Created by Diana Reyers

Daring to Share

Advocacy

Featuring Community Experts & Advocates for Elder Care

DARING TO SHARE Advocate For Change

Daring to Share Elder Care

Our Leading
Sponsor

Diana Reyers

Diana Reyers, Founder, Daring to Share™ Global

Passionate Advocate for Social Justice

Authenticity Coach & Bestselling Author

Creator of The Legacy Project—How Do You Want to Be Remembered

THE INVITATION

Starting September 15, 2026, Diana Reyers and her advocacy team are launching monthly gatherings focused on education, advocacy, and actionable support across the full spectrum of elder care. Covering everything from home and private care to independent living, assisted living, and long-term care, these sessions are designed to help families clarify their options and navigate the system with confidence.

These gatherings bring together community members, elected officials, and leaders across the healthcare, non-profit, and education sectors. Each event offers practical insights, expert guidance, and a supportive space to share lived experiences, address key questions, and advocate for meaningful change.

Whether you are planning ahead, currently caring for an aging loved one, or working through your own future care needs, this series equips you with the tools and knowledge to take charge. This is more than conversation—it is about turning understanding into real empowerment for you and those you love.

LISTEN.

Hear real experiences and perspectives that matter.

LEARN.

Understand the spectrum of elder care options and how to navigate them.

CONNECT.

Build relationships with community members, advocates, professionals, and leaders.

ADVOCATE.

Use your knowledge and your voice to make informed decisions and help influence positive change.

Because planning for elder care isn't just about where we are today—it's about preparing for where we may be tomorrow.

OFFICIAL HOST & MASTER OF CEREMONIES

Bill Welychka

Bill Welychka is a familiar and trusted voice to audiences across Canada, known for his warmth, quick wit, and genuine ability to connect with people.

With decades of experience in broadcasting and live events, Bill brings energy, professionalism, and heart to every stage he steps onto.

As emcee and host of Daring to Share: Long-Term Care Advocacy, Bill will help guide an important conversation about the future of long-term care — creating space for stories to be heard, voices to be amplified, and meaningful change to take shape.

For Bill, hosting is about more than keeping an event moving. It’s about bringing people together, asking thoughtful questions, and helping shine a light on the people and issues that matter most.

Bill Welychka

Emcee & Host | Broadcaster | Community Advocate

DARING TO SHARE Strategic Event Partner

Sheri Carter-Godfrey

Sheri Carter-Godfrey is the founder of Senior Transitions, a service dedicated to helping seniors and their families navigate life’s transitions with greater ease, dignity and grace.

With a focus on downsizing, real estate, end-of-life support, and community building, Sheri helps families prepare not only their homes, but also their hearts, for what comes next. From decluttering and staging to listing and selling, she helps take the stress out of significant life transitions while creating thoughtful, practical solutions for seniors and the people who love them.

Sheri brings a compassionate, community-focused perspective to the Daring to Share Long-Term Care Advocacy Series, helping create meaningful conversations around aging, caregiving, transition, and the experiences families encounter along the way.

Her philosophy is simple: create ease and grace for the ones you love.

Sheri Carter-Godfrey

Realtor and Founder of Senior Tansitions

Attend Advocacy Events—

Become Educated

Monthly, beginning September 15, 2026

Our Leading Engagement Sponsor

Sept 15: Where and How Do I Start—Navigating Your Options

Welcome: Mayoral Candidate, Conny Glenn

Founder's Address: Diana Reyers, including a message from Premier Doug Ford

Keynote Speaker: Sheri Carter-Godfrey, Senior Transition Specialist

Storyteller: Diana Reyers

Care Partner Panel: Diana In Conversation With...

Maureen Rooney, Sheri Carter-Godfrey, Donna Fitzgerald

Oct 20: Your Rights—From Written Rights to Lived Experience.

Did you miss the first Forum? NP—bring a donation to the Food Bank to this Forum and receive Sheri's resource book to catch you up!!

