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Category: Advocacy and Public Policy

Taking a Step towards Change: A Conversation about Stigmatizing Language

Taking a Step towards Change: A Conversation about Stigmatizing Language

We have all had a bad day at work. Work-load, timelines, and frustration have driven us “crazy” and/or “mad”. Sometimes these frustrations or situations lead us to become “agitated” or “aggressive”. Sometimes the mere act of running into someone can be defined as “crazy”: “It’s crazy running into you here!” But sometimes (more often than not) these words and others are used to describe behaviours associated with dementia. Stigmatizing language and negative communication tends to be used in response to…

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Left to right: Bill Heibein, Senator Kelvin Kenneth Ogilvie, Phyllis Fehr, Bea Kraayenhof, and Senator Nancy Greene Raine.
The Ontario Dementia Advisory Group challenges us to think differently about a diagnosis

The Ontario Dementia Advisory Group challenges us to think differently about a diagnosis

In February 2016, the Standing Senate Committee on Social Affairs, Science and Technology started investigating the issue of dementia in Canada , with the aim of producing a final report by November 30, 2016. They’ve met with myriad witnesses representing many aspects of the complex network of health agencies, experts and researchers who can lend  insights into the state of dementia. Executive directors, doctors, and other professionals helped to guide and inform the course of the study as Witnesses.  But…

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People with dementia speak to Senate Standing Committee

People with dementia speak to Senate Standing Committee

In February 2016, the Canadian Senate asked that the Standing Senate Committee on Social Affairs, Science and Technology study the issue of dementia in our society and to provide a final report in January 2017. On May 18, Mary Beth Wighton and the other members of the Ontario Dementia Advisory Group (ODAG) presented to the committee. View the presentation on SenVu or read her remarks:       Good afternoon, Thank you for inviting us to appear before you this afternoon.  It’s…

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The rising tide of dementia in Canada: Facing the critical challenge by 2025

The rising tide of dementia in Canada: Facing the critical challenge by 2025

On September 17, 2015, Drs. Carole Estabrooks and Howard Feldman convened the 10th Annual Forum of the Canadian Academy of Health Sciences (CAHS) on the topic of dementia in Canada. The Academy is a unique Canadian organization that brings together a breadth of expertise and scholarship across a broad view of health, including social scientists, biomedical researchers, health care practitioners, and technology experts. Fora and their follow-up activities often produce important outputs including publications that can serve to inform public…

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This election, support a National Dementia Strategy

This election, support a National Dementia Strategy

On October 19, 2015 the Canadian federal election will be held. And we want to reaffirm that every vote matters. On May 6 of this year, our chance for a national dementia strategy becoming enshrined into Canadian law through MP Claude Gravelle’s private member’s bill C-356 was sadly defeated 140-139. Yes, by one vote. When we hear about people who think votes don’t matter it’s disheartening, because regardless of context, every vote matters. Right now, each one of us gets…

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Al Burridge was a true Dementia Champion

Al Burridge was a true Dementia Champion

When the Alzheimer Society of Ontario began the Champions for Dementia initiative in 2010, we were seeking to engage people with lived experience of dementia in advocacy activities with their Members of Provincial Parliament (MPP) and the Ontario government. I remember receiving notice from the Alzheimer Society of Oxford that they had identified a perfect candidate to be their Dementia Champion – Al Burridge. From day one, Al was a model Dementia Champion. Soon after joining, Ontario had an election….

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Council of the Federation meets next week to talk dementia

Council of the Federation meets next week to talk dementia

Premiers from across the country will be meeting in Charlottetown August 26th to 30th for their annual summer meeting. This group, known as the Council of the Federation, meet regularly to discuss pressing issues that are important to all Canadians. At the 2013 summer meeting, the premiers directed the Health Care Innovation Working Group (HCIWG) to examine issues related to dementia, including a commitment to look at best practices related to raising awareness of dementia’s early warning signs, identifying best…

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