ILTCCABC Inspires Community at the 2026 North Shore Seniors’ Health Expo
On June 19, 2026, the Independent Long-Term Care Councils Association of BC (ILTCCABC) was honoured to present at the North Shore Seniors’ Health Expo in West Vancouver, one of British Columbia’s premier community events dedicated to healthy aging, caregiving, and senior well-being. The annual Expo welcomed hundreds of seniors, family members, caregivers, and community organizations for a full day of education, networking, and the discovery of valuable resources available throughout the region.
Representing ILTCCABC were Lisa Dawson, President of ILTCCABC, and Barb Kirby, Advisor to the Vancouver Coastal Association of Family Councils (VCAFC). Together they delivered an engaging presentation entitled:
“Partnering with Family Councils: A Proven Path to Better Outcomes in Long-Term Care.”
The presentation highlighted an important message: the voices of residents and families matter. Through Resident and Family Councils, families are able to work collaboratively with care home leadership to strengthen relationships, solve problems together, and advocate for improvements that directly enhance residents’ quality of life.
Using practical examples from long-term care homes across British Columbia, Lisa and Barb demonstrated how Family Councils help:
- Build stronger partnerships between families and care teams.
- Transform concerns into collaborative solutions.
- Reduce isolation by creating peer support networks.
- Improve communication and education within care homes.
- Elevate local issues into meaningful regional and provincial advocacy.
A key message shared throughout the session was that advocacy is most effective when it is collective. Individual experiences become opportunities for system-wide improvement when families come together through councils and work alongside care home leadership with a shared goal of enhancing residents’ quality of life.
ILTCCABC was also pleased to participate alongside an impressive range of community organizations and service providers. The Expo featured more than 50 exhibitors, researchers, health professionals, and community agencies offering information on healthy aging, caregiving, wellness, housing, financial planning, recreation, and community support.
Vancouver Coastal Association of Family Councils (VCAFC), a member of ILTCCABC, supported a busy booth catching the attention of many Expo Goers. Robyn McCorquodale, Chair of VCAFC and Vice President of ILTCCABC, shared generously, information about long-term care and our work to connect, communicate and collaborate on what matters in long-term care.
We extend our sincere thanks to the organizers of the North Shore Seniors’ Health Expo for creating another outstanding opportunity to connect seniors, caregivers, and community partners while promoting informed decision-making and healthy aging.
Presentation Slides
The complete presentation, “Partnering with Family Councils: A Proven Path to Better Outcomes in Long-Term Care,” is available here:
