Alex Handyside

Handyside, the Founder, President and CEO of ScotiaCare Homecare & Caregivers Inc. of Dartmouth, N.S., was among some of the first Senior care providers in Canada. A chance conversation with a veteran brought attention to the fact there were no homecare agencies serving the eastern shore of Nova Scotia. Alex investigated, saw the appalling lack of accessible services, and filled the huge gap in the needs of the Senior population with the creation of ScotiaCare Home Care Services -- charged with providing companionship and non-medical in-home care to Seniors, veterans, and the disabled.

A non-stop crusader for Senior wellness, he personally took a course in fall prevention and now gives back to the community by giving free workshops to Seniors groups. His work and impact on the community led to his invitation to join the board of Caregivers Nova Scotia – a provincial non-profit group dedicated to providing recognition and practical support to friends and family who give care to Seniors and the disabled. A recipient of the Better Business Bureau’s Award for Ethical Service, Alex also started “Serving Seniors Alliance,” a place Seniors and their families can go to find professionals they can trust to assist them in a variety of areas of concern.

Accepting the Award, Mr. Handyside said, "I was thrilled to be told that I was to be recognized with an Award of Excellence for my efforts to help the Seniors of Nova Scotia. They really do deserve more than they get, and if I can help in any way, the credit's theirs, not mine."

“My CSA designation is more than a qualification to me, it's more like a valuable credential. It doesn't just make me more credible, but it also bestows credibility on the company I represent."

Rick Hoogendoorn

After earning his CSA certification, Rick founded the Senior Focused Business Network. He set up a website, www.seniorsvictoria.com where Seniors could go not only to get information but to contribute suggestions. Concurrently, Rick participated in and took a leadership role in the Elder Friendly City Project, designed to solicit suggestions from seniors in the community on how businesses and professionals could make their services more “senior friendly.” Rick then spear-headed a special evening workshop for more than 100 local business people to learn how to incorporate this feedback and additional information to make their businesses more age appropriate.

Rick’s nominators, CSA Cheri Crause and Senior Living Magazine Publishers, Barbara and Barry Risto say it best. “Rick demonstrates the initiative, care and concern for seniors a CSA is meant to embody…he is a role model for all those interested in serving the Senior community.”

Accepting the Award, Mr. Hoogendoorn said, “I am thrilled to have been selected. The Canadian Academy of Senior Advisors is not only helping professionals better understand the needs and concerns of Seniors in our community, but also helps us understand those in our own families, while forcing us to face the issues we personally face in the future. I will continue to enthusiastically champion the health and wellbeing of Canada’s Senior citizens, and seek to live up to the spirit of this Award.”

Pat Murphy

Patrick Murphy, CSA was among the first estate lawyers in Ottawa who saw changes in the legal and estate planning needs of the Senior population. In the last 10 years of his esteemed 40-year career, he has focused on assisting Seniors and their families with a uniquely personalized approach to estate planning. Pat established an Estate Planning Academy for over 70 Ottawa lawyers, has chaired Ottawa’s “Make a Will Month” program and has presented his tax savings inspired strategies to a myriad of local and national organizations ranging from Algonquin college students to professional members of Advocis.

Murphy recognized CASA as a means by which he could expand his elder law practice by offering advice to Canada’s maturing population. According to Murphy, “Matters of money and planning can be an incredibly stressful exercise for most people. It’s vitally important for each client to have their individual concerns addressed, and understand the planning process provides great peace of mind once complete.”

More recently Murphy has made a significant impact in the area of elder abuse through his volunteer work with the Council on Aging of Ottawa. His work as a member of their Elder Abuse Consultation Team has helped improve the lives of many Seniors suffering from various forms of elder abuse. He was elected to the Council’s Board of Directors in June of 2005.

Accepting the Award, Mr. Murphy said, “The impact of my having been recognized by the Canadian Academy of Senior Advisors for my decades of service to Seniors didn’t hit home until I met dozens of superior professional and business persons who could have shared that Award for their dedication to providing better services for Seniors. I’m acutely aware of how much my CASA training has enhanced my ability to help Seniors professionally and as a volunteer, and for that I am proud and honoured to have been selected.”

