Conversations With Leaders - Are you ready for unexpected life transitions?
2024-03-21 10:00 - 11:15 (America/Toronto) | Zoom – Open to public
Our speaker, Marc Séguin, is the author of “Advocacy in Aging”, which focuses on wealth management and health care planning for the end-of-life years. The author was inspired by real-life stories.
We’re all living longer, which increases the likelihood of living with reduced abilities, due to natural aging, events or illness. By planning for the unexpected and building a support team, it is possible to ensure continuity and consistency in the management of financial, physical and mental affairs.
The concepts described in Advocacy in Aging apply to all those planning for their own or a relative’s aging, whatever their financial means or context. There’s no denying that we’re all living longer, and that many of us will see our abilities diminish.
Author Marc Séguin defines five pillars of planning that bring together fundamental concepts: financial planning, powers of attorney, downsizing, living wills and gradual transitions.
How do we plan for the future?
How can we facilitate transitions?
How do you ensure that the people who represent you respect your wishes, your values and your wisdom?
The discussion will be followed by questions and comments.
REGISTER HERE**Conversation offered in French only.
Click the button above to open the registration page on Zoom. From there, enter your name and email address and click “Register.” You will then receive a confirmation email from Zoom with the link to access the session.
Marc Séguin is the author of Advocacy in Aging (www.AdvocacyInAging.com), a book on wealth management and health care planning for the senior years. After a career in the introduction of new technologies, Marc turned his attention to the challenges of financial management and personal care for seniors. He has helped many families, including his own, plan for and cope with the inevitable life changes that come with aging. These experiences have enabled him to crystallize an approach, in common parlance, to maintaining continuity in financial affairs and personal care. Marc, father of 3 boys and grandfather of 2, lives in Ottawa with his wife. He is an avid skier and loves the outdoors.
Michelle de Courville Nicol was a member of the Board of Directors of Hôpital Montfort from 1990 to 2001 and its President from 1995 to 2001, as well as President of Montfort Renaissance, a French-language community organization active in the fields of addiction, mental health, housing and seniors, from 2006 to 2020.
Conversations with Leaders is proudly sponsored by Zapior Wealth Management of RBC Dominion Securities.

Advance Care Planning Workshop - South East Ottawa Community Health Centre
2024-04-30 10:00 - 11:30 | South East Ottawa Community Health Centre, 1355 Bank St #600, Ottawa, Ontario, K1H 8K7, Canada
Have you had the conversation?

Advance Care Planning conversations may be one of the most important conversation you will ever have. These conversations can help make sure that your wishes for your future personal health care are known and may bring peace of mind to you, your family and those who may have to make decisions on your behalf.

In this workshop, participants will be brought into facilitated group discussions about their values, wishes and beliefs as they relate to future personal care, and they will also learn how they can start these conversations with those closest to them.

Want to organize a workshop like this in your community? Contact us now!

Conversations with Leaders - Exploring Naturally Occurring Retirement Communities (NORCs)
2024-05-09 10:00 - 11:30 | Zoom – Open to public
This live virtual event, facilitated by Compassionate Ottawa volunteer Mary Lou Kelley, will feature a conversation with Sue Garvey and Vince DePaul. Together, they will discuss the fast-growing pan-Canadian Naturally Occurring Retirement Communities (NORCs) movement and will spotlight Ottawa’s own Oasis pilot project as an exemplary case. Oasis is an older adult-driven model of aging in place, located within NORCs, and stems from an Aging at Home collaboration with Queens University. Vince serves as co-Principal Investigator for this collaboration, while Sue plays a key role as an active volunteer. Following the discussion, there will be time for questions and comments.
REGISTER HEREClick the button above to open the registration page on Zoom. From there, enter your name and email address and click “Register.” You will then receive a confirmation email from Zoom with the link to access the session.
Sue Garvey Sue Garvey, a graduate of Carleton University’s Masters in Social Work program, retired in 2019 after 23 years with the Anglican Diocese of Ottawa as Executive Director of Cornerstone Housing for Women. She is recognized for her contributions to women’s issues, homelessness, and affordable housing, receiving awards such as the Governor General’s Jubilee Medal, the Marion Dewar Defender of the Public Good Award, and the Key to the City of Ottawa. Currently, Sue serves part-time as a policy advisor to Ottawa City Councillor Theresa Kavanagh, focusing on women’s and gender equity, affordable housing, and age-friendly cities. Additionally, she volunteers her efforts toward advocating for and implementing Ottawa’s first Oasis pilot project, an Aging at Home collaboration with Queen’s University.
Vince DePaulVince DePaul is a Physiotherapist and Associate Professor at Queen’s University. He co-leads the Oasis Project with his colleague Dr. Catherine Donnelly. The Oasis Project is a community-based participatory study that aims to co-develop, implement and evaluate the Oasis Program to promote healthy aging in naturally occurring retirement communities. Vince completed his Physiotherapy Degree at McMaster University, and worked in Hamilton for many years as a clinician before earning his PhD in Rehabilitation Science. He has lived in Kingston since 2015 but frequently comes to Ottawa to visit two of his adult children, as well as his new Oasis friends and collaborators in Ottawa.
Mary Lou KelleyMary Lou Kelley MSW, PhD has been engaged in practice, teaching and research in gerontology and palliative care since 1972. Major contributions involved co-creating strategies to provide palliative care in rural and First Nations communities and long-term care homes. She was the recipient of the Canadian Hospice Palliative Care Association’s Award of Excellence (2011), the Queen Elizabeth II Diamond Jubilee Medal (2012) and the Ontario Hospice Palliative Care Visionary award (2015) in recognition of her career contribution to Canadian palliative care practice, education, and research. After 35 years as a professor at Lakehead University, Thunder Bay, she retired in 2015 and relocated to Ottawa to be with family. Mary Lou has been a volunteer with Compassionate Ottawa since 2016 where she works with multicultural communities to support developing community care networks.

