It’s Not Right!
Neighbours, Friends & Families for
Older Adults
It’s Not Right!
Abuse of Older Adults
Changing Attitudes – Changing Responses
Monday May 4 -Tuesday May 5, 2015 Toronto
Sheraton Toronto Hotel and Conference Centre, 801 Dixon Rd., Toronto
www.itsnotright.ca
www.facebook.com/ItsNotRightNFF
Funded by the Government of Canada’s New Horizons for Seniors Program
Keynote Speakers
Changing Attitudes – Changing Responses
We are very excited to welcome our keynote speakers.
YOU are a powerful being (most people just don’t know it) and an important member of a
growing community committed to taking practical steps that create a more respectful, safe
and supportive society. Everyone has a role to play!
Topics and questions that will be explored by panels include:
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Ageism as a social norm that we can learn
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to recognize in ourselves and our systems.
We want to interrupt attitudes and beliefs
about the aging process that actually puts
older adults at risk.
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justice approach to abusive behaviour when
most situations of abuse involve family
members. As a society are we ready to
move beyond categories of ‘good and bad
people’ to think about healing for the whole
family?
Other issues intersect with abuse and
neglect to make situations even more
complex. Panelists will explore intersections
in remote and immigrant communities and
when mental health challenges are present
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Domestic violence in older couples involves
unique risk factors that are tragically rising
to the surface through death reviews. Are
professionals and communities prepared
to recognize the emerging risk in situations
of deteriorating health and growing
dependencies of older couples?
Bystanders as first responders: what have
we learned about engaging all citizens to
take the everyday steps that can interrupt
the patterns of abusive behaviour when the
warning signs first appear?
Examining the limits of a strictly criminal
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Social isolation is considered one of the
more robust risk factors of abuse and neglect
in later life. How does it function and how can
we address it?
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The Big Picture – Everyone has a role to
play, how can we achieve collective impact
using a pan-Canadian approach? Panelists
will discuss:
The critical leadership of Networks
Innovative approaches
Related initiatives
DR. ALAN BERKOWITZ is internationally renowned for his ground breaking work on social
norms and bystander approaches. His expert opinion is frequently sought after by the U.S.
government, military, colleges, universities and professional organizations. He is well-known
for his scholarship and innovative programs addressing issues of substance abuse, sexual
assault, gender, violence, bystander intervention, and diversity. Alan will open and close the
conference, speaking about bystander intervention theory, research and skills as well as the
role of social norms and will offer insights for the elder abuse community as to how social
change actually happens.
DR. BEATRIZ BERKOWITZ is a transpersonal psychologist currently in private practice
at the The Wellness Center of Mount Shasta, CA. She was trained as a clinical, school and
organizational psychologist and teacher of psychology at the Catholic University of Pelotas
(UCPEL) in Brazil. For the last thirty years she has worked as a private practitioner, teacher,
school psychologist and as a psychological consultant to medical professionals. Beatriz is
passionate about the bystander approach. She will speak about the inevitable tension that
occurs for bystanders between the social norm to mind your own business and being true to
yourself.
ALISON LEANEY, MSW, RSW is a Registered Social Worker and the Provincial Coordinator,
Vulnerable Adults Community Response at the Public Guardian and Trustee of BC. She is
a former chair of the Canadian Network for the Prevention of Elder Abuse and the former
Executive Director of the BC Association of Community Response Networks. She is a tireless
advocate and brings her many years of experience across multiple sectors to serve as the
National Trainer for the It’s Not Right! initiative. Alison will co-host the conference and speak
on the domestic violence panel.
DR. PETER JAFFE is the Academic Director at the Centre for Research & Education on
Violence against Women & Children at Western University. He has played an instrumental role
in promoting a national forum for domestic violence death review committees (DVDRC) in
Canada. Peter will speak about emerging gaps and trends identified in 4 cases of domestic
homicide-suicide of couples aged 60+ reviewed in the 2012 Ontario DVDRC report.
BARB MACQUARRIE is the Community Director at CREVAWC, Western University in London
Ontario. She was awarded the Order of Ontario in 2015 for thirty years leadership and
dedication to ending violence against women and children. Barb is currently leading the
development of an international network on domestic violence in workplace and co-led the
first national workplace domestic violence study in Canada. Barb will share the panel with her
colleague Peter Jaffe to speak about the changing face of risk in the aging process.
