Call for Proposals

Speak at Convention 2027!

Share your insights, knowledge and expertise at the premiere gathering of not-for-profit long-term care and seniors’ housing professionals!

Call for Proposals

Speak at Convention 2027!

This two-day, in-person retreat introduces core leadership principles and sets the foundation for success throughout the program. You’ll meet your fellow ALP students, connect face-to-fact with your instructors, and enjoy an immersive leadership learning experience covering topics ranging from personal growth and development to team building and networking.

Submission Deadline is
Sep. 25 at 4:00 p.m. EST

Convention 2027 provides an unrivaled opportunity to share your successful initiatives, practices, programs and research in long-term care and seniors’ housing. It is a fantastic opportunity to position yourself as a leader, build your network, and collaborate directly with other experts in the field. Speakers get a complimentary pass for the day of their presentation, or save hundreds on a full Convention pass.

Who can submit a proposal?

AdvantAge Ontario welcomes and encourages presentation proposals from all those engaged in not-for-profit long-term care, seniors’ housing and community services. You do not need to be a member.

What types of presentations are you looking for?
Convention 2027 will offer three full days of education with exciting sessions that encourage audience engagement and participation. Across all session types and subject areas, our most successful speakers:

  • showcase member case studies with lessons learned;
  • offer “how-to” information that provides attendees with new skills, more efficient processes, or technology;
  • share established, innovative and emerging best practices; and
  • offer practical, forward-thinking insights that promote the exchange of ideas.

Concurrent Sessions

We invite you to submit a proposal to present one of our Concurrent Sessions at Convention 2027. 

Concurrent sessions typically focus on emerging sector issues, successful practices and programs, research, and other relevant content for the LTC sector. Concurrent sessions will take place from May 19-21, 2027. These sessions follow an informal seminar format, and can be 60, 75 or 90 minutes in length, may include up to two presenters, and are intended for 25-100 participants. Presenters are expected to engage participants in interactive learning activities, provide handouts, allow 10-15 minutes for questions and answers discussion, and may include a possibly two-minute ice breaker at the beginning.

 

There are between 40–45 concurrent sessions to be filled over the three days of the Convention. The AdvantAge Ontario committee will identify the submissions that will be in the schedule and will notify the speakers that have been shortlisted and will have an interview to discuss further information. The committee will identify which time slot would work best in our programming as well.

Subject Areas

In general, we are interested in presentations on any topic that will benefit not-for-profit long-term care and seniors’ housing leaders.

Care and services

  • Best practices, innovations, and care advancements
  • Infection prevention and control
  • Cultural care
  • Improving care and services initiatives
  • Palliative approach to care
  • Managing death and dying, MAID
  • Innovative food and nutrition programs
  • Models of care (e.g. emotion-focused care and social living environment)
  • Staffing models – use of allied healthcare professionals, recreation and programming staff, social workers, etc.
  • Specialized services and supports, diagnostic services in LTC
  • Medical director – recruitment and engagement
  • Director of nursing and personal care roles – recruitment, managing and engaging nursing staff
  • Medication management
  • Mental health and addictions in LTC
  • Working with other populations – developmentally disabled, mental health challenges, co-located child care

 

Community services and upstream supports

  • Upstream supports and services for older adults – addressing missing middle in community
  • Aging at home and in the community
  • Community support services (funded and unfunded) – models, innovations, examples
  • Community hubs and services in the community
  • Addressing social isolation and loneliness

 

Collaboration, system planning, and capacity building

  • Building partnerships
  • Community engagement
  • Ontario Health Teams
  • Multi-sector collaboration
  • Working with hospital, public health, housing, and homecare partners
  • Academic partnerships, research and knowledge translation in LTC
  • Volunteering – successful recruitment strategies, students, intergenerational, etc.

 

Management and operations

  • Health human resources solutions and best practices – recruitment and retention, preceptorship, partnership with educational institutions, internationally trained healthcare providers, collective bargaining and working with unions, bridging, and laddering
  • Working with temporary help agencies
  • Diversity and inclusion
  • Culture, employee engagement
  • Best practices for compliance, inspections, and investigations under the new FLTCA
  • Bill 124
  • Pay equity
  • Employee relations
  • Supporting staff mental wellness
  • Organization and operational issues
  • Risk and financial management
  • Health and safety
  • Working with family and resident councils, engaging families and residents
  • Quality improvement
  • Ethical issues and decision-making
  • Collective bargaining
  • Fundraising for projects beyond capital development

 

Seniors’ housing

  • Life lease
  • Innovative models for seniors’ housing, including naturally occurring retirement communities (NORCs) and cluster care
  • Campuses of care
  • NFP retirement homes

 

Leadership and organizational effectiveness

  • Collaborative leadership
  • Leadership development,
  • Leading during a crisis
  • Funding and reporting
  • Public relations, media relations, and reputation management
  • Advocacy, building organizational capacity to support advocacy
  • Licensing
  • Accreditation
  • National standards
  • Governance
  • Grant and proposal writing

 

Technology and innovation

  • Ontario Health Teams – technology integration
  • Creating efficiencies and workflow processes
  • IT strategy, planning, investing in new technologies
  • Funding technology initiatives
  • Emerging technology in senior’s care
  • Virtual reality
  • Supporting virtual visits with friends and families
  • Artificial intelligence
  • AI tools and automation to improve workflow processes
  • Responsible AI, privacy, security, and governance
  • Data-driven decision-making in LTC
  • Digital transformation, leadership readiness, and change management
  • Technology-enabled quality improvement and resident/staff outcomes
  • Cybersecurity, privacy, and risk management for LTC homes

 

Capital development and redevelopment

  • Project management
  • New development and redevelopment projects
  • Planning and site plan approvals
  • Construction models
  • Opening a new or redeveloped LTC home – lessons learned
  • Procurement and cost eligibilities
  • Fundraising, capital campaigns, and foundations
  • Funding capital projects – funding or financing
  • Design and standards
  • Innovative design

Audience

Convention delegates typically work in long-term care, seniors’ housing and supportive housing, as well as community services.

  • Administrators/CEO
  • Board Members
  • Senior Managers
  • Food Services/Dietary Managers
  • Program Managers
  • Housing Managers
  • Environmental Service Managers
  • Financial Managers
  • Community Service Manager
  • Nurse Managers
  • Business Managers

Important Dates

  • Call for Presentations Opens July 20, 2026
  • Call for Presentations Deadline is September 25, 2026
  • Presenters notified November 2026
  • Registration Opens January 2027

     

Speakers Save Big at Convention 2027!
Convention speakers receive a complimentary one-day pass for the day they are presenting, or a discounted full Convention pass.

 

AdvantAge Ontario does not generally provide honorariums or cover travel and hotel costs, though exceptions may be granted at the discretion of the Association.

Speak at Convention!

Questions? Contact:

Valerie Di Bratto, Manager of Education
905-851-8821 x228 vdibratto@advantageontario.ca

Dates: September 17-18, 2026
Location: Novotel Hotel, 3 Park Home Avenue, North York

Before the Forum: Kick-Off Call and Preparatory Work

Before we gather at the Leadership Foundations Forum, you’ll join a one-hour Program Kick-Off call on Zoom for a comprehensive overview of the Administrator Leadership Program. 

At the Forum: Connecting and Learning with Peers

At the Leadership Foundations Forum, you’ll spend two days with your peers learning about leadership in the healthcare system, critical thinking and decision-making, team building, and networking across the long-term care sector. You’ll also explore self-development, self-care, personal values and ethics, and the role of mentoring in your growth as a leader. Together, you’ll set the long-term care context, begin building a personal growth plan, and form the project groups that will support your final group project.

After the Forum: Group and Independent Learning

In addition to attending ten live, online training modules, you’ll also be required to watch a series of short, on-demand videos that cover essential long-term care concepts, complete independent reading assignments, and document your personal reflections. In all, plan to invest approximately eight hours per week in the ALP.

Program Kick Off

Mon. Sept. 14 | 2:00 p.m. – 3:00 p.m. | Virtual

Join this 1-hour program kick-off to get a facilitator update, a quick student information session and a chance to ask any questions.

Leadership Foundations Forum

Thurs. Sept. 17 & Fri. Sept. 18 | 8:30 a.m. – 4:30 p.m. | Novotel, North York

Thursday, September 17, 2026

Understanding Leadership in LTC Context

Megan Garland, Executive & Leadership Coach, StillNorth Coaching and Consulting

Ontario’s LTC Update

Lisa Levin, CEO, AdvantAge Ontario

Leadership in Complexity

Megan Garland, Executive & Leadership Coach, StillNorth Coaching and Consulting

Guest Speaker: Ministry of LTC Update

Sandra Lawson, ADM, Operations Division, Ontario Ministry of Long-Term Care

Lindsey Harrold, Director, Funding and Programs Branch, Ministry of Long-Term Care

Critical Thinking & Decision-Making

Megan Garland, Executive & Leadership Coach, StillNorth Coaching and Consulting

Social Networking

Student Group Meet-Up

 

Friday, September 18, 2026

Leadership Identity and Self Awareness

Heidi Taylor, LTC Leadership Consultant

Leadership Development

Heidi Taylor, LTC Leadership Consultant

Introduction of Mentors

Mentors TBC

Leadership in Practice: A Conversation on Leading Culture and People

Mentors TBC

Leadership Culture and Team Impact

Heidi Taylor, LTC Leadership Consultant

Integration and Closing

Heidi Taylor, LTC Leadership Consultant

Module 1: Effective Communications

Thurs. Sept. 24 | 9:00 a.m. – 1:30 p.m.

For each module there will be self-paced readings, videos and reflections that will be complimentary to the live-virtual segment.

External Communications and Media Relations

Sharlyn Carrington, Principal, Content Strong Communications

Social Governance and Reputational Risk

Sharlyn Carrington, Principal, Content Strong Communications

Crisis Communications and Reputation Management

Sharlyn Carrington, Principal, Content Strong Communications

Module 2: Strategic and Integrative Thinking

Thurs. Oct. 1 | 9:00 a.m. – 1:30 p.m.

For each Module there will be self-paced readings, videos and reflections that will be complimentary to the live-virtual segment.

Vision, Mission and Values

Wendy Beckles, President & CEO, Shepherd Lodge

Strategic Planning, Operational Planning & Enterprise Risk Management

Wendy Beckles, President & CEO, Shepherd Lodge

Strategic and Integrative Thinking

Wendy Beckles, President & CEO, Shepherd Lodge

Strategic Priorities, Initiatives and Key Success Factors

Wendy Beckles, President & CEO, Shepherd Lodge

Module 3: Legislative and Legal Matters

Thurs. Oct. 8 | 9:00 a.m. – 1:30 p.m.

For each Module there will be self paced readings, videos and reflections that will be complimentary to the live-virtual segment.

Law as a Business Asset and Legal Frameworks in LTC

Alan Hui, Administrator, Mon Sheong Scarborough Long Term Care Centre

Substitute Decision Making and Powers of Attorney in LTC

Mina Karabit, Lawyer, Wise Health Law.

Interpreting Legislation and Developing Policies, Processes and Procedures in LTC

Alan Hui, Administrator, Mon Sheong Scarborough Long Term Care Centre

Module 4: LTC Financial Literacy Part 1

Thurs. Oct. 15 | 9:00 a.m. – 1:30 p.m.

For each Module there will be self paced readings, videos and reflections that will be complimentary to the live-virtual segment.

LTC Funding in Action

William Willard, Executive Vice-President and CFO, Deep River and District Health

Understanding your Payment Notifications

Kyle Cotton, Director, Long-Term Care, Administrator, Victoria Manor, City of Kawartha Lakes

Budgeting for your Home

Jonathon Bingeman, Vice President, Finance & Digital Transformation, Providence Care Centre

Module 4: LTC Financial Literacy Part 2

Thurs. Oct. 22 | 9:00 a.m. – 1:30 p.m.

For each module there will be self-paced readings, videos and reflections that will be complimentary to the live-virtual segment.

LTC Funding and Policy Updates

Feroz Masjidi, Director of Funding Policy and Capital Development, AdvantAge Ontario

LTC Financial Operations

Speaker TBC

LTC Financial Governance

William Willard, Executive Vice-President and CFO, Deep River and District Health

Module 5: Human Resources and People Management

Thurs. Oct. 29 | 9:00 a.m. – 1:30 p.m.

For each module there will be selfppaced readings, videos and reflections that will be complimentary to the live-virtual segment.

Introduction to HR and People Management

Bruce Goldie, Owner/Proprietor, BMG HR Solutions

Employee Relations

Bruce Goldie, Owner/Proprietor, BMG HR Solutions

Labour Relations

Bruce Goldie, Owner/Proprietor, BMG HR Solutions

Human Rights

Bruce Goldie, Owner/Proprietor, BMG HR Solutions

Occupational Health and Safety

Meara Roebuck, Health and Safety Associate, Region of Peel

Recruitment and Selection

Bruce Goldie, Owner/Proprietor, BMG HR Solutions

Attendance Management

Bruce Goldie, Owner/Proprietor, BMG HR Solutions

Module 6: Quality and Leadership for Clinical Care Part 1

Thurs. Nov. 5 | 9:00 a.m. – 1:30 p.m.

For each module there will be self-paced readings, videos and reflections that will be complimentary to the live-virtual segment.

Role of Administrator in Quality and Clinical Leadership

Bahar Karimi, Executive Director of Clinical Practice and Centre of Excellence, Thrive Group

Jeanette O'Leary, Senior Director of Clinical Practice, Idlewyld Manor

Creating and Leading the Team

Bahar Karimi, Executive Director of Clinical Practice and Centre of Excellence, Thrive Group

Jeanette O'Leary, Senior Director of Clinical Practice, Idlewyld Manor

Leading Quality Programs for Excellence

Bahar Karimi, Executive Director of Clinical Practice and Centre of Excellence, Thrive Group

Jeanette O'Leary, Senior Director of Clinical Practice, Idlewyld Manor

Module 6: Quality and Leadership for Clinical Care Part 2

Thurs. Nov. 12 | 9:00 a.m. – 1:30 p.m.

For each module there will be self-paced readings, videos and reflections that will be complimentary to the live-virtual segment.

Building an Effective Compliance Program

Mary Nestor, Principal, MKN Consulting

Integrating Quality, Compliance and Clinical Excellence – Leadership Approaches and Frameworks

Bahar Karimi, Executive Director of Clinical Practice and Centre of Excellence, Thrive Group

Jeanette O'Leary, Senior Director of Clinical Practice, Idlewyld Manor

From Knowledge to Action

Bahar Karimi, Executive Director of Clinical Practice and Centre of Excellence, Thrive Group

Jeanette O'Leary, Senior Director of Clinical Practice, Idlewyld Manor

Module 7: Customer Relations and Business Operations Part 1

Thurs. Nov. 19 | 9:00 a.m. – 1:30 p.m.

For each module there will be self-paced readings, videos and reflections that will be complimentary to the live-virtual segment.

Integrating Advancing Technologies and Artificial Intelligence into LTC

Travis Durham, Director of Dietary Services and Information Technology, Grove Park Home for Senior Citizens

Keeping Your Building Standing: How to Strategically Manage Major Assets and Planned Replacements

Speaker TBC

The Philosophy and Key Principles of Person-Centered Dining

Twinkle Patel, Director Quality Nutrition & Food Service, Seasons Care Dietitian Network

Module 7: Customer Relations and Business Operations Part 2

Thurs. Nov. 26 | 9:00 a.m. – 1:30 p.m.

For each module there will be self-paced readings, videos and reflections that will be complimentary to the live-virtual segment.

Making LTC Feel Like Home

Julie Wheeler, Director, Seniors' Services, Regional Municipality of Waterloo, Sunnyside Seniors' Services

Ask a Resident

Stephanie Ventura, Director of Education, Ontario Association of Residents’ Councils (OARC) OARC Residents Leaders TBC

Equity, Diversity & Inclusion

Amorell Saunders N'Daw, EDI Champion, Amorell & Co

Group Assignment Work

Thurs., Dec. 3 | 9:00 a.m. – 11:30 a.m.

Meet with your group to collaborate on your assignment, with guidance and support from your mentor.

Group Assignment Work

Thurs., Dec. 10 | 9:00 a.m. – 11:30 a.m.

Meet with your group to collaborate on your assignment.

Group Assignment Presentations

Thurs. Dec. 17 | 9:00 a.m. – 2:30 p.m.

Groups will present their assignments in 30-minute sessions, sharing insights and outcomes with their peers.

Constance (Connie) Lacy

Program Director

Constance (Connie) Lacy is a Long-Term Care and Seniors’ Services Consultant who recently retired as the Director of Seniors’ Services for the Region of Waterloo. Prior to this, she also served as Director of Services for Seniors in the Region of Halton. 

Connie has over 30 years of experience in health, community and education services including over 15 years of senior leadership of Long-Term Care, Seniors’ Housing and Community Programs.

Connie is an active leader in the Seniors’ Services sector and also served as the previous Chair of the Board for AdvantAge Ontario. She has sat on many provincial and federal committees supporting best practices in seniors’ services and care. Connie is a strong advocate and leader in developing and promoting person-centred, emotion-focused models of seniors’ care.

Carolyn Clubine

Program Director and Facilitator

Carolyn Clubine has a wealth of Health and Long-term Care experience. She is the former Director of Long-Term Care and Community Support Services for the Region of Peel’s five campuses of care. 

Currently, Carolyn serves as an LTC sector expert and consultant with Clubine Consulting, a boutique firm offering customized management consulting and services. She consults with non-profit organizations on issues ranging from strategic and organizational planning, redevelopment, operational effectiveness, and board governance.

Carolyn has obtained her Fellowship with the Canadian College of Health Leaders. In addition, she is a graduate of The Advanced Executive Leadership Program at the Schulich School of Business at York University. Carolyn regularly participates with AdvantAge Ontario facilitating workshops, participation on various committees, and member support service development.

A strategic thinker and innovative planner with strong analytical skills, Carolyn has coached, mentored, and taught strategic and management/leadership courses locally and internationally. Her desire is to empower leadership teams to develop strategies that will shape key services for today and over the long term.