

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.

Elder Doreen Spence Biography

Known as Doctor Grandmother to many, Doreen Spence is a Cree Elder who was born and raised on the Good Fish Lake Reservation. She is also a member of the Saddle Lake Nation as her father was from Saddle Lake. Grandmother Doreen retired from nursing after having spent many years nursing in active treatment hospitals. Currently, she is an active Elder in Residence with the Cumming School of Medicine’s (CSM) Indigenous, Local and Global Health (ILGH) Office, working to build reconciliatory education for nursing students, faculty and staff at the Faculty of Nursing in the University of Calgary, she mentors’ students and staff in the Indigenous Primary Health Care and Policy Research Network (IPHCPR) and at Mount Royal University. Healing and wellness are her life-long legacy, and she is honoured to have been recognized by so many for doing what she is so passionate about. Some of the ways that Grandmother has been recognized are as follows:

Order of Canada (2022)

Honorary Doctor of Laws (2022)

Honorary Bachelor of Nursing (2017)

Indspire Culture and Spirituality Award (2017)

Alberta Centennial Medal (2005)

Nominated for the 2005 Nobel Peace Prize

YWCA Woman of Distinction Award (1999)

Council on Adoptable Children, New York (1997)

Alberta Human Rights Award (1993)

Chief David Crowchild Memorial Award (1992)

Dr. Sharon Anderson completed a Master in Community Rehabilitation and Disability Studies with Dr. Nancy Marlett at the University of Calgary, a Master of Science in Public Health, and PhD in Family Gerontology with Dr. Norah Keatikng.  She is the President of the Alberta Association on Gerontology and research coordinator in the Department of Family Medicine for Dr. Jasneet Parmar's  Caregiver-Centered Care Health Workforce Education (www.caregivercare.ca).  

CEO of CANAge, Canada’s national advocacy organization working to improve the lives of older adults through advocacy, policy, and community engagement.

Laura is a global expert on issues related to aging & one of the leading voices in Canada. She is a lawyer, a frequent media commentator, an author, an academic researcher and well-known community activist. She is an Assistant Professor in the Factor Inwentash Faculty of Social Work University of Toronto where she specializes in research on Law and Aging. She was called to the Bar in 1999.

Her new book on how to survive your aging parents without losing your own head comes out next year. Laura is the recipient of numerous Canadian and international awards for her work with seniors.

Laura Tamblyn Watts,   laura@canage.ca

 Michelle Saunder, LTW Assistant     michelle@canage.ca

Marlene Raasok is representing Alberta Association on Gerontology

Marlene is retired and living in Airdrie, Alberta and busy volunteering to support her passion related to creating environments and systems that support well-being and quality of life as we age, a passion that comes from years as a family caregiver and as a leader in continuing care and post-secondary education. She is currently on the Board of the Alberta Association on Gerontology and vice-chair of their Futures Policy Forum, their major strategic initiative to advance a culture and community for change in support of Alberta's vision for healthy aging and quality of life for older Albertans.  She is also Vice-Chair of the Board of the Good Samaritan Society. In her spare time, drives for Drive Happiness/Volunteer Airdrie.  Her professional career had two areas of focus: leadership in continuing care from 1979-2000 (Extendicare, Carewest, Calgary Health Region) and growing and advancing change in post-secondary education for health and community service programs from 2000-2016 (SAIT in Calgary and Conestoga College in Kitchener). In Kitchener, she was involved in setting up the Research Institute for Aging with Schlegel Villages and the University of Waterloo. 

Effective July 1, 2023, Marvin will return to Canada to become the College Dean and Vice Provost for Social Sciences and Humanities at the University of Alberta. Currently, he is a Professor of Management at Portland State University. Prior to that he spent 15 years at the University of Alberta and 5 years at Texas Tech University. Dr. Washington has written three books focused on leadership, strategy, and organizational change. His most recent book is, Lead Self First Before Leading Others with Stephen Hacker at Business Expert Press.

Over the past 20 years, Dr. Washington has worked with a wide array of organizations. Most notably, Dr. Washington has worked with organizations such as AHS, Enbridge, Shaw Communications, AIMCo, Blue Cross, YMCA, Parkland Fuels, Syncrude, and SportChek, many ministries and departments in the Country of Botswana, the state of Oregon, Government of Alberta and the City of Edmonton on topics of leadership, organizational change, and diversity, equity, inclusion and social justice.

washingt@ualberta.ca

Marlene Raasok is representing Alberta Association on Gerontology

Marlene is retired and living in Airdrie, Alberta and busy volunteering to support her passion related to creating environments and systems that support well-being and quality of life as we age, a passion that comes from years as a family caregiver and as a leader in continuing care and post-secondary education. She is currently on the Board of the Alberta Association on Gerontology and vice-chair of their Futures Policy Forum, their major strategic initiative to advance a culture and community for change in support of Alberta's vision for healthy aging and quality of life for older Albertans.  She is also Vice-Chair of the Board of the Good Samaritan Society. In her spare time, drives for Drive Happiness/Volunteer Airdrie.  Her professional career had two areas of focus: leadership in continuing care from 1979-2000 (Extendicare, Carewest, Calgary Health Region) and growing and advancing change in post-secondary education for health and community service programs from 2000-2016 (SAIT in Calgary and Conestoga College in Kitchener). In Kitchener, she was involved in setting up the Research Institute for Aging with Schlegel Villages and the University of Waterloo. 

Carl grew up in Edmonton, is a father of two and now lives in London, England. His parents and brother live in Edmonton.

