Keynote Speaker

Janice M. Keefe

Janice M. Keefe, PhD, is a Full Professor and Chair of the Department of Family Studies and Gerontology at Mount Saint Vincent University and holds appointments at Dalhousie University’s Faculties of Medicine and Graduate Studies and UNB’s School of Graduate Studies. In 2002, she was selected as Mount Saint Vincent’s first Canada Research Chair in Aging and Caregiving Policy which she held from 2002-2012.

Dr. Keefe has received provincial, national and international recognition of her research, most recently receiving the Global Ageing Network 2017 Award for Excellence in Applied Research. In 2006, she was awarded the Lena Isabel Jodrey Chair in Gerontology and appointed Director of the Nova Scotia Centre on Aging. Dr. Keefe’s research areas are caregiving policy and practice, continuing care policy and projecting the needs of older Canadians in the future. In the past decade she has published over 60 articles and technical reports.

She teaches courses in social policy and aging in the Master of Arts and Undergraduate Program in Family Studies and Gerontology and provides mentorship and supervision to a number of graduate students and post–doctoral fellows.

Concurrent Session Speakers

 

Lynda L. Mandzuk

Lynda L. Mandzuk worked for many years in an acute care facility as a clinical nurse, an educator and lastly a clinical nurse specialist. She has a special interest in geriatrics, dementia, and fall prevention. She has recently starting working at the Alzheimer Society of Manitoba as one of the Client Support Coordinators.

 

 

 

Beth Helliar

Beth Helliar is a nurse who worked for many years at St. Boniface hospital in direct care as well as education. She has experience in geriatrics, palliative care, and family medicine. Currently, she is working as a Client Support Coordinator for the Alzheimer Society of Manitoba.

 

 

 

Karen Schnell-Hoehn

Karen Schnell-Hoehn works as the Palliative Care Clinical Nurse Specialist at St. Boniface Hospital, where she assists with end of life care and symptom management for those with advanced diseases.  She has worked as a registered nurse for over 20 years in general medicine, critical care, cardiac sciences, and palliative care.  She received the St. Boniface Hospital Excellence in Nursing Leadership and Advocacy Award in 2016.  

 

 

 

Sue Vovchuk

Sue Vovchuk has been with the Long Term Care Program since 2009.  She first joined the Long Term Care Access Centre as an Access Coordinator and then accepted the Transition Manager position in 2011.  Sue has most recently accepted a term position with the Long Term Care Program as Manager, Transitional Care Environment.  In this new role, Sue will be supporting and developing the Transitional Care Model. Throughout her work with the Long Term Care Program, Sue has remained committed to client centered care and assisting clients and their caregivers with the long term care journey as they navigate their way at this critical juncture in their lives. 

Prior to her work with Long Term Care, Sue worked for several years as a Case Coordinator with Home Care and with Manitoba Housing as both a front line worker and in Management.  Throughout her career, Sue’s primary focus has always been to help facilitate seamless access to service while maintaining dignity and value. 

 

Dr. Lois Stewart-Archer

Dr. Lois Stewart-Archer is the Regional Clinical Nurse Specialist of the Winnipeg Health Region, Rehabilitation & Geriatrics Programme and a research affiliate of the Manitoba Centre for Nursing and Health Research, University of Manitoba. She provides consultations regarding management and treatment of challenging issues related to older adults with mental health/psychiatric concerns; clinical education and supervision; and develops policies/protocols, and practice guidelines for the clinical teams. Dr. Stewart-Archer enjoys working with these wise older adults and strongly endorses maintenance of their dignity, spirit, and independence.

 

 

Norma Kirkby

Norma is a Professional Home Economist with specialization in Family and Resource Management. She holds a Certificate in Financial Planning. With this background, Norma has worked in numerous fields where the underlying theme has been assisting individuals and families to live successfully.

Norma joined the Alzheimer Society in June of 2002 and has held the portfolio of Program Director since April 2007. As Program Director, she is responsible for the Society’s vision for education, client services and advocacy.

 

Lindsay Bacala

Lindsay Bacala is a registered social worker at Deer Lodge Centre in the Dementia Care Program for the Special Needs Units and the Special Needs Behavior Units.  Her role includes providing resources and support to staff, residents and family members.  Lindsay is also involved in numerous education sessions regarding mental health, dementia and managing difficult behaviors associated with dementia.

 

 

 

 

 

Meghann Gregg-Sirant

Meghann Gregg-Sirant is a Clinical Resource Nurse for the Dementia Care Program in the Special Needs Unit at Deer Lodge Centre.  She has worked with clients that suffer from dementia since 2006.  Meghann provides education to staff as well as works with the medical team and interdisciplinary team to care plan around difficult behaviors associated with dementia.

 

 

 

 

Heitha Forsyth

Heitha Forsyth is a force to be reckoned with, with a voice to match. A graduate of the University of Manitoba Jazz Studies program in 2008, she has used the past decade to cement her place as a sought after vocalist, at home in multiple styles.  It's not unusual to find her singing in front of a Big Band, Soul Band, Country Band or Blues Band. Her voice is strong and agile leaving audiences amazed and moved. Her stage presence calls out to even the meekest of souls, breaking down walls and letting the light in.  She does this with a dependable dose of hilarity; you can hear her audience laughing a mile away. Recently she has been performing and touring nationally as her roots/blues/soul alter-ego Sol James and featured as a vocalist on multiple projects across the Canadian musical landscape.  Beyond her busy performing career, Heitha be found sharing art, expression and well-being as a performer with Artists in Health Care Manitoba and is currently completing a second degree in Music Therapy at The Canadian Mennonite University.

 

Rachel Baerg

Rachel Baerg is the current Head of Education at the Winnipeg Art Gallery, where she has worked for over 9 years. Having completed her MA in Art History from The University of Toronto, Baerg has passionately fostered a lifelong interest in engaging the public with visual art in new and creative ways that serve to stimulate learning, promote wellness, and enrich the lives of individuals and the larger community. Besides overseeing youth, school, studio and adult educational programming at the WAG, Baerg enjoys teaching two History of Art and Culture courses at the Canadian Mennonite University.

Colleen Leduc

Colleen Leduc is an Art Educator at the Winnipeg Art Gallery. She has a BFA Honours from the University of Manitoba, a B Ed from the University of Ottawa, a Certificate in Expressive Arts Therapy, and is currently working on her Art Therapy Diploma.