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Networking Events

October 2019

ICCER hosted our fall networking events in both Calgary (October 7th) and Edmonton (October 15th). The topic was “To prescribe or Deprescribe, That is the Question”. Dr. Cheryl Sadowski (University of Alberta) presented in both cities and was joined by Dr. Jim Silvious (AHS) in Calgary and Dr. Kathleen Hunter (University of Alberta ) in Edmonton.

Additional resources:

June 2019

ICCER held Networking Events in Edmonton on June 4 and Calgary on June 10.

Dr. Megan Strickfaden (Dept. Human Ecology, University of Alberta) shared three of the five films she co-created with older adults, caregivers, staff, and students to communicate how designed things can support the aging process. The films are geared towards a variety of audiences, including formal and informal caregivers. You can watch the videos online.


April 2019

April 11th in Edmonton saw us at Shepherd’s Care Kensington talking with Eric Storey and Lara Pinchbeck about “Inclusivity in Continuing Care”.

LGBTQ2S+ Seniors: An Invisible and Vulnerable Population by Eric Storey - Throughout his professional career, Eric volunteered with non-profit and social development programs. Following his 2007 retirement from the manufacturing sector, he was able to increase his community involvement and obtained a Bachelor of Social Work degree as one of his retirement projects. Eric combines social work skills with his previous management, governance, and volunteer experience to be engaged in the community. He is focused on social justice issues, primarily around those experienced by seniors, at-risk and in-care youth, and sexual and gender minority populations.

LGBTQ2S+ seniors grew up in a very different era where personal and emotional safety were frequently at risk. This presentation will explain concerns arising from that lived experience and steps that can be taken to provide safe and inclusive accommodation, care and programming.

Universal Design: > Curb Cuts + Grab Bars - Explore the environmental elements that impact someone's invisible disabilities presented by Lara Pinchbeck - Ms. Pinchbeck uses her architectural training to provide human-centred design to marginalized communities: folks with sensory processing challenges, recent immigrants, aging adults, those with cognitive impairments, and multiple complexities. She is a member of the Advisory Group for the New Edmonton Hospital Project as well as a PhD student at the University of Alberta in Human Ecology where her research tracks the daily lived experiences of folks with a diversity of abilities - in her firm, Lara combines her design and research on the relationship between people with disabilities and their built environment to increase the quality of life of our neighbours.


On April 8th ICCER hosted “Inclusivity in Continuing Care” at Bow Valley College in Calgary. Our speakers were:

Creating Inclusive Housing Solutions for LGBT+ Seniors by Catherine Robertson, Rocky Wallbaum & Amanda Weightman - Housing and care concerns from the aging LGBT+ community have been increasingly more public over recent years, with an emergent body of research from cities across the country. The Calgary LGBT+ Seniors Housing Needs Assessment worked closely with an Advisory Committee and a team of Peer Researchers to (a) understand what is unique about the housing experiences and needs of local LGBT+ seniors, and to (b) identify existing and imagined promising approaches to meet the diverse needs of the LGBT+ community. This presentation will share preliminary findings from current research and facilitate discussion around actionable and innovative strategies for front-line staff, program planners, and directors to improve inclusion and integration of LGBT+ residents.

Universal Design: Curb Cuts + Grab Bars - Explore the environmental elements that impact someone's invisible disabilities presented by Lara Pinchbeck - Ms. Pinchbeck uses her architectural training to provide human-centred design to marginalized communities: folks with sensory processing challenges, recent immigrants, aging adults, those with cognitive impairments, and multiple complexities. She is a member of the Advisory Group for the New Edmonton Hospital Project as well as a PhD student at the University of Alberta in Human Ecology where her research tracks the daily lived experiences of folks with a diversity of abilities - in her firm, Lara combines her design and research on the relationship between people with disabilities and their built environment to increase the quality of life of our neighbours.


