BCCPA and EngAge BC celebrate the ‘coming together’ of the seniors living, wellness and care sector at the 47th Annual Conference in Whistler, B.C.

Last week, BC Care Providers Association and EngAge BC celebrated the ‘coming together’ of the seniors living, wellness, and care sector for its 47^th Annual Conference in Whistler, B.C. The event saw a record-breaking attendance of over 600 attendees from across the sector, joining the Association as it welcomed its union with the BC Seniors Living Association.

Returning to the stunning Fairmont Chateau Whistler, the sold-out conference provided attendees with a wide range of informative sessions and engaging networking events, set against the breathtaking backdrop of Whistler’s Blackcomb Mountain.

Savaria was back as the conference title sponsors for the ninth year in a row. The Association extends immense gratitude to our delegates, sponsors, exhibitors, and speakers for their support in once again making our annual conference the premier seniors living, wellness and care event in Western Canada.

Conference Highlights

On Sunday, many participants enjoyed the highly anticipated Tom Frame Memorial Golf Tournament sponsored by MIP at the Fairmont Chateau Whistler Golf Club, while others explored the local eclectic culinary scene as they embarked on the Whistler Tasting Tour sponsored by Maxwell Management. That evening, delegates gathered at the beautiful Woodlands Terrace for our Sunday Welcome Reception sponsored by Gordon Food Service with welcome bubbles sponsored by Marsh.

At the conference opening, BC Care Providers Association (BCCPA) and EngAge BC President Ron Pike welcomed delegates and the Association’s union with the BC Seniors Living Association. He also introduced a special message from Premier David Eby, who expressed his gratitude for those working to support B.C. seniors and also highlighted the importance of aging with dignity.

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BCCPA and EngAge BC CEO Terry Lake also provided remarks and introduced a video greeting from B.C. Minister of Health Hon. Adrian Dix, who announced an additional $6 million funding for EquipCare BC’s Supplemental Climate Action. New B.C. Seniors Advocate Dan Levitt addressed the audience, discussing rethinking ageing, innovation in seniors living, and future of seniors living.

Throughout the conference, delegates had the opportunity to hear from a diverse range of engaging speakers, from the opening keynote by Derek Burleton, Vice President and Deputy Chief Economist TD Bank Group to the closing keynote by Gavin Crawford, Canadian comedian, actor, and host of CBC podcast Let’s Not be Kidding. Our plenary session brought together Amir Hemani (CEO of Berwick Retirement Communities), Brad Bushby (VP Sales Marketing & Technology at Schlegel Villages and Director at LORCA), Phil Vlach (Founder of AgeTech Labs and Head of Technology at Schlegel Villages s) and Sara Aghvami (Director at Best Buy Health) for a panel dedicated to the pivotal role of technology in enhancing elder care operations.

Safety Den, SafeCare BC’s Dragons’ Den-inspired event, attracted a full room of delegates eager to see many new innovative ideas showcased by finalists competing for the grand prize of $2,000 in the healthcare category and the prestigious Safety Innovation of the year Award in the commercial category.

Congratulations to the following winners:

Healthcare Category

• 1^st place: Louis Brier Home and Hospital
• 2^nd place: Eden Gardens
• 3^rd place: Broadway Lodge

Commercial Category

• Winner: Savaria Patient Care
• Runner up: HME Home Health
• Runner up: Room 217

The conference also featured a variety of concurrent sessions on pressing topics such as emergency preparedness, transforming seniors living to support active aging, the seniors housing market, and aging in place. You can view the conference program and view speaker bios here: https://site.pheedloop.com/event/bccpa2024/home.

On Monday evening, delegates wore their best après-ski attire for an unforgettable dinner and dance sponsored by Haddon, with music from Whistler’s best bar band, the Hairfarmers.

The conference concluded with event winners announced, celebrating the efforts of attendees. For gamification, Terra Munro took home the grand prize and Scott Nichol was announced as runner-up, while Camilla Nunes, Lorrie Gerrard and Heather Dyck received honourable mentions. Best Booth winner was awarded to Guldmann, with Complete Purchasing Systems and WestCana | ProVita earning honourable mentions as well.

After yet another successful conference, BCCPA and EngAge BC look forward to returning to Victoria, B.C. for an even more outstanding conference next year! Share your thoughts here to help us strengthen our delegate experience for #BCCPA2025.

Photo Albums

Download photos from the 47^th Annual Conference:

• Tom Frame Memorial Golf Tournament
• Welcome Reception
• Sessions and Venue
• Tradeshow
• Safety Den
• Apres-Ski Reception, Dinner + Dance
• Photo Booth photos

Session Slideshows