General Meeting September 30 2020

Isobel Mackenzie has over 20 years’ experience working with seniors in home care, licensed care, community services and volunteer services. Isobel led B.C.’s largest not-for-profit agency, serving over 6,000 seniors annually. In this work, Isobel led the implementation of a new model of dementia care that has become a national best practice, and led the first safety accreditation for homecare workers, among many other accomplishments. Isobel has been widely recognized for her work and was named B.C. CEO of the Year for the not-for-profit sector and nominated as a Provincial Health Care Hero.

Prior to her appointment as the Seniors Advocate, Isobel served on a number of national and provincial boards and commissions, including the BC Medical Services Commission, the Canadian Homecare Association, BC Care Providers, BC Care Aide and Community Health Worker Registry, and the Capital Regional District Housing Corporation. Isobel also served on the University of Victoria’s Board of Governors.Isobel Mackenzie received both her undergraduate and graduate degrees from the University of Victoria and has a Certificate in Health Care Leadership from the University of Toronto.

The Office of the Seniors Advocate monitors and analyzes seniors services in BC and makes recommendations to government and service providers to address systemic issues. The OSA was established in 2014 and is the first of its kind in Canada.

Ms Mackenzie will talk about her most recent report, which includes lessons about seniors care learned from the pandemic. She will also address the concern of how couples can continue to live together when on needs care.

Time line
1:30pm Business Meeting
1:45pm Speaker Isobel Mackenzie
2:30pm Q&A
2:45pm End of meeting