Program: Saturday, October 25

Seating: Mount Benson C&D

Seating: Mount Benson C&D

Seating: Mount Benson C&D

What matters gets measured: What person and family-centered palliative care outcomes are essential to measure?

A provincial collaboration of palliative care leaders identified person- and family-centered outcomes as the place to start measuring what matters. We’ll share our consensus-driven process and recommendations for palliative care outcomes rated as most essential to measure in our province by a panel of people living with life-limiting illness, their families and health care and community professionals.

Learning Objectives:

1. Describe consensus-driven person and family-centred outcomes deemed essential to measure by a panel of experts including those people with lived experience
2. Review the consensus process and how that influenced the findings
3. Reflect on how the palliative care outcomes found to be essential provincial measures could inform evaluation and quality improvement in their own area of practice.

Speaker: Ms. Della Roberts, MSN, CHPCN(C), Consultant Strategic Initiatives, BC Centre for Palliative Care

As a Clinical Nurse Specialist, Della’s had the privilege of caring for people with serious illness, those dying and their families for the past 30 years. With BCCPC, Della leads provincial palliative care collaboration projects. Being a family caregiver for her sister who died from dementia and her parents has deepened the breadth and depth of her knowing.

Exploring how client- and system-level factors impact reassessment in palliative home care

The timely assessment of palliative home care clients can support clinicians in identifying clients’ changing care needs. But how do clinicians decide when to reassess clients and what do these reassessments entail? This presentation will share the results of a mixed methods study highlighting the characteristics of clients who are reassessed more frequently and the types of information palliative home care clinicians use to guide their decision-making.

Learning Objectives:

1. Participants will be able to describe how the interRAI Palliative Care (interRAI PC) assessment is currently being used with palliative home care clients in Ontario.
2. Participants will be able to identify the key characteristics of palliative home care clients who are reassessed more frequently with the interRAI PC in Ontario.
3. Participants will be able to describe why clinicians use different kinds of information (e.g., from the electronic health record, from other health professionals, from the patient and/or their informal caregiver) to support their decision-making with their palliative home care clients.
4. Participants will be able to describe the information needs of palliative home care clinicians.

Speaker: Ms. Maya Canham, BSc, MSc, Research Assistant, Wilfrid Laurier University

Maya received her BSc in Health Sciences from Wilfrid Laurier University in 2023 and her MSc in Health Sciences from Wilfrid Laurier University in 2025. Her research interests include palliative care, home care, and mood disorders.

All Providers Better Communication skills (ABCs) Program: Piloting a serious illness communication skills training program with interprofessional clinicians

This session presents findings from a pilot study of the ABCs program, which is a person-centred interprofessional communication skills training intervention. Using a pre-post single-arm study design, we found that completion of the ABCs led to improvements in learner self-perceived competence and self-efficacy, standardized patient perceptions of learner communication, and external expert assessments on learner communication competency.

Learning Objectives:

1. Describe the purpose, structure, and content of the ABCs program.
2. Explain the mixed-methods approach used to evaluate the impact of the ABCs.
3. Discuss the potential for interprofessional training to enhance SIC across healthcare disciplines.

Speaker: Dr. Daryl Bainbridge,PhD, Senior Research Coordinator, Juravinski Cancer Centre

Practice and Enlightenment of Palliative Care Training Program for Nurses in Hubei, China

As core members of multidisciplinary palliative care teams, the competency of nurses to provide palliative care has a positive impact on the quality of service. Project HOPE, a U.S. non-profit global health organization, has implemented the palliative care training program for nurses in Hubei since 2017. This paper summarizes the activities and achievements of this program to provide reference for palliative care training of professionals in the future.

Learning Objectives:

1. Participants will be able to identify a practical training model: TOT + following-up monitoring and evaluation + annual meeting
2. As a result of attending this presentation, the participant will be able to confidently apply the training for nurses and public to increase the awareness of the palliative care.

Speaker: Ms. Wei Dong, B.A., Chief Representative, Project HOPE

Chief Representative of Beijing Office Nov. 2023–Present

In charge of the programs and office management of Beijing Office and Wuhan Office. Programs including Wuhan University School of Nursing Further Development Program, which including the palliative care training program for nurses and doctors in Wuhan and Palliative Care Training for Oncology Nurses in Beijing.

Joined Project HOPE in 2004, participated in the management of programs：Wuhan University HOPE School of Nursing Program， Wuhan University Preventive Dentistry Program, Hubei HIV/AIDS Education and Training Program, Hubei HIV/AIDS Family Care Program.

Award: 2021 ELNEC(End-of-Life Nursing Education Consortium) Award of Excellence”

Safely Easing the Pain of the Home Hospice Patient with Opioid Infusions at the End of Life: A Quality Improvement Project

A standardized procedure was implemented through a quality improvement (QI) project. Nurses were educated by reviewing the policy and implementing the procedure. The goal was zero adverse events, compliance with secured app documentation at 90%, and canned text was to be used at 90% to confirm independent double checks. The outcome was a significant increase in compliance with the procedure, however short of the goal of 90% the Chi-Square test trend line identified improvement.

Learning Objectives:

1. The learner will be able to describe the adaptable solutions to improve the nursing workflow of hospice patients receiving opioid infusions.
2. The learner will be able to analyze the continuity of care without increase workload or compromising the safety of the hospice patient.

Speaker: Dr. Linda Abbott, RN, Regional Hospice Director of Quality Outcomes, Providence at Home with Compassus

Linda Abbott is a Doctor of Nursing Practice with more than 32 years of nursing experience in cardiac telemetry, intensive care, hospice, quality improvement, and infection control. She earned her DNP from Texas Tech University, completing her DNP project: Safely Easing the Pain of the Home Hospice Patient with Opioid Infusions at the End of Life: A Quality Improvement Project. She also holds a Master of Science in Nursing and a Bachelor of Science in Nursing from Lubbock Christian University. She began her career path by obtaining an RN diploma from the Royal Alexandra Hospital in Edmonton, Alberta. Committed to compassionate, patient-centered care, Dr. Abbott has dedicated her career to advancing outcomes in both acute and end-of-life settings. She is currently a Director of Quality Outcomes with Providence at Home with Compassus, and has been a Quality Improvement Nurse for 10 years.

Is buprenorphine as effective as full mu agonists for cancer pain?

We will present the results of a systematic review of the literature on buprenorphine for cancer pain. We will discuss the efficacy of buprenorphine in comparison to full mu agonists, response rates, and side effects.

Key Objectives:

1. The mechanistic differences between buprenorphine and full mu agonists
2. How a systematic review of the literature is conducted
3. What the literature currently shows about the efficacy of buprenorphine and how that compares to full mu agonists
4. What the literature shows about nonresponse rates to buprenorphine and its side effects
5. Where the research needs to go next

Speaker: Dr. Maria Silveira, MD MA MPH, Associate Professor, University of Michigan

Dr. Silveira is a US funded researcher, palliative care specialist, and ethicist at the University of Michigan and the Veterans Administration (VA) Medical Center. Her research aims to improve the management of pain and other symptoms related to cancer or cancer treatment. She is the recipient of funding from the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation and Veterans Administration. Her research has been published in JPSM, JAGS, JAMA, and NEJM. She has held several editorial positions, including Associate Editor for the Journal of Pain and Symptom Management and UpToDate. She currently serves as the Director for Research for the University of Michigan’s Palliative Care Program and is running a VA funded multisite trial to examine multimodal care and buprenorphine for cancer survivors with chronic pain.

PSilocybin for psYCHological and Existential Distress in PALliative care (PSYCHED-PAL): A single arm phase I/II clinical trial

Psychological distress is common among patients receiving palliative care. Treatments like antidepressant medications and psychotherapy can have side effects or take a long time to work, and sometimes don’t work at all. In this presentation we present the results of a study showing that microdose psilocybin (also known as small doses of ‘magic mushrooms’) is a promising safe, acceptable, and potentially effective treatment for those suffering from psychological distress in palliative care.’

