On the first Tuesday of April, Canadians come together to recognize family members, friends, neighbours and other significant people who take on a caring role to support someone with a diminishing physical ability, a debilitating cognitive condition or a chronic life-limiting illness. Known as National Family Caregiver Day, this special day encourages all Canadians to pay tribute and recognize the valuable contribution of family caregivers to our lives and our society as a whole.
“Balancing act” is defined as “a difficult situation in which you try to achieve several different things at the same time”.
This is the reality of 6.1 million employed Canadians who must balance their personal commitments, caregiving duties, and work responsibilities. For these family caregivers, the time and physical demands are often equivalent to working two full time jobs. This balancing act impacts a family caregiver’s financial, emotional and personal well-being. Not only do family caregivers and patients experience negative consequences, there is an enormous impact on Canadian employers and our economy.
On April 7th, join the celebration and raise awareness of employee caregivers in Canada!
Recognize the 6.1 million employed Canadians who are balancing work and caregiving responsibilities.
- Click here to download the CCC press release (release date – April 7)
- Share your voice – add #careandwork to your tweets on April 7
Profile employers who have adopted a supportive workplace environments for their caregiver employees.
- Join the April 7 Online Education Forum: Caregiver Information Day – Click here (live on April 7)
Special address by The Honourable Alice Wong, Minister of State (Seniors)
9:10 am – 10:00 am Health & Caregiver Friendly Workplaces
Dr. Allison Williams, CIHR Research Chair in Gender, Work & Health, McMaster University
10:00 am – 10:30 am Stages of Caregiving
Sara Shearkhani & Carole Ann Alloway, co-founders, Family Caregivers Voice
10: 30 am – 11:00 am Quality of End-of-Life Care & the Role of Family Caregivers
Recognizing the Moral and Economic Benefits of Providing a Compassionate Care Policy
Sharon Baxter, Executive Director, Canadian Hospice Palliative Care Association
The Caregiver Voice: The Way Forward
Jennifer Campagnolo, Director of Innovation, Canadian Home Care Association
11:00 am – 11:45 am National Coalitions: Raising the Voice of Caregivers
Nadine Henningsen, President, Canadian Caregiver Coalition
Connie, Cote, Executive Director, Health Charities Coalition of Canada
11:45 am – 12:25 pm Human Rights and Caregiving: Everyone has a Role
Marcella Daye, Senior Policy Advisory, Canadian Human Rights Commission
12:25 pm – 1:00 pm Mobilizing Action: Family Caregivers in Canada
Nadine Henningsen, President Canadian Caregiver Coalition, Co-Chair Mobilizing Action
Catherine Suridjan, Public Policy & Stakeholder Relations, Canadian Caregiver Coalition, Project Lead Mobilizing Action
1:00 pm – 1:45 pm Caregiving and Work from the Employer’s Perspective
Nora Spinks, Chief Executive Office, Vanier Institute of the Family
1:45 pm – 2:10 pm Supporting Family Caregivers: A Provincial Perspective: Advocating for Caregivers in Ontario
Lisa Levin, Chair Ontario Caregiver Coalition
Delia Sinclair Frigault, Vice-Chair Ontario Caregiver Coalition
2:10 pm – 2:20 pm The Giving Tree
Anthony Milonas, Chief Operating Officer, CBI Health Group and Signatory Partner of the Canadian Caregiver Coalition
2:20 pm – 3:00 pm Supporting Family Caregivers: A Provincial Perspective
Quebec: Employee Caregivers at the CSSS Cavendish
Pam Orzeck, Coordinator of Leading Practices in Caregiving, CSSS Cavendish
Manitoba: Supporting Employed Caregivers
Wendy Sutton, Manitoba Caregiver Coalition
Alberta: Caregiving in Alberta
Anna Mann, Executive Director, Alberta Caregivers Association
3:00 pm – 3:40 pm British Columbia: Work & Care: A Balancing Act
Barbara MacLean, Executive Director, Family Caregivers’ Network Society
Glendora Scarfone, Caregiver Support & Administration, Family Caregivers’ Network Society
Wendy Johnstone, Provincial Caregiver Program Consultant
Share practical tips and tools for caregivers and employers.