Conversations with Leaders is proudly sponsored by Zapior Wealth Management of RBC Dominion Securities.

Advance Care Planning Workshop - Southeast Ottawa Community Health Centre
2024-05-22 12:30 - 14:00 | South East Ottawa Community Health Centre, 1355 Bank St #600, Ottawa, Ontario, K1H 8K7, Canada
Have you had the conversation?

Advance Care Planning conversations may be one of the most important conversation you will ever have. These conversations can help make sure that your wishes for your future personal health care are known and may bring peace of mind to you, your family and those who may have to make decisions on your behalf.

In this workshop, participants will be brought into facilitated group discussions about their values, wishes and beliefs as they relate to future personal care, and they will also learn how they can start these conversations with those closest to them.

Want to organize a workshop like this in your community? Contact us now!

** This workshop is offered in Arabic language

Advance Care Planning Workshop - Kanata Chinese Seniors
2024-05-30 10:00 - 11:30 | S.S. #1 Community Centre, 400 Goldridge Dr, Kanata, Ontario, K2T 1A8, Canada
Have you had the conversation?

Advance Care Planning conversations may be one of the most important conversation you will ever have. These conversations can help make sure that your wishes for your future personal health care are known and may bring peace of mind to you, your family and those who may have to make decisions on your behalf.

In this workshop, participants will be brought into facilitated group discussions about their values, wishes and beliefs as they relate to future personal care, and they will also learn how they can start these conversations with those closest to them.

Want to organize a workshop like this in your community? Contact us now!

** This workshop is offered with translation support

Advance Care Planning Workshop - Senior Centre Without Walls
2024-08-13 10:45 - 12:15 | Via Phone, Ontario, Canada
Have you had the conversation?

Advance Care Planning conversations may be one of the most important conversation you will ever have. These conversations can help make sure that your wishes for your future personal health care are known and may bring peace of mind to you, your family and those who may have to make decisions on your behalf.

In this workshop, participants will be brought into facilitated group discussions about their values, wishes and beliefs as they relate to future personal care, and they will also learn how they can start these conversations with those closest to them.

To register please call 343-600-7647 or email scww@thegoodcompanions.ca

Want to organize a workshop like this in your community? Contact us now!

Conversations with Leaders - Bridging the Grief Gap
2024-12-05 10:00 - 11:30 | Zoom – Open to public
This conversation, featuring Monica Patten, Chair of Compassionate Ottawa, and Paul Adams, Co-Chair of the Canadian Grief Alliance, will delve into the work of the Canadian Grief Alliance—a group of leading grief specialists and over 150 national and provincial organizations advocating for a proposal to address national gaps in grief services that leave many Canadians unsupported. Together, they will explore the consultations on grief undertaken by the Alliance, the insights gained, and their implications for building compassionate communities. There will be time for questions following the conversation.
REGISTER HEREClick the button above to open the registration page on Zoom. From there, enter your name and email address and click “Register.” You will then receive a confirmation email from Zoom with the link to access the session.
Paul AdamsPaul Adams is co-chair of the Canadian Grief Alliance. He is an author, former professor of journalism at Carleton University, and a veteran of CBC and the Globe and Mail. He was the primary caregiver to his wife, Suzanne Szukits, a Canadian diplomat, who was diagnosed with breast cancer in 2012 at the age of 52. She died of the complications of metastatic breast cancer in September 2016. Since Suzanne’s death, Adams has written about palliative care in publications such as The Walrus, The Ottawa Citizen, Policy Options and Healthy Debate. He has served as a family representative on numerous advisory bodies on palliative and end-of-life issues. He was educated at the University of Manitoba, the University of Oxford and Columbia University and in addition to Carleton has taught at the University of Manitoba and Massey University in Wellington, New Zealand.
Monica PattenMonica Patten is the Chair of Compassionate Ottawa. Her career included being Senior Vice President for United Way of Canada, followed by almost 20 years as President and CEO of Community Foundations of Canada, the national organization supporting local foundations across Canada. Throughout her career, Monica has remained an active community volunteer, especially committed to organizations serving women who live with poverty and in precarious housing. In 2013, Monica was appointed to the Order of Canada in recognition for her tireless work to encourage volunteering and generosity. She believes her work with Compassionate Ottawa is a continuation of her commitment to helping build strong communities.

Conversations with Leaders - Preparing for Unexpected Life Transitions
2025-02-06 10:00 - 11:30 | Zoom – Open to public
This live, virtual event will feature a conversation between Marc Séguin, author of Advocacy in Aging, and Charles Barrett, Compassionate Ottawa Board member. Together, they will discuss the challenges and opportunities of planning for unexpected life transitions, from aging and reduced abilities to health events and illness. Drawing on real-life stories, Marc will share insights from his book, which outlines five essential pillars of planning: financial preparedness, powers of attorney, downsizing, living wills, and gradual transitions. The conversation will explore how to build a strong support team, ensure continuity in managing your affairs, and make certain that your values and wishes are respected as you age. There will be time for questions after the conversation.
Marc SéguinMarc Séguin is the author of Advocacy in Aging, a book about estate and healthcare planning for the living years. Marc has helped many families, including his own, plan for and deal with the inevitable changes associated with life transitions and aging. These experiences have enabled him to crystallize an approach, in everyday language, to maintaining continuity in financial affairs and personal care. Marc, a father of three, grandfather of two, is married to his wife of 38+ years. He is an avid skier and loves the outdoors.
Charles BarrettCharles Barrett is a retired economist, who was actively involved in policy dialogue in North America, and the Asia-Pacific region in international economic relations, human resources development and capacity building. He has broad research experience and has written extensively on Canadian and international policy issues. Charles volunteers as a Board member at Compassionate Ottawa.
REGISTER HERE

Conversations with Leaders – The Power of Community Connection
2025-05-20 10:00 - 11:30 | Zoom – Open to public
This live, virtual event will feature a conversation between Dr. Julian Abel, palliative care physician and international leader in the compassionate communities movement, and Dr. Mary Lou Kelley, Canadian researcher, advocate for community-based approaches to aging and end-of-life care, and a dedicated Compassionate Ottawa volunteer. Together, they will explore Talk, Learn, Connect (TLC)—a community connector program developed in the UK that helps strengthen neighbourhood relationships and support people through life’s challenges.
The conversation will highlight how this grassroots initiative enables more social connection, cultivates mutual support, and builds compassionate communities from the ground up. Julian will share insights from the UK experience, and Mary Lou will reflect on how the model could be adapted and implemented in Canada. There will be time for questions after the conversation.
Dr. Julian AbelJulian Abel is a physician and international lead in the field of compassionate communities and palliative care. He is the Director of Compassionate Communities UK, which is a charity that was formed to develop the broader roll out of compassionate communities in both primary care and end of life care. For the past several years, Julian has been working with Frome Medical Practice in Somerset, and advising many other communities around the world about developing a new model of primary care combined with compassionate communities.
Dr. Mary Lou KelleyDr. Mary Lou Kelley MSW, PhD has been engaged in practice, teaching and research in gerontology and palliative care since 1972. Major contributions involved co-creating strategies to provide palliative care in rural and First Nations communities and long-term care homes. She was the recipient of the Canadian Hospice Palliative Care Association’s Award of Excellence (2011), the Queen Elizabeth II Diamond Jubilee Medal (2012) and the Ontario Hospice Palliative Care Visionary award (2015) in recognition of her career contribution to Canadian palliative care practice, education, and research. After 35 years as a professor at Lakehead University, Thunder Bay, she retired in 2015 and relocated to Ottawa to be with family. Mary Lou has been a volunteer with Compassionate Ottawa since 2016 where she works with multicultural communities to support developing community care networks.
REGISTER HERE

