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Dr. Kate Dupuis is the Schlegel Innovation Leader in Arts and Aging at the Sheridan Centre for Elder Research. With a nearly 20-year history in both research and clinical settings, Kate is passionate about improving the quality of life and well-being of older adults and those who care for them. Her current focus is on the benefits of the arts for older individuals, identifying and helping overcome barriers to participation in recreation and leisure activities, and exploring what being “artistic” and “creative” mean to us across the lifespan. Kate’s specialties include project development and co-ordination, stakeholder relations, and working with and managing collaborative and interprofessional teams. She is a registered Clinical Neuropsychologist with the College of Psychologists of Ontario and Professor in the Faculty of Applied Health and Community Studies at Sheridan College in Oakville, Ontario.

Keith Leclair is an Indigenous Health and Policy Consultant who brings 41 years of knowledge and experience to the field of Indigenous health. Chairperson of the Pathways Indigenous Advisory Circle, he also acts as a key member of the Board of Directors for the Onen’to:kon Healing Lodge, the Thunderbird Partnership Foundation and the Indigenous Certification Board of Canada.

Keith’s Master of health studies from Athabasca University and Bachelor of science in chemistry from Bishops University were useful jumping off points to better understand the policies, issues, and community planning involved with working in the Indigenous health field.

Community engagement and leadership were central to his previous positions as Director General of the CLSC Naskapi at Kawawachikamach, Director of Health Policy at Kahnawake Shakotha’takehnhas Community Services, Director of Auxiliary Services at the Kateri Memorial Hospital Center of Kahnawake, and the Executive Director at Onen’to:kon Healing Lodge in Kanesatake. In 2019, Keith’s work and dedication was acknowledged by the First Nations Health Managers Association and the Canadian Foundation for Healthcare Improvement when he was awarded the Excellence in Health Leadership Award.

Kimberly Buffitt has worked at Coasters Association since 2004 in various roles including NPI Coordinator, Program Director, Director of Operations and Innovation, and currently Director of Engagement and Development. In every role, Kim strives to enhance the quality of life on the Quebec Lower North Shore by creating and supporting community and leadership development. She is also a committed volunteer, acting as President of various regional organizations and co-operatives.

Kristy Findlay is a speech-language pathologist who specializes in support for bilingual and multilingual families. She is the co-founder of the Centre Mosaïque de Québec in Quebec City.

Larissa is a longtime quizmaster; she hosted a weekly quiz for many years at Ye Olde Orchard Pub but more recently her quizzes and trivia team building events have moved online. She is a writer and teacher who lives in Montreal.

Laura-Lee Bolger is a master’s student in geographical sciences at Laval University. She has been working with JWCOMM Inc. as a cartography and GIS consultant since 2006 and is currently developing expertise in online mapping by creating dynamic maps and applications with ESRI web products.

Matt Mardini is a crooner-singer based in Montreal, who originally hails from Aleppo, Syria. With more than 20 years of professional experience worldwide, he was received at the Bell Centre in 2017. Matt has since produced two albums; a tribute to the Canadian icons (HIBA, 2019) and a live recording of 9 songs performed at the prestigious Rialto theatre accompanied by his band of 12 musicians (Live at Rialto, 2021). When Matt isn’t performing he works as a Program Manager at Montérégie West Community Network (MWCN) spiffing up communication strategies, marketing and branding while maintaining and creating programs.

A current Certified Therapeutic Recreation Specialist who can truly inspire and connect with her audience, Meagan Young is the founder of the holistic wellness inspired site www.growthroughflow.com She has been facilitating and providing educaitonal, professional thraining and speaking events at the local, provincial,, and national levels. Meagan is a recognized leader in the field of therapeutic recreation
and one of the most passionate helping professionals you will meet.

Dr. Mélanie Joanisse is a clinical psychologist in private practice in Ottawa and works at Ontario’s only francophone hospital (Montfort) as part of a multidisciplinary team that manages patients with multi-morbidity and complex needs. Mélanie is also a clinical researcher, vice-chair of the Montfort Research Ethics Board and co-founder of the Orleans Psychological Health Team aimed at offering evidence-based psychological services in the community. Most recently, she was spotlighted for creating a funny and easy Guide to Wellness and resiliency for her frontline co-workers that has been translated and shared around the world.

Resilience Training Program is a Seniors Action Quebec project, is sponsored by Canadian Heritage. It is a training program intended to bring new perspectives to the many challenges faced by community outreach workers, volunteer leaders, stakeholders, social workers and other roles that offer support to seniors seeking help.

Nancy has been an employee of Côte-Nord’s health and social services network since 2004. She worked at the Agence de la Santé et des Services Sociaux de la Côte-Nord for 11 years and at the Côte-Nord CISSS for five years.

Nathalie Jauvin is a researcher and specialized scientific advisor with the Équipe de prévention des risques psychosociaux du travail et de promotion de la santé des travailleurs (Team for the prevention of psychosocial risks in the workplace and promotion of workers’ health) at the Institut national de santé publique du Québec (INSPQ). For more than 25 years, she has been interested in workplace violence as well as mental health in the workplace, psychosocial risks in the workplace and preventive interventions. She has also been involved in numerous knowledge transfer activities and in the development of tools for workplaces.