Carl travels the world to help audiences all over the world embrace aging as an adventure. His latest book, Bolder: How to Age and Feel Better About Aging, explores aging—how we can do it. It’s a spirited manifesto against ageism.

A verbal magician, conjuring concepts with no new idea too complex to capture.” Australian Financial Review

carl@carlhonore.com

Marlene Raasok is representing Alberta Association on Gerontology

Marlene is retired and living in Airdrie, Alberta and busy volunteering to support her passion related to creating environments and systems that support well-being and quality of life as we age, a passion that comes from years as a family caregiver and as a leader in continuing care and post-secondary education. She is currently on the Board of the Alberta Association on Gerontology and vice-chair of their Futures Policy Forum, their major strategic initiative to advance a culture and community for change in support of Alberta's vision for healthy aging and quality of life for older Albertans.  She is also Vice-Chair of the Board of the Good Samaritan Society. In her spare time, drives for Drive Happiness/Volunteer Airdrie.  Her professional career had two areas of focus: leadership in continuing care from 1979-2000 (Extendicare, Carewest, Calgary Health Region) and growing and advancing change in post-secondary education for health and community service programs from 2000-2016 (SAIT in Calgary and Conestoga College in Kitchener). In Kitchener, she was involved in setting up the Research Institute for Aging with Schlegel Villages and the University of Waterloo. 

CEO of CANAge, Canada’s national advocacy organization working to improve the lives of older adults through advocacy, policy, and community engagement.

Laura is a global expert on issues related to aging & one of the leading voices in Canada. She is a lawyer, a frequent media commentator, an author, an academic researcher and well-known community activist. She is an Assistant Professor in the Factor Inwentash Faculty of Social Work University of Toronto where she specializes in research on Law and Aging. She was called to the Bar in 1999.

Her new book on how to survive your aging parents without losing your own head comes out next year. Laura is the recipient of numerous Canadian and international awards for her work with seniors.

Laura Tamblyn Watts,   laura@canage.ca

 Michelle Saunder, LTW Assistant     michelle@canage.ca

Effective July 1, 2023, Marvin will return to Canada to become the College Dean and Vice Provost for Social Sciences and Humanities at the University of Alberta. Currently, he is a Professor of Management at Portland State University. Prior to that he spent 15 years at the University of Alberta and 5 years at Texas Tech University. Dr. Washington has written three books focused on leadership, strategy, and organizational change. His most recent book is, Lead Self First Before Leading Others with Stephen Hacker at Business Expert Press.

Over the past 20 years, Dr. Washington has worked with a wide array of organizations. Most notably, Dr. Washington has worked with organizations such as AHS, Enbridge, Shaw Communications, AIMCo, Blue Cross, YMCA, Parkland Fuels, Syncrude, and SportChek, many ministries and departments in the Country of Botswana, the state of Oregon, Government of Alberta and the City of Edmonton on topics of leadership, organizational change, and diversity, equity, inclusion and social justice.

washingt@ualberta.ca

Carl grew up in Edmonton, is a father of two and now lives in London, England. His parents and brother live in Edmonton.

Carl travels the world to help audiences all over the world embrace aging as an adventure. His latest book, Bolder: How to Age and Feel Better About Aging, explores aging—how we can do it. It’s a spirited manifesto against ageism.

A verbal magician, conjuring concepts with no new idea too complex to capture.” Australian Financial Review

carl@carlhonore.com

Marlene Raasok is representing Alberta Association on Gerontology

Marlene is retired and living in Airdrie, Alberta and busy volunteering to support her passion related to creating environments and systems that support well-being and quality of life as we age, a passion that comes from years as a family caregiver and as a leader in continuing care and post-secondary education. She is currently on the Board of the Alberta Association on Gerontology and vice-chair of their Futures Policy Forum, their major strategic initiative to advance a culture and community for change in support of Alberta's vision for healthy aging and quality of life for older Albertans.  She is also Vice-Chair of the Board of the Good Samaritan Society. In her spare time, drives for Drive Happiness/Volunteer Airdrie.  Her professional career had two areas of focus: leadership in continuing care from 1979-2000 (Extendicare, Carewest, Calgary Health Region) and growing and advancing change in post-secondary education for health and community service programs from 2000-2016 (SAIT in Calgary and Conestoga College in Kitchener). In Kitchener, she was involved in setting up the Research Institute for Aging with Schlegel Villages and the University of Waterloo. 

As a health executive with over 20 years of clinical and leadership experience, Len brings a passion for breaking down barriers to improve care delivery across the community and primary care sectors. 

 Len is the co-founder and past president of Prescription to Get Active, a federal not-for-profit organization that aims to improve physical activity using the power of a prescription.  In his current role, Leonard is focusing on improving customer wellness by working with ecosystem partners to simplify health navigation.

lfrank@ab.bluecross.ca

Marlene Raasok is representing Alberta Association on Gerontology

Marlene is retired and living in Airdrie, Alberta and busy volunteering to support her passion related to creating environments and systems that support well-being and quality of life as we age, a passion that comes from years as a family caregiver and as a leader in continuing care and post-secondary education. She is currently on the Board of the Alberta Association on Gerontology and vice-chair of their Futures Policy Forum, their major strategic initiative to advance a culture and community for change in support of Alberta's vision for healthy aging and quality of life for older Albertans.  She is also Vice-Chair of the Board of the Good Samaritan Society. In her spare time, drives for Drive Happiness/Volunteer Airdrie.  Her professional career had two areas of focus: leadership in continuing care from 1979-2000 (Extendicare, Carewest, Calgary Health Region) and growing and advancing change in post-secondary education for health and community service programs from 2000-2016 (SAIT in Calgary and Conestoga College in Kitchener). In Kitchener, she was involved in setting up the Research Institute for Aging with Schlegel Villages and the University of Waterloo. 

Jill is a focused communicator and fundraiser, best known for using evidence-based approaches to create smart solutions. She is passionate about the charitable sector and enhancing dementia support.

Before becoming a consultant, Jill served as Director, Philanthropy and Engagement with the Alzheimer Society of Calgary, was engaged in Dementia Network Calgary (collective impact initiative) and co-led the public awareness working group within the dementia strategy for Alberta.

Today, Jill is a certified Communication Management Professional (CMP) and a Certified Fund-Raising Executive (CFRE). She has a double degree in communication and psychology and is a member of both professional associations, AFP (Association of Fundraising Professionals) and IABC (the International Association of Business Communicators).

Website and contact:

www.stillme.ca

jillpetrovic@outlook.com

Marlene Raasok is representing Alberta Association on Gerontology

Marlene is retired and living in Airdrie, Alberta and busy volunteering to support her passion related to creating environments and systems that support well-being and quality of life as we age, a passion that comes from years as a family caregiver and as a leader in continuing care and post-secondary education. She is currently on the Board of the Alberta Association on Gerontology and vice-chair of their Futures Policy Forum, their major strategic initiative to advance a culture and community for change in support of Alberta's vision for healthy aging and quality of life for older Albertans.  She is also Vice-Chair of the Board of the Good Samaritan Society. In her spare time, drives for Drive Happiness/Volunteer Airdrie.  Her professional career had two areas of focus: leadership in continuing care from 1979-2000 (Extendicare, Carewest, Calgary Health Region) and growing and advancing change in post-secondary education for health and community service programs from 2000-2016 (SAIT in Calgary and Conestoga College in Kitchener). In Kitchener, she was involved in setting up the Research Institute for Aging with Schlegel Villages and the University of Waterloo. 

CEO of CANAge, Canada’s national advocacy organization working to improve the lives of older adults through advocacy, policy, and community engagement.

Laura is a global expert on issues related to aging & one of the leading voices in Canada. She is a lawyer, a frequent media commentator, an author, an academic researcher and well-known community activist. She is an Assistant Professor in the Factor Inwentash Faculty of Social Work University of Toronto where she specializes in research on Law and Aging. She was called to the Bar in 1999.

Her new book on how to survive your aging parents without losing your own head comes out next year. Laura is the recipient of numerous Canadian and international awards for her work with seniors.

Laura Tamblyn Watts,   laura@canage.ca

 Michelle Saunder, LTW Assistant     michelle@canage.ca

My name is Reg Crowshoe. My Blackfoot name is Awakaaseena, which is Deer Chief in our language, and that was my grandfather’s name. I’m from the Piikani Nation in Southern Alberta. My father is Joe Crowshoe. And Joe Crowshoe was an Elder and a Bundle Keeper from the Peigan reserve for many years. He held onto the Short Thunder Medicine Pipe Bundle, and he ran the Sun Dances, and was instrumental in bringing back the Brave Dog Society, and the Chickadee Society. I think without his teachings, we would have lost a lot of our culture. I’m happy to be exposed to his teachings. We lost the old man a few years ago. He was about a hundred. He said he was born in 1902, but he wasn’t baptized until 1909. When he passed away in he was well into a hundred. So his knowledge is what I benefited from.

My mother’s side of the family was from the Nez Perce Nation in Idaho. When the United States army was pursuing the Nez Perce to put them on a reservation in the southwestern States, Chief Joseph and the Nez Perce didn’t want to go, and they had a battle. He fought the U.S. army all the way up to the Canadian border. So he brought his people’s children to the Canadian side, and he said the Queen and Indians from this side would look after the Nez Perce children. And then he went back across the border into Idaho, and picked up the battle, and he led the army east away from his children, until he gave up his rifle at Bear’s Paw battleground in Montana. Meanwhile, the children were taken in by the Piikani; our people were hiding these children now. And when the Indian agent asked who this new group of people were that were claiming to be Piikani, our people gave them the only name they could think of that they could relate to these children - they gave them the last name of “Warrior.” So today we still have that family name of “Warrior” in my mother’s family.

My parents kept the ways of the Thunder Medicine Pipe, the Sun Dance, and the Blackfoot Societies going. They held onto the Short Thunder Medicine Pipe Bundle, which has never seen the inside of a museum, at a time when all the other bundles were being claimed by museums or sold to the museum by the Indian agent. But the old man held it because of my grandmother wanting to keep our ways.

So I find strength in the ceremonies and teachings of my parents and grandparents. They passed on transferred rights, or traditional authorities, that I’m responsible for today. And I still run those ceremonies in the community: the Thunder Pipe, the Sun Dance, the Society ceremonies. That is my traditional lineage, my Blackfoot identity.

Within that oral Blackfoot Piikani system I’m acknowledged as a ceremonialist who will run the Sun Dances, or the Thunder Pipe ceremonies, or other ceremonies, such as those of the Brave Dog society. I’ve also had the privilege of caring for a few bundles that I’ve transferred on to new owners. Once you’ve transferred on a bundle, you become a ceremonial grandparent to that individual or to that group of individuals. And then you’re recognized as an elder, according to our traditional criteria. But I would call myself a ceremonial grandparent. In our traditional community that’s how I’m recognized. And I’m also a teacher, and I’m still facilitating our ceremonies.

For white man’s knowledge I was brought to the St. Cypriot Anglican Residential School on the Peigan Reserve when I was young. But before I went to school, I spoke my language, and I believed in my grandmothers’ and grandfathers’ ways. When I went to residential school, I was totally lost, because the system did not reflect my belief system in any way. But I have to admit that I got an education through the residential schools. I learned how to read and write, and that’s still helping me today.

The department of Indian Affairs education policies changed while I was a child, so I went to many different schools. Each time the residential school was shut, I went to school in the local towns, and when the policies changed, then we’d go back to the Indian schools on the reserve. And when the policies were changed to send all of the children out to get integrated to residential schools away from the reserve, I was sent there – so each time the policy changed, my education path changed. Anyway, I completed my high school and I went to the University of Calgary for a while, and from there I felt like I was running away from school. But I came back and I joined the RCMP. I ended up in Regina, and I worked on several reserves in Saskatchewan. And then our chief and council asked for permission for me to come back here on the reserve, so I was stationed in Pincher Creek. I moved from the RCMP back onto the reserve, and I started working with the Peigan band departments.

But all along, I was still learning from the old people, looking after the old people. I ended up working with the province developing Head-Smashed-In Buffalo Jump, where I started working in policy and culture. I went on to work with the University of Lethbridge developing a cultural management course, and also developed courses with the University of Calgary.

I eventually co-authored a book, Akak’stiman, and other publications on justice and sentencing circles, with an author out of Amsterdam. These books were translated to Dutch. They’re still at the University of Calgary. I co-authored another book with the University of Colorado; its title is “Science in the Native Community.” After I left the province, I worked with the band, researching our culture. And eventually the University of Calgary honoured me with an honorary degree. So I guess that would be the extent of my Western education.

I would say I had a chance to learn on both sides, which allows me today to enjoy my dream job of speaking my language, listening to our stories, and extracting the systems and tools we need to give our young people today so that we can carry on our culture. My passion is cultural preservation, cultural protection and cultural renewal of our ways.

Biography

Reg Crowshoe, is a newly appointed member of the University of Calgary Senate, and a prominent cultural and spiritual leader from Piikuni First Nation in Southern Alberta, where he formerly served as chief.

Dr. Crowshoe has a long standing relationship with the University of Calgary and has generously shared and offered his assistance, ceremonial leadership, and traditional knowledge to students, The Native Centre and other faculties for many years. Dr. Crowshoe is widely recognized for his dedication to Piikuni artifacts, traditions, language, culture, and history, and, like his father the late Dr. Joseph Crowshoe, was awarded an honorary Doctorate Degree by the University of Calgary in 2001.

Dr. Crowshoe is also the founder of the Old Man River Cultural Society, and he authored the book “Akak’stiman, A Blackfoot Framework for Decision-Making and Mediation Processes”, published by University of Calgary Press in 2002. 

Elder Rose Crowshoe

Rose Crowshoe, Blackfoot Elder, Traditional Knowledge Keepers from Piikani First Nation, wife of Dr. Reg Crowshoe, and recipient of the Grant MacEwan Lifetime Achievement award for Community Impact.  

The Crowshoes are major contributors in preserving, sharing, and celebrating Blackfoot culture. They continue to establish new ways for individuals and groups to respectfully learn about and work with Indigenous people. 

“Today our young people… we tell them to be kind, and all we give them is a dictionary where they can read the definition of kindness, but they don’t know how to act it. In our oral culture and teachings, we have to practice it in our teachings and day to day, (to truly) be kind to our fellow humans.” 

Rose Crowshoe likens the beginning stages of sanctified kindness to our earliest experiences of warmth and love as small children: 

“When our children were born, the old people would take that baby and hold it. The baby could feel that warmth, that kindness, so it’s instilled in them. I remember my children would say, “Mom, could you do something for my (crying) baby!” so I’d take the baby and wrap it tightly and just sing it a lullaby song that calms them down. I’m giving them that kindness and gentleness that we have.” 

66-year old, F.O.C.U.S on Seniors; cross-cultural and inter-generational bridge builder

93 years old, caregiver for late wife, book author, community activist, and contributor to dementia care

87 years old, started her 3rd IT company at 87. A provocateur who hates the word “aging” and is asking us to use “building a legacy of life experiences” instead. 

Marlene Raasok is representing Alberta Association on Gerontology

Marlene is retired and living in Airdrie, Alberta and busy volunteering to support her passion related to creating environments and systems that support well-being and quality of life as we age, a passion that comes from years as a family caregiver and as a leader in continuing care and post-secondary education. She is currently on the Board of the Alberta Association on Gerontology and vice-chair of their Futures Policy Forum, their major strategic initiative to advance a culture and community for change in support of Alberta's vision for healthy aging and quality of life for older Albertans.  She is also Vice-Chair of the Board of the Good Samaritan Society. In her spare time, drives for Drive Happiness/Volunteer Airdrie.  Her professional career had two areas of focus: leadership in continuing care from 1979-2000 (Extendicare, Carewest, Calgary Health Region) and growing and advancing change in post-secondary education for health and community service programs from 2000-2016 (SAIT in Calgary and Conestoga College in Kitchener). In Kitchener, she was involved in setting up the Research Institute for Aging with Schlegel Villages and the University of Waterloo. 

Karen McDonald

Community Leadership Council Chair and Provincial Director- Healthy Aging Alberta

Executive Director, Sage Seniors Association

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 accessing services.

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.

Dr. Sharon Anderson completed a Master in Community Rehabilitation and Disability Studies with Dr. Nancy Marlett at the University of Calgary, a Master of Science in Public Health, and PhD in Family Gerontology with Dr. Norah Keatikng.  She is the President of the Alberta Association on Gerontology and research coordinator in the Department of Family Medicine for Dr. Jasneet Parmar's  Caregiver-Centered Care Health Workforce Education (www.caregivercare.ca).  

ELDER JACKIE BROMLEY

Born in Cardston, from the Kainai First Nation of the Blackfoot Confederacy. Raised by her grandparents in a very traditional way. She is forever grateful for the guidance and encouragement she received from her grandparents.

Jackie Bromley has worked for over 30 years to empower the Indigenous population in and around Calgary and assist them in gaining access to housing. Her contribution helped with the establishment of Treaty 7 Housing, she currently works at the Awo Taan Healing Lodge Society as a Rural and Community Outreach Support, and Cultural Advisor for the Lodge. She also sits on the Provincial Patient and Family Advisory Group for Alberta Health Services as a Cultural Lead.

In 2017 Jackie was honoured to be the recipient of the Arthur R. Smith award for her tireless work in regard to helping families find and maintain housing and her leadership within the community. In 2018 Jackie was elated to receive an Esquao Award from the Institute for the Advancement of Aboriginal Women for her community involvement. Jackie’s dedication and passion for the wellbeing of others resonates.

Jackie is one of the Elders that is part of the Elders Knowledge Circle.  

Karen McDonald

Community Leadership Council Chair and Provincial Director- Healthy Aging Alberta

Executive Director, Sage Seniors Association

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 accessing services.

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 McDonald

Community Leadership Council Chair and Provincial Director- Healthy Aging Alberta

Executive Director, Sage Seniors Association

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 accessing services.

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.

Lisa Stebbins

Healthy Aging Alberta- Community Leadership Council

Chief Program Officer, carya

Lisa is currently the Chief Program Officer with carya Society of Calgary. Since beginning her work with carya (formerly Calgary Family Services) in 2000, Lisa has held the positions of Human Resources Manager and Director of Homecare Operations. From 2013 – 2015, Lisa worked as an independent consultant providing expertise in human resource management, policy development and organizational effectiveness to diverse clients ranging from start-up oil and gas service companies to First Nations communities. In 2015, Lisa returned to carya to provide operational leadership in the growing area of older adult programs/services and community development.

Lisa has been involved with Healthy Aging Alberta since its inception and is a strong advocate of the Community Based Senior Sector in Alberta and the impact organizations across the province make towards improving the lives of older persons. Lisa has supported the development of Healthy Aging Alberta in many ways including the initial stakeholder engagement activities in Southern Alberta that led to the creation of Healthy Aging Alberta, advancing social prescribing in the Calgary region, and speaking on behalf of the CLC at events.

(Winnipeg based- optional) Author, speaker and social innovator Shaun Loney has cofounded a dozen different social enterprises that hire people with barriers to employment.   Shaun has been recognized by Ashoka, Ernst and Young and ScotiaBank as one of Canadas leading social entrepreneurs. Along the way, a new path emerged that modernizes the relationship between governments, nonprofits and foundations.  Using new tools, governments can create space for solutions to grow, nonprofits can finally get the resources they need to scale and foundations can add social impact to their investment strategies.  

shaunloney@encompass.coop

Encompass Coop

ELDER JACKIE BROMLEY

Born in Cardston, from the Kainai First Nation of the Blackfoot Confederacy. Raised by her grandparents in a very traditional way. She is forever grateful for the guidance and encouragement she received from her grandparents.

Jackie Bromley has worked for over 30 years to empower the Indigenous population in and around Calgary and assist them in gaining access to housing. Her contribution helped with the establishment of Treaty 7 Housing, she currently works at the Awo Taan Healing Lodge Society as a Rural and Community Outreach Support, and Cultural Advisor for the Lodge. She also sits on the Provincial Patient and Family Advisory Group for Alberta Health Services as a Cultural Lead.

In 2017 Jackie was honoured to be the recipient of the Arthur R. Smith award for her tireless work in regard to helping families find and maintain housing and her leadership within the community. In 2018 Jackie was elated to receive an Esquao Award from the Institute for the Advancement of Aboriginal Women for her community involvement. Jackie’s dedication and passion for the wellbeing of others resonates.

Jackie is one of the Elders that is part of the Elders Knowledge Circle.  

Monica Morrison

Community Leadership Council - Healthy Aging Alberta

Former Executive Director, Golden Circle Senior Resource Centre

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 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.

Wale arrived in Canada in 1982 as a young man with big dreams and a determination to succeed. He had always been interested in the world of finance, and he knew that Canada offered many opportunities for those who were willing to work hard.  

Wale enrolled in the University of Calgary, where he studied Economics and Political Science. He quickly distinguished himself as a top student, and upon graduation, he landed a job at CIBC.

He moved through the ranks and left in 2002 as a Regional Manager, Small Business for Western Canada. The highlight of Wale’s Career was when he was sent to the West Indies to be CIBC’s Country Manager on the Island of St Lucia. As country Manager, he oversaw a portfolio of over 500 million USD.  

Wale moved on into Private business, becoming the President of Aquafinancial consulting in 2002. He is a serial entrepreneur who founded several businesses in the last 20 years. He is the CEO of 3 other Companies in Canada.Mr Gbalajobi is also a Director of Melcom Homes Ltd.  

On the Community front, he was a founding member of the Nigerian Canadian Association of Calgary (NCAC). 

He served as Treasurer from 1993 to 1998. He became Vice President of the Association in 2003. As Vice President, he championed and structured a $300,000 fundraise toward the “NCAC House” purchase. It is noteworthy that NCAC purchased the building without a bank mortgage.Wale served as President of the association between 2006 and 2008.  

Mr Gbalajobi has served on the Board of Families Matter. This group is a nonprofit organization that aids in sustaining strong Family relationships in Calgary and surrounding areas.  

Wale has also served in the Fundraising efforts of the United Way. In 1997 he was the Chair of CIBC’S United Way fundraising. His efforts led to $130,000 in fundraising through various creative ways. 

He was a founding member of the African Community Association (ACA) of Calgary in 1996. He served as Treasurer of the group from 1996 to 1998. He is the Current Chairman of North America of the Igbobi College Old Boys Association -his alma mater. As Chairman, he has helped raise over 200,000 USD for various projects and scholarship programs for disadvantaged students in one of the premier High Schools in Nigeria. He is a current co-Chair of The Beddington Pentecostal Churches (BPC), “Advancing the Kingdom” new mega-church fundraising drive.  

Wale’s Company helped to organize meetings with the Calgary business groups during the recent visit of the Olu of Warri Kingdom to Canada. There was also a Tribe-to-Tribe partnership declaration during the visit between the Tsutina nation and the Warri Kingdom of Nigeria. In addition to his other business and community engagements, Mr Gbalajobi is Chairman of the Allen Angus Cooperative Investment Committee.  He is a strategic advisor to the Ladies in the Family Foundation (LIFF) – A platform for women to have honest discussions on issues affecting them in a fun, non-judgmental way.He also is an Advisor to Bridge to Oasis Foundation (BTO). BTO focuses on the well-being of Black and African seniors and supplementing the care provided by family members.  

Tim is the Training Coordinator for the Rural Mental Health Network. He has spent over 28 years involved in community development work (asset-based), psycho-social capacity building in communities following natural and man made disasters and training development and facilitation for organizations across Alberta looking to create psychologically safer workplaces. Passionate about citizen-led community action he is a champion for social movements seeking change at a societal level.

Jeny Mathews-Thusoo (click to hear my name) (she/her) is a proud second-generation Malayalee woman with a vision that the future of cities belongs to the those who believe in the power of dreams. She has worked in social change for 20+ years with a vision that the future of cities belongs to the those who believe in the power of dreams.

She is a Program Lead of Resilience and Futures at The City of Calgary where she is co-designing a Social Resilience Through Futures Studies practice to democratize the future, and to collectively imagine transformative futures of trust and liberated governance. She is an active member of the Resilient Cities Network Racial Equity Through Resilience Community of Practice, a coalition of cities in Canada and USA, influencing city practices and policies to dismantle racism. 

Jeny is also an instructor with the University of Calgary, Faculty of Social Work teaching advanced policy practice with a lens of social innovation. She holds a Masters in Community Health Sciences from the University of Calgary and Degrees in Education and Science.

Raza M. Mirza, PhD

Position and Affiliations:

Director, National Partnerships and Knowledge Mobilization, HelpAge Canada

and

Assistant Professor (Status Only), University of Toronto, Institute for Life Course and Aging;

Bio:

Raza M. Mirza, PhD received his MSc and doctorate degrees from the Graduate department of Pharmaceutical Sciences at the University of Toronto's Leslie Dan Faculty of Pharmacy. His areas of expertise and teaching interests include research methods and evaluation, medical decision-making, the socio-behavioral determinants of health in persons aging with a chronic illness, aging-in-place, and factors such as social isolation and loneliness influencing late-life social, mental and physical well-being. He has been an invited speaker at national and international gerontology and geriatrics conferences, workshops and symposiums, and has consulted with various levels of government on diverse issues related to an aging population.

Dr. Mirza is the Director of National Partnerships and Knowledge Mobilization with HelpAge Canada, and Assistant Professor (Status) at the University of Toronto's Institute for Life Course and Aging.

Sharon Hamlin, Senior Practice Consultant

Sharon is a Registered Nurse with a broad range of experience spanning over 25 years in three provinces, and in rural and urban settings as a front-line clinician, and in management and provincial roles. Her current role as a Senior Practice Consultant gives her the opportunity to support community teams to build and enhance wellbeing of those living in their community.

Tim is the Training Coordinator for the Rural Mental Health Network. He has spent over 28 years involved in community development work (asset-based), psycho-social capacity building in communities following natural and man made disasters and training development and facilitation for organizations across Alberta looking to create psychologically safer workplaces. Passionate about citizen-led community action he is a champion for social movements seeking change at a societal level.

(Winnipeg based- optional) Author, speaker and social innovator Shaun Loney has cofounded a dozen different social enterprises that hire people with barriers to employment.   Shaun has been recognized by Ashoka, Ernst and Young and ScotiaBank as one of Canadas leading social entrepreneurs. Along the way, a new path emerged that modernizes the relationship between governments, nonprofits and foundations.  Using new tools, governments can create space for solutions to grow, nonprofits can finally get the resources they need to scale and foundations can add social impact to their investment strategies.  

shaunloney@encompass.coop

Encompass Coop

Jeny Mathews-Thusoo (click to hear my name) (she/her) is a proud second-generation Malayalee woman with a vision that the future of cities belongs to the those who believe in the power of dreams. She has worked in social change for 20+ years with a vision that the future of cities belongs to the those who believe in the power of dreams.

She is a Program Lead of Resilience and Futures at The City of Calgary where she is co-designing a Social Resilience Through Futures Studies practice to democratize the future, and to collectively imagine transformative futures of trust and liberated governance. She is an active member of the Resilient Cities Network Racial Equity Through Resilience Community of Practice, a coalition of cities in Canada and USA, influencing city practices and policies to dismantle racism. 

Jeny is also an instructor with the University of Calgary, Faculty of Social Work teaching advanced policy practice with a lens of social innovation. She holds a Masters in Community Health Sciences from the University of Calgary and Degrees in Education and Science.

Raza M. Mirza, PhD

Position and Affiliations:

Director, National Partnerships and Knowledge Mobilization, HelpAge Canada

and

Assistant Professor (Status Only), University of Toronto, Institute for Life Course and Aging;

Bio:

Raza M. Mirza, PhD received his MSc and doctorate degrees from the Graduate department of Pharmaceutical Sciences at the University of Toronto's Leslie Dan Faculty of Pharmacy. His areas of expertise and teaching interests include research methods and evaluation, medical decision-making, the socio-behavioral determinants of health in persons aging with a chronic illness, aging-in-place, and factors such as social isolation and loneliness influencing late-life social, mental and physical well-being. He has been an invited speaker at national and international gerontology and geriatrics conferences, workshops and symposiums, and has consulted with various levels of government on diverse issues related to an aging population.

Dr. Mirza is the Director of National Partnerships and Knowledge Mobilization with HelpAge Canada, and Assistant Professor (Status) at the University of Toronto's Institute for Life Course and Aging.

Sharon Hamlin, Senior Practice Consultant

Sharon is a Registered Nurse with a broad range of experience spanning over 25 years in three provinces, and in rural and urban settings as a front-line clinician, and in management and provincial roles. Her current role as a Senior Practice Consultant gives her the opportunity to support community teams to build and enhance wellbeing of those living in their community.

Larry Mathieson

Community Leadership Council - Healthy Aging Alberta

CEO, Unison at Kerby Centre

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, 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. 

Shantel Ottenbreit

Community Leadership Council - Healthy Aging Alberta

Community Resource Worker, City of Medicine Hat

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.

Dr. Amara Enyia is a Strategist and Public Policy Expert on city and state policy as well as international affairs with expertise in Africa, Latin America, and Central Asia.

In addition to her role as President of transnational advocacy organization Global Black, she also serves as the Director of Policy & Research for the Movement for Black Lives, Senior Advisor for the Institute on Race, Power, and Political Economy at The New School, and as a Strategy Advisor for organizations, companies, political campaigns, and public sector institutions globally. She is a Leader-in-Residence for Policy and Change with the Atlantic Institute. Dr. Enyia also serves as Chairwoman of the International Working Group for the United Nations Permanent Forum on People of African Descent and Chairwoman of the working group on Global Economic Systems, Institutions and Policy.

Her strategy and policy work connects her to the 6th Region of the African Union Commission, and she is member of the 2020-2022 cohort with the London School of Economics Executive Program in Cities. Prior to her current roles, she worked in the Mayor’s Office for the City of Chicago and served as Executive Director of community-based organizations. As a grassroots organizer she worked on issues of education equity, economic justice, and environmental justice.

Amara holds a bachelor's degree in Journalism and a bachelor's degree in Political Science. She also holds a master’s degree in education, a master’s degree in Cities from the London School of Economics, a law degree, and a Ph.D. in Education Policy with a specialization in Evaluation. She serves on the Board of the Pakistan Journal of Urban Affairs, the Chicago Community Loan Fund, and the Chicago Neighborhood Initiatives Microfinance Group. She also serves on the National Advisory Board of the Public Banking Institute and is a 2022 inductee into the Illini Media Company Hall of Fame. Dr. Enyia maintains proficiency in Igbo, Spanish, French, and Portuguese and was named a Public Policy Global Leadership Fellow with the Global Strategists Association.

 amara.enyia@gmail.com, aenyia@gmail.com

Elder Patrick Diagneault was born and raised in a small northern community of Ile a la Crosse, Saskatchewan. He is married with three beautiful children and has two grandchildren. In the earlier part of his life, he was taken from his home life and introduced to residential school, and here he had to learn a different way of life.

He has worked in the health field for most of his life and is always looking to help people move forward. Through the teachings he received from his grandfather & father, he works with families and people today. He has extensive knowledge in his Cree cultural and spiritual teachings.

He currently is an Elder with Miskanawah, which is a United Way funded organization and is part of the United Way Core Elders Group.

He is a member of the Circle of Aboriginal, International Association of Public Participation, and the Project Management Institute, and strongly support on behalf of TransAlta, the Canadian Council for Aboriginal Business. In 2022, Elder Patrick was the recipient of the Queen Platinum Jubilee Medal. 

Rob Miyashiro

Community Leadership Council - Healthy Aging Alberta

Executive Director, Lethbridge Senior Citizens Organization

Rob Miyashiro is the Executive Director of Lethbridge Senior Citizens Organization (LSCO) and was an elected member of Lethbridge City Council from 2013-2021. Since 1989, Rob has been in management positions with organizations including nonprofit groups, Blood Tribe First Nation, and the Government of Alberta. Rob was instrumental in the creation of Lethbridge Elder Abuse Response Network (LEARN), which is housed out of LSCO.

Rob is the chair of Age Friendly Lethbridge and is a Founding Board Member of the Alberta Association of Seniors Centres. He represents Lethbridge on Alberta Age Friendly Communities of Practice and is one of three Alberta representatives on the Pan-Canadian Age Friendly Reference Group. In his role as city councillor, Rob sits on several committees which have a direct impact on seniors including the Board of the Green Acres Foundation (Seniors Managed Housing Body) and Community Design Committee.

Sheila Hallett

Community Leadership Council - Healthy Aging Alberta

Executive Director, Edmonton Seniors Coordinating Council (ESCC)

Sheila Hallett began working as the Executive Director of Edmonton Seniors Coordinating Council in 2006 after several years as director of a local senior centre. She works to support collective community action that engages older adults and supports their well-being. Collaborative approaches have resulted in initiatives such as Age Friendly Edmonton (partnering with the City of Edmonton since 2013), Seniors Home Supports Program and the Pan-Edmonton Group Addressing the Social Isolation of Seniors (PEGASIS).

Sheila completed her Bachelor of Arts in 1989 from the School of Journalism and Communication, University of Regina. Her interest in social justice led her to work for the Edmonton Social Planning Council as well as many volunteer positions including leading an Abundant Community Committee in her neighbourhood.

Sheila and the ESCC staff worked with HAA to develop a messaging campaign for the provincial election that could be used to talk about the work Healthy Aging Alberta was doing for the sector and the impact of the Community-Based Senior Serving Sector.

Mariam Elghahuagi (she/her) 

Healthy Aging Alberta

Project Manager

I have worked at United Way of Calgary and Area for over ten years in various positions related to social innovation in community development and systems change initiatives. I currently lead the Healthy Aging Alberta project team, and I am responsible for activating and operationalizing the strategy of this new provincial initiative and stewarding existing and future funding partnerships that support this work. My educational background is in media, project management, and social work. I am currently completing an MSW focusing on Indigenous trauma and resiliency. 

Stephanie Banszky (she/her) 

Engagement and Communications Specialist

Healthy Aging Alberta

I joined United Way of Calgary and Area and the Healthy Aging Alberta team in November 2022. I have been working in the Calgary not-for-profit scene since 1998. My background is in creative placemaking, visual art, graphic design, facilitation, advocacy/social justice work and social emotional learning. I have worked for many years as a communiity activator, social change maker, building and developing communities, and empowering citizens. I believe that our capacity to make impactful systems change comes from intersectional community development, placemaking and bravery to challenge norms and have difficult conversations. 

Beth Mansell (she/her) 

Social Prescribing Project Manager

Healthy Aging Alberta

I have been working in the community-based seniors serving sector for over 5 years. Prior to joining the HAA team, I worked at Sage Seniors Association in Edmonton as the Strategic Initiatives Manager. My 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 I also completed my Masters in Public Health from the U of A with a specialization in Health Policy and Management.

Lauren Slavik (she/her) 

South Regional Community Developer

Healthy Aging Alberta

My background includes experience in public health and the US healthcare industry including health promotion, community health assessment, and healthcare administration. Primarily, my work in the public health sector has been focused on applying a health equity lens to inform policy as well as emphasizing a community-driven approach to creating healthy built environments. In my studies, I have completed a BS and an MPH.

Marla Kailly (she/her) 

Calgary & Area Regional Community Developer

Healthy Aging Alberta

My education includes studying people and their relationships with communities, cultures and their environments, and non-profit management. My work in the non-profit sector involves a focus on program delivery, encompassing operations, stakeholder relations and continuous improvement. I bring a background in evaluation, measurement and governance and will be supporting the development of evaluation criteria in this project. 

Jasmine Elniski (she/her)

Aging in Community Supports- Project Manager

Healthy Aging Alberta

After studying fashion design at Olds College and realizing that I love fashion but didn't want it as a career, I joined the non-profit sector in 2006. Since then, I have held a variety of governance and program-focused roles. My passion for community-based work began during my time with e4c and Bissell Centre in Edmonton (organizations serving folks experiencing poverty). It was these experiences that I decided to move into the CBSS sector.

Rebecca Aspden (she/her) 

Healthy Aging Alberta

Community Development Team Lead

My career path began as the manager of one of the busiest walk-in clinics in Red Deer. I was then asked to join AHS Medical Affairs as a physician resource planner (recruiter) for the central zone, which lead me to a role with the Primary Care Network as a Practice Facilitator. Covid changed the focus of my work from quality improvement to community development, and I absolutely fell in love with it! I am so thrilled to be part of this team and the important work we are undertaking. 

Christopher Smith, Ph.D. Muttart Foundation

Christopher is the Associate Executive Director for the Muttart Foundation, a private charitable foundation based in Edmonton. He has lead responsibility for the Foundation’s work in the area of early learning and child care.  

Christopher serves on the Steering Committee for the Community University Partnership for the Study of Children, Youth and Families at the University of Alberta and is a member of the Edmonton Council for Early Learning and Care. He was appointed to the National Advisory Council on Early Learning and Child Care in Fall, 2022. Christopher formerly served as a member of the National Expert Panel on Early Learning and Child Care Data and Research from 2019 to 2021 and is the former chair of the Success by 6 Council of Partners for the Alberta Capital Region.

Karen McDonald

Community Leadership Council Chair and Provincial Director- Healthy Aging Alberta

Executive Director, Sage Seniors Association

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 accessing services.

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.

Kahir Lalji is the Provincial Director, Government Relations & Programs with the United Way British Columbia – working with communities in BC’s Interior, Lower Mainland and Central & Northern Vancouver Island. Inspired by caring for his grandparents, Kahir dedicated the last 15+ years of his life to supporting the quality of life of older adults.