Conversations with Leaders – Working Together in Palliative Care
2025-11-13 10:00 - 11:30 | Zoom – Open to public
This live, virtual event will feature a conversation with Dr. Hsien Seow and Dr. Samantha Winemaker, co-hosts of The Waiting Room Revolution podcast and authors of the book Hope for the Best, Plan for the Rest. In discussion with Dr. Mary Lou Kelley, Compassionate Ottawa volunteer, we will hear Dr. Seow and Dr. Winemaker’s real-life stories, their 7 keys for navigating a serious illness, how patients and their caregivers can be hopeful and prepared at every step of their journey, and how much it matters that we all work together.
Dr. Hsien Seow Dr. Hsien Seow is the Canada Research Chair in Palliative Care and Health System Innovation and a Professor in the Department of Oncology at McMaster University. He publishes health care research focused on improving the patient and family experience for those facing serious illness. He is the co-author of The Tao of Innovation: Nine Questions Every Innovator Must Answer.
Dr. Samantha Winemaker Dr. Samantha Winemaker is a palliative care physician who cares for patients with serious illness and their families in the home. She is an Associate Clinical Professor at McMaster University in the Department of Family Medicine, Division of Palliative Care. She has won numerous awards for her leadership and contributions to palliative care education for health care professionals.
Dr. Mary Lou Kelley Dr. Mary Lou Kelley is a Social Worker, and was engaged in practice, teaching, and research in gerontology and palliative care at Lakehead University for 35 years. She was the recipient of the Canadian Hospice Palliative Care Association’s Award of Excellence (2011), the Queen Elizabeth II Diamond Jubilee Medal (2012), and the Ontario Hospice Palliative Care Visionary Award (2015) in recognition of her career contribution to Canadian palliative care. She has been volunteering with Compassionate Ottawa since 2018.
REGISTER HERE

Conversations With Leaders: Rites of Passage: Changing Ways of Marking Death and Dying in Our Communities
2026-02-19 10:00 - 11:30 | Zoom – Open to public
Conversations about death and dying are shaped by faith, culture, and community – and they are changing. In this live Conversations with Leaders event, we bring together voices from diverse religious traditions and the funeral profession to reflect on how end-of-life rites, practices, and attitudes have evolved in recent years. Speakers will explore the impacts of COVID-19, shifting family and community structures, and emerging conversations. Together, they will reflect on how communities mark the end of life, care for one another in times of loss, and seek meaning, dignity, and connection in the face of death.
The Rev. Canon Gary van der MeerInterfaith Officer, Anglican Diocese of OttawaRabbi Daniel MikelbergTemple Israel OttawaImam Sikander HashmiCanadian Council of ImamsNicholas BrownFuneral Home Manager, Capital Funeral Home & CemeteryCharles BarrettDirector, Compassionate OttawaREGISTER HERE

Conversations With Leaders: Understanding Palliative Care
2026-06-11 10:00 - 11:30 | Zoom – Open to public
Palliative care is often misunderstood, yet it plays an important role in supporting quality of life for people living with serious illness and those who care for them. In this Conversations with Leaders event, Dr. James Downar and Louise Hanvey will explore what palliative care is, address common myths and misconceptions, and discuss the different types of care and supports available in Ottawa and beyond. Together, they will reflect on how palliative care can support people in hospitals, hospices, and at home, while also highlighting current research and emerging conversations shaping the future of care. The discussion will conclude with an opportunity for audience questions.
James Downar James Downar is a Critical Care and Palliative Care physician in Ottawa, and has a Master’s degree in Bioethics. He is currently Professor and Head of the Division of Palliative Care at the University of Ottawa, where he holds a Clinical Research Chair in Palliative and End of Life Care. He is an adjunct professor at the Australian Centre for Health Law Research at the Queensland University of Technology. He is the past President of the Canadian Critical Care Society and co-chair of the Pan-Canadian Palliative Care Research Collaborative. He has authored nearly 200 peer-reviewed publications and was the principal investigator on more than 30 peer-reviewed grants. In 2025, he received the King Charles III Coronation medal for contributions to Palliative Care in Canada, and in 2021 he received the Award of Excellence from the Ontario Medical Association’s Section on Palliative Medicine.
Louise Hanvey Louise Hanvey is the volunteer lead for the Conversations & Advance Care Planning program at Compassionate Ottawa. She is a retired registered nurse who has worked with many national palliative care initiatives. Most recently she was the Project Director for the Advance Care Planning in Canada Project with the Canadian Hospice Palliative Care Association. As part of her responsibilities she launched the campaign: Speak Up: Start the conversation about end-of-life care. Louise has nursing experience in public health, hospitals and nursing education.
REGISTER HERE