Founder's Address: Diana Reyers

Keynote Speaker:

April Jones, Resident & Family Experience Coordinator, LTC

Storyteller: Diana Reyers

Care Partner Panel: Diana In Conversation With...

Leanne Shortt & Sheri Godfrey

Nov 17: Staffing—Strengthening the Workforce. Improving Care.

Founder's Address: Diana Reyers

Keynote Speakers:

Jessica Wilson, Exec. Director, Retirement Home &

Joanna Gilbert, RN, Director of Care, Retirement Home

Storyteller: Maureen Rooney, RN

Care Partner Panel: Diana In Conversation With...

Josie Viquiera & Maureen Rooney

Dec 15: Care Costs—How Will We Pay?

Founder's Address: Diana Reyers

Keynote Speaker: Tracey Greenwood, Certified Financial Planner

Storyteller: Sheri Carter-Godfrey

Care Partner Panel: Diana In Conversation With...

Sheri Godfrey & Leanne Shortt

Jan 19: Advocacy—How to Have a Voice Without Creating Harm.

Founder's Address: Diana Reyers

Keynote Speaker: Kara Braun, Registered Psychotherapist

Storyteller: Diana Reyers

Care Partner Panel: Diana In Conversation With...

Kara Braun, Psychotherapist & Sheri Godfrey

Feb 16: Your Legacy: How Do You Want To Be Remembered?

Founder's Address: Diana Reyers

Keynote Speaker: Stacey Hartley, Arbor Memorial

Storyteller: Emily Green

Care Partner Panel: Diana In Conversation With...

Leanne Shortt & Emily Green

March 16: Dementia Care—Seeing the Person Beyond the Diagnosis.

Founder's Address: Diana Reyers

Keynote Speaker: Sara Prest, Director of Resident Programs, LTC

Storyteller: Sheri Carter-Godfrey

Care Partner Panel: Diana In Conversation With...

Maureen Rooney, RN & Leanne Shortt

April 20: Compassion Fatigue—Surviving the Caregiving Journey.

Founder's Address: Diana Reyers

Keynote Speakers:

April Jones, Resident and Family Experience Coordinator, LTC

Kara Braun, Registered Psychotherapist

Storyteller: Leanne Shortt

Care Partner Panel: Diana In Conversation With...

Donna Fitzgerald & Kara Braun, Psychotherapist

May 18: When Care Changes—Navigating Palliative & Hospice Care.

Founder's Address: Diana Reyers

Keynote Speaker: Kara Braun, Registered Psychotherapist

Storyteller: TBA

Care Partner Panel: Diana In Conversation With...

TBA

June 15: MAID—Current Controversies and Future Developments

Founder's Address: Diana Reyers

Keynote Speaker: David Campbell, PhD, Ethicist, Kingston Health Sciences Centre

Storyteller: Diana Reyers

Care Partner Panel: Diana In Conversation With...

Josie Viquiera & Sheri Godfrey

Amplify Our Voice—

Create Awareness

To help ensure our message reaches communities across Ontario and Canada, we will invite news media organizations to attend our events and share the stories of residents, families, caregivers, and healthcare professionals, highlighting the need for improvements in long-term care.

Global News—Provided Interview
CTV News—no response
CBC News—no response
CityNews—no response
Kingstonist News—Responded with Sponsorship
The Kingston Whig-Standard—No response after requesting us to follow-up with them.
YourTV Kingston
Corus Radio Kingston
Bell Media Radio

Inspire Conversation—

Encourage Accountability

With your permission, the stories shared through this campaign will be compiled and presented to elected officials and other decision-makers to help inform policy, improve services, and advance meaningful change in long-term care across Ontario and Canada.

Invited decision-makers to this advocacy event series include:

Kingston Mayoral Candidate, Conny Glenn—Accepted Invitation
Premier of Ontario, Doug Ford—Sent a message to be shared by Diana at the Sept 15th inaugural event.
Kingston Mayor, Bryan Paterson—no response
MP Mark Gerretsen—no response
MPP Ted Hsu—looