Pages - CNPEA

Marie Beaulieu
Marie Beaulieu Ph. D. (Applied Human Sciences), M.Sc and B.Sc. (Criminology) is full professor at the School of Social Work at Université de
Sherbrooke and researcher at the CSSS-IUGS Research Center on Aging. She holds, since November 2010, the Research Chair on Mistreatment of Older Adults, funded by the Quebec government's Ministry of Family. Social gerontologist, her main work representing 25 years of struggle in the field, addresses mistreatment, older adults' security issues, ethics and aging as well as intervention in end of life situations. Marie Beaulieu is the North American representative at the INPEA (International Network for Prevention of Elder Abuse), she serves on the Board of the CNPEA (Canadian Network for Prevention of Elder Abuses) and she has been a member of the National Seniors Council since 2013. In 2013, she was awarded the Queen's Jubilee Medal in recognition for her numerous commitments aimed at promoting the recognition and inclusion of seniors.

Websites: Mistreatment of Older Adults / Maltraitance des Aines ; Université de Sherbrooke
Telephone: (819) 780-2220 (ext. 45270) / (819) 821-8000 (ext. 65135)
Email:

Sepali Guruge
Dr. Sepali Guruge is an Associate Professor in the Department of Nursing at Ryerson University. Her teaching interests include women's health, mental health, diversity and equity issues, global health, and qualitative research methods. Using a number of approaches, including social determinants of health, ecosystemic frameworks, and feminist theoretical perspectives, Dr. Guruge conducts research focused on immigrant women's health. In particular, she examines violence against women throughout the migration process (i.e., pre-migration, border-crossing, and post-migration contexts). She also co-leads the Nursing Centre for Research and Education on Violence Against Women and Children at Ryerson University. Presently, Dr. Guruge is engaged in community-based health research on violence against women with colleagues in several countries, supported by a CIHR New Investigator Award.

Website: Ryerson University
Telephone: (416) 979-5000 (ext. 4964)
Email:

Gloria Gutman
Dr. Gutman developed and directed both the Simon Fraser University Gerontology Research Centre and the Gerontology Department (formerly called the Gerontology Program) from 1982 - 2005. In 2010, she was elected the 3rd President of the International Network for Prevention of Elder Abuse (INPEA); a position she held until August 2014. Currently, and until 2017 she is a member of INPEA's Board of Directors in the position of Immediate Past President. As well, Dr. Gutman is Professor Emerita in the SFU Gerontology Department and a Research Associate in the Gerontology Research Centre.She is widely known in the field of gerontology as an educator, researcher, and consultant. Dr. Gutman’ s research interests are wide-ranging; including seniors’ housing, long term care, health promotion, dementia care, environmental design of age-friendly hospitals and cities, and seniors emergency preparedness.

Website: Simon Fraser University
Telephone: (778) 782-5063
Email:

Joan Harbison
Dr. Harbison is an Adjunct Professor at Dalhousie University’s School of Social Work whose research interests encompass the relationships between constructions of aging and older people’s rights, autonomy, and inclusion in society, from the perspective of critical theory. These interests have emerged from ongoing research on the provision of assistance to mistreated older people with her interdisciplinary team from social work, law, and sociology from Dalhousie and Saint Mary’s Universities in Halifax, Canada. Dr. Harbison is also a member of an interdisciplinary team of researchers from Finland, Norway, Sweden and Russia investigating elderly exclusion in Nordic communities.

Website: Dalhousie University

Atsuko Matsuoka
Dr. Matsuoka is an Associate Professor at York University's School of Social Work. Her past research has been on the intersectionality of oppression and 1) identity issues related to the older population and 2) identity issues among the diaspora population from the Horn of Africa. Continuing her interests in ethnoracial minority older adults, she has been working on abuse among older immigrant adults and developed an intervention model using restorative justice mediation. She continues to work on Wellness Recovery Action Plan with older adults in which she uses strengths-based critical social work and a mental health recovery approach.