Resources from Alberta Health Services: Seniors and Continuing Care – LGBTQ2S+ Resources for Providers

Wilson, K., Kortes-Miller, K., & Stinchcombe, A. (2018). Staying Out of the Closet: LGBT Older Adults’ Hopes and Fears in Considering End-of-Life. Canadian Journal on Aging / La Revue Canadienne Du Vieillissement, 37(1), 22-31. doi:10.1017/S0714980817000514

Hafford-Letchfield, Simpson P, Willis PB, Almack K. Developing inclusive residential care for older lesbian, gay, bisexual and trans (LGBT) people: An evaluation of the Care Home Challenge action research project. Health Soc Care Community. 2018 Mar;26(2):e312-e320. doi: 10.1111/hsc.12521.

Katherine Kortes-Miller, Jessica Boulé, Kimberley Wilson & Arne Stinchcombe(2018) Dying in Long-Term Care: Perspectives from Sexual and Gender Minority Older Adults about Their Fears and Hopes for End of Life, Journal of Social Work in End-of-Life & PalliativeCare, 14:2-3, 209-224, DOI: 10.1080/15524256.2018.1487364


October 2018

On October 9th in Calgary and October 15th in Edmonton, we hosted Ethical Issues in Continuing Care.

Our speakers provided information and facilitated thoughtful discussion on sexuality in Continuing Care and Cannabis Use in Continuing Care.

We were pleased to have Donna Devlin (Sexcessful Aging) and Gary Lapine (Cannabis Use) in Calgary.

Gary joined us again in Edmonton and we were joined by Shaniff Esmail for Healthy Sexual Experience Never Gets Old.

Resources on Cannabis:

Resources on Sexuality and Continuing Care:


June 2018

ICCER celebrated Seniors Week by hosting Networking Events in Calgary (June 4th) and Edmonton (June 6th) – Keeping Seniors Safe. In both cities we had presentations about the Age-Friendly initiatives, the Community Paramedic Program, and Elder Abuse Awareness. Our speakers shared how they work towards improving the safety of seniors in our communities, including those in care, and how we can use this knowledge in everyday practice. Participants had the opportunity to connect with our speakers, as well as collaborate with one another in small and large group discussion.

Calgary (June 4)

Edmonton (June 6)


April 2018

Our April Networking Sessions - Living Spaces: Policy Supports and Barriers in Alberta – with Megan Strickfaden and Jaquie Eales (April 4th in Edmonton and April 16th in Calgary) were very successful. Here’s what some people said:

“Excellent discussion and helpful concrete takeaways to make a difference in our communities. thank you.” - Participant

“Fantastic session - very organized and thoughtful - I wish there was more time to talk about influencing policy discussions and further discussion on built/renovated environments and project management.” - Participant

“Excellent presentations and thought-provoking roundtable discussions.” - Participant

ICCER introductory slides

Megan and Jacquie are please to share their slides and the video – The Cigarette (temporarily unavailable). Feel free to use the video to start discussion amongst your staff or colleagues – how does design affect each and every one of us?


October 6, 2017 & October 11, 2017

On October 6th in Edmonton and October 11th in Calgary, ICCER hosted Networking Events featuring Dr. Susan Slaughter.

Susan spoke about the Making the Most of Mealtimes (M3) study. She drew upon the health care literature, findings and the knowledge and experience of participants to discuss how the mealtime experience, the  meal quality and meal access all work together to support food and fluid intake of long-term care residents, and to enhance their quality of life.

Here are some resources provided by Susan:


April 20, 2017

ICCER hosted our spring Speed Networking Event (Influences on Person-Centred Care: Teamwork and Policy) in Edmonton Clinic Health Academy. About 45 people joined us to listen to nurse researchers Sherry Dahlke and Sarah Stahlke talk about The influence of teamwork on healthcare providers' work satisfaction and desire to stay in their jobs working with old people, followed by Janet Nahirniak from the Dept. of Human Ecology speak on Albertan Policy and Person-Centred Dementia Care.

