The Honourable Stephanie McLean was first elected as Member of Parliament for Esquimalt–Saanich–Sooke in the spring of 2025 and, shortly after, joined Mark Carney’s government as Secretary of State (Seniors). 

In 2015, she was elected as a Member of the Legislative Assembly in Alberta and served as Minister of Status of Women and Minister of Service Alberta. She made history when she became the first member of the Legislative Assembly in Alberta to give birth while in office. 

Secretary McLean earned her law degree from the University of Calgary. As a practising lawyer, she represented both unions and employers, including acting as general counsel for a building trades union. She has called Vancouver Island home since 2019 and lives in the city of Colwood with her husband Shane, son Patrick, and their three dogs. 

The Honourable Uzoma Asagwara was first elected as the MLA for Union Station in 2019, when they became the first non-binary MLA in the Manitoba legislature and one of the first black MLAs elected in Manitoba’s history. They served as the official opposition critic for health from 2019-2023. 

Asagwara is a registered psychiatric nurse and addictions specialist. 

Before becoming an MLA, they practiced frontline nursing in acute adult psychiatry, co-occurring disorders initiatives, and specialized treatment services.   

They also spent over a decade working with youth and families in mental health, addictions and stabilization care. They were an active entrepreneur and community health and equity advocate. They served on the Board of the Women’s Health Clinic and advanced economic opportunity for equity deserving groups across Manitoba. They are a former member of the Canadian National Basketball team and mentor to young athletes.  

They have served as the Deputy Premier and Minister of Health, Seniors and Long-Term Care since 2023. 

Scott Gillingham believes great cities are built by people who roll up their sleeves, work together, and tackle big challenges head-on. 

Raised on a farm outside Carman, Manitoba, he learned those values firsthand through working early mornings in the fields, grinding four seasons in the Manitoba Junior Hockey League, and climbing 60-foot poles as a young lineman with Manitoba Hydro.  

A commitment to service led him to a career as a pastor, and then a City Councillor, working to strengthen communities and bring people together to solve tough problems. Something he continues to do as Mayor of Winnipeg. 

Since taking office in 2022, he’s been focused on action: fast-tracking a whole new transit network, driving the most ambitious housing reforms in generations, and launching new programs to improve community safety and tackle neighbourhood maintenance issues. 

He’s also taken Winnipeg’s voice to the national stage as Vice-Chair of the Big City Mayors’ Caucus, pushing for progress on housing, public safety, and economic growth. 

Bruce MacDonald is the President & CEO of Imagine Canada. When carnivals and social good combined, it pointed to a path, and for 30 years, Bruce has been walking that route. From working for organizations that provide services to young people, older adults, persons with disabilities, community service clubs and sports and recreation groups, Bruce’s experiences have led him to Imagine Canada. Prior to that, he was the CEO of Big Brothers Big Sisters of Canada where he participated in a collective effort to bring mentoring programs to kids.  

Bruce holds a Bachelor’s of Commerce in Sports Administration from Laurentian University, a Master’s in Management in the Voluntary Sector from McGill University, and a former record in the Guinness Book of World Records. From 2019 to 2023, Bruce served as Co-Chair of the Permanent Advisory Committee on the Charitable Sector, working with the federal government. In 2025, Bruce received the King Charles III Coronation Medal in recognition of his distinguished achievements and leadership. 

Dr. Samir Sinha is a Geriatrician and Clinician Scientist at Sinai Health System and the University Health Network in Toronto, a Professor of Medicine at the University of Toronto, the Director of Health Policy Research at Toronto Metropolitan University’s National Institute on Ageing, as well as a Fellow of the Canadian Academy of Health Sciences and the Royal Society of Medicine. 

A Rhodes Scholar, Samir is a highly regarded clinician and international expert in the care of older adults. As a former member of the Government of Canada’s National Seniors Council and a current member of its Minsterial Advisory Board on Dementia he helped to develop and now oversee Canada’s National Dementia Strategy and recently led the successful development of Canada’s new National Long-Term Care Services Standard.  