BMO Financial Group

BMO was one of the first major Canadian financial institutions to recognize the changing population, and developed a series of programs and services specifically designed for Canada’s maturing population. BMO knew that by 2016 there would be more Canadians over the age of 65 than children under the age of 14, and that to continue providing quality services for its customer base it had to adapt. The programs it created became a ‘gold standard’ within the financial community.

Accepting the award on behalf of BMO was Tina Di Vito, CSA, Director of Retirement Solutions, BMO Financial Group. According to Ms. DiVito, “BMO Financial Group is proud to be recognized for our commitment to educating our employees about the new realities of retirement and equipping them with an increased awareness of the issues faced by an aging population.

“As more and more Canadians face this next phase of their lives, BMO wants to be the “go to destination” for families navigating the new realities of retirement. We want them to know that BMO gets it – we understand their concerns, we ask the right questions and we provide solutions that go beyond the standard retirement offering.

“Together with CASA, we have created a unique learning experience that helps our Advisors build stronger relationships, and address the emotional needs and evolving life objectives of our boomer and senior customers.”

Senior Living Magazine

Publishers Barbara and Barry Risto, CSA have in-depth experience serving Seniors and the disabled, and elder care and advocacy for the disabled have become a hallmark of their lives. The magazine was launched to fill a void in quality publications serving the Canadian Senior and near Seniors community. Senior Living immediately filled that gap and began the process of changing the way people viewed Seniors and the issues centered around aging.

The editorial direction of the magazine was brilliant in its simplicity: ‘design a magazine to highlight the positive lives and achievements of people over the age of 50.’ A readership that has grown from 10,000 to over 60,000 in three years is proof that Senior Living had hit its mark.

Alan Singleton-Wood, a formidable Canadian magazine and newspaper publisher, had this to say about Senior Living, “In my many years in newspaper and magazine publishing I have not seen a better example of how to create and build a publication that is truly meeting the needs of its marketplace.”

Accepting the Award, Mr. Risto said, "We had a dream of creating a magazine that would address the positive things about aging. We wanted a magazine that addressed both problems and solutions, and we wanted community involvement. We believe we are on the right track toward making our dream a reality for all Canadians facing age-related issues. We are proud and honoured to have been selected for this Award, and look to the future toward making certain every Canadian Senior has access to a monthly copy.”

Signature Care

Founders Susan Bessant, CSA, and John Ashby, CSA , share a mutual devotion toward ensuring the highest ethical standards of care for Seniors…standards embodied in their vision of a world in which Senior citizens can age gracefully, socialize frequently and live confidently, a vision realized through Signature Care in the home care they provide for loved ones from Calgary and surrounding areas. Their dedication to ethical service was recognized publicly when Signature Care won the Better Business Award for Ethical Service for Southern Alberta.

Both honourees embrace progressive practices through the Cognitive Retention Therapy (CRT) program, for persons experiencing the affects of age-related memory challenges, early through mid-stage Alzheimer’s disease, and brain injury caused by trauma or stroke.

With its trained and caring staff, both Bessant and Ashby share the feelings of an employee who wrote to nominate them for this Award, saying, “I like a job where I can make a difference in a person’s day. Signature Care’s philosophy is that clients are always treated like kings and queens. I am happy to provide a loving atmosphere of comfort and security to each family, knowing their loved one is well cared for.”

Accepting the Award, Ms. Bessant said, "We are proud and honoured to have been selected. For us, it’s a matter of trust. We are given the responsibility to assist those who cannot help themselves, while providing them the dignity they so richly deserve. That’s our overarching goal.” Echoing Bessant, Mr. Ashby said, “The Senior community, especially those with cognitive impairment, is a continual challenge for us. Because of the many types of personal care required, our daily goal is to exceed the needs of those for whom we provide care and daily services. Each day we learn from those we serve and we gladly share this wonderful Award with all whose lives touched ours.”