Website: York University

Lynn McDonald
Dr. McDonald, Professor, Faculty of Social Work, University of Toronto, is Director of the Institute for Life Course and Aging, Co-Director of the Institute’s Collaborative Program in Aging, Palliative and Supportive Care, and Scientific Director of the National Initiative for the Care of the Elderly (NICE), dedicated to the inter-professional care of older adults. She has been leading the NICE Elder Abuse Team: Knowledge to Action research grant (2008-2011), the NICE Older Women and Financial Literacy grant (2010-2012), and a multi-layered project on Defining and Measuring Elder Abuse and Neglect (2010-2012). Dr. McDonald currently leads several research studies, including a SSHRC Partnership Grant on Engaged Scholarship: Evaluation of Knowledge Mobilization for Older Adults in the Community (2012-2018), and an HRSDC New Horizons for Seniors Program Elder Abuse Awareness Grant entitled a National Survey on the Mistreatment of Older Canadians.

Websites: National Initiative for the Care of the Elderly (NICE) ; University of Toronto
Telephone: (416) 978-5714
Email:

Daphne Nahmiash
Dr. Nahmiash served as a part-time consultant for the CSSS Cavendish, was the Director of Professional Services of the CLSC NDG/Montreal-Ouest, was a Professor in the Social Work department at the University of Laval, and has worked in a variety of social work and management positions over the past 40 years. She has authored and co-authored many publications dealing with elder abuse, and has traveled extensively, presenting research papers, teaching and organizing intervention projects. She has also contributed to many book chapters and scientific articles covering such topics as home care, violence, caregiving and the empowerment of seniors. Currently, she serves as the Chairperson of the Notre-Dame-de-Grâce Community Committee on Elder Abuse (NDGCCEA), volunteers on several other committees and continues to write and perform research in the area of elder abuse.

Website: NDG Community Committee on Elder Abuse (NDGCCEA)
Telephone: (514) 903-3550
Email:

Jenny Ploeg
Dr. Ploeg is a professor at McMaster University's School of Nursing. Her primary research interests include evaluation of community health services for older adults and their caregivers; best practice guideline implementation, sustainability and spread; evidence-informed practice; health promotion and disease prevention; and qualitative, quantitative and mixed methods research. In 2013, Dr. Ploeg, Dr. Markle-Reid and an interdisciplinary research team of investigators, clinicians, trainees and collaborators from across Canada, were awarded a combined $5.8 million to fund the new Aging, Community and Health Research Unit (ACHRU). The research program will develop and evaluate innovative, community-based primary health care interventions to promote optimal aging at home for older adults with multiple chronic conditions (MCC) and to support their family caregivers.

Website: McMaster University
Telephone: (905) 525-9140 (Ext. 22294)
Email:

Elizabeth Podnieks
Dr. Elizabeth Podnieks has a Bachelor of Science in Nursing from the University of Toronto, a master of Environmental Science from York University, Toronto and a Doctor of Education in Sociology from the University of Toronto. She is a founder of the Canadian Network for the Prevention of Elder Abuse (CNPEA) and the Ontario Network for the Prevention of Elder Abuse (ONPEA). She is also a founding Member and Immediate Vice President, International Network for the Prevention of Elder Abuse (INPEA) and World Elder Abuse Awareness Day (WEAAD). She is a Professor Emerita at Ryerson University. Her areas of expertise include research, raising awareness of elder abuse and neglect among children and youth, raising awareness of elder abuse among faith leaders, social media projects(ongoing) for WEAAD in Cyberspace 2013 with partners.

Website: LinkedIn

Charmaine Spencer
Charmaine Spencer focuses on a range of "risk" and older adult abuse issues. Ms. Spencer has been a member of the Gerontology Research Centre's staff since 1991. A member of the Law Society of British Columbia, her legal interests have focussed on disability law, human rights protection, guardianship and labour law issues. She has written on a number of the legal aspects of family relationships with older adults, most recently in light of cases such as Newson vs. Newson. She is past-President of the Advocates for Care Reform, a non-profit society concerned with improving the quality of life for people who live in institutional settings, as well as for those who work there. For two years, she was an active volunteer on a community effort to reform B.C.'s adult guardianship laws.

Website: Simon Fraser University
Email:

Mark Yaffe
Dr. Mark Yaffe is a Tenured Professor of Family Medicine with the Dept. of Family Medicine, St. Mary's Hospital Centre, McGill University. His research interests include: (1) Family Caregiving: (a) the impact of caregiving on lifespan developmental tasks; (b) aspects of caregiving for those with depression, stroke, and other illnesses; (c) interface between family physicians and family caregivers, and factors that impact on such encounters; (c) methods to teach caregiver issues to families, and to medical trainees; (2) Elder Abuse: (a) development of tools to detect it; (b) roles of health professionals in identifying mistreatment of seniors; (c) Elder abuse knowledge translation; see the Elder Abuse Suspicion Index (3) Depression: (a) detection and management of depression in the adult population; (b) collaborative care in depression diagnosis and treatment; (c) defining and measuring the experience of collaborative care in depression management; (4) Patient Self-care: Depression and / or Chronic Physical Illness.

Website: McGill University
Email:

Join us on May 13, 2015 from 1:00pm to 2:30pm EDT for a webinar on:
Restorative Approaches to Senior Safety: The Nova Scotia Experience

DATE:
MAY 13, 2015

TIME:
1:00-2.30 PM EST

LANGUAGE:
Segments of the webinar in both official languages. PowerPoint slides available in English and French.Two bilingual presenters can respond to questions in both official languages.

In Nova Scotia a collaborative network of community based organizations, academic institutions, government departments and volunteers has been developing a restorative approach to senior safety. The goal of the network is to build a holistic restorative approach to senior safety by undertaking all of our work with seniors, and each other, utilizing the restorative principles of practice.

During this webinar, we will share with you our understanding of relational theory and restorative approach as it relates to seniors. We will share our learnings through the development of our approach and community of practice for working restoratively. We will share the practices that are utilized by our community partners when working with seniors. We will also provide an opportunity for a dialogue on how a restorative approach might be useful from an individual, institutional, societal and cultural perspective when looking at safety for seniors and everyone.

We will offer segments of the webinar in both official languages. Two of our presenters are bilingual and can respond to question in whichever official language you prefer.

Presenters:

Richard Derible is a School Administration Supervisor with the Halifax Regional School Board (HRSB). This year Richard is on secondment with the Department of Justice, where he is leading the Restorative Approaches in Schools Project (RAISP), a joint project of the Department of Justice and the Department of Education. Richard has also been a classroom teacher, vice principal, principal and Safe Schools consultant with the HRSB. Before joining the HRSB, Richard worked for the Special Projects Division of the Nova Scotia Department of Community Services where he developed outdoor programs for children with special needs and at-risk youth. While Principal at École St. Catherine’s School (ESCS) in Halifax, Richard and the ESCS community initiated a restorative approaches pilot project (September 2009) that had a significant and positive impact on the culture and climate at the school. For the past year, Richard has also been involved in the development of restorative approaches with seniors. Richard has been key in finding the connections between the work in schools and work with seniors.

Sharon Elliott is coordinator of the Annapolis County Seniors’ Safety Program with the Annapolis District of the RCMP in Nova Scotia. A program originating in Nova Scotia in 1996, Sharon has lead the development of this position and has assisted with its growth and expansion across Nova Scotia. Through her position, she is also a lead partner in the support and development of a Restorative Approach to Senior Safety and Abuse in Nova Scotia. Sharon is certified as an Elder Planning Counselor through the Canadian Initiative for Elder Planning Studies (CIEPS), and has also worked with the Victims’ Services Branch of the NS Department of Justice - assisting victims of crime through the criminal justice system.

Jennifer Llewellyn is the Viscount Bennett Professor of Law at the Schulich School of Law at Dalhousie University in Halifax, Nova Scotia. Her teaching and research is focused in the areas of relational theory, restorative justice, truth commissions, international and domestic human rights law and Canadian constitutional law. She has written and published extensively on the theory and practice of restorative justice in both transitional contexts and established democracies. Jennifer had been a key partner in the development of Restorative Approaches to Senior Safety. Her academic work has provided the foundation for the development of this approach in Nova Scotia.

Yvon McCauley is a Caseworker with Tri- County Restorative Justice. He works with youth between the ages of 12 and 17 who have come in conflict with the law and all who have been affected by harm. Working with Restorative Justice helps the public regain confidence in the justice system by giving a voice to everyone affected by a harm and work towards rebuilding relationships in the community instead of casting blame and punishment. Yvon also manages the Bringing Restorative Justice into Schools program at the Yarmouth and Shelburne High schools. Yvon has also been involved with the development of a restorative approach to senior safety since 2011.

Jocelyn Yerxa is the A/Director of Programs and Community Development Coordinator for the Nova Scotia Department of Seniors. In that role, she focuses on building community capacity to address aging issues, so Nova Scotians can age and live well. Jocelyn also serves on the Canadian Network for the Prevention of Elder Abuse board and management team for the Knowledge Sharing project. Since 2011, Jocelyn has been part of the team developing of restorative approaches to senior safety project in the province. The project is a collaborative endeavour involving more than 30 representatives from community, government, police, health care, law, as well as senior volunteers themselves. She sees a restorative approach as the most promising approach to helping families, communities, and institutions prevent and deal with conflict and harms.

REGISTRATION:
Register for this fireside chat on the CHNET- Works! website
Questions about the webinar or the registration? Email us here

Looking for some background information on elder abuse and on the Network?
Here are some key facts you need. Feel free to use them (with proper credit) and share them.

CNPEA at a glance

Our mission, vision, and values, who to contact, and what our knowledge-sharing Hub is all about, all in one simple document!

Forms of Elder Abuse

Facts about Elder Abuse and Recommendations for a National Seniors Strategy

Mission

CNPEA builds awareness, support and capacity for a coordinated pan-Canadian approach to the prevention of elder abuse and neglect. We promote the rights of older adults through knowledge mobilization, collaboration, policy reform and education.

Vision

All older adults in Canada have the support they need to thrive within their communities and live free from violence and neglect.

Values and Principles

Collaboration and Capacity Building - We work across sectors and jurisdictions to foster a coordinated approach to the systemic prevention of elder abuse and neglect.

Respect and Inclusion - We defend older people’s human rights and autonomy, root our work in anti-ageism, and seek to amplify the diverse voices and experiences of older people. We believe that violence and inequities affecting us as we age can only be addressed through an intersectional lens.

Accountability and Credibility - We are accountable to our members and stakeholders, including all older Canadians. Transparency and integrity guide our internal and external practices. We are committed to developing, supporting and mobilizing trusted, evidence-based resources.

Innovation - We seek and promote innovative approaches to expand knowledge, enrich our work and inform meaningful change to improve the lives of older adults.

Open-mindedness and Sensitivity - We take a “listen first” approach to our work, incorporating the diverse lived experience of older Canadians into every aspect of our work through thoughtful consultation. We consider and address the unique needs of communities across the country, without making sweeping or simplifying assumptions on the modern experience of aging.

Our Structure

The network is led by a pan Canadian board of directors who each bring their passion and varied expertise. The network has a membership of individuals and organizations from across Canada who come from all walks of life and who care about older adults and the prevention of harm in later life.
Become a member

CNPEA is a registered charity with Canada Revenue Agency
Charitable Registration Number: 866840523 RR0001

Board of Directors

Our board is comprised of seniors, individuals from organizations that serve or represent seniors, service providers, including police, individuals in government, and academics. The board is nominated from the membership once a year and meets monthly. As a working board, members serve on one or more special committees.

