A Focus on Pedagogy

Karen Lok Yi Wong was trained in social policy for MA at University of York, the United Kingdom and social work for MSW at UBC, Canada. She conducted research and analyzing policies on older adults and healthcare including palliative care, long-term care and family caregiving and published and presented widely academically and professionally. She was invited reviewers of academic and professional journal articles, conference presentation abstract and project proposals. She is currently the research scholar of Simon Fraser University Science and Technology for Aging Research (STAR) Institute. She is a registered social worker in BC, Canada and has been practicing in diverse settings related to older adults such as community senior services centre and long-term care. She is currently practicing social work in Mount St Joseph Hospital of Providence Healthcare. She serves as the clinical advisor of 411 Seniors Centre, Vancouver. She also serves in BC Association of Social Workers Multicultural and Anti-raciat Committee, Seniors Community of Practice, and Richmond, Delta and Burnaby Branch. She is a long-term volunteer of Alzheimer’s Society BC too.

Andrew Sixsmith PhD is the Associate Scientific Director of AGE-WELL NCE, the Director of the SFU Science and Technology for Aging Research (STAR) Institute, and a professor in the Gerontology department at Simon Fraser University (SFU). He is past President of the International Society of Gerontechnology and was previously Director of the Gerontology Research Centre and Deputy Director of the IRMACS Centre at SFU. His research interests include aging, social isolation, technologies to connect people, technology for independent living, technology policy and the digital divide, theories and methods in aging and understanding the innovation process. His work has involved him in a leadership and advisory role in numerous major international research projects and initiatives with academic, government and industry partners. He received his doctorate from the University of London and was previously a lecturer at the University of Liverpool in the Institute of Human Ageing and Department of Primary Care.

Leslie Remund has 25 years’ experience in community-based social services. She is currently the Executive Director of the 411 Seniors Centre Society and The 411 Foundation, where she works alongside an active board of directors, who are all seniors, to advance the socio-economic status of older adults. The 411 Seniors Centre Society is a membership-based organization with a 40-year history of advocating in the best interests of British Columbia’s seniors. Leslie’s work has focussed on identifying how government policies and systems of care set up to support individuals unintentionally create barriers; understanding why people resist or do not access services; and implementing new and innovative support models that are working in other jurisdictions. Before joining 411 Seniors in 2016, Leslie worked with low-income communities in the areas of women’s health, homelessness & social housing, and most recently issues for seniors.