EDUCATION
THE MiX Krista James (L) Sara Pon
Attend the 9th Canadian Elder Law Conference!
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his Fall the Canadian Centre for Elder Law (CCEL) hosts the th 9 Canadian Elder Law Conference, the only regular national Canadian conference dedicated to legal and policy issues related to aging. The theme of this year’s conference is “Bridging the Gap: Elder Law for Everyone.” The theme speaks to a desire to break down barriers and silos. We strive to offer an opportunity for rich conversations that bring together stakeholders with different experiences and expertise to tackle some of the most challenging legal issues associated with aging. In this vein, the 2019 conference includes presenters speaking to their experience in Indigenous and smaller rural communities; a number of panels are designed to bring elder law and disability perspectives together to enhance our understanding of issues. We are thrilled that The Honourable Thomas A Cromwell, formally of the Supreme Court
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TABLE OF CONTENTS
of Canada, will share his views on access to justice issues facing older adults. Consistent with our past conferences, sessions are presented by experts from diverse fields, including law, social work, medicine, research, and community. The conference also features a number of presenters who share their lived experience of disability or dementia in relation to legal issues.
The best way to experience the event, however, is in person. There are always exciting conversations to have with other attendees over lunch and between sessions. The 2-day event will be held in Vancouver on November 14 and 15, 2019. Participants can sign up for 1 day or both. A live webinar option is also available. A limited number of registration bursaries are available for people who cannot afford the registration fee. BC Notaries Association
For those who cannot make the event, our event partner, the Continuing Legal Education Society of BC, may broadcast a recording of the event in 2020. The best way to experience the event, however, is in person. There are always exciting conversations to have with other attendees over lunch and between sessions. Below we highlight some of the speakers and panels that will be part of this year’s conference.
Cannabis Use in Long-Term Care Based on past evaluation forms, one of the most popular elder law conference sessions is the debate . . . always a mix of humour and education. This year’s debaters tackle the resolution: Be it Resolved that Long-Term Care Residents Should be Permitted to Use Cannabis in their Homes. The interdisciplinary debating teams include two criminal lawyers who have presented on cannabis use issues, John Conroy, QC, of Conroy and Company in Abbotsford, and Kyla Lee of Acumen Law, as well as elder law conference alumni Al Jina, CEO of Park Place Manor, and Dr. Jennifer Baumbusch, who teaches in the UBC School of Nursing. Volume 28 Number 3 Fall 2019