For any inquiry, contact the CNPEA Executive Director: Bénédicte Schoepflin

Board of Directors

Judy Beranger, Torbay, Newfoundland and Labrador
Judy M. Beranger is an educator, counsellor, mediator, and author. She is Vice-Chairperson of SeniorsNL, President of Family Mediation Canada and a Past President of the Elder Mediation International Network, (EMIN). She is a nationally Family Comprehensive certified advanced Mediator and Nationally and internationally Advanced certified Elder Mediator. She is passionate about the importance of reducing ageism in our society and as a result reducing the likelihood of abuse and neglect. Judy has chaired nine world summits on Mediation with age-related issues. She was part of the development of the recently released International "Safeguarding Vulnerable Adults" Document. In 2012 Judy authored a report for Justice Canada: Exploring the Role of Elder Mediation in the Prevention of Elder Abuse. Judy is the recipient of several National Leadership Awards and an International Award for her global work in pioneering the specialty of Mediation with age-related issues.

David Burnes, Toronto, Ontario
PhD, Canada Research Chair in Older Adult Mistreatment Prevention
Professor, University of Toronto, Factor-Inwentash Faculty of Social Work
Co-Founder of RISE (Community-Based Response Intervention for Older Adults At Risk of or Experiencing Mistreatment or Self-Neglect)
Affiliate Scientist, Baycrest, Rotman Research Institute
Canadian Network for the Prevention of Elder Abuse Board
Read more

"I joined the board of CNPEA because I am passionate about the well-being of older adults and working toward solutions that support those who are at risk of or experiencing mistreatment. I believe that CNPEA has the capacity to make powerful changes in Canada toward a society in which older adults can live safely and with dignity."

Dr. Saveria Caruso, Barrie, Ontario
Saveria Caruso holds a doctorate in Education (Ed. D.) from the University of Toronto. As a teacher, principal, researcher, program officer within the Conseil scolaire catholique du Nouvel Ontario and the French - language Policy and Programs Branch at the Ministry of Education, Saveria has always felt a sense of mission for the French - language school mandate. She believes it contributes to the transmission of language and culture, identity building, student success and well - being. From 2010 to 2018, she developed leadership skills within the Ministry of Education, the Standards of Practice and Accreditation Branch at the Ontario College of Teachers and the French language school board Conseil scolaire Viamonde, working collaboratively with diverse groups of researchers, professional leaders, parents and community members. Saveria’s engagement in the actualization of the mandate of the French - language school exemplifies this fundamental principle: The integration of culture in the curriculum and pedagogy also entails the celebration of diversity inviting Francophones of all origins to contribute to the vitality of the Ontario French-language community. A life-long learner, a Doctor of Education graduate, who recently received an Honours Bachelor of Social Work, Saveria stresses the importance of well-being while answering the needs of culturally diverse Francophone communities. Passionate about providing services in French and preventing elder abuse, she volunteers with various organizations including RPMAFO.

Claire Checkland, Stittsville, Ontario
Claire is a passionate, results-oriented health advocate with 20 years of experience in government and stakeholder relations and policy analysis for national not-for-profit health organizations including the Canadian AIDS Society, Canadian Cancer Society and the Mental Health Commission of Canada. She is currently the Executive Director of the Canadian Coalition for Seniors’ Mental Health where she has helped the organization achieve sustainability and grow their membership to more than 2,000 individuals and organizations. Claire has a successful track record engaging varied stakeholders in progress towards common health and social goals and has an ability to identify and implement new, innovative approaches to organizational priority issues. She is adept at facilitating the establishment of sustained, meaningful relationships with community, stakeholders and government officials. Claire has an undergraduate-honours degree in Psychology as well as a Diploma of Social Sciences. She lives in Stittsville, Ontario with her husband and two sons.

Carla Constant, Opaskwayak, Manitoba
Carla A. Constant is a proud member of the Opaskwayak Cree Nation in Manitoba. Carla graduated from the University College of the North with a Bachelor's in Nursing, serving in various capacities for over ten years. She is completing her Master's in Nursing with a Leadership focus from the University of Athabasca. Carla is the Care Home Administrator for the Rod McGillivary Memorial Care Home and sits on the Manitoba First Nations Personal Care Home Network Group. Carla strongly advocates for Indigenous elders, incorporating the culture's seven sacred teachings into practice, which fosters reconciliation while increasing the resident's quality of life through culture and traditions.

