Robyn McCorquodale has post-secondary education in communications, marketing, and broadcast journalism, and a University Degree in Music. Her career began in corporate communications before she embarked on an international performance career. Her music provided an opportunity to grow, not only as an artist and performer, but also as a communications specialist with skills in project planning, marketing, public and media relations.

In 2015, recognizing a decline in her parents’ health, Robyn shifted her work from international performance to take on a local career as Executive Director of the Vancouver and District Dental Society. Her role in this “one-woman office” further expanded her skills to manage the membership, administration, conferences, travel events, sponsorship and marketing – skills and experience she aims to apply to her advocacy work, championing for residents in care.

Janice DesJardins is one of the founding Directors of the Vancouver Coastal Association of Family Councils (VCAFC), and at the provincial level, continues to serve as one of the original representatives of the  Independent Long-Term Care Councils Association of BC (ILTCCABC).
Janice has years of lived experience, advocating for her Mom, with a deep desire to make a difference for families and residents experiencing life in Long Term Care.
After the restrictions of COVID ended, Janice spearheaded the establishment of an independent Hilltop House Family Council in Squamish, BC. She also gives her time and passion, serving as a Vice Chair of the Vancouver Coastal Health RRFCN, and participates in many other research projects and seniorsʼ’ advocacy groups and meetings.
Janice is committed to a future of ‘reform’ in Long Term Care, advocating for “Quality of Life and Person-Centred Care” for all residents.

Lisa Dawson, inspired by her personal experience with her father in long-term care, Lisa is a dedicated volunteer to the continuous quality improvement of resident experience in long-term care (LTC). Providing all residents with a voice, elevated through resident and/or family councils, Lisa strives to ensure the growth and sustainability of councils in every LTC home throughout BC.

Building relationships in long-term care is essential for effective Family Councils. With the communication tools that ILTCCABC shares with families, conversations can focus on their common ground: the residents. Family Councils contribute to the recognition of what is working well, and with over 15 years in hospitality management and over 25 years in the legal industry as a Firm Administrator, Lisa has shifted her energies and skills into the Long-Term Care (LTC) space, specifically, the advocacy for quality of life and quality of care of its residents.

• VCH RRFCN Representative;
• Vice President of Asian Canadian Writers Workshop (ACWW) – Affiliate Member – GARP (Global Association of Risk Management
  Professionals);
• Ambassador – Model Systems Translation Knowledge Center (MSKTC) Connects American and Canadian Stakeholders for Traumatic Brain Injuries (TBI);
• Contributor – BC Provincial Suicide Risk Reduction Framework;
• BC Suicide Prevention Care Team
• BC Patient Safety & Quality Council;
• Alzheimer Society Chinese Advisory Committee;
• Seniors First Member (SAIL – Seniors Abuse Information Line). In 2023, the Alzheimer Society of B.C. acknowledged Eric and his Mother as Honorees for the Richmond IG Walk for Alzheimer’s.

Barbara Kirby knows firsthand the challenges and rewards of serving as an advocate for those needing a voice in our service systems. With 15 years of navigating the health care system on behalf of her parents, Barbara came face to face with the complexity, richness, gaps and sometimes confusion within our health and service systems, and the resulting impact this has on caregivers and care receivers. This experience inspired Barbara to leave her successful long-term career as an investment advisor in order to share her direct knowledge and skills and to offer her private services as a senior advocate. With in-depth knowledge and extensive history in the Long-Term Care sector, as both caregiver and advocate, we are grateful for Barb’s passion and lived experience, and for her volunteer support of VCAFC.