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Conference Agenda
MONDAY MAY 4 – DAY 1
TUESDAY MAY 5 – DAY 2
8:30 am – 8:45 am
Introductions / Opening Remarks
Welcome
8:30 am – 8:45 am
Opening Remarks
Welcome
8:45 am – 9:15 am
Introduction to It’s Not Right! project content and context
for the conference:
• Working from a response continuum
• YOU Power (What is it and how does it work?)
HOST
Alison Leaney
8:45 am – 10:00 am
Examining the limits of a strictly criminal justice approach to
abusive behaviour
PANEL
Joceyln Yerxa
Sharon Elliott
Sharon MacKenzie
Susan Ross
9:15 am – 10:00 am
Shifting Social Norms using Bystander Approach
Alan Berkowitz
10:00 am – 10:15 am
Are we ready to support people who behave abusively?
Table Discussion
10:00 am – 10:15 am
Initial Report on Evaluation – a developmental perspective
on social change potential
Ben Kadel
Catching hold of the inspired ideas
Table discussion
10:15 am – 10:30 am
12:00 pm – 12:15 pm
10:45 am – 12:00 pm
Exploring domestic violence in older couples
BREAK
10:30 am – 11:00 am
11:00 am – 12:00 am
BREAK
10:15 am – 10:45 am
Ageism is a social norm that we can learn to recognize in
ourselves and our systems.
How do our individual attitudes perpetuate ageism?
PANEL
Sherry Baker
Elliot Paus-Jenssen
Marj Thiessen
LUNCH
12:00 pm – 1:00 pm
1:00 pm – 2:15 pm
Our Experience: Things we’ve learned so far
Table discussion
BREAK
2:15 pm – 2:45 pm
Abuse of older adults intersects with other issues:
• In remote communities
• Cultural differences – who defines abuse?
• Immigration issues and abuse
• Con-current issues
2:30 pm – 3:00 pm
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PANEL
Lillian Nakamura Maguire
Mohammed Baobaid
Susan McPhail
2:45 pm – 3:30 pm
The Big Picture: everyone has a role to play
Raeann Rideout
Sarita Israel
Ben Kadel
April Struthers
BREAK
3:30 pm – 4:00 pm
Reflections and Future Planning
Alan Berkowitz
4:00 pm – 4:15 pm
3:00 pm – 4:00 pm
Bystanders as first responders: what have we learned about
engaging all citizens to take the everyday steps
Alison Leaney
Margaret MacPherson
Charmaine Spencer
4:00 pm – 4:30 pm
Exploring the personal aspects of the Social Norms and
Bystander Approaches
Beatriz Berkowitz
4:30 pm – 4:45 pm
PANEL
Lynda Smallwood
Sherry Baker
Pat Power
Lori Therrien
LUNCH
12:15 pm – 1:15 pm
1:15 pm – 2:30 pm
Peter Jaffe
Barb MacQuarrie
April Struthers
CLOSING
CLOSING
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Our Panelists
SHERRY BAKER, M.A. is the Executive
Director of the BC Association of
Community Response Networks since
2010. The BC CRN is a provincial
organization which supports the
coordinated community response to abuse, neglect
and self-neglect of vulnerable adults. Over the past 40
years, Sherry has sat on and chaired many provincial,
regional and local boards. She is presently the Chair
of the Township of Langley’s Seniors’ Advisory
Committee. She is also the Treasurer of the Canadian
Network for the Prevention of Elder Abuse.
DR. MOHAMMED BAOBAID, PhD, earned
his doctoral degree from the Institute of
Psychology at the University of Erlangen
Nurnberg in Germany and is currently
the Executive Director and founder of
the Muslim Resource Centre for Social Support and
Integration in Canada (MRCSSI). For 30 years, Dr.
Baobaid has conducted research to identify complex
challenges of working with victims of family violence
and to develop culturally appropriate responses to
family and youth violence in Yemen and Canada.
His work is highly innovative in building bridges
across diverse Muslim and mainstream cultures, and
has contributed to greater mutual understanding
and increased social inclusion for Muslim families
experiencing family violence.
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Changing Attitudes – Changing Responses
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.
SARITA ISRAEL, PSW has been a clinician
in specialized elder abuse services since
1991, and has coordinated the LeadingEdge Practices to Prevent Elder Abuse
program at the Cavendish Health and
Social Services Centre since 2010. She has played
a key role in planning research and training, and in
developing the clinical aspects of the program. She
also coordinates a provincial multisectorial elder
abuse consultation team, and is involved in numerous
partnership projects for the ongoing development of
resources and programs.
ELLIOT PAUS JENSSEN is an older adult
and retired social worker who feels very
fortunate that since her retirement in
2004 she has been able to continue to
work on issues of concern to her such
as the abuse of older adults. She is currently Past
President of the Saskatoon Council on Aging and is a
member of several of its committees. She serves on
the boards of the Canadian Network for the Prevention
of Elder Abuse and the Canadian Association of
Occupational Therapists.
BEN KADEL (rhymes with bottle) is a
social psychologist who specializes in the
emotional dynamics of work and work
groups. He has spent the last 15 years
or so figuring out what it takes to help
people do work that is both personally fulfilling and
materially successful. He is on a personal mission to
convert all the energy that is currently wasted in fear,
doubt, confusion and conflict into productive energy
moving people towards goals that really matter. He has
a PhD in sociology from the University of Wisconsin –
Madison and is a founding partner of Emotus Operandi.
He is an engaging speaker, accomplished writer and
snappy dresser – even if he does say so himself.
SHARON MACKENZIE, BA MEd, is a
national advocate for building strong
intergenerational relations. A veteran
teacher, K-University, she has shown
through her thirty years of on-theground research that respectful and purposeful
intergenerational relations improve health, prevent
mistreatment of all ages, and build more resilient
all-age-friendly communities. Sharon is the Executive
Director for i2i Intergenerational Society of Canada and
a Director on the Canadian Network for the Prevention
of Elder Abuse.
SUSAN MACPHAIL is Director of
Community and Women’s Program for
Canadian Mental Health Association
Middlesex. Involved in social activism,
innovative initiatives and activism for
over forty years (thus the need for a younger pic!) .
She remains active at local, provincial and national
levels focusing on the intersectionality of the impact of
interpersonal violence, gender, trauma, mental health,
addictions, poverty and homelessness.
MARGARET MACPHERSON is the Project
Coordinator for the New Horizons PanCanadian project: It’s Not Right! Changing
Social Norms for Bystanders of Abuse
of Older Adults. She is also a Research
Associate for the Centre for Research & Education
on Violence Against Women & Children at Western
University in London, Ontario.
LILLIAN NAKAMURA MAGUIRE, was
the Seniors Project Coordinator for the
Pan-Canadian New Horizons for Seniors
Project, “Empowering Yukon’s Seniors &
Elders – Planning and Prevention Tools” for
the Yukon Public Legal Education Association (YPLEA)
in Whitehorse, Yukon. Lillian has had a forty year career
in adult education, post-secondary education and
community development with most of it spent in Yukon.
PAT POWER, RSW. Pat has worked for the City of
Edmonton for 33 years as a social worker and has a
Certificate in Gerontology. For the past 5 years he has
served as the Community Development Social Worker
for Seniors Protection Partnership (multi-disciplinary
Team providing intervention and prevention services to
older adults experiencing abuse). Pat is the Chair of the
Alberta Elder Abuse Awareness Network and Co-chair
of the Canadian Network for the Prevention of Elder
Abuse.
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Our Panelists
It’s Not Right! Community of Practice
Thank you to a wonderful group of passionate people who have guided the development of
It’s Not Right! Neighbours, Friends and Families for Older Adults from start to finish.
SUSAN ROSS was born in Aklavik. In 2001 Susan and
her family relocated to Inuvik, NT. She currently works
for Gwich’in Tribal Council as the Resolution Health
Support Worker. Her greatest accomplishments are
getting herself educated, working for her people and
striving to become a better person. Throughout her life
Susan has learned from her parents to value our elder’s
guidance, knowledge and respect for self, others,
family, land and community.