Chantale Courcy, Ottawa, Ontario
Chantale recently retired as an Executive with the Government of Canada. She had an eclectic career ranging from leading grants and contributions programs, heading a regulatory agency, starting up the National Inquiry into Murdered and Missing Indigenous Women and Girls, negotiating with provinces and territories to build capacity in rural and remote communities across Canada, and delivering a learning curriculum to all public servants located outside Ottawa. Most recently, Chantale assisted the federal government's COVID-19 response for older adults in western Canada including commissioning research with the SFU School of Gerontology. This sparked her passion to support and influence ways that older adults are engaged, connected and have opportunities to actively contribute to our communities. Since retiring, she has volunteered for the Java Group Programs designed to address depression and loneliness of seniors and as a member of the Health Issues Committee of the Council on Aging of Ottawa. On a more personal note, she has experienced the vulnerability of older adults while caring for family members. Chantale is active in her community and loves being a grandmother! She is keen to contribute to CNPEA’s important agenda.

Dr. Mélanie Couture, Sherbrooke, Québec
Mélanie Couture, PhD, is the current chairholder of the Research Chair on Older Adult Mistreatment and associate professor at the School of Social Work - Université de Sherbrooke. She has worked as a researcher in social gerontology for more than a decade. Her research promotes the co-construction and integration of clinical and organizational innovations for the prevention and management of mistreatment situations in the context of caregiving, common living environments and in the use of technologies for aging in place.

Eva Eros, Beaubassin Est, New Brunswick
Eva trained as a physician in the UK before moving to Canada in 1975. She initially worked in Ontario, then Halifax, before starting her own family practice in Moncton in 1982. In 2008, Eva started working in geriatric care and found it to be the area of medicine that was the most challenging and rewarding, especially working with and providing support to family caregivers of patients living with dementia. Eva also worked alongside social workers on quite a number of cases of elder abuse. Eva has personal experience as a family caregiver for both her parents and her husband. She spends part of the year in New Brunswick and part in Ottawa where her children and grandchildren live.

Marta Hajek, Toronto, Ontario
As CEO for Elder Abuse Prevention Ontario, Marta has been working diligently with the Ontario government to build a stronger presence in the community; to advance the priorities of the Ontario Strategy to Combat Abuse and to build sustainable partnerships with agencies and other like-minded stakeholders supporting older adults. EAPO’s strategic approaches aim to improve the quality of life of older adult Canadians, by helping build community capacity to address their growing complexity of needs and to provide ongoing support to the families and caregivers to those at-risk of abuse and harm. In April 2023, as part of the delegation of the Canadian Coalition Against Ageism (CCAA), Marta attended the UN's Open Ended Working Group on Aging (OEWGA13), advocating for the declaration of a UN convention on the rights of older persons. Marta is currently serving her 3rd term appointment to the Ontario Securities Commission’s Senior Experts Advisory Committee.

Sandra Hirst, Calgary, Alberta
Sandra is currently Chair of the Board
Sandra P. Hirst RN, PhD, GNC(C) has held a number of leadership positions in gerontology including president of the Canadian Gerontological Nursing Association; president of the Canadian Association on Gerontology, and president of the Alberta Association of Gerontology. Sandra has completed a three-year appointment from the Prime Minister to sit on the National Seniors Council. She currently sits on the Board of the IFA. Her areas of research and related scholarship focus on abuse and neglect of older adults, and the experiences of older adults who reside in long term care facilities. In 2012, she received the Jeanne Mance Award from the Canadian Nurses Association, the highest honour that a registered nurse can receive from her peers.

Andrew Iaboni, Markham, Ontario
Andrew is currently Treasurer of the Board
Andrew Iaboni brings 20 years of financial leadership experience to the Board. Andrew holds a CPA designation and received a Bachelor of Commerce and Major in Economics from the University of Toronto. Andrew is currently working in the real estate industry for a private equity owned global property management company and servers as Global Vice President, Corporate Finance.

Ken Kuhn, Port Moody, British Columbia
Ken went to UBC & U of Oregon to receive his MBA & MSc degrees, and taught business courses in the Coquitlam School District, BCIT, & UBC. Ken retired from teaching about twelve years ago.Ken spends his retirement life “paying it forward” on seniors’ issues as Executive Director of the Tri-Cities Seniors’ Action Society (TCSAS) & Coordinator of the New Horizons Grants received by the TCSAS. Ken has written three successful NHSP grants over the last three years as well as a UBCM Age-Friendly grant for the City of Port Moody. As ED of TCSAS, Ken has organized several free events for seniors such as: Age-Friendly Tri-Cities, WorldFest—A Seniors’ Celebration of Cultures, the Elder Abuse & Wellness Forum, and Pathways to Better Health Forum.Ken is also a Regional Mentor for Fraser Valley West for the BC Association of Community Response Networks to promote Awareness of Adult Abuse. His network area includes the Lower Mainland communities of the Tri-Cities (Coquitlam, Port Coquitlam, and Port Moody), Maple Ridge, New Westminster, and Burnaby. Ken frequently offers workshops in adult abuse awareness in the Lower Mainland.Ken promotes immunization awareness for seniors in workshops and media through an educational grant from Sanofi-Pasteur Ken has a passion for seniors’ issues: abuse awareness and prevention, advocating for healthy aging, and keeping seniors connected in their communities.

Jodi Lee-White, Fredericton, New Brunswick
Jodi is currently Vice Chair of the Board
After starting out in private practice, Jodi undertook various roles in her professional association with exposure to a wide variety of legal issues. In 2014, she returned to her roots in estate planning, starting a mobile legal practice preparing Wills, Powers of Attorney and Health Care Directives. Through her practice and her participation in various professional groups, it became increasingly clear that greater efforts needed to be made to prevent the mistreatment and abuse of older adults, particularly those with disabilities and vulnerabilities. She presents regularly to professionals and the public on estate planning topics, encouraging everyone over the age of majority to have valid and up-to-date Wills and Enduring Powers of Attorney with sufficient checks and balances to ensure their long-term care, autonomy and dignity is respected.

Kathy Majowski, Tyndall, Manitoba
Kathy is a Registered Nurse currently working in a community health program that provides comprehensive, person-centred support to older adults living in Winnipeg's core area. Her career in health care spans over 2 decades, and includes front-line nursing, clinical/classroom instruction, educational program development, long-term care staff education, home care case coordination, and volunteer work as part of advisory panels and boards. Throughout her career, Kathy has recognized that being a nurse includes working towards improving the care that people receive, and she spends time raising awareness about and working towards addressing the systemic gaps in services for the people that she supports, which have predominantly been older adults in various areas of the health system. She is a passionate voice for strengthening community services for older adults in Manitoba and across Canada, and is frequently invited to speak to community groups, post-secondary students, and colleagues about the impact of ageism and the role we each have in preventing elder abuse. Kathy is honoured to be returning to CNPEA's Board in 2024, and is looking forward to the work ahead.

Michele Markham, Edmonton, Alberta
Michele Markham is a Registered Social Worker with the Alberta College of Social Workers and holds a Bachelor Degree in Human Service Administration. For the past six years she has worked at Sage Seniors Association in Edmonton as the Manager of the Seniors’ Safe House, a shelter for older adults needing safety from abuse. Michele participates on the management committee of the Seniors Protection Partnership, is a member of the Diverse Voices conference planning committee and co-chair of the Elder Abuse Consultation Team. In addition to working at Sage, Michele is a member of the MacEwan University School of Social Work Advisory Council, is a Public Member of the Mental Health Review Panel, and is past Chair of the Board of Directors of the George Spady Society. In addition to working in the field of social work for nearly 30 years, she has more than 20 years of experience with Board Governance and has facilitated numerous board development workshops as part of the Board Development program with the Alberta Government.

Amy Peirone, Kingsville, Ontario
Having recently completed her Ph.D. in Sociology with a Specialization in Social Justice, Dr. Amy Peirone is currently working as a postdoctoral researcher. Her research expertise is in research methodology and the study of various forms of violence. Amy’s current research explores the distinct types of intimate partner violence (IPV) experienced by males and females in Canada and the multi-level factors related to these abusive experiences. In addition to her postdoctoral research, Amy is currently an Instructor at St. Clair College, where she teaches Criminology as well as Law, Power, and Social Justice. Other roles that Amy has taken on include Co-Director for the University of Windsor’s Health Research Centre for the Study of Violence Against Women, Coordinator for the Violence Against Women Coordinating Committee Windsor-Essex, and Amy is a long-standing member of the Board of Directors at St. Leonard’s House Windsor, a halfway house for federal offenders.

Honorary member
Elizabeth Podnieks, Toronto, Ontario (1929- 2024)
Elizabeth was one of the founding members of three key organizations in this area: Ontario Network for the Prevention of Elder Abuse (ONPEA), CNPEA~RCPMTA, and the International Network for the Prevention of Elder Abuse (INPEA). She served on the Executive for all three bodies and actively promoted the value of Networks at all levels.

She was the architect of World Elder Abuse Awareness Day (WEAAD) in 2003 and Chair of the WEAAD Steering Committee.

For over a quarter century, Elizabeth conducted research and published extensively in the area of abuse and neglect, as well as having supported the efforts of others. She presented at numerous conferences, workshops, scientific and educational meetings at both the national and international level.

Dr. Podnieks received the Order of Canada for her work in the area of abuse prevention, including the first Canadian incidence study in 1989. On June 14th, 2012, she also received the Queen Elizabeth II Golden Jubilee Medal in recognition of her lifetime commitment and efforts. Elizabeth was elected honorary director of the National Committee for the Prevention of Elder Abuse. (United States)

Elizabeth has been the source of passion and imagination on numerous initiatives in this area. She generated the project "World Elder Abuse Awareness Day (WEAAD) in Cyberspace" working with national and international partners to harness social media in raising awareness of senior abuse.

Elizabeth received the National Adult Protective Services Association (NAPSA) National Rosalie Wolf Award 2013 and the International Network for the Prevention of Elder Abuse (INPEA) International Rosalie Wolf Award for 2013, becoming the first person to be the recipient of two Rosalie Wolf awards in the same year.

Strategic Plan 2024-2027

In order to support the Network’s expansion and CNPEA’s growth as a leader on elder abuse prevention and intervention in Canada and internationally, the Board of Directors has developed a new Strategic Planning for 2024-2027. This document presents the main pillars of this plan.

Updated General By-Laws 2024

Over the 2024 summer, members of our Executive Committee completed a comprehensive review of CNPEA's By-Laws to align with the Canada Not-For-Profit Corporations Act. The updated By-Laws were submitted to a vote by our members during our recent AGM on September 24, 2024 .
Our new By-Laws are now also available in English and in French. Read our updated By-Laws

Knowledge Sharing Project (2013-2016)

The CNPEA Knowledge Sharing Project was a three-year initiative to support the exchange of ideas and resources among key stakeholders who are working to prevent and respond to elder abuse in Canada. Key goals of the Knowledge Sharing Project:

Create mechanisms for sharing information about promising approaches in elder abuse prevention and response. This website exists to realize that goal. It is a national electronic hub for connecting service providers and seniors’ organizations. The hub serves as a central point of contact for elder abuse information and resources across Canada.
Increase the capacity of organizations and networks to prevent and respond to cases of elder abuse, by
- facilitating access to reliable information and key resources
- connecting stakeholders to each other through the hub

Welcome to www.cnpea.ca,
the Knowledge-Sharing Hub!

What is it?

A user-friendly website, informed by the expertise of CNPEA members. The content of this site is curated for and provided by elder abuse stakeholders from across the country.
An interactive way to connect and collaborate with your peers and with experts, to share and find recent resources, and to blog about your views.
A national platform - ideal to disseminate your research to a diverse audience.
An overview of available resources, publications, research and promising projects for community members and stakeholders involved in a variety of sectors and disciplines.
A source of information for elders in need.

Find it all here.

Explore the Hub...

1-Read:

Browse our blog and resources. You can consult them by chronological order or by using the "Browse by Tag" option at the top right-hand corner of the page.

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