AHPCA’s “Imagine” conference hosted hospice palliative care professionals and volunteers from across Alberta.
This special event, on June 20th and 21st in Nisku, Alberta, was funded by the Eldon & Anne Foote Foundation through the Edmonton Community Foundation.
Welcome to “Imagine ” …
“On behalf of the Alberta Hospice Palliative Care Association Board of Directors, it is my great pleasure to welcome you to the “Imagine” Conference. We are very pleased to have this opportunity to bring together organizations like yours that are committed to providing quality palliative care in Alberta communities.
Our goals include building an organization with engaged members and changing Albertan’s perspectives, perceptions, and understating of palliative and end-of-life care. So, it’s important to us to connect with and learn from you. You represent the communities that we strive to serve.”
Opening Remarks by Terri Woytikiw, Chairperson, APHCA
Keynote: “Back to the Future: Why We Need to Develop Community-Based Palliative Care.”
Dr. Martin LaBrie, a palliative consulting physician with the Calgary Regional Palliative and Hospice Care Services, and a clinical assistant professor at the University of Calgary, has been involved in community development activities throughout Alberta and in Burkina Faso, Africa.
Dr. LaBrie compared three diverse communities, each with unique challenges and different approaches, but with common lessons about the development of community-based hospice palliative care. Dr. LaBrie’s message emphasized the importance of focusing on the role of “community” in the provision of palliative care.
The Economics of Volunteers
Dr. Konrad Fassbender is an assistant professor at the University of Alberta. His current program of research concentrates on the effects of health reform and technological change on health and economic outcomes of dying patients and their families.
Dr. Fassbender spoke to the “Imagine” participants about the economics of care giving; what is the work that is being done, how do we measure it, and how do we make informal care giving visible in our communities? Essentially, Dr. Fassbender emphasized that how and what we measure matters.
Developing a Community Marketing and Fund Development Plan
Sarah Walker is the executive director of the Hospice Calgary Society, the past-president of the Board of Directors for the Canadian Hospice Palliative Care Association, and an instructor at Mount Royal University.
Sarah shared her extensive experience developing community marketing and fund development strategies for non-profit organizations. She emphasized the importance of deliberate and thoughtful planning to ensure successful results, and her stories highlighted the significance of nurturing relationships with our funders and community.
Developing a Plan to Increase the Volunteer Base of Your Organization
Sharon Cornelius has been the volunteer coordinator at WestView Health Centre in Stony Plain for over 20 years.
Sharon’s practical ideas were much appreciated by the “Imagine” participants as she addressed patient care areas in which volunteers can contribute, successful orientation strategies for hospice palliative care volunteers, and collaborative strategies for working with other team members.
Conference Panelists
Michael John Frey is an active business and volunteer leader in Grand Prairie.
Michele Gray is the chair-person of the Airdrie & District Hospice Society.
Harold Johnsrude is a founding member of the Olds & District Hospice Society.
Treva Olson is the past-president of the Hospice Society of Camrose & District.
Brenda Watts is the executive director of the Red Deer Hospice.
Alberta’s hospice care communities were well represented at the AHPCA “Imagine” conference; over 75 individuals from 25 groups across the province attended the 2-day event.
