Older Workers At Risk of Withdrawing from the Labour Force or Becoming Unemployed: Employers' views on how to retain and attract older workers

Members of the National Seniors Council

Jean-Guy Soulière, Chair

After a successful career with the federal public service, Jean-Guy Soulière was the Executive Director of the Federal Superannuates National Association (FSNA) for over 12 years. He is the Chair and Spokesperson for the Congress of National Seniors’ Organizations since 2002 and a member of the Public Service Pension Advisory Committee. He holds a degree from the University of Ottawa and is fluently bilingual.

Stanley Hrabarchuk

Following Mr. Stanley Hrabarchuk retirement from the Government of Canada in 1991, Mr. Hrabarchuk became a member of the National Association of Federal Retirees (FSNA). He was appointed to the position of National President of FSNA in 2009 and in 2010, became the Immediate National Past President. For nearly 20 years, Mr. Hrabarchuk has worked on a number of committees to help further the work of FSNA through the development of membership programs and marketing and recruitment strategies. He was also instrumental in establishing a Manitoba Committee of Seniors to represent seniors' interests across the province. His demonstrated leadership skills and extensive experience supporting seniors' issues are an excellent addition to the Council.

Dr. C. Shanthi Johnson

Dr. Shanthi Johnson is a professor and associate dean (research and graduate studies) at the Faculty of Kinesiology and Health Studies, University of Regina, and a research faculty member with the Saskatchewan Population Health and Evaluation Research Unit. Prior to her appointment at the University of Regina, she was a Professor at the School of Nutrition and Dietetics, Acadia University, Nova Scotia. She completed her post-doctoral training in aging and health at the Canadian Centre for Activity and Aging, doctoral studies in kinesiology at the University of Western Ontario and her graduate and undergraduate degrees in nutrition in India. Her research program involves health promotion and falls prevention among older adults with a multidisciplinary perspective.

Hubert McGrath

Mr. Hubert McGrath holds a Master's degree in Educational Administration. He worked as a high school administrator for 31 years in Newfoundland and Labrador, and British Columbia. Mr. McGrath's extensive volunteer experience includes serving as a founding member of a committee focussed on the establishment of affordable seniors' housing. He also acted as a trustee and executive member of the Newfoundland Avalon Health Care Institutions Board, and trustee of the Newfoundland Easter Regional Integrated Health Authority. His involvement with these organizations has increased his awareness of the needs of seniors in Newfoundland and Labrador, helping him plan and implement strategies that effectively address those needs.

Leonie Napa Duffy

Mrs. Leonie Napa Duffy has been very active in Coral Harbour, Nunavut, working as a teaching assistant, a teacher and a nurse's aide. She is also a long-time hotel owner and manager, as well as a church pastor. Mrs. Duffy has been elected to office on numerous occasions, and is currently serving as a member of the Keewatin Business Development Centre. She holds many awards, including Fellow of the Arctic Institute of North America (1999), a Governor General Commemorative Medal (1992), and an award from the Hamlet Council of Coral Harbour (1995).

Maurice Royer

Mr. Maurice Royer has had a distinguished career in mediation, facilitation and negotiation services. His 20 years of service with Correctional Service Canada (CSC) offered him various opportunities, including giving a lecture on mediation to the Corrections and Police Academy in Slovakia. Mr. Royer later moved to Kingston, Ontario, where he pioneered the mediation process for Ontario regional staff at CSC. In 2006, Mr. Royer left the Department to begin his own mediation, facilitation and negotiation firm. Mr. Royer has long been involved in community support, serving as a member of the Kingston Police Services Board and the Kingston Children’s Aid Society’s Board of Directors. Mr. Royer currently resides in Ottawa, where he also serves as the Vice-Chair of the Canadian Institute for Conflict Resolution's Board of Directors.

Lisa M. Smith

Mrs. Lisa M. Smith has several years of management and leadership experience in the health and community services sector. Ms. Smith has worked with the Nova Scotia Department of Community Services, both the district and provincial levels of the Department Heath, in Primary Health Care and Continuing Care and in November 2007, she joined the Senior Leadership Team at Glen Haven Manor, where she remains as a senior executive.

Mrs. Smith is a registered Social Worker, an active Rotarian (Rotary Club of New Glasgow) and an active volunteer with numerous charitable organizations that service a myriad of populations including seniors, children, persons with mental disabilities and individuals in crisis.

Mrs. Smith’s diverse background allows her to bring a wealth of expertise to the Council on issues important to older Canadians. Mrs. Smith appreciates this appointment and looks forward to sharing her experience and helping Canadian seniors have the chance to be heard on the issues that impact their well-being.

Beverley Weeks

Mrs. Beverley Weeks of Harvey, New Brunswick, is the founder of Harvey Outreach for Seniors, an organization developed to meet the needs of seniors. She is also a founding and lifetime member of the New Brunswick Home Support Association. Mrs. Weeks has served on many committees and has conducted research projects in the field of seniors’ issues. She is a founding and continuing member of the Third Age Centre housed at St. Thomas University, Fredericton, New Brunswick. She was the New Brunswick representative on the Board of the Canadian Association for Community Care. Some of her awards include the Marion Stevenson Award for outstanding contribution to Community Care and the Queen’s Golden Jubilee Medal for her work on seniors’ issues.

Dr. Andrew Wister

Dr. Andrew Wister is currently Chair of the Department of Gerontology at Simon Fraser University (SFU), where he led the development of the Masters in Gerontology and PhD in Gerontology programs. He has also been active in the Canadian Association on Gerontology.

Dr. Wister led the SFU arm of a $2.5-million five-year grant funded by the Canadian Institutes of Health Research (CIHR) to develop and test innovative interventions integrating cardiovascular prevention, self-care and clinical care best practices targeting baby boomers. He is also one of the team leaders of the Canadian Longitudinal Study on Aging.

Dr. Wister’s extensive research covers several overlapping themes. He has written over 60 highly cited peer-reviewed articles, 11 books and monographs, and numerous chapters, reports and other publications on: baby boomer health dynamics; environmental adaptation among older adults; patterns of family and social support; aging, health promotion and population health; statistical methods; and life-course trends and transitions.

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