Everyone participated in three rounds of small group discussions, talking about:


April 4, 2017

On April 4th we welcomed over 70 people at the Calgary Networking event held at Bow Valley College. We listened to Donna Devlin, Educational Consultant, Geriatric Mental Health, Calgary Zone, AHS talk on "Curiosity" and Person Centered Care in Continuing Care. This was followed by Gail Thauberger, Coordinator, HCA, RTA and NM Programs, School of Health and Wellness, Bow Valley College speaking about the results of a research project Bow Valley conducted on Connecting with People with Dementia. Gail also gave out a sample copy of the card used by HCAs.

Participants joined in three rounds of small group discussions, talking about:

  • Round 1 – How can we maintain meaningful interactions when providing care? How can ‘curiosity’ help?
  • Round 2 – The culture of an agency or unit guides the communication of the staff. How can changes in communication guide the culture, particularly when dealing with behaviours?
  • Round 3 – Toolkits provide an assembly of tools to make work easier. What could help with the continued implementation of this or any other toolkit?


October 6, 2016

On October 6th ICCER hosted a Speed Networking event in Edmonton with about 45 participants. Sherry Schafer and Tanya Hostyn presented on person-centred care.


September 26, 2016

On September 26th ICCER hosted another Calgary Networking event. This session focused on "How do we make Person-Centred Care more than just a task?"

Presentations included:


April 11, 2016

ICCER, in collaboration with our Calgary-based member organizations (Bethany Care Society, Bow Valley College, Carewest, Extendicare, Wing Kei) hosted an afternoon of discussion focused on facilitating dialogue between research and practice.

Presentations included:


January 29, 2016

On January 29th, ICCER and the Department of Human Ecology, University of Alberta, hosted the 4th in a series of Speed Networking events. These events provide an opportunity for researchers, administrators, educators, and providers to meet and discuss topics of interest. The purpose is to develop working relationships to tackle issues related to aging, caregiving, and continuing care.

Speakers were:


October 1, 2015

On October 1st, ICCER celebrated its 7th anniversary, and National Seniors’ Day, with a Speed Networking Event co-hosted with the Department of Human Ecology, University of Alberta. The event focused on caregiving.

Speakers were:


September 24, 2015

ICCER hosted the first Calgary networking event at Bow Valley College.

ICCER (in collaboration with Bow Valley College, Bethany Care Society, and Wing Kei Care Centre) hosted an afternoon of discussion on collaborative research in continuing care and about the benefits of ICCER membership from researchers and providers who had worked with ICCER over the past year. An opportunity to network followed.


June 5th, 2015

On June 5th, ICCER (in collaboration with the Department of Human Ecology, University of Alberta) hosted the second in a series of community provider/researcher networking event.

Participants listened to a panel of speakers discussing collaborative research funded by the 2014-2015 ICCER Special Projects grant:

  • Dr. Sharla King, University of Alberta and Dr. Vincella Thompson, Keyano College:Developing an Educational Model to Support the Care of Aboriginal Populations in Continuing Care in Remote Northern Communities.
  • Dr. Noush Mirhosseini, Alberta Health Services: Metasysnthesis study of Transitions Experienced by Family Caregivers of Persons at the End of Life.
  • Steven Friesen, Bethany Care Society on behalf of Dr. Lorraine Venturato, University of Calgary: Talking the Talk and Walking the Walk: Scoping Cultural Awareness Training Options for Staff Working with Older Canadians in Continuing Care.
  • Jennifer Lee, Wing Kei and Steven Friesen, Bethany Care Society: A Comparison of the Effectiveness of Electronic versus Paper-Based Documentation.

Participants then took part in table discussions regarding the advantages and challenges of collaborative research. A summary of the day will be posted soon.


January 30, 2015

On January 30th, ICCER (in collaboration with the Faculty of Nursing and Department of Human Ecology, University of Alberta) hosted a community provider/researcher networking event.

Speed Networking: Find your ‘research on aging’ match was an opportunity for researchers and community partners to get together and share interests in research related to aging and continuing care.

This poster is a summary of the table discussions at the event.