ABOUT

Sharon Anderson is a Family Gerontologist who brings a wealth of practical experience as a family caregiver as well as academic and research experience to the AAG Board. She completed her PhD with Dr. Norah Keating in the Research on Aging, Policies and Practice in the Department of Human Ecology at the University of Alberta after finishing her Master of Science in Health Promotion at the University of Alberta and Master of Education in Community Rehabilitation and Disability Studies at the University of Calgary. Sharon enhanced her knowledge of social support and participatory community-engaged research as a Research Assistant and then Research Associate in the Social Support Research Program at the University of Alberta. Sharon also cared for her mother from 2009 to 2017. She currently works as a research coordinator for Dr. Jasneet Parmar at the University of Alberta.

Jocelyn Rempel is an experienced Gerontological Nurse and has been teaching at Mount Royal University since 2006. Her nursing experience includes acute care (general medicine), pediatrics, and oncology, but was drawn to the older population. She has experience as a Geriatric Nurse Consultant, a medical member for the Office of the Commissioner of Review Tribunals (OCRT) for Canada Pension Plan/Old Age Security. She is driven by a strong desire to promote better care for older people, and has become a noteworthy leader in her field. She has spearheaded the development of the gerontological content in the Nursing Program at Mount Royal University, and has established many partnerships with her vast community network.

French Lau is currently the Controller for Lifestyle Options Retirement Communities, a private operator of several senior retirement facilities in Edmonton and surrounding area. He is an advocate for alleviating pressure in the health care system by moving seniors out of acute care and back into the community and their home.

French is a seasoned accounting professional with over ten years of experience in both public practice and industry. Prior to joining Lifestyle Options, he was the Manager of Financial Reporting for a crane and heavy haul services company.

He holds a Bachelor of Commerce Degree with Distinction from the University of Alberta and received his Chartered Accountant designation while working at PwC.

Marlene Raasok has had a career focused on enhancing services for older adults, starting with her thesis for her Master of Health Services Administration from the University of Alberta, followed by policy and planning roles with the Department of Hospitals and Medical Care and then operational leadership roles with Extendicare, Carewest, and the Calgary Health Region. Leadership roles in post-secondary education followed these operational responsibilities with initiatives to enhance the preparation of graduates for working effectively with older adults. Helped set up the collaborative structure for the Research Institute for Aging while Executive Dean for Health, Life Sciences and Community Services at Conestoga College in Kitchener. Now retired and living in Airdrie; an active volunteer with local and provincial initiatives related to innovation for healthy living and aging through community engagement and organizational collaboration. Currently Chair, Good Samaritan Society.

Beth Mansell was the 2020 AAG Edmonton Chapter Student Award when she was pursuing her Master’s of Public Health with a focus on health policy and management at the U of Alberta. She brings a wealth of experience in the Seniors Serving Sector. Currently, Beth is the Provincial Social Prescribing Project Manager with Healthy Aging Alberta. She was Strategic Project and Operations Manager at Sage Seniors Association in Edmonton. She served as the Co-chair of the Age-Friendly Community in Edmonton.

Antonio Miguel Cruz is a distinguished academic with a wealth of experience and expertise in the field of digital technologies for healthy ageing. As an Associate Professor in the Department of Occupational Therapy within the Faculty of Rehabilitation Medicine at the University of Alberta, he plays a pivotal role in shaping the future of healthcare and rehabilitation. Additionally, Dr. Miguel Cruz serves as an affiliate researcher at the Glenrose Rehabilitation Research, Innovation & Technology, where he actively contributes to groundbreaking research initiatives. His commitment to advancing the field extends further as an Adjunct Associate Professor in the Faculty of Health at the University of Waterloo.

Dr. Miguel Cruz’s impressive academic journey commenced with the completion of a BSc degree in Nuclear Engineering at the Nuclear Science Institute in Habana, Cuba. He further pursued his passion for research and obtained both MSc and Ph.D. degrees in Bioengineering from the Technological University, Habana, Cuba. His early career began at the Technological University, Faculty of Electrical Engineering in Habana, Cuba, where he served as the chair of the Bioengineering Centre. Having amassed a wealth of knowledge and experience, Dr. Miguel Cruz later assumed the roles of Full Professor and Chair of the Biomedical Engineering Program at the Universidad del Rosario, School of Medicine and Health Sciences in Bogotá, Colombia. This multifaceted academic background has shaped his unique perspective on the intersection of technology and healthcare.

Dr. Miguel Cruz’s research primarily focuses on exploring the impact of technologies used in community and healthcare settings on healthy aging, with a particular emphasis on the well-being of older adults and their caregivers. As the director of the PEAR Lab and a network investigator of AGE-WELL NCE, Canada’s technology and aging network, he actively collaborates with researchers and industry professionals to drive innovation and improve the lives of individuals within the aging population. Dr. Miguel Cruz’s contributions to the field have been widely recognized, and he continues to make significant strides in advancing knowledge and promoting healthy aging practices.

Heather is a speech-language pathologist (SLP) with Alberta Health Services. She has significant experience working across the continuum of care including acute care, long-term care, and community rehabilitation. Her educational background includes a Bachelor of Arts (Honours) in psychology (Concordia University), and a Master of Science (Applied) in Communication Sciences and Disorders (McGill University). She obtained a post-graduate certificate in Gerontological Studies from Mount Royal College (now Mount Royal University). She is a passionate lifelong learner, and to that end, she is a currently pursuing a Master of Arts in Leadership through Royal Roads University, and will be completing her thesis in a long-term care setting.

Throughout her career, she has been a strong advocate for seniors and has been involved in projects to improve the experiences of seniors in hospital settings and long-term care. Heather’s main a Heather is a speech-language pathologist (SLP) with Alberta Health Services. She has significant experience working across the continuum of care including acute care, long-term care, and community rehabilitation. Her educational background includes a Bachelor of Arts (Honours) in psychology (Concordia University), and a Master of Science (Applied) in Communication Sciences and Disorders (McGill University). She obtained a post-graduate certificate in Gerontological Studies from Mount Royal College (now Mount Royal University). She is a passionate lifelong learner, and to that end, she is a currently pursuing a Master of Arts in Leadership through Royal Roads University, and will be completing her thesis in a long-term care setting.
Throughout her career, she has been a strong advocate for seniors and has been involved in projects to improve the experiences of seniors in hospital settings and long-term care. Heather’s main areas of interest include helping to improve the quality of care for seniors who live in long-term care, and helping to improve communicative access for adults who are living with aphasia, a common language disorder after stroke. She is a co-founder of the Calgary Aphasia Centre, who is dedicated to raising awareness about aphasia. As well, Heather regularly provides training for health care professionals who work with adults who are living with aphasia. reas of interest include helping to improve the quality of care for seniors who live in long-term care, and helping to improve communicative access for adults who are living with aphasia, a common language disorder after stroke. She is a co-founder of the Calgary Aphasia Centre, who is dedicated to raising awareness about aphasia. As well, Heather regularly provides training for health care professionals who work with adults who are living with aphasia.

With a deep commitment to supporting seniors and their family caregivers, Tammy combines compassion with expertise to help navigate the complex challenges they face.
Her passion lies in assisting family caregivers throughout their journey, ensuring they feel supported and understood. Tammy is dedicated to fostering meaningful connections, building trust, and enhancing the well-being of seniors and their families. Her approach is both professional and heartfelt, always aiming to make a positive impact and provide reassurance.