Meet Our Speakers
Christiana Egi
An author of six books, educator, podcast host, OptiMYz contributor, and participant in four documentaries, Christiana uses her expertise and platform to confront stigma, advance dementia awareness, and elevate overlooked perspectives. Her honours include Canada’s 100 Most Powerful Women 2026, Top 100 Black Women to Watch 2025, Top 25 Women of Influence 2024, and the Nigerian Advocacy Award 2024.Read more
Kevin Carrington
Born and raised in Toronto, Kevin Carrington is a CBC news reporter with over 25yrs of experience in broadcasting. Kevin is a regular face in the community, hosting numerous annual events. His energy is unmatched. Blending entertainment, culture, and community engagement. With a proven track record of delivering unforgettable experience.
He also promotes health and wellness through his reggae-inspired, cardio-fitness program called ReggaeCise. TDSB students know him as Uncle Kev.
Follow him on social media:
@kevincarringtonthevoice
kevincarrington.ca
Minnelle Williams
Minnelle Williams brings a refreshing approach to the end- of-life industry, combining her years of experience as a dedicated Funeral Director, Death Doula, and Executor Advisor. Through her company, Ending Well with Minnelle, she demystifies Legacy and Estate Planning, helping people feel more comfortable and confident having these important conversations.
A trusted voice in news media, Minnelle is regularly invited to share insights on estate planning, caregiving, and end- of-life conversations.
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She skillfully blends compassion with practicality, guiding families through these delicate decisions with ease and understanding. But it's not all serious business for Minnelle. She believes in making the journey as enjoyable as possible, infusing a sense of positivity and warmth into a topic often viewed with apprehension. As a dynamic event host, Minnelle is known for turning challenging discussions into engaging, uplifting experiences. Her belief? Knowledge is the key to making confident, fulfilling choices that celebrate life and ensure legacies are honoured.
Casburt Jeffrey, DJ Jeff
With five decades of stage experience under his belt, Casburt Jeffrey- DJ Jeff is a true master of his craft. He lives to perform and play music, combining a lifelong passion for performing with an infectious sense of humor that guarantees a laugh. Specializing in the timeless music we all grew up loving; DJ Jeff doesn't just play songs—he brings our favorite memories back to life.
Jill Aitken, PhD
Jill Aitken is the founder of forBetterMinds, a Toronto-based practice dedicated to promoting brain health and enriching the lives of older adults through Cognitive Stimulation Therapy (CST). She holds a PhD from the University of Cambridge and brings both academic expertise and practical experience to her work.
Before founding forBetterMinds, Jill owned and operated a senior home health care business in Toronto for nine years, supporting older adults and their families, particularly those navigating the challenges of dementia.
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Through her work, Jill is passionate about helping caregivers understand that meaningful cognitive stimulation doesn't need to be complicated. Small, everyday moments of conversation, connection and engagement can make a meaningful difference to a person's quality of life. She is committed to making practical, evidence-informed approaches to brain health and meaningful engagement accessible to both professional and family caregivers.
Gail Elliot
Gail Elliot is an internationally recognized leader in dementia care, dedicated to changing the face of dementia through education, advocacy and evidence-based best practices.
After retiring from McMaster University in 2012, Gail founded DementiAbility Enterprises Inc. to bring multidisciplinary research into everyday practice across the continuum of care.
An author, educator, and passionate advocate, Gail works with organizations and care partners worldwide to transform dementia care through person-centred approaches that promote dignity, ...
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independence, meaning, purpose, choice, connection and enhanced well-being. Gail inspires and empowers care partners to see beyond dementia with the goal of helping each person reach their highest potential.
Sharon Jones, RMT
Sharon is a Registered Message Therapist working at Yonge Norton Chiropractic Centre in North York, Parkside Physiotherapy in Mississauga and mobile throughout the GTA, which means she travels to her clients who may not find the time or have the capacity to come to the clinic. Sharon studied at Sutherland Chan School of Massage Therapy and gained practical experience at The Canadian College of Massage and Hydrotherapy (CCMH). Outside of work, she loves to travel and so encourages others to find what it is that helps them feel free and incorporate balance into their routine.
Andrea Ubell
Andrea Ubell is the Director, Programs and Client Services at the Alzheimer Society of York Region, where she is responsible for the supervision of the Caregiver Support & Education program and the DAY Centre programs.
With her background in clinical social work, Andrea has been supporting families and individuals living with Alzheimer’s disease and other dementias in York Region since 1992 through supportive counselling, support group facilitation and education groups.
Andrea has worked closely with the families to help them navigate through the disease process by advocating for services, linking to resources ...
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and assessing for respite DAY program services. Her passion and commitment to easing the burden of Alzheimer's disease for those affected have earned her several awards. Andrea has a Master's degree in Social Work from Wilfred Laurier University, a Bachelor of Arts degree from Carlton University and post-graduate certificates in gerontology and human services management.
Karen Myers Barnett, PhD
A social services and community development worker with over 30 years of experience, she has dedicated her career to supporting at-risk communities and individuals through a strength-based, anti-oppression lens. As part of the sandwich generation, she raised four children while also serving as co-in-home caregiver, alongside her father, for her mother who has lived with early-onset frontotemporal dementia (FTD) for more than 18 years and counting.
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She has served two terms as a member of the Canadian Consortium on Neurodegeneration in Aging (CCNA) Engagement of People with Lived Experience of Dementia (EPLED) and two terms with the CCNA IDEA Committee, which ensures that inclusion, diversity, equity, and accessibility (IDEA) best practices are embedded across CCNA research activities. As a Black woman of St. Lucian descent, she is committed to amplifying the voices and experiences of other ethno-racial groups within research and advocacy spaces. Her contributions include participating in research programs, co-designing studies and proposals, and advancing knowledge mobilization efforts. Most recently, she took part in two AAIC25 ISTAART Immersives and presented at Sex & Gender Hub workshops, where she shared her lived expertise to strengthen dementia research and community engagement. She is currently an advisory member of Caring Minds, a research program focusing on Chinese, Black and South Asian communities in Canada. As a Black woman, I am happy to answer any questions from care partners and those living with dementia who may be interested in learning more or participating as we are actively recruiting.
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