RAEANN RIDEOUT, M.A. is the Central
East, Regional Elder Abuse Consultant for
Elder Abuse Ontario, formerly known as
The Ontario Network for the Prevention
of Elder Abuse. Raeann has worked in the
field of elder abuse for over 18 years. She is currently a
co-chair of the Canadian Network for the Prevention of
Elder Abuse.
APRIL STRUTHERS, (Wit Works Ltd.) is
a free ranging management consultant
working across fields to develop projects
contributing to interpersonal and social
change; particularly for prevention of
interpersonal violence. She has contributed to the
national older adult field with writing on promising
approaches to abuse prevention for mainstream and
First Nations communities (Public Health Agency of
Canada), innovative tool development for intervention
within indigenous communities (Being Least Intrusive
tool –National Initiative for the Care of the Elderly) and
a draft national strategy for elder abuse prevention.
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LORI THERRIEN RSW with a specialization in
Gerontology, is the Elder Abuse Prevention Coordinator
with Alberta Seniors, Community Partnerships. She has
worked with older adults and their families for more than
35 years across Canada. Lori brings seventeen years of
experience in addressing elder abuse. She has shared
her understanding and knowledge on a provincial,
national and international level. Lori is responsible for
the coordination and implementation of the provincial
elder abuse strategy activities. Lori has co-chaired the
Canadian Network for the Prevention of Elder Abuse and
chaired the Alberta Elder Abuse Awareness Network.
MARJ THIESSEN has been involved in
volunteering for over 40 years and has
delivered presentations for the University
of Regina Lifelong Learning Centre
related to older adult abuse prevention,
ageism and volunteering. She is a trained teacher with
considerable experience in social marketing.
JOCELYN YERXA is the A/Director of
Programs and Community Development
Coordinator for the Nova Scotia
Department of Seniors, working
on a variety of initiatives to build
community capacity to address the needs of an
aging population. For the past two years, Jocelyn has
lead the development of a 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. Jocelyn also serves on the Canadian
Network for the Prevention of Elder Abuse board and
management team for the Knowledge Sharing project.
Carly Aasen
NWT Seniors’ Society
Nancy Allen
Government of Newfoundland & Labrador
Heather Archer
BC Association of Community Response Networks
Sherry Baker
BC Association of Community Response Networks
Olive Bryanton
University of Prince Edward Island
Susan Crichton
Government of Manitoba
Kathy Doerksen
BC Association of Community Response Networks
Jackie Doran MacLeod
Health PEI
Sharon Elliott
RCMP, Nova Scotia
Mary Ennis
Seniors Resource Centre of Newfoundland & Labrador
Kelly Heisz
Seniors Resource Centre of Newfoundland & Labrador
Barb Hood
NWT Seniors’ Society
Jamie Howie
Government of New Brunswick
Katharine Irngaut
Pauktuutit Inuit Women of Canada
Sarita Israel
Soutien à l’autonomie des personnes âgées
Alison Leaney
Canadian Network for Prevention of Elder Abuse
Rosemary Lester
Seniors Resource Centre of Newfoundland & Labrador
Dara Maternick
Prevent Elder Abuse Manitoba
Sharon MacKenzie
Canadian Network for Prevention of Elder Abuse
Lillian Nakamura Maguire
Yukon Public Legal Education Association
Elliott Paus-Jenssen
Canadian Network for Prevention of Elder Abuse
Peggy Pendergast
Retired Teachers Association of Manitoba
Pat Power
Canadian Network for Prevention of Elder Abuse
Raeann Rideout
Elder Abuse Ontario
Terry Rideout
Government, North West Territories
Wanda Roberts
Aurora College, North West Territories
Céline RomaninFédération des aînées et aînés francophones
du Canada - FAAFC
Susan Ross
Gwich’in Tribal Council, North West Territories
Lynda Smallwood
Saskatoon Council on Aging’s Older Adult Abuse Task Force
Charmaine Spencer
Canadian Network for Prevention of Elder Abuse
Elizabeth Spiegel
Seniors Resource Centre of Newfoundland & Labrador
Kerrie Strathy Lifelong Learning Centre, University of Regina
April Struthers
Wit Works Ltd.
Lori Therrien
Government of Alberta
Marj Thiessen
Lifelong Learning Centre, University of Regina
Manon Thompson
Elder Abuse Ontario
Jocelyn Yerxa
Government of Nova Scotia
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Notes
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