Workshop leaders
Russ Kueber - Building effective Networks
Russ has a master’s degree in Continuing Education from the University of Calgary specializing in
leadership and organizational development. He currently supports the development of a provincial
health and social services network for the Community Health and Social Service Network (CHSSN)
and offers consultative support in the creation and evolution of 18 other regional networks
throughout the province of Quebec. His workshop will look at the lessons learned of building 18
regional health and social services networks and one provincial network. A model will be presented
- The steps to network development. In addition, an interactive activity will stimulate discussion on
some basic principles and advantages of building a network.
Sharon Leslie - Making a Difference: How to make your voice heard!
Sharon is an adult educator with over 30 years of training and development experience with
organizations. She currently teaches in the Applied Human Sciences Department at Concordia
University and works as an independent consultant in the public and non-profit sectors. Passionate
about empowering others to bring about social change, she draws on her community background
and her years as a Montreal City Councillor in coaching others to be more effective in influencing
issues that concern them. In addition to her professional activities, she has a long history as a
volunteer and activist. Participating in Sharon’s interactive “hands on” workshop will enable to you
discover ways of translating your concerns about issues for English-speaking seniors into actions
that can influence decisions. Through a variety of activities, you will explore skills and strategies that
will help you to be better prepared to act effectively on what is important to you and others in your
community.
Sabrina McFadden – Strategic Visioning: How to translate Vision into Action
Sabrina is a coordinator for the Center for Community Organizations (COCo's) with a focus on
human resources and she brings a wealth of experience in process consultation, facilitation, training
and movement building. Sabrina has been working, collaborating and volunteering with various
community organizations for nine years, including La Table de concertation Solidarité Mercier-Est,
Oxfam (West Africa), Katimavik, Concertation Ville Émard/Côte St-Paul, Café Coop Touski, and
L'Arche Montréal. Sabrina completed her Bachelor's degree in Administration with a Major in Art
History/Fine Arts and a Minor in Human Resources in 2001 at Concordia. In 2005, she joined the
cohort of the Human System Intervention (HSI) Master's program at Concordia. Sabrina’s workshop
will provide participants with the opportunity to explore user-friendly theoretical models, key
success factors for implementation, and notions such as shared values, structure and leadership,
engagement and impact. Come and join to get a better sense on how to turn dream project into
reality.
Lunch speaker
Constance Middleton-Hope
Until last year Constance was a member of the Board of Directors of Centraide of Greater Montreal
where she was a director, a member of the Executive Committee and a member of the recruiting
committee (volunteers for the allocations committees). As a volunteer, she was president of the
Business and Professional Women’s Club of Montreal; national president of the Canadian
Citizenship Federation; and president of La Fédération des Femmes du Québec. She is also past
president of La Passerelle and is president of the Foundation for the Ville Marie Oncology Centre.
Mrs. Middleton-Hope is also a member of the administration and finances committee of the
Anglican Diocese of Montréal and was the founding president of Auberge Madeleine. Among her
other honours, she has an honorary doctorate from the Montreal Diocesan College of McGill
University and is a member of the board of governors of the college. She was named Citizen of the
Year by the Montreal Citizenship Council, is a Fellow of the Canadian College of Teachers and a lifemember of the Canadian Education Association. Mrs. Middleton-Hope has worked as a journalist,
publicist, history teacher and school administrator before becoming vice-chair of Quebec’s Superior
Council of Education in 1974. From 1979 to 1988, she was assistant director general of the Montreal
Island School Council. On retiring from education she was appointed director of Development &
Social Action for the Anglican Diocese of Montreal. Constance was also President of Alliance Quebec
and if that wasn’t enough she is an avid traveller who attended Elder Hostel for many years.
Facilitators
Lance Evoy
Having worked for most of his life as a community organizer, peace activist and adult educator in
the community sector, Lance Evoy recently retired from Concordia University’s School of Extended
Learning where he spent more than 18 years as director of the Institute for Community
Development. Over his tenure at Concordia, and his 40-plus years as an activist, Lance worked to
foster collaboration and understanding between and within both the university and the broader
community sector. His leadership and vision were put to work in the creation of the Summer
Program in Community Development which, over its 15 years, brought upwards of 12,000 citizens,
community workers and activists from around the world to the Loyola Campus for an annual week
of training and reflection. Lance was also a driving force in bringing to Concordia renowned thinkers
and community activists, resulting in the creation of a number of community-based initiatives and
programs such as the popular University of the Streets Café. He continues to pursue his interest in
photography. Lance will facilitate Saturday morning’s skill share session where seniors, caregivers
and organizations serving seniors will share best practices and skills related to advocating for
seniors, network building, and strategic planning.
Lise Palmer
Lise specializes in designing and implementing social processes for communities and not-for-profit
organizations. She has designed and delivered consultations, workshops, forums, and other events
on small and large scales in British Columbia, Ontario, and all corners of Quebec. Interested in
contributing toward vibrant and sustainable organizations, she founded Lise Palmer Consulting in
2009 and has since had the pleasure of leading a small team through diverse consultation contracts.
From priority-setting in Timiskaming's community health sector, to strategic planning on the Lower
North Shore, to team-building in Ottawa, Lise uses her participative principles to generate exciting
and sustainable forward momentum. She holds an MA in Human Systems Intervention, which
focuses on group development and organizational effectiveness. She is a member of the Academy
of Management and is a board member of L’Abri en Ville in Montreal. She also volunteers as a
facilitator with University of the Streets Cafe and is an annual sponsor of 350.org New Zealand.
Ruth Pelletier, QCGN Seniors Project Manager
Ruth has had a varied professional career which began some years ago working in geriatrics at the
Douglas Hospital. She spent the early part of her career working as a broadcaster at CJAD, CFCF and
CBC Home Run as well as a consumer advocate. She then spent 12 years at Alliance Quebec first as
a community development officer traveling throughout the province and then as Executive Director.
After that Ruth became the Executive Director of the Canadian Continence Foundation and more
recently she has been involved in planning events such as awards ceremonies, conventions and
project management. Currently she works part-time with the Queen Elizabeth Health Complex Community Services and last month in September she joined QCGN as the part-time Manager of
our senior’s project. Throughout the years Ruth has volunteered on several boards including Family
Services Association and the women’s shelter, Chez Doris. She was President of the Laval Citizen’s
Advisory Council and a founding member of the Greater Montreal Anti- Poverty Coordinating
Committee. Rights have always been a concern for Ruth and her continued interest is with women,
seniors and all matters related to poverty and health care. She currently serves on the board of the
NDG Community Council on Elder Abuse.