Internationally, he serves as an Adjunct Professor at the Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine and the International Centre for Future Health Systems at the University of New South Wales.  Furthermore, as a longstanding member of the American Red Cross Scientific Advisory Council and a recently appointed member of the Board of Trustees for HelpAge International, he remains committed to supporting the implementation and administration of unique, integrated and innovative models of geriatric care and support that reduce disease burden, improve access and capacity and ultimately promote health. 

Karen McDonald’s career has focused almost exclusively on the field of gerontology, including a decade in seniors’ supportive housing and fifteen years with the Sage Seniors Association, with half of that time in the role of Executive Director. Sage is a community-based seniors serving organization that provides social services, community development, and life enrichment programming with and for low-resourced older adults. Karen is currently Chair of Community Leadership Council (Alberta) and Provincial Director of Healthy Aging Alberta; working with community-based seniors serving organizations across Alberta to advance sector development to best meet the needs and build on the strengths of seniors living in community.

She also recently took on the role of Co-Chair of the Canadian CBSS Interim Community Leadership Council to advance national sector development. In 2015, Karen co-founded MatchWork, an interactive employment training and assessment tool used by employment support organizations to more effectively guide and support those who face barriers to employment, including older workers and caregivers.

Karen completed her MBA and BA at the University of Alberta, and her current volunteer work includes the Board of the Muttart Foundation. 

Marta Hajek is the Chief Executive Officer of Elder Abuse Prevention Ontario (EAPO), where she leads a dedicated team advancing the safety, dignity, and human rights of older adults while addressing the systemic impacts of ageism and elder abuse. Under her leadership, EAPO has strengthened provincial, national, and global collaborations to ensure that the voices and lived experiences of older adults inform policy development, decision-making, and resource allocation in support of Canada’s fastest growing demographic. 

Marta has extensive experience in community systems coordination and collaborative leadership. Earlier in her career, she helped facilitate the rollout of Ontario 211, now a national information and referral service connecting Canadians to health and social supports. Through this work she developed deep expertise in building partnerships across community-based service sectors to strengthen coordinated responses to complex social issues. 

Today, Marta continues to advance collaborative approaches to aging policy and elder abuse prevention through a number of advisory and governance roles. She serves on the Ontario Securities Commission’s Seniors Expert Advisory Committee (SEAC) and sat on the Boards of the Canadian Network for the Prevention of Elder Abuse (CNPEA) and the International Longevity Centre Canada (ILC-C). She is an elected member and Co-Chair of the Steering Group of the Global Alliance for the Rights of Older Persons (GAROP), Co-Chair of the National Leadership Council advancing the Community-Based Seniors Serving (CBSS) sector, and, through EAPO, a founding partner of the Canadian Coalition Against Ageism (CCAA). 

Internationally, Marta is an active advocate for strengthening human rights protections for older persons. She has delivered several interventions at the United Nations, calling for the development of a UN Convention on the Rights of Older Persons, and most recently spoke at the UN High-Level Political Forum on the intersection of gender and ageism, alongside Canada’s Ambassador to the UN, Bob Rae. 

Through her work, Marta continues to champion collaborative, community-driven solutions that address the growing complexity of aging in Canada, including the disproportionate impacts of gender-based and intimate partner violence affecting older women. 

Connie Newman (BSc, MEd at UofMB) is the Executive Director (consultant) for the Manitoba Association of Senior Communities.  MASC is a member association currently with 90 member Centres throughout Manitoba.  She travels the province providing guidance and encouragement to member centres. 

She leads the Manitoba’s Age Friendly initiative which provides her and her with opportunities to connect with local Age Friendly communities all around Manitoba.  She is also a member of the Manitoba Seniors Coalition (formerly Seniors Vote 2016). 

She is 78 years young – in her other life she was a junior high teacher/principal for 34 years.  She is a boomer – independent so far with many connections in Manitoba, Canada and beyond. 

Her favorite pastime is her dog – Yoshi, a companion, a friend. 

She believes in active aging and all that it means – keeping one’s mind and body active helps her to assist those around her who may need information and support as we all age together. 

Barbara’s 45+ years’ experience in community, organization, and network development has been gleaned from working and volunteering with a wide range of community and civil sector organizations locally, nationally, and globally, including United Way British Columbia, Vancouver Foundation, Community Foundations of Canada, and Health Canada’s Health Promotion Directorate. Her more recent work in healthy aging has focused on community engagement, sector strengthening, and knowledge mobilization, including initiatives addressing ageism, supporting aging in place, and growing the Men’s Shed movement in Canada.

Barbara is currently Executive Director of Men’s Sheds Canada (MSC), an organization whose vision is a Canada where every man feels valued and engaged in his community, experiencing purpose, belonging, and well-being in his aging journey. She holds a BA in Communications from Simon Fraser University and a Master of Management Degree (National Voluntary Sector Leaders) from McGill University. 

Megan Conway loves sparking creativity, curiosity and capacity across teams, organizations and networks to mobilize social change. With twenty years of diverse leadership roles in government and the charitable, voluntary and academic sectors, Megan has been recognized for her ability to scale innovation, to use evaluative thinking to build and adapt programs, and as a systems change champion. 

Dr. Conway earned her PhD at the University of Waterloo in Urban Planning with a focus on community development and scaling social innovations across sites and scales. Megan is most proud, professionally, of her efforts to create systems that enable youth participation, equity and achievement. Starting as a volunteer in Regent Park, she spent over a decade as a senior leader within Pathways to Education—launching the Kitchener program and then becoming the National Vice President of Programs and Research. She is also the Co-Founder of the Laurier School in the Community, a unique service-learning offering option at Laurier. Megan spent eight years as the Academic Chair of Health and Community Programs at Algonquin College in the Ottawa Valley where she launched a Rural Enterprise Hub and managed a diverse professional team of 100 faculty to enable student success. 

Currently Megan serves as a Fellow at Carleton University’s School of Public Administration and Policy where she leads international research on charitable sector capacity building and place-based change. Megan loves the snow and any chance she can to get on to a bicycle. She lives with her husband and two young children in the Ottawa Valley. 

Ashley Seymour is a dedicated nonprofit leader and advocate with a deep commitment to community engagement, volunteerism, and inclusive leadership. She serves as Executive Director of Volunteer Manitoba, where she works to strengthen the nonprofit and voluntary sector by supporting organizations, empowering volunteers, and fostering collaboration across communities.

Ashley’s commitment to community engagement and volunteerism extends beyond her professional role as she serves on the board of Inclusion Winnipeg, and is the past Chair of her community’s Recreation Commission. She is also the former Vice President of Abilities Manitoba and held several volunteer roles including coaching with Special Olympics Manitoba, the 2025 Grey Cup Festival, and with her community’s Age Friendly Initiative. Ashley was awarded the King Charles III Coronation Medal in 2025 in recognition of her commitment to advancing the voluntary sector and for creating positive change in the community.

Ashley also plays a key role in the development of a Manitoba Non-profit Network and represents Manitoba at the national level as a member of the Canadian Federation of Non-profits.

With her unwavering dedication to making a difference, Ashley is passionate about strengthening the nonprofit sector by supporting organizations, fostering collaboration, and creating inclusive spaces where individuals and communities thrive.

Laura Tamblyn Watts stands at the nexus of law, public policy, and advocacy for older adults. As CEO of CanAge, she champions systemic change for seniors across Canada and has emerged as a global voice on longevity and aging. A lawyer called to the British Columbia Bar in 1999, Laura combines legal expertise with academic research as an assistant professor at the University of Toronto’s Factor Inwentash Faculty of Social Work and a Fellow at the Institute for LifeCourse and Aging. Her research spans dementia, elder financial abuse, artificial intelligence in health care, social inclusion, and governance.

Laura’s #1 international bestseller Let’s Talk About Aging Parents resonates with families worldwide and underscores her ability to translate complex issues into practical guidance. Recognized with awards such as Queen’s University’s Global Citizenship Award, she regularly briefs parliaments, appears in media interviews, and advises organizations ranging from the World Health Organization to national insurance regulators. She serves on boards including the Canadian Investment Regulatory Organization and AGEWELL, ensuring regulatory frameworks keep pace with demographic change.

At home, Laura and her husband Michael Tamblyn, CEO of Rakuten Kobo, juggle family life with three children while supporting their own aging parents. 

Dr. Laura Kadowaki is a Research and Knowledge Mobilization Specialist for the Healthy Aging Department at United Way BC. Through her work with the Raising the Profile Project and United Way BC, she has been collaborating with the community-based seniors’ services sector in BC since 2016 to raise the profile and build the capacity of this sector. Laura has a PhD in Gerontology from Simon Fraser University. Her areas of research interest include community-based seniors’ services, social determinants of health, ageism, and seniors’ housing. Laura is an Adjunct Professor in the Department of Gerontology at Simon Fraser University. She is also an Executive Committee Member for the Canadian Coalition Against Ageism.  

Bobbi Symes is the Director, Healthy Aging, at United Way British Columbia. Bobbi is a dedicated professional Gerontologist with a passion for improving the quality of life for older adults. Bobbi has an interdisciplinary Master’s degree with a focus on Gerontology and over 20 years of experience working in the field in multiple roles. Known for her compassionate approach and innovative solutions, Bobbi’s passion for the sector is also rooted in her role as a caregiver and the real-life experiences this brings to her day-to-day work. 

Monica Park is the Director, Community Partnerships and Programs with the Ministry of Assisted Living and Social Services for the Government of Alberta. Prior to joining the Seniors division, Monica spent over 20 years in the financial sector and is a seasoned treasury professional. Having spent the majority of her career in the public sector, Monica promotes healthy aging in Alberta through the administration of government programs that build community, raise awareness,  enhances supports and services for older adults, and promotes government priorities that enable seniors to age well.  

Monica holds a Bachelor’s of Commerce degree and a Masters of Business Administration from the University of Alberta.  

Amanda Krajci is Manager of Community Partnerships in the Seniors Division with Alberta’s Ministry of Assisted Living and Social Services. She leads strategic partnerships and initiatives that strengthen community-based supports and help older Albertans age well at home and in their communities. Her work focuses on building sector capacity, supporting innovation, and advancing more connected approaches between health and social systems in alignment with Alberta’s Assisted Living Framework. 

In partnership with Healthy Aging Alberta and community organizations across the province, Amanda supports the co-design and implementation of models intended to strengthen local capacity and inform broader system change. She brings more than 20 years of experience across health, disability, and social services, with a strong interest in collaboration, systems change and turning community insight into public impact. 

Michael Routledge has spent most of his career as a public health physician. In addition to public health, he previously trained and practiced as a family physician, and also worked as a regional home care program medical director. He is currently a medical advisor for the Manitoba Association of Senior Communities, with a focus on the implementation of Social Prescribing. 

Kimberly Leonard is a visionary, values-driven leader whose career reflects a deep commitment to lifelong learning, inclusive leadership, and building strong, resilient communities. She holds a Bachelor of Arts (Honours), a Bachelor of Education, and a Master’s degree in Educational Leadership, along with executive certification from the Rotman School of Management at the University of Toronto. She has also earned the designation of Certified Elder Mediator – Advanced through Family Mediation Canada. 

Kimberly began her distinguished 30-year career in Newfoundland and Labrador’s K–12 education system as a teacher and principal, where she fostered creativity, critical thinking, and inclusive learning environments. In 2016, she was awarded Canada’s Outstanding Principal Award, one of the nation’s highest honours in educational leadership. 

Now serving as Chief Executive Officer of SeniorsNL, Kimberly is leading significant organizational growth and transformation. She has expanded provincial reach, strengthened partnerships, and advanced initiatives that support older adults, caregivers, and families. Most notably, she is leading the Pan-Canadian Collective Impact initiative, Aging Well in the Right Place, focused on dignity, independence, and social inclusion. 

A passionate advocate and collaborator, Kimberly is proud to contribute nationally as a member of the Pan-Canadian Interim CBSS Leadership Council. She continues to champion innovative approaches that enhance the well-being and quality of life for older adults across Newfoundland and Labrador and throughout Canada. 

Holly grew up in rural Saskatchewan and attended university in Saskatoon and Regina.  She has lived and worked in Saskatchewan all her life and been in paid employment for 40 years with not-for-profit groups where she has worked as an educator, volunteer trainer, facilitator, administrator and animator. Currently she is the Executive Director of SSM (Saskatchewan Seniors Mechanism), a position she has been in for the past 16 years.  SSM is a provincial community-based organization that brings together other seniors organizations to work together on projects and advocacy.  Key areas of work at SSM include Age-Friendly Saskatchewan, social prescribing, advocacy, and addressing ageism.  Holly has served as a board member and chair of Regina Anti-Poverty; a board member of Active Aging Canada; and is currently a member of the Public Health Agency of Canada Age-Friendly Reference Group and the Canadian CBSS Interim Community Leadership Council.    

Barbara Nepinak, a member of Minegoziibe Anishinabe – Pine Creek First Nation is retired after serving 35 years of federal public service.  Barbara is active in the Urban and surrounding areas serving on Advisory Councils and Boards as Elder and Cultural Advisor. 

Presently, she serves on the Elder in Residence for the Lieutenant Governor of Manitoba, Anita Neville. Board member of The Forks Foundation and National Board member for the Cultural Human Resources Council in Ottawa as well as providing Elder teachings in the 7 Oaks School Division. Barbara has also received recognition awards such as the Recipient of the Keeping the Fires Burning through Ka Ni Kanichihk, which is an acknowledgement of being a Traditional Knowledge and Wisdom Keeper.   

She was twice recognized with the Citizenship Award by previous Mayors. Barbara is also an interpreter/translator for CanTalk a national organization that provides language translation services. Barbara is on the Board of Directors of Graffiti Gallery and Age & Opportunity Centre. 

Barbara has received the Queens Golden Jubilee Award alongside her late husband Clarence Nepinak. Both have been involved with various schools in the Artist in the School program with cultural teachings.  Both individuals have been delivering school and public programming at The Forks for the last 26 years.  They also share traditional stories and legends for school divisions during the winter season. Winter public programming is also on-going at The Forks. Barbara has been recognized as a Hometown Hero by the Winnipeg Jets. 

Barb has also received an UNESCO International Awarded in the field of Best Narrators and Heritage Masters (Living Human Treasures) – International Category given by the Sharjah Institute for Heritage, United Arab Emirates. As week as the Award of Distinction from Tourism Award Winnipeg/Manitoba. 

Barbara is a recipient of the Order of Manitoba. Manitoba 150 Medal and most recently the King Charles III Coronation Medal.  

Mariam Elghahuagi is the Director of Healthy Aging Alberta at United Way of Calgary and Area, leading a provincial collective impact initiative to enhance the lives of older adults. With over a decade of experience in program development and multi-stakeholder collaboration, she excels in forging partnerships across sectors. Mariam holds a Master of Social Work in Indigenous Trauma & Resiliency and additional certifications in communication, conflict management, and project management. Passionate about social innovation, she applies a trauma-informed lens to systems change, fostering collaboration between grassroots movements, community organizations, and larger support systems.  

Amanda Krajci is Manager of Community Partnerships in the Seniors Division with Alberta’s Ministry of Assisted Living and Social Services. She leads strategic partnerships and initiatives that strengthen community-based supports and help older Albertans age well at home and in their communities. Her work focuses on building sector capacity, supporting innovation, and advancing more connected approaches between health and social systems in alignment with Alberta’s Assisted Living Framework. 

In partnership with Healthy Aging Alberta and community organizations across the province, Amanda supports the co-design and implementation of models intended to strengthen local capacity and inform broader system change. She brings more than 20 years of experience across health, disability, and social services, with a strong interest in collaboration, systems change and turning community insight into public impact. 

Claudine Matlo brings more than 20 years of experience supporting older adults through neighbourhood houses and seniors-serving organizations across Metro Vancouver. She holds a Master of Gerontology and a Bachelor of Arts in Women’s Studies and Psychology from Simon Fraser University, along with a Certificate in Electronics Engineering—a career twist that always makes for an interesting conversation! 

As Executive Director of the West End Seniors Network for the past three years, Claudine has championed innovative, community-driven approaches that help older adults stay connected, engaged, and thriving. She is actively involved in advancing the work of the Alliance of Seniors Centres and the Network of Vancouver Organizations on Aging (NOVA), and is passionate about building communities where seniors are valued, included, and empowered. Claudine has also serves on the United Way Leadership Council for more than three years and previously spent a decade at Mount Pleasant Neighbourhood House in several leadership roles, including Director of Seniors and Family Services. 

Outside of work, Claudine can often be found exploring the trails of the North Shore while training for ultramarathon races—or proudly serving as chauffeur, cheerleader, and logistics coordinator for her 14-year-old daughter’s Irish dance classes and competitions. 

Debra has a lived experience of 30+years in Management and Business Development; she has inspired collaborative and innovative partnerships. Building the relationship in a “Good way”. Every conversation starts with good listening. This is vital as we move together on the journey of Indigenous and Non-Indigenous communities, the pathway of reconciliation.  

Debra has been actively involved for 15+ year with the EAPO – Elder Abuse Prevention Ontario. She launched a Network Stream within the EAPO. OAKS – Older Adults Knowledge Sharing. Indigenous led with Community engagement. Being actively involved across Turtle Island. 

An active Board member with the Parry Sound Friendship Centre one of the “original six” Friendship Centres in Ontario founded in 1966.  

Debra launched Age-Friendly Consulting. Intertwining all the professions collaboratively with an Online Resource Directory and facilitation. 

Debra is a member of the Wasauksing First Nation, Robinson Huron Treaty 1850, and member of the Potawatomi Nation. She resides in Richmond Hill with her spouse of 40+ years. Mother of two grown children a grandmother of six who are also proud members of Wasauksing First Nation.  

She genuinely believes that we enter this world in a good way and to live each day to the fullest. Her vision is to be part of the change building relationships with respect, trust, and commitment. All voices matter. 

Sandi Pelly is an experienced leader in the health and social services sector with more than 30 years of experience advancing initiatives that support older adults and strengthen community systems. She currently serves as Director, Older Adults at The Waltons Trust, where she leads the foundation’s work to reduce isolation and loneliness among older adults across Canada and to support initiatives that help seniors remain healthy, connected, and engaged in their communities.  

Throughout her career, Sandi has worked at the intersection of community organizations, health systems, and philanthropy to build partnerships and drive collaborative solutions. Prior to joining The Waltons Trust, she held a senior role at UJA Federation of Greater Toronto, where she led major community initiatives, supported social service agencies, and oversaw funding strategies that strengthened services for vulnerable populations.  

Sandi’s earlier work includes leadership roles in community engagement and health planning with Ontario’s health system at the Ministry of Health and the Central LHIN, where she led stakeholder engagement and helped guide health system strategy. She is widely respected for her collaborative approach to bringing diverse partners together to expand access to services, strengthen local capacity, and improve coordination across health and social supports. She is deeply committed to improving the lives of older adults and their families by creating impact through practical solutions that make a real difference in people’s everyday lives. 

Raeann Rideout is the Director of Strategic Partnerships at Elder Abuse Prevention Ontario (EAPO), where she advances collaborative initiatives to protect the rights of older adults and prevent harm and neglect. A member of the EAPO team for over 23 years, she brings deep expertise in aging, elder abuse prevention, gender-based violence, and ageism, with a strong focus on multi-sectoral collaboration to drive social change. 

Raeann is actively engaged in multi-jurisdictional aging networks, presents at conferences, and contributes to research addressing elder abuse prevention, gender equality, and systemic discrimination. Prior to joining EAPO, she worked in government, NGOs, and academia, developing expertise in community development, advocacy, counselling, public relations, and the socio-psychological aspects of aging. 

She holds a Master’s degree from the University of Waterloo, a Bachelor of Physical Education from Brock University, and a BA from McMaster University, and has served on the Boards of the Canadian Network for the Prevention of Elder Abuse and the Asphodel-Norwood Police Service Board.