Learning Objectives:

1. Describe the challenges of existing therapeutic options for treating psychological distress in the palliative context.
2. Examine the potential of microdose psilocybin for treating psychological distress in the palliative context.
3. Discuss the the next steps for conducting methodologically rigorous research on psilocybin in a palliative context.

Speaker: Miss Julie Lapenskie, Director of Research, Division of Palliative Care, University of Ottawa

Julie Lapenskie is the Director of Research in the Division of Palliative Care at the University of Ottawa and the Executive Director of the Pan-Canadian Palliative Care Research Collaborative (PCPCRC, www.pcpcrc.ca). She managed the world-first clinical trial of microdose psilocybin to treat psychological distress among patients followed by palliative care providers, and continues to expand this program of research with a planned multi-centre, interprovincial

phase III RCT of microdose psilocybin for patients receiving palliative care in the outpatient and community setting. Her contributions to research broadly focus on identifying novel approaches for symptom management in palliative care, using automated tools to facilitate timely involvement of palliative supports, and evaluating strategies to support caregivers in bereavement.

An Examination of Place of Death Preferences: Motivations for Choosing to Die at Home

We will share findings from a review of 17 international studies examining why individuals choose to die at home. Our presentation will explore how motivations rooted in identity, relationships, and cultural context, shape this preference for death at home, and discuss how these insights challenge assumptions in palliative care. The presentation offers practical guidance for more responsive, person-centered end-of-life planning.

Learning Objectives:

1. Participants will identify primary motivations influencing adults’ decisions to prefer home as their place of death, drawing from recent international research.
2. Participants will critically evaluate how interpersonal relationships and cultural contexts influence patient preferences for dying at home, using specific examples from diverse populations.
3. Participants will learn at least two strategies practitioners and policymakers can implement to create more culturally sensitive and individualized end-of-life care plans regarding place of death.

Speaker: Dr. Shannon Freeman, PhD, Professor, School of Nursing University of Northern British Columbia

Dr. Freeman is a Professor in the School of Nursing at the University of Northern British Columbia (UNBC), the Vice-President of the BC Hospice Palliative Care Association and the BC provincial representative to the Canadian Hospice Palliative Care Association (CHPCA). She has published widely in field of palliative and hospice care, including examining caregiver distress and supports when caring for persons nearing end-of-life, dyspnea at end of life, and palliative patients’ expressions of wishes to die now. Dr. Freeman has examined the experiences of professional caregivers and requests for medical assistance in dying in the non-provider hospice context. Dr. Freeman has been instrumental to co-designing the hospice at home program with leaders at the PGHPCS and is currently leading the evaluation of this new program.

Honoring Métis Traditions in End-of-Life Care: A Collaborative Curriculum by Métis Nation of BC and Douglas College

The collaborative efforts between the Métis Nation of BC and Douglas College to improve the quality of end-of-life care in the Metis Nation by creating a culturally specific end-of-life curriculum. Integrating Métis cultural and spiritual practices with Western healthcare approaches, acknowledging and addressing the unique needs and perspectives of Métis individuals, and incorporating and learning from Metis elders and community members has resulted in the creation of a valuable resource.

Learning Objectives:

Participants will be able to identify strategies for equitable program development; reflect on current development processes and identify areas for improvement; and provide an opportunity for a change in practice that ensures all involved are taken into consideration.

Speaker: Ms. Jennifer M Mallmes, MA, Lead End of Life Studies, Douglas College

Jennifer has almost 30 years of caregiving experience. She is a mother of five and lives in the Kootenay region of British Columbia. Her journey began in Nursing, but she shifted paths to complete a degree in Gerontology at Simon Fraser University, where she focused on equity, aging, and the end of life. Jennifer has worked in community care, finding deep purpose in supporting individuals to remain at home as they are near the end of life. Currently, Jennifer is focusing on creating inclusive programs surrounding end-of-life care.

She is the co-founder of the End-of-Life Doula Association of Canada and the creator and lead instructor of both the End-of-Life Doula Program and the Indigenous End-of-Life Guide Program at Douglas College. She holds a Master of Interdisciplinary Studies in Adult Education from Athabasca University.

Red River Métis Perspectives on Medical Assistance in Dying (MAID): Creating a Dialogue

This presentation shares insights from community-based research with Red River Métis Citizens on Medical Assistance in Dying (MAID). Attendees will learn about Red River Métis perspectives, cultural considerations, and priorities for end-of-life care. Findings highlight the need for inclusive, culturally safe MAID policies and offer guidance for respectful policy development.

Learning Objectives:

1. Participants will be able to summarize the Red River Métis Community’s’ views on MAID.
2. Participants will recognize the importance of distinctions-based approaches in MAID policy development.
3. Participants will be able to identify the relevance of cultural considerations in end-of-life care.
4. Participants will be able to discuss how Indigenous-led research methods enhance policy relevance and community trust.

Speakers:

Miss Mildred Njoache, Research Associate, Manitoba Metis Federation Inc.

Ms. Debbie Olotu, Research Project Coordinator, Manitoba Metis Federation Inc

Supporting the Journey Home: Community-Based Palliative Care Education with Health Care Providers in First Nations Communities

Supporting the Journey Home is a culturally grounded palliative care education program co-designed with providers serving First Nations communities in Ontario. It equips care providers with tools for early identification, communication, and care coordination. A study with 19 participants showed it shifted perspectives to proactive care and built confidence. The program highlights Indigenous-led, community-informed education and culturally safer care.

Learning Objectives:

1. Participants will gain insights into key learnings from the three modules of SJH:
2. Gathering Early in the Journey – Tools for early identification of individuals who may benefit from a palliative approach;
3. Communicating in an Honest, Clear, and Healing Way – Skills for holding serious illness conversations with compassion and clarity;
4. Strengthening Connections Among Community Helpers – Strategies to support proactive care coordination across healthcare and community systems.

Speaker: Mrs. Kathlene Bartlett, RN, BScN, CHPCN(C), Knowledge Broker, McMaster university

Kathlene Bartlett is a proud band member of the Chippewas of Georgina Island First Nation, a Registered Nurse, and a Certified Hospice Palliative Care Nurse Consultant with over 15 years of experience in Acute Care, Palliative Oncology, and Community health, where she specialized as a Palliative Pain and Symptom Management Consultant.

Kathlene’s career path has been deeply shaped by her commitment to rebuilding a connection to her culture and advancing Indigenous health. She brings this perspective to her role as a Knowledge Broker with McMaster University’s Supporting the Journey Home initiative, where she works to bridge research and practice, ensuring access to compassionate, equitable, and culturally safe palliative care. Guided by her expertise and her cultural values, Kathlene is dedicated to empowering healthcare providers, patients, and families to navigate end-of-life care.

Improving Interprofessional Collaboration in Palliative Primary Care: Results from the CAPACITI Randomized Controlled Trial

“Community Access to PAlliative Care via Interprofessional Team Improvement” (CAPACITI) is a virtual education program designed to enhance delivery of palliative care through interprofessional collaboration across primary care settings. This session presents secondary results from a Canada-wide randomized controlled trial of CAPACITI. We discuss significant improvements in team collaboration across primary care settings following program participation.

Learning Objectives:

1. Describe the CAPACITI program structure for interprofessional primary care teams.
2. Interpret findings from a randomized controlled trial evaluating CAPACITI’s impact on team collaboration.
3. Identify strategies for integrating virtual team-based training in community palliative care practice.
4. Recognize factors that may influence team collaboration outcomes, such as organizational readiness.

Speaker: Mrs. Kayla McMillan, Research Coordinator, Department of Oncology, McMaster University

Developing patient-facing resources: Using co-design to create early palliative care tools

This presentation shares insights from the development of four disease -specific tools—referred to as “roadmaps”—designed to support patients and families affected by Alzheimer’s disease, COPD, ALS) and Ovarian Cancer. The co-design process highlighted how patients and families prefer to receive information early in their illness journey and revealed opportunities for clinicians to integrate these tools into practice to provide timely, compassionate support.

Key Objectives:

1. Describe how the codesign process revealed insights into how patients and families wanted information early in an illness journey
2. Demonstrate how clinicians can use these tools in their practice to support their patients.
3. Report findings from real world use of the tools

Speaker: Ms. Kayla McMillan, Research Coordinator, McMaster University

Digital Communication in End-of-Life Situations: Exploring Attitudes and Experiences Before and Towards the End of the COVID-19 Pandemic

Digital communication tools have become an increasingly common method for maintaining connection at the end of life, whether due to restricted physical access or geographic separation. While patient–clinician communication has been widely studied, there is limited research into how digital tools affect end-of-life interactions between individuals and their loved ones. This study investigates evolving public attitudes and psychosocial experiences regarding digital communication at end of life.

Learning Objectives:

Participants will be able to identify and be prepared for a diversity of acceptance of technology use in end of life supportive care conversations and decision making. Participants will be able to bring an awareness of top priority uses of digital communication at end of life for supportive care and family connectivity to care conversations.

Speaker: Ms. Sara Rashighi, MDes, Graduate Research Assistant, Health Design Studio

Sara Rashighi is a Health Designer and Researcher at the Health Design Studio at the University of Waterloo, in collaboration with OCAD University. She holds a Master of Design (MDes) and applies an inclusive and human-centered approach to addressing complex healthcare challenges. Her multidisciplinary background encompasses product, service, and experience design.

Her work includes co-creating Dying.series, a public event running during the DesignTO Festival, which engages communities in dialogue about death and dying through interactive design. Drawing on research, psychology, and co-design methods, her interventions foster meaningful experiences for individuals, families, and communities. She is a recipient of OCAD University’s 2024 Design and Research Medal.

Advancing advance care planning: a collaboration of health care, law, government, academia and the public – from incubation to action

To maximize advance care planning (ACP) effectiveness, a medical-legal collaboration was launched. People want to receive ACP information from lawyers, who are experts in drafting advance directives but lack healthcare context. Cross-sectoral collaboration helps address policy and practice gaps. Mixed methods identified barriers and needs. Together we produced a legal course, best practice guide, practice principles and symposium. 120 professionals explored gaps and proposed improved practices.

Learning Objectives:

1. Participants will learn how medical-legal collaborations can bridge professional siloes between legal and healthcare sectors to enhance the effectiveness of advance care planning and improve quality of care.
2. Participants will recognize common gaps and barriers in current ACP practices, including some of the complexities between legal directives and healthcare realities.
3. Participants will gain insights into the value of co-developed joint practice principles and educational resources, enabling them to implement best practices in their own work

Speaker: Ms. Patricia Biondo, PhD, Research Manager, Covenant Health Palliative Institute

Patricia Biondo is the Research Manager for the Division of Palliative Medicine, University of Calgary, and has been supporting the Covenant Health Palliative Institute’s palliative care and advance care planning public awareness initiatives since early 2021. She has nearly 20 years’ experience supporting palliative care research in Alberta, including the Palliative Care Early and Systematic (PaCES) project and the Advance Care Planning CRIO project.

Facilitating equitable access to palliative and end-of-life care for underserved populations: A knowledge exchange event

This three-part series of online knowledge exchange events brought together researchers with members of the health system and community to explore the topic ‘Facilitating equitable access to palliative and end-of-life care for underserved populations’. The series facilitated knowledge exchange between participants, and identification of priority questions for future research and actions in BC.

Learning Objectives:

1. Describe key barriers and facilitators to palliative care access for equity-denied communities in BC, as identified through the learning exchange.
2. Explain the process and benefits of co-designing knowledge exchange events with researchers and research-users.
3. Identify prioritized research questions for palliative care and actions based on participant-identified gaps and community needs.
4. Identify key promising practices that promote improved access to palliative care services.

Speaker: Dr. Eman Hassan, MD MPH, Executive Director, BC Centre for Palliative Care

Living and Dying at George’s House: “It feels like I’m at home”

George’s House is a harm-reduction palliative care home in west-central Edmonton providing compassionate end-of-life care to structurally vulnerable individuals. Through interviews with patients, family caregivers, and staff, our study explores how this innovative model of care meets patients’ complex end-of-life needs. Findings show how housing-first, harm-reduction, community-based care promotes equity, dignity, and inclusion, offering key insights for policy, practice and future research.

Learning Objectives:

1. By attending this presentation, participants will be able to identify and articulate key themes in the lived experiences of individuals engaged in a harm-reduction, community-based palliative care program.
2. By attending this presentation, participants will be able to describe the core components of a harm-reduction, community-based palliative care program and explain how they differ from those of mainstream palliative care models.

Speakers:

Mr. Iain McInnis, M.A., Research Associate, University of Alberta

Iain holds a Master of Arts in Sociology from the University of Calgary. His master’s research focused on health equity, specifically examining the relationship between racial identity and experiences of chronic pain. He has since continued to work in the field of health equity and has developed a strong interest in equitable palliative care through his role as a Research Associate with the Palliative Care Outreach and Advocacy Team (PCOAT) at the Indigenous Wellness Clinic in Edmonton, Alberta. In this capacity, Iain has contributed to multiple projects exploring the impact of palliative navigation and harm-reduction, as well as housing-first models of palliative care for underserved populations, including through his involvement with George’s House.

Mrs. Hayley Sallis, Contemplative End of Life Care Practitioner, Soloss Lead with REACH Edmonton

Hayley Sallis has dedicated her career to strengthening community care in end of life and to address disenfranchised grief and loss, experienced by fringe communities, using creative and embodied approaches to healing. Her practice empowers the communities she works alongside by honouring and uplifting their stories of loss and resistance that too often go unheard.

Strengthening visibility, engagement, and support for caregivers in contexts of homelessness and unstable housing

Caregiving in contexts of homelessness, poverty, and other health and social inequity challenges dominant understandings of ‘family’ caregiving in hospice and palliative care. In this presentation, you will learn about who the caregivers are in these contexts, what they do, and ways that hospice and palliative care can better see, engage, and support those stepping into important care roles at the end of life.

Learning Objectives:

1. Identify dominant understandings of family caregiving in hospice and palliative care: Participants will be able to recognize how bio-legal family bias shows up in policy and legislation related to hospice and palliative care.
2. Demonstrate the impact of policies and practices that exclude caregivers in contexts of homelessness: Participants will be sensitized to the unique challenges faced by unrelated, informal caregivers.
3. Describe the need for new models of engagement and support for caregivers: Participants will be able to identify the groups of people who may step in to fill caregiving roles at the end of life in contexts of homelessness and other health and social inequities and promising practices for supporting these groups.

Speaker: Ms. Ashley Mollison, PhD(c), Research Manager, Palliative Approaches to Care in Aging and Community Health, University of Victoria

Ashley Mollison (she/her) is a PhD candidate in the Social Dimensions of Health Program at the University of Victoria focused on palliative care, caregiving, and health equity. For the last decade, Ashley has worked with the Palliative Approaches to Care in Aging and Community Health research program (PI, Dr. Kelli Stajduhar) to develop, implement, and evaluate evidence-informed resources, programs, and services to advance equity-oriented palliative care. Ashley also holds positions as Coach and Advisor with Healthcare Excellence Canada as well as Research Associate with Cancer Care Alberta. Ashley is a white settler with Scottish and Irish heritage, and resides on Treaty 7 Territories and Districts 4, 5 and 6 of the Métis Nation within Alberta.

Palliative Care Is: Co-creating a palliative care curriculum for workers in homeless and harm reduction settings

In homelessness and harm reduction settings, death and dying are common but rarely planned for given the more pressing demands of life, such as shelter, food, displacement, and acute medical issues. A palliative approach to care responds to this reality. This presentation offers a preview of Palliative Care Is, a co-created, discussion-based curriculum with a facilitator’s guide, presentation, and resources designed for these contexts. The full curriculum will be freely available by Spring 2026.

Learning Objectives:

1. Understand the need for a palliative approach in homelessness and harm reduction setting: Participants will be able to recognize why traditional models of care often fail to meet the needs of marginalized populations and explain how a palliative approach addresses chronic illness, suffering, and end-of-life care in these contexts.
2. Describe the community-informed and iterative process of the curriculum development: Participants will learn how the curriculum was co-created through regular engagement with frontline workers and people with lived experience, and how this process shaped its relevance and responsiveness.
3. Understand how the “Palliative Care Is” curriculum supports dialogue and collaboration across sectors: Participants will explore the curriculum’s key tools and structure, and how its conversation-based approach helps bridge healthcare and community perspectives in caring for marginalized populations.
4. Recognize the importance of flexibility and contextualization in educational initiatives for marginalized communities: Participants will learn how the curriculum’s adaptable design allows it to be responsive to different settings and populations, emphasizing cultural safety, trauma-informed approaches, and relational care.

Speakers:

Ashley Mollison, PhD(c), Program Manager, Palliative Approaches to Care in Aging and Community Health, University of Victoria

Ashley Mollison (she/her) is a PhD candidate in the Social Dimensions of Health Program at the University of Victoria focused on palliative care, caregiving, and health equity. For the last decade, Ashley has worked with the Palliative Approaches to Care in Aging and Community Health research program (PI Dr. Kelli Stajduhar) to develop, implement, and evaluate evidence-informed resources, programs, and services to advance equity-oriented palliative care. Ashley also holds positions as Coach and Advisor with Healthcare Excellence Canada as well as Research Associate with Cancer Care Alberta. Ashley is a white settler with Scottish and Irish heritage, and resides on Treaty 7 Territories and Districts 4, 5 and 6 of the Métis Nation within Alberta.

Kassandra Fernandes, PhD(c), Curriculum Developer, Lakehead University

Kassandra Fernandes (she/her) currently works as a Curriculum Developer at the Centre for Education and Research on Aging & Health, Lakehead University. She has worked in the Indigenous Health & Aging division under the guidance of Dr. Holly Prince for over 7 years, developing, coordinating, and disseminating palliative care education that promotes the wholistic well-being of Indigenous peoples. Kassandra has a Master of Public Health degree from Lakehead University and is a PhD candidate in Health and Rehabilitation Sciences at Western University. Under the supervision of Dr. Carri Hand, her doctoral work focuses on the intersection of place, belonging, and aging within the field of occupational science. Experienced in community-based research, program evaluation, and knowledge translation, Kassandra is passionate about working with and advocating for the quality of life of individuals and communities through to the end of life.

The Healing Voice: Integrating Vocal Psychotherapy Techniques into Hospice and Palliative Care

Discover the power of the human voice as a tool for connection, comfort, and emotional expression at end of life. This interactive workshop introduces practical vocal techniques from Austin Vocal Psychotherapy (AVP) that support patients, families, and clinicians in navigating grief, legacy, and meaning when words are not enough. Through experiential exercises such as guided toning, therapeutic humming, and vocal holding, participants will learn accessible strategies to enhance emotional care.

Learning Objectives:

1. Participants will be able to identify and demonstrate at least two vocal techniques (e.g., toning, humming) that can be used to foster emotional connection with hospice patients.
2. Participants will be able to describe the principles of breath and attunement and how they can be applied to enhance the therapeutic use of the voice in hospice care.
3. Participants will be able to assess the impact of non-verbal vocal techniques on emotional regulation and patient comfort, and reflect on their potential applications within their own practice.

Speaker: Miss Hannah Carlson, MTA, AVPT, RP, Supportive Care Team Lead, Oak Ridges Hospice

Hannah Carlson is a Certified Music Therapist (MTA), Austin Vocal Psychotherapist (AVPT), and a Registered Psychotherapist (RP) in Ontario. She is currently employed at a ten-bed residential hospice, where her clinical practice focuses on integrating music therapy and psychotherapy in end-of-life care. In this role, she supports patients and their families through the complex psychological, emotional, and existential processes associated with dying and bereavement. In addition to her work within the hospice, Hannah provides outpatient aftercare support through hospice-based community programs, offering specialized grief therapy for individuals and families following a loss. Hannah’s professional interests lie in the intersections of music therapy, psychotherapy, and palliative care. She is committed to advancing the role of music therapy as an essential component of holistic healthcare.

Educating for Empathy: Advancing Culturally Safer Palliative Care 

PalliPro– Palliative Care Interprofessional Education helps all healthcare providers strengthen their knowledge, skills and attitudes in providing palliative care. Based on a provincial Interprofessional Palliative Care Competency Framework, learners engage through interactive modules, decision making and moments of reflection in this free online education. In this session, participants will learn about and experience two new scenarios highlighting culturally safe care across diverse settings.

Learning Objectives:

1. Participants will understand the impact culture plays on palliative care and end of life care. 
2. Participants will be able to describe the approach to developing culturally safe competency-based continuing education for HCPs. 
3. Participants will be able to identify best practice responses to common palliative scenarios from interactive stories.
4. Participants will understand how online interactive education materials can support their continuing professional development in palliative care.  

Speaker: Ms. Louise Kashuba, RN, MN, Executive Director, Palliative Institute, Covenant Health

Louise Kashuba is the Executive Director of the Covenant Palliative Institute. A registered nurse with a master’s degree in nursing from the University of Alberta, Louise brings clinical expertise and a compassionate, collaborative leadership style to her role. She is dedicated to advancing excellence in palliative care and is driven by a commitment to improving the lives of individuals and families facing life-limiting and life-threatening illnesses. A lifelong Albertan, Louise finds joy in walking, traveling, and cooking—especially when shared with her husband, son, and close friends.

Understanding Bereavement in the Context of Homelessness from Those with Lived Experience

There is a lack of research completed to understand the bereavement experiences for those experiencing houselessness. In this qualitative study, we conducted 80 in-person semi-structured interviews with people with lived experience of bereavement and homelessness in BC. The interviews provided insight into the actual bereavement experiences and supports that they have access to, as well as ideas towards providing improved support.

Learning Objectives:

1. Identify how bereavement is a risk factor for homelessness
2. Understand the grief experience and challenges that people with living and lived experience (PWLLE) encounter
3. Identify actionable tools for the provision of grief support

Speakers:

Dr. Joshua Black, PhD, Bereavement Initiative Manager, BC Centre for Palliative Care

Joshua Black, PhD, is a grief and bereavement researcher, speaker, educator, and host of the Grief Dreams Podcast. Joshua holds a master’s degree (Psychology) from Trent University and a PhD (Psychology) from Brock University. His research has focused on dreams and waking experiences of the deceased, continuing bonds, bereavement during the COVID-19 pandemic, and bereavement in the context of homelessness. He is dedicated to raising awareness of those who are bereaved who are not being provided with the necessary bereavement support.

Stephanie Laing, PhD(c), MSW, RSW, Director of Operations, Kelowna Homelessness Research Centre

Stephanie Laing (PhD(c), MSW, RSW) is the Director of Operations for the Kelowna Homelessness Research Centre. Stephanie is a registered social worker with experience in health care, shelter, and field education for social work students. Stephanie’s research interests include forensic social work, co-responding police and mental health teams, and homelessness. She is an enthusiastic advocate for reciprocal and responsive community-based research and is currently exploring bereavement in the context of homelessness.

Understanding the Role of Peer Support in MAiD-Related Bereavement: Insights from a Mixed-Methods Study

This study investigated the experiences of those who sought peer support through a non-profit organization following a loved one’s decision for MAiD. Findings highlight the responsibilities that family members have when a loved one chooses MAiD, the importance of timely support, and insights into how lived-experience peer support services may be optimized within the MAiD process and MAiD-related bereavement care.

Learning Objectives:

1. Participants will learn about the experience of family members who received lived-experience peer-to-peer support because of their connection to a loved one who received MAiD.
2. Participants will learn about the needs, timing, and value of lived-experience peer-to-peer support in the MAiD context.
3. Participants will expand their understanding of the experience of family members of individuals who pursue MAiD, including system considerations.

Speaker: Dr. Tracy Powell, PhD, RN, Associate Professor, Mount Royal University

Dr. Tracy Powell, a registered nurse and associate professor at the School of Nursing and Midwifery at Mount Royal University in Calgary, has a clinical background in oncology, cancer care, and palliative care. With over 25 years of experience in clinical practice and academia, Dr. Powell’s research program focuses on medical assistance in dying, particularly on family members and caregivers.

Building Confidence and Capacity: Supporting Hospice Volunteers to Facilitate Legacy Activities

This presentation shares a quality improvement initiative to support hospice volunteers in initiating legacy activities with clients and families. Through interactive workshops, volunteers explored barriers, built confidence, and co-developed practical tools to navigate sensitive conversations. Attendees will learn about the workshop model, training outcomes, and lessons for enhancing volunteer-led legacy work in hospice settings.

Learning Objectives:

1. Identify common barriers hospice volunteers face when initiating legacy activities with clients and families
2. Describe the structure and key components of an interactive, solution-oriented training model for volunteers
3. Apply practical strategies to support volunteers in navigating sensitive conversations around legacy

Speaker: Ms. Brianna Kennelly, MA, BHSc, Manager of Community Engagement, Volunteers, and Resident Life Services, Margaret’s Place Hospice

Brianna Kennelly is the Manager of Community Engagement, Volunteers, and Resident Life Services at Margaret’s Place Hospice at St. Joseph’s Villa, Dundas, Ontario. Margaret’s Place is an 11-bed Residential Hospice serving the communities of Dundas, Ancaster, and Waterdown in the Greater Hamilton Area, providing dignified end-of-life care to individuals and their families in the final stages of a serious illness. Brianna holds a BHSc (Hons) in Biomedical Discovery and Commercialization from McMaster University, an MA in Health and Aging from McMaster University as well as a Certificate in Volunteer Management from Conestoga College. Her Masters research explored strategies for reducing loneliness and social isolation among older adults living in congregate care settings. Brianna and a dedicated team of volunteers comprise the Legacy Committee at Margaret’s Place Hospice.

A Lived Experience of Grief in Parental Loss as an Only Adult Child and Registered Nurse

Join Nicole as she shares her personal journey as an only child who was present with both her parents when they transitioned, almost 15 years apart. She shares each experience and speaks to how her palliative nursing knowledge and complicated grief impacted both experiences. Learn how both experiences influenced her passion project to transform grief support for the dying and for survivors, incorporating a validated assessment tool and Canadian data.

Learning Objectives:

1. Participants will be able to differentiate between depression and complicated grief.
2. Participants will be able to expand their knowledge and understanding of the grief process and the value of timely grief support, with a focus on Canadian-based data.
3. Participants will learn about a validated grief assessment tool for adults.

Speaker: Ms. Nicole Vaccalluzzo, RN, IIWCC, CAPCE, LEAP, End of Life Doula, Merkaba Nest

Nicole Vaccalluzzo has practiced as a Registered Nurse since 2003. Her career began as a community nurse, and a keen interest in wound care led her to obtain the International Interdisciplinary Wound Care Certification (IIWCC). Soon after, she realized she had a passion for palliative care through advocating for good deaths, supporting bereaved loved ones, and encouraging people to use the ‘d’ word at every opportunity.

A former role in clinical leadership created opportunities for Nicole to educate and support frontline nurses & PSWs in palliative care. She has facilitated Fundamentals of Hospice Palliative Care and clinically supported the opening of a 3-bed residential hospice. Nicole has recently launched her passion project, Merkaba Nest, with a goal of bringing calm to end of life transitions, supporting survivors through their grief, and sharing the healing energy of reiki.

Grief Cafe: An Innovative Approach to Enhancing Bereavement Services

Get ready for an inspiring and interactive workshop that will immerse you in the Grief Cafe experience! In the first part, you’ll learn about its creation, how it evolved through participant engagement and feedback, and explore its current shape and impact. Then, in the second part, experience a Grief Cafe firsthand as you take part in a live session, where connection, support, and shared stories come to life. Don’t miss this unique opportunity to examine and experience this innovative program.

Learning Objectives:

1. Explain what a Grief Cafe is (IE who it’s for, its purpose, what happens, who leads it)
2. Describe the benefits of Grief Cafes (for the participants, volunteers, organization)
3. Outline the human and material resources needed to deliver a Grief Cafe
4. Report what it’s like to participate in a Grief Cafe, based on their own experience

Speakers:

Ms. Marney Thompson, M.A., R.C.C.-A.C.S, Director Bereavement Services, Victoria Hospice

Marney Thompson is the Director of Bereavement Services at Victoria Hospice and an executive member of the Canadian Grief Alliance. She is a recipient of the King Charles Coronation Medal in recognition of her contribution to the field of bereavement care. She is an experienced conference presenter, clinical co-lead of the BC Psychosocial ECHO project, and a counsellor in private practice. In addition to these roles, she is also co-author of the award-winning book, “Transitions in Dying and Bereavement,” and a number of peer-reviewed articles related to psychosocial palliative care, medical assistance in death, and prolonged grief.

Mrs. Colleen Tiltman, Bereavement volunteer, Victoria Hospice

Mr. Rick Styles, Bereavement volunteer, Victoria Hospice

Culture as Medicine: The Journey to Improving Equity in Access to Palliative Care in Edmonton

The presenters, two Nêhiyaw iskwêw (Cree women), an End of Life Care Doula and Physician, will share their experience and teachings related to the delivery of palliative care with the communities they serve. Through the lens of, “Culture as Medicine” and through experiential learning, the audience will have the opportunity to deepen their understanding of Indigenous ways of knowing and being and consider how they can integrate culturally safe(r) into their own practice.

Learning Objectives:

1. Participants will understand “culture as medicine” in the context of palliative care.
2. Participants will hear about wise practices in improving access to culturally safe(r) palliative care in Canada.
3. Participants will appreciate the contribution of Indigenous ways of knowing to cultural safer care, and understand how to integrate this into their own practice.

Speakers:

Dr. Cara Bablitz, BSc, M.D., CCFP (PC), Palliative Care Physician, Alberta Health Services

Cara Bablitz (MD) is a Métis physician from Northern Alberta. She works with the University of Alberta, Department of Family Medicine at the Royal Alexandra Hospital in the Indigenous Wellness Clinic and is a Coach and Advisor for the Improving Equity in Access to Palliative Care Collaborative through Healthcare Excellence Canada and the Canadian Partnership Against Cancer. Her work in health equity has included the development of a team serving vulnerably housed and homeless people in Edmonton, PCOAT. Through this work, she has helped establish and run George’s House, a 5 bed end-of-life harm reduction home in Edmonton. In 2018, she helped write the policy paper for the Alberta Medical Association (AMA) on Indigenous Health, which lead to the development of the AMA Indigenous Health Committee. Her busiest job remains her role as a Mother to two children.

Ms. Jackie DeCoteau Gill, Indigenous End of Life Care Support and Community Auntie, Kokums Helper Society

Jackie DeCoteau-Gill is a nêhiyaw, dëne and mixed settler iskwêw. She was born and raised in Edmonton, and her family descends from Red Pheasant First Nation in SK, Calling Lake AB, and Fort Simpson NWT. Since reconnecting to culture and ceremony for the past decade, she has found herself drawn to walk alongside her community when they are getting ready to make their journey back home to the spirit world. She’s received her certificates for an End-of-Life Care at Douglas College, a year-long 13 Moon Journey into Mentorship for Doula Work program with Kihew Awasis Wakimik, Truth and Reconciliation through Right Relations, and an Indigenous Women’s Leadership course with the Indigenous Leadership Development Institute. Relying on her role as a community auntie, along with immersing herself as a ceremonial helper, she brings kindness, love, and a connection to culture for those community members who are navigating their journey back home.

Establishing National Quality Standards for Palliative Care in Canada

This workshop/oral examines the development of the first-ever National Quality Standards for Palliative Care in Canada, applicable across all ages, all diseases, all settings of care, and with integration of generalist and specialist palliative roles, and discusses the next steps for adoption and implementation.

Learning Objectives:

1. Review why quality standards are needed at this time in Canada to improve palliative care
2. Outline the process for development of the first set of national quality standards for palliative care
3. Discuss next steps for implementation

Speakers:

Dr. Leonie Herx, MD, PhD, CHE, FCFP, CCFP (PC), Director & Chief, Children’s Hospice & Palliative Care Program, AHS – Calgary Zone; Clinical Professor, Palliative Medicine, University of Calgary

Dr. Leonie Herx is a palliative consultant physician in both adult and pediatric palliative medicine, Director and Section Chief of Pediatric Palliative Medicine and the Children’s Hospice and Palliative Care Program in Calgary, Senior Scientific Director for the Covenant Health Palliative Institute, Chair of the Royal College Specialty Committee in Palliative Medicine, past-President of the Canadian Society of Palliative Medicine, and Clinical Professor of Palliative Medicine, Cumming School of Medicine, University of Calgary.

Dr. Ebru Kaya, MBBS, MRCP (UK), FRCP, Director, Division of Palliative Medicine, & Associate Professor, Palliative Medicine, University of Toronto

Dr. Ebru Kaya is the Director of the Division of Palliative Medicine and Associate Professor, Department of Medicine, Temerty School of Medicine, University of Toronto, and the Rose Family Chair in Palliative Medicine and Complex Care at University Health Network Toronto. She is the immediate Past-President of the Canadian Society of Palliative Medicine.

A Workshop in Navigating Grief and Bereavement in the Context of Homelessness

Those with the dual experience of bereavement and homelessness are commonly unrecognized grievers and inadequately supported. Together with a steering committee, we have designed a free e-module course on increasing knowledge of grief and bereavement in the context of homelessness for those who serve this population. This interactive session will provide a discussion on each module with knowledge sharing among each other.

Learning Objectives:

1. Better understand the bereavement experience in the context of houselessness
2. Identify where people who are experiencing homelessness find their bereavement support and what can be done better
3. Identify the ways they can start the process of developing innovative bereavement care in their organization or research design

Speakers:

Joshua Black, PhD, Bereavement Initiative Manager, BC Centre for Palliative Care

Joshua Black, PhD, is a grief and bereavement researcher, speaker, educator, and host of the Grief Dreams Podcast. Joshua holds a master’s degree (Psychology) from Trent University and a PhD (Psychology) from Brock University. His research has focused on dreams and waking experiences of the deceased, continuing bonds, bereavement during the COVID-19 pandemic, and bereavement in the context of homelessness. He is dedicated to raising awareness of those who are bereaved who are not being provided with the necessary bereavement support.

Stephanie Laing, PhD(c), MSW, RSW, Director of Operations, Kelowna Homelessness Research Centre

Stephanie Laing (PhD(c), MSW, RSW) is the Director of Operations for the Kelowna Homelessness Research Centre. Stephanie is a registered social worker with experience in health care, shelter, and field education for social work students. Stephanie’s research interests include forensic social work, co-responding police and mental health teams, and homelessness. She is an enthusiastic advocate for reciprocal and responsive community-based research and is currently exploring bereavement in the context of homelessness.

Shared Healing: A Community Response to Grief

Death and dying remain topics that are often avoided in families and communities, despite their universal impact across age, culture, and social status. In this workshop, we will explore several grief and bereavement initiatives offered by the Vancouver Hospice Society (VHS). These include our public grief events — Spring Gathering for Grief and Coping Through the Holidays — as well as our Children and Family Grief Group. We will also highlight our Monthly Music Socials, held at the hospice.

Learning Objectives:

1. Gain an understanding of the grief support initiatives offered by the Vancouver Hospice Society (VHS) to meet the needs of Vancouver residents.
2. Reflect on and evaluate existing grief support initiatives within their own organizations or communities.
3. Identify strategies for developing or enhancing grief support offerings that are responsive to the unique needs of their communities.

Speakers:

Ms. Bev Nolan, MSW RSW, Social Worker, Vancouver Hospice Society

Bev, MSW RSW, is a Registered Social Worker with a Master’s Degree in Social Work from Dalhousie University (2017). Starting her palliative care career in 2018, Bev served as a Family Social Support Practitioner with the Vancouver Community Palliative Care Program, providing bereavement counselling, education on psychosocial aspects of end-of-life care, and support for advance care planning. Joining the Vancouver Hospice Society in January 2023, she continues her commitment to supporting adult clients and families in end-of-life care, as well as supporting individuals with their grief and bereavement support needs.

Ms. Kayla Hochfelder, RCC, Director of Clinical Counselling Services, Vancouver Hospice Society

Kayla is an RCC with a Master’s Degree in Clinical Counselling. She has worked in end-of-life care throughout her whole career, starting in San Francisco at the California Pacific Medical Centre Hospice in 2008. In 2012, she moved back to Vancouver and continued her end-of-life/bereavement focus by working with Surrey Hospice Society, where she provided end-of-life and bereavement counselling as well as developed counselling, educational, and outreach programs. She joined the team at Vancouver Hospice Society in 2018, as the Lead Clinical Counsellor of a team of 4 other counsellors providing end-of-life and bereavement support for the Vancouver catchment. In addition to VHS, she works in her private practice. Her work is with adults, children, and youth and she specializes in offering Expressive Arts Therapy, Guided Imagery, EMDR, and Trauma Informed approaches.

Ms. Jenny Gilmour, BMT, MTA, Music Therapist, Vancouver Hospice Society

Jenny is an accredited music therapist with a Bachelor of Music Therapy and a Jazz Studies Diploma from Capilano University. Since 2020, she has focused primarily on hospice and palliative care, supporting individuals and families through end-of-life experiences. Alongside her work with the Vancouver Hospice Society, Jenny also provides music therapy for youth, bringing an intergenerational perspective to her practice. She is committed to using music to support emotional expression, connection, and comfort during times of transition. Jenny tailors her approach to each client’s unique needs, fostering dignity, meaning, and presence through music in life’s most vulnerable moments.

Who cares? How to design services, programs and organizations that people want

Palliative care faces urgent challenges (rising demand, budgetary restraints, increasing expectations). It is essential to rethink how we create things that matter (in order to have the most impact, not to waste time, money, or damage reputation). The Vancouver Hospice Society wanted to engage our community to ensure our strategic direction aligned with the needs and we felt it was critical to engage an expert to support our desire to innovate with clarity, both internally and externally.

Learning Objectives:

1. Participants will identify how a process that connects the deep expertise in end of life care with an in depth understanding of brand development and strategic communication can empower teams to better understand and serve their diverse audiences (patients, families, volunteers, and the broader community).
2. Examine the themes that emerged from this work and transfer relevant learnings to your community of care to increase your organizational impact.

Speakers:

Sarah Cobb, BsN, MHLP, Executive Director, Vancouver Hospice Society

Sarah has been working in palliative and end-of-life care for 19 years as a nurse and now in her role as Executive Director at the Vancouver Hospice Society since 2020. She is passionate about person and family-centred care and supporting excellence in nursing and multidisciplinary collaboration. She has experience in strategic planning, quality improvement initiatives, and change management strategies. Prior to joining VHS, Sarah led practice in the role of Clinical Nurse Leader at St Paul’s Palliative Care unit for over 10 years.

Arndt Klos, Brand Strategist, Vigilantes

Arndt is brand consultant with over 20 years of experience in brand development, identity design, and strategic communication. Originally from Germany, he’s worked with domestic and global brands, including Nokia, Porsche Design, and Loewe Technology, and has held roles at advertising agencies like Boros and Grey Worldwide. Arndt’s subject matter expertise and in-depth understanding of business, markets, audiences, and cultural trends is matched by his natural ability to unite diverse stakeholders around a shared creative vision. Arndt regularly shares his unique perspectives and unfiltered insights through coaching, mentoring, teaching, and on LinkedIn.

Last Aid in Canada: Increasing Community Participation in Palliative Care

Many Canadians receive end-of-life care in hospitals, even though most would prefer to stay at home. Most are also unfamiliar with or have misconceptions about palliative care and the support it offers. Last Aid is a public education program that provides basic knowledge of palliative care, dying, death, grief, and bereavement. Originating in Germany, and piloted in Ontario in 2022-23, Last Aid courses are now being offered across Canada to help empower communities in end-of-life care.

Learning Objectives:

1. Describe the structure and core content of the Last Aid course, including its four key modules and the principles behind its community-based approach to end-of-life education.
2. Identify at least two strategies used to adapt and scale the Last Aid program across diverse Canadian communities.
3. Recognize the role of informal caregivers and community support in palliative care, based on the Compassionate Communities model and the 95% rule.
4. Apply insights and tools from the Last Aid program to explore how similar public education initiatives could be introduced or supported within participants’ own communities.

Speakers:

Dr. Julie McIntyre, M.D., CCFP, FCFP., Retired Family M.D., Volunteer, CHPCA

After 30 years, Julie retired from her family medicine practice in mid-town Toronto in January 2015. She continues to work on a very part-time basis, offering counselling in Advance Care Planning and End-of-Life issues and talks to various groups interested in learning about MAiD, ACP and other EOL issues and Last Aid.

Since 2021 she has volunteered with Hospice Palliative Care Ontario and then the Canadian Hospice Palliative Care Association to bring the “Last Aid” course to Canada.

Ms. Karine Diedrich, Director of Programs, Canadian Hospice Palliative Care Association

Karine Diedrich is the Director of Programs at the Canadian Hospice Palliative Care Association (CHPCA). She joined after serving as Vice-President, Public Engagement and Knowledge Mobilization at Volunteer Canada, following a long-standing role as National Priority Advisor at the Canadian Center on Substance Use and Addiction. She has worked in the non-profit sector for over 15 years, leveraging her skills in partnership development, strategic planning, and communications to tackle complex social challenges.

Karine has held several volunteer positions including Partnerships and Sponsorships Lead for Hacking Health Ottawa and Vice President for the Gloucester Recreation Development Organization. She has a BA in Criminology from Carleton University and a Professional Certificate in Partnership Management from the Norman Patterson School of International Affairs (NPSIA).

The Seven Languages of Sorrow

In North America we expect grief to be delivered in two primary forms, verbal and emotional which limits people who have other grief languages. Because of our culture’s view of how grief is expressed and its denial of grief in general, we tend to miss the other forms of grief’s expression, leaving many folks feeling unseen and unheard in their grief.

During this workshop you will learn the seven languages of sorrow, how to recognize them and encourage their use within family and community.

Learning Objectives:

1. Participants will learn their own languages of grief that they rely upon when grieving and will also learn languages they are unfamiliar with.
2. Attendees will share their language with other participants and witness others sharing their language of sorrow to help them become multi-lingual in grief.
3. Participants will be provided with examples of each language and how to recognize them and how to work with and validate each language.
4. Participants will receive a Seven Languages of Sorrow handout.

Speaker: Rev. Stephen Garrett, M.A., Consultant and Trainer, Just Alive Consulting Inc.

When you meet Stephen, you are meeting a man who lives life fully. A genuine heart and commitment to life have produced in Stephen the qualities of a true warrior: integrity, strength, leadership, kindness, and wisdom. He has experienced success in life as a teacher, investment banker, social worker, author, cremationist, Interfaith Minister, executive director of the Memorial Society of BC, and in his current role as a trainer for Rhodes Wellness College in Vancouver.

Stephen has written five books, the two most recent were When Cancer Came Knocking – How One Family Answered, followed by Grief’s Walking Stick – A Personal Journey from Sorrow to Service.

Arising out of his personal experience of hundreds of deaths Stephen’s heart passion and life energy are focused on changing the conversation we have about death from one of fear and denial to one of embrace and inspiration.

Caring in Complexity: Palliative Support Amid Vulnerability

This workshop explores palliative care delivery for structurally vulnerable populations through a case study of a man living with advanced cancer, substance use, mental illness, and unstable housing. We share practical strategies for low-barrier, person-centered care including advance care planning, medication administration, and interdisciplinary team education. Interactive discussion will engage participants in developing innovative approaches to inform and support future best practices.

Learning Objectives:

1. For clinicians supporting the complex needs of people living with structural vulnerability and progressive illness, participants of our workshop will be able to: Engage in unique advance care planning conversations using population specific tools and resources.
2. Effectively strategize how to administer medications for symptom management in complex settings.
3. Facilitate “just in time” education for palliative care teams around harm reduction, and for harm reduction teams around palliative approaches to care.

Speakers:

Ms. Holly Anderson, RN BscN CHPCN(C), Palliative Care Nurse Consultant, Island Health

Holly received her Bachelor of Science with a Major in Biology from UVic in 2008. She went back to to school and received her BSc. in Nursing from UBC in 2013. She has worked in Community Health, Cancer Care, Hospice and as a Palliative Care Nurse Consultant for the last ten years.

She received her CNA certification in Hospice Palliative Care Nursing in 2016.

Holly enjoys spending time with her family in her garden and exploring the outdoors.

Ms. Blair Girard, RN BScN, Palliative Care Nurse Consultant, Island Health

Blair Girard is a Palliative Care Nurse Consultant in the Comox Valley. She has worked for Island Health since 2022. She graduated from Thompson Rivers University in 2009 with a Bachelor of Science in Nursing. In her spare time you can find her in the garden, reading a book or spending time with her husband and two children, Hudson and Ivy.

A Workshop in Developing Death, Dying, and Bereavement Programming in the DTES

It is common for people to lack appropriate knowledge of death and bereavement, which has a negative impact in how people die and how they work through their grief after a death. Care and assistance surrounding death and bereavement are lacking in Vancouver’s DTES. This workshop will discuss the Community Death Care Project and the programming that has provided death, dying, and bereavement education and support to the low-income and often stigmatized residents of the DTES.

Learning Objectives:

1. Better understand the education and support needed for those with low income
2. Identify which programs were the most successful and the lessons learned
3. Identify the ways we can start the process of developing innovative death, dying, and bereavement care in their organization or research design

Speakers:

Joshua Black, PhD, Bereavement Initiative Manager, BC Centre for Palliative Care

Joshua Black, PhD, is a grief and bereavement researcher, speaker, educator, and host of the Grief Dreams Podcast. Joshua holds a master’s degree (Psychology) from Trent University and a PhD (Psychology) from Brock University. His research has focused on dreams and waking experiences of the deceased, continuing bonds, bereavement during the COVID-19 pandemic, and bereavement in the context of homelessness. He is dedicated to raising awareness of those who are bereaved who are not being provided with the necessary bereavement support.

Teng Lai Lim, Community Senior Programmer, Carnegie Community Centre

Teng Lai Lim is a Community Senior Programmer with over seven years of experience supporting low-income and marginalized seniors in Vancouver’s Downtown Eastside. Since 2017, she has been deeply involved in the community—first as a volunteer, then as an outreach worker for four years, and currently as a community programmer for the past two and a half years. Teng Lai’s work centers on advocating for vulnerable seniors, particularly Chinese elders, through culturally responsive programming, outreach, and end-of-life care support. Originally from Singapore, Teng Lai brings a cross-cultural perspective, sharing insights from years of grassroots involvement in one of Canada’s most underserved neighborhoods. She has a deep commitment to community-based care and dignity at the end of life.

Andrea Hernandez, Volunteer Services Manager, Vancouver Hospice Society

With a background in Volunteer Management and Frontline Social Services, Andrea Hernandez brings a passion for collaboration, organizing, and heart-centered volunteer and peer-led services to hospice-palliative care. Over the past decade in health and social services, she has seen the transformative power of volunteer and peer-led support, working with underserved populations in both urban and rural settings. Her early roles as a Community Support Worker in Vancouver’s Downtown Eastside and as a Mental Health & Housing Case Manager in the US shaped her deep understanding of holistic, person-centered care. For the last four years, Andrea has led Volunteer Services at Vancouver Hospice Society, recruiting and training volunteers through a BCHPCA-based program. With experience as a hospice volunteer herself, she is dedicated to building community, fostering meaningful connections, and ensuring compassionate, collaborative end-of-life care.

Stephanie Laing, PhD(c), MSW, RSW, Director of Operations, Kelowna Homelessness Research Centre

Stephanie Laing (PhD(c), MSW, RSW) is the Director of Operations for the Kelowna Homelessness Research Centre. Stephanie is a registered social worker with experience in health care, shelter, and field education for social work students. Stephanie’s research interests include forensic social work, co-responding police and mental health teams, and homelessness. She is an enthusiastic advocate for reciprocal and responsive community-based research and is currently exploring bereavement in the context of homelessness.

How to provide Palliative Community Care to IFHP patients- everything that you need to know

This presentation will highlight barriers to and facilitators in providing PC to refugees in the Greater Toronto and Hamilton Area (GTHA) of Ontario from the perspective of healthcare professionals (HCPs), allowing audience members to gain a better understanding of regulatory, financial, and administrative environments. It will also highlight the resultant intervention designed to address the gaps in care and the early challenges and successes of the intervention.

Learning Objectives:

1. Understand how palliative care is restricted for marginalized populations, including refugees
2. Gain a better understanding of the Interim Federal Health Plan IFHP and its regulatory, financial, and administrative environments.
3. Recognize the barriers in providing PC to refugees in Ontario (and Canada) from the perspective of healthcare professionals (HCPs).
4. Obtain awareness of the intervention designed to address the gaps in care and its early challenges and successes.

Speakers:

Vilma Oliveros, B. A. Family Counselling, Project Manager, GPS Health Navigators

Vilma Oliveros is an internationally trained Teacher, Family Counselor, and Logotherapist. With extensive experience in Hospice Palliative Care, Community Education, and expertise in the Social Determinants of Health and Population Health approaches, Vilma is eager to collaborate with communities, healthcare providers, and system partners to build capacity in the areas of safety, equity, and inclusion.

Dr. Priya Gupta, M. D., Co-founder, Palliative Care Physician, GPS Health Navigators

Dr. Priya Gupta is a Palliative Care Physician who primarily works in the Hamilton area with the Hamilton Palliative Care Outreach Team (PCOT). She holds an academic appointment with the Division of Palliative Care at McMaster University. Her academic and clinical interests include supporting and advocating for increased equity in palliative care delivery for refugees and other groups experiencing structural vulnerability.

Dr. Humaira Saeed, M. D., Co-founder, Palliative Care Physician GPS Health Navigators

Dr. Humaira Saeed is a Palliative Care Physician who practices in the Greater Toronto Area. Her interests include palliative care for those who experience structural vulnerability. She has academic appointments at both McMaster University and the University of Toronto.

Playing with Principles: The Ethics & Palliative Care Card Game in Action

Join us for a hands-on workshop featuring the Ethics & Palliative Care Card Game—a creative tool designed to spark meaningful conversations, reduce team distress, and build confidence in ethical decision-making. Through complex case scenarios, participants will use the card deck to explore ethical tensions in a playful and supportive setting. Expect reflection, discussion, and a little friendly debate—all aimed at improving comfort with tough conversations that matter most.

Learning Objectives:

1. Apply ethical and palliative care principles to a complex hospice case, enhancing their ability to recognize and navigate real-world ethical tensions.
2. Build confidence in initiating and participating in ethical discussions, using a structured, team-based approach that supports respectful dialogue across disciplines.
3. Reflect on the use of a practical engagement tool to support ethical learning in their own settings, and contribute feedback to improve its relevance and impact in practice.

Speakers:

Dr. Christine Jones, M.D., CCFP-PC, Medical Director Victoria Hospice Society, Victoria Hospice Society

Christine is a seasoned palliative care physician, educator, and passionate advocate for exceptional hospice and palliative care. She joined Victoria Hospice in 2000 as a consulting palliative care physician, where she has since provided compassionate care to individuals with advanced serious illness and their families, both in hospital settings and at home. Dr. Jones is deeply committed to lifelong learning with a particular focus on end-of-life communication skills and ethical issues surrounding palliative care, making her a key figure in advancing both the practice and education of palliative care.

Dr. Coby Tschanz, RN, PhD, Associate Teaching Professor Practice Education Lead, University of Victoria

Coby is the 2025 recipient of the Canadian Palliative Care Nursing Association’s Lifetime Achievement Award. Based in Victoria, BC, Coby is a nurse, educator, consultant, and researcher dedicated to advancing excellence in palliative care. Her 30+ year career spans inpatient care, community nursing, and leadership with Victoria Hospice and the national palliative nursing community. A founding member of CPCNA, she continues to shape professional practice and education across Canada. Coby holds a PhD from the University of Victoria, where she is also a professor. Deeply collaborative and committed to the human side of care, she inspires integration between clinical practice and scholarship to strengthen palliative care for all.

Ms. Michelle Bahena-Oliveras, M.A, Manager, Research, Quality and Safety, Victoria Hospice Society

Michelle is the Researcher and Project Lead for the ethics game initiative at Victoria Hospice, where she brings her expertise in research, project management, and knowledge translation to support innovative approaches to learning. She joined Victoria Hospice in 2022 as Learning and Development Lead and became Manager of Research, Quality & Safety in 2023. Michelle oversees research, accreditation, data, and academic partnerships, and is passionate about supporting continuous quality improvement and meaningful engagement. She holds a Master’s in Educational Psychology from the University of Victoria and a Master’s in Neuropsychology from the National Autonomous University of Mexico.

Scent & Hospice – Supporting Hospice Clients Through the Sense of Smell

We’ll explore how the olfactory system keeps us safe and how our sense of smell can change our physiology through the autonomic nervous system. The connection between the olfactory system and the limbic system – responsible for memory and emotion – provides the framework for supporting the grieving process. Participants can expect to make a connection between what they smell and how they feel and be empowered in choosing scents that please them to affect physical, emotional and mental change.

Learning Objectives:

1. Discover how the olfactory system works and its connection to the limbic system
2. Become aware of the connection between what they’re smelling and how they’re feeling
3. See how the olfactory system can soften the emotions of grief and how the sense of smell can be an effective support tool
4. Learn how certain scents activate different responses
5. Experience how the sense of smell can be part of self-care for self and others

Speaker: Mrs. Margo, Fletcher, R.A./E.O.T., Owner, A Scented Space

Margo Fletcher is a Registered Aroma-Therapist who has been providing aromatherapy support both through her private practice and also as a volunteer for Nanaimo Hospice for the past 20 years. Her knowledge of the sense of smell and how it’s designed to keep us safe in the world, combined with her deep understanding of the end of life process as a Hospice volunteer, led her to create a bereavement support program that is still in use today.

She is dedicated to helping and empowering others through their grief and loss by sharing with them the all encompassing support their sense of smell brings to their physical, mental and emotional wellbeing. She encourages others to deepen their awareness and connection to the natural world around them, drawing their attention to their own innate abilities to find comfort, ease and solace amongst the scents they notice around them.