Moving Forward

Since the launch of STRIDE magazine, Canada’s long term care magazine, in October 1999, we have been pleased with the progress of our journal and the discussions that it has engendered across the country on many significant program, research and directional issues that impact the form and substance of our care of seniors.

Over the past year, we have entered into many dialogues within our organization and with our readers, authors and advertisers, appreciating that one can never stand still, or become satisfied with what one has achieved, but rather must move forward with a sense of direction.

Our emphasis has been and will continue to be - how best to serve caregivers at all levels across Canada, to ensure that they have access to the best information and strategic thinking as it is being developed.

Secondarily, we have given a great deal of thought as to how best to serve STRIDE itself. Recognizing the need to evolve as a publishing organization, we have begun discussions with several companies that will see STRIDE grow over the next few years in both scope and size through a number of carefully planned mergers and alliances. Additionally, we have made application to move STRIDE in the direction of becoming a reviewed journal.

To ensure that we proceed along this path prudently and with a clear perspective, we have made the decision to form an Advisory Board, one that both complements and transcends the industry, and brings broad perspectives from management, program directors, researchers and publishers. This group of talented people will work with the Publisher to break new ground over the next year or two, and effect changes that will bring more information to our readers and value to our very supportive advertisers.

The Advisory Board will not concern itself solely with editorial content, but also with the growth of the business and matters of governance. We are delighted to have assembled such a pan-Canadian group, with representatives from across so many spectrums and regions. We are pleased to announce, following in alphabetical order, the appointed directors of the Board, with further appointments to be announced in a future issue.

We invite our readers and stakeholders to contact any of the directors to make comment and be assured that your suggestions are valuable and will be given full consideration.

Again, we thank you for your continuing support and look forward to serving you for many years to come.

Eric Barlow

Eric Barlow is the President of #1 Productions in Oakville, Ontario. Incorporated in 1983 the company has been involved in the package goods business, marketing and sales in the lottery industry. Since 1983 the primary focus has been publishing and advertising sales. Publishing includes playbills for such musicals as Cats and Tommy and involvement in publishing a Yearbook for the NHL since 1989. The office is located in Oakville, Ontario and Eric can be reached at 905-845-5814.

Lloyd Dove

Lloyd, Chairman, STRIDE Advisory Board, is the President and COO of FCS International and the Publisher of STRIDE. Prior to joining FCS and STRIDE, Lloyd was the Chief Operating Officer of Academy of Learning Centres, Vice President and General Manager of two national divisions within Scott’s Hospitality Inc., and currently sits on three boards. Lloyd can be contacted at 905-985-6811, extension 15 or ldove@stridemagazine.com.

Charlene Chipeur

Charlene is a Program Consultant of the Community Care Branch of Saskatchewan Health in Regina. She is the Program Manager for the Minimum Data Set (MDS) responsible for the implementation of MDS 2.0 in provincial long-term care facilities. Saskatchewan is recognized as the national leader for the clinical and technical implementation of MDS 2.0 and is used as a resource by other provinces implementing MDS. Charlene is presently developing a provincial implementation strategy for MDSHome Care in community care and working collaboratively to ensure an integrated process between long-term care and community care systems. She has several years experience in providing assessment, case management and support services in various human service areas including home care, social services, mental health, and community-based organizations. Charlene has also provided instruction in the areas of early childhood, human services, and home care/special care aide programs. Charlene has a Bachelor of Social Work and was previously employed as a psychiatric nurse in psychiatric in-patient facilities. She can be reached at 306-787-1717.

John Hirdes

John P. Hirdes, Ph.D., is an Associate Professor in the Department of Health Studies and Gerontology, University of Waterloo with cross appointments to the Department of Medicine, University of Toronto and Gerontological Studies, McMaster University. He is the Scientific Director of the Homewood Research Institute and a Fellow and Board Member of interRAI. He is the author of over 60 scientific publications. He played a major role in the development of RAI instruments for home care and acute care, and he led the development of the RAI-Mental Health (RAI-MH). He is the lead investigator developing quality indicators for home care and mental health, as well as the new case mix system for psychiatry based on the RAI-MH. He serves as a technical expert on the Center for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS; formerly HCFA) “Mega-QI” project, which is developing new MDS 2.0-based quality indicators for long term, chronic and post-acute care. He also holds an Investigator Award from the Canadian Institutes for Health Research (CIHR) for his work on health informatics and aging societies. John can be reached at 519-888-4567, ext. 2007.

Soo Ching Kikuta

Soo Ching, RN, BScN, is the Vice President, Patient Services at The Toronto Grace Health Centre in Toronto, Ontario. For the past 15 years she has held a variety of senior positions in education, management and consulting. Soo Ching has both private and public sector experience in the field of long term care and complex continuing care hospitals. She serves on a number of influential review panels and government advisory committees. Soo Ching can be reached at 416-925-2251, ext. 219.

Morley Lymburner

After completing a 25-year career as a police officer, and ending his career in the Traffic Strategic Planning branch, Morley became a journalist and is presently the owner/publisher of a national magazine that targets the law enforcement community in Canada. He has been the past secretary, treasurer and president of the Periodical Publishers Exchange, a group of 23 Trade magazine publishers representing over 80 magazines. Having an interest in senior housing and nursing care he joined the Board of Directors for the Stouffville-based Parkview Services for Seniors. Morley served nine years with this Board in various capacities including Secretary, Vice Chair and finally Chair to the Board of Directors for his last two years. During his term of office he headed the nursing home's accreditation process committee as well as the bylaw review committee. Morley can be reached at 905-640-3048.

Dennis Savoie

Dennis Savoie, a graduate from l’Université de Moncton, was appointed Executive Director of the New Brunswick Association of Nursing Homes in June 2000. The Association provides to its members support services in Labour Relations and Education/Training. The Association advocates on behalf of its members on a variety of issues. There are 61 nursing homes in New Brunswick, all members of the Association. Dennis can be contacted at 506-460-6253.

Norma-Jean Sittler

Norma-Jean obtained her business degree from Ryerson University. Ms. Sittler has had numerous positions in the nursing home industry over the past 16 years; her most recent appointment was as Vice-President, Human Resources for Central Park Lodges. Prior to that she was Vice-President, Human Resources for Versa-Care Limited, both firms highly regarded nursing home chains in Canada. Ms. Sittler has also been involved in the human resource management of nursing homes in the United States as well.

Under her scope of responsibility were labor relations, in excess of 100 collective bargaining agreements, occupational health and safety, communications, benefits, training and development as well as personnel management.

Ms. Sittler has held numerous financial and operational roles in the healthcare sector prior to specializing in human resource management. She currently is an independent consultant specializing in human resource matters. Norma-Jean can be reached at 519- 654-2850.