Our Speakers
Our speakers aren't just experts; they're here to share ideas that can change the game in long-term and continuing care. Expect to leave with fresh, practical insights on how to make a real difference in the lives of our seniors, in the senior care community.
Our Sessions
Dr. Kevin Bryan
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BC: Dementia Care Village
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Nursing Home Without Walls: Helping Older Adults Age Where They Call Home
​Fireside Chat
The Future of Long-Term Care in Manitoba: Beyond Beds and Buildings
Dr. Kevin Bryan
Kevin Bryan is an Associate Professor of Strategic Management at the University of Toronto, the cofounder and CEO of AI Edtech company All Day TA, the cofounder of the NBER Innovation Research PhD Boot Camp, a member of the board of editors of the Journal of Economic Literature, and a contributor to the Longitudinal Expert AI Panel. He was previously a visiting professor at Duke Fuqua and the Université Cheikh Anta Diop in Dakar, and an Associate Editor of Management Science. He holds Masters degrees in pure mathematics, economics, and managerial strategy, and a PhD in Managerial Economics and Strategy from Northwestern University. His research applies game theoretic models, economic history, and empirical data to study the creation, diffusion, and regulation of innovation, in particular artificial intelligence.
The Challenges of Integrating AI
Person Directed Living - A Culture Transformation
Kathleen Klaasen
Kathleen Klaasen is the Chief Executive Officer at Riverview Health Centre, a 387-bed health care organization located in Winnipeg, Manitoba, Canada that specializes in long term care, palliative care and rehabilitation. In this role, Kathleen is leading an organizational culture transformation focused on person directed living. Kathleen was previously the Chief Nursing Officer at Deer Lodge Centre, River Park Gardens and Middlechurch Home of Winnipeg and the Director of Centralized Operations for the Winnipeg Regional Health Authority Home Care Program leading provincial and regional specialty home care services. Kathleen is proud to be a Registered Nurse. She obtained her Bachelor of Nursing and Masters of Nursing Degrees from the University of Manitoba. She is a fellow of Healthcare Excellence Canada having completed their Executive Training Program and recently obtained her designation with the Institute of Corporate Directors. Kathleen is deeply committed to her family and enjoys any activities involving the outdoors, wildlife and nature.
Dr. Genevieve Thompson
Dr. Genevieve Thompson, is a tenured Professor and the current Associate Dean of Graduate Programs, in the College of Nursing, University of Manitoba. She is passionate about improving the care of those living, dying, visiting and working in long-term care. To this end, over the last 18 years, Genevieve has developed a program of research to explore issues related to palliative approaches, relational practices and quality care for older adults. She has been awarded a 5-year research chair jointly funded between Riverview Health Centre and the College of Nursing, University of Manitoba to explore these topics. She proudly has her Hospice Palliative Care Nursing certification through the Canadian Nurses Association.
Dr. Deanne O'Rourke, R.N., PhD, GNC(C)
Dr. Deanne O'Rourke is an avid advocate for the adoption and integration of Person Directed Living approaches to support individuals as they journey within the health care continuum. Deanne is currently the Person Directed Living Coordinator at Riverview Health Centre in Winnipeg, Manitoba, Canada. She is a doctoral-prepared Registered Nurse with over 30 years of nursing experience in a variety of aged care, acute, community, and academic settings. She completed her undergraduate and graduate studies at the University of Manitoba in Winnipeg, Manitoba. She holds a Canadian Nurses Association certification in Gerontological Nursing. Her areas of interest and specialty include the fields of gerontology, leadership development, and implementation science.
Kelly Dutiaume
Kelly Dutiaume began her nursing career at Riverview Health Centre 17 years ago as a direct care provider working throughout the whole organization, with the majority on the Special Needs Unit (Community). She has been in her current position as Clinical Educator for the past 8 years and is very excited to join Riverview’s Person Directed Living Coordinator, Deanne O’Rourke to support the education and learning as staff embark on this culture transformation journey. Kelly believes that focusing on the “living” component for the residents and individuals who live and receive care at Riverview is crucial and we all have the ability to change the historical “institutional” medical model to provide purpose and meaning to the individuals we serve. She holds her Gerontological Nursing Certification through the Canadian Nurses Association and is a member of the Manitoba Gerontological Nursing Association Executive.
Nursing Home Without Walls: Helping Older Adults Age Where They Call Home
Dr. Suzanne Dupuis-Blanchard
Dr. Suzanne Dupuis-Blanchard, Ph.D. RN is Professor at the School of Nursing at the Université de Moncton where she also holds a Research Chair in Population Aging and serves as Director of the Centre on Aging. She has worked with older adults for 35 years, first as a community health nurse and now as a professor and researcher. Her research program focuses on the many facets of aging in place, including among older adults living in Official Language Minority Communities (OLMC). She is recognized for developing Nursing Home Without Walls, an innovative approach to support aging in place. She has co-chaired the development of the New Brunswick provincial strategy on aging, is a past chairperson of the National Seniors Council and a former president of the Canadian Association on Gerontology.
Andrea Piché
Andrea is passionate about health system improvement through enhancing approaches to quality and patient safety. She has supported improvement initiatives at local, provincial and national levels in healthcare organizations across the continuum of care. Recently, Andrea led HEC’s Enabling Aging in Place Collaborative, supporting 26 organizations across Canada to deliver programs that support older adults in the community to age where they call home using an Asset-Based Community Development approach.
Andrea holds a M.A.Sc. in Industrial Engineering and began her career as a Human Factors Engineer. She continues to teach and embed this approach to systems thinking across her work portfolio.
The Future of Long-Term Care in Manitoba: Beyond Beds and Buildings
Yann Boissonneault
Yann Boissonneault is the Chief Executive Officer of Villa Youville Inc., a Francophone and Catholic charitable organization in Ste. Anne, Manitoba, that has been providing housing and care for seniors since 1964. Leading a team of more than 200 employees, he is responsible for guiding Villa Youville through a time of unprecedented change in health care, senior housing, and community development. Under his leadership, Villa Youville has embraced a bold vision for the future, one that combines person-directed living with financial independence from government volatility. Recent initiatives include major campus renewal projects, partnerships with CMHC to improve housing, and the development of new intergenerational, community-focused services. Yann is also spearheading the creation of the “Villa Youville Model,” an integrated approach to aging in place that emphasizes empowerment, flexibility, and sustainability. With a background in executive leadership, strategic planning, and nonprofit governance, Yann brings both business discipline and human-centered values to his work. He is currently completing his Executive MBA at the University of Fredericton with a focus on transforming organizational culture in health and social care. A passionate advocate for seniors, Yann is committed to advancing innovative solutions that honour dignity, choice, and community, not only at Villa Youville but across Manitoba and beyond.
Tannis Nickel
Tannis began her career in healthcare as a volunteer and then as a Health Care Aide. Working as a health care aide, she quickly developed a profound understanding of the diverse needs of residents. Being naturally empathetic, she constantly found herself reflecting on how to best meet the residents’ diverse spiritual and social needs.
In 1993, Tannis completed her RN Diploma Program through Red River College Tannis secured a position in Vita at the Vita and Health District Health Centre, working in the Emergency/Acute Care, and Personal Care Home. In her ten years in Vita, she became a Ward Nurse and later a Clinical Resource Nurse. When an opportunity presented itself at Rest Haven Care Home, it was here she knew where her heart belonged. For the next sixteen years she served as the Director of Resident Care. Tannis became heavily involved in designing and constructing the new, small-house-modeled personal care home.
On October 16, 2023, Tannis assumed the role of CEO. As CEO, Tannis emphasizes enhancing care for seniors, fostering a positive staff culture, continuing the organization’s growth and living by the organization’s Mission, Vision and Values.
Ron Parent
Ron Parent is the Executive Director of the Niverville Heritage Centre and has more than 20 years of leadership experience in long-term care and seniors housing across three provinces. His career has included roles as an Administrator, Regional Director, and as a Director of Licensing and Standards supporting eight First Nation personal care homes in Manitoba. Ron currently serves on the Board of the Long Term & Continuing Care Association of Manitoba (LTCAM) and previously served from 2017 to 2022, including two years as Vice Chair. He holds credentials in health administration, business management, and leadership development and is passionate about improving systems that support seniors and their families.
The Village Langley
Elroy Jespersen
After spending the first 2 decades of his life in Alberta, Elroy moved to BC to escape the cold and to attend University. He graduated from UBC in 1975 with a degree in Community Recreation and spent the next 15 years working in both public and private organizations managing community recreation facilities, including Senior Centers. In 1989, he changed careers and joined Diversicare (now Verve Senior Living) as their first employee in Western Canada, and as GM of a senior’s residence under construction in Richmond, BC. Over the next 30 years, he was given increasing opportunity and responsibility and was involved in the development, construction and operation of numerous senior living communities throughout Western Canada. As his retirement approached, he felt that there was one more Project that needed to be done; developing a different type of community where people living with dementia could live their own best life, and thrive. In 2019, The Village Langley welcomed its first Villagers, and Elroy retired as Verve’s Vice President of Western Operations. He now spends some of his time volunteering as President, Friends of The Village, a not for profit society whose mandate is to promote and support other organizations in developing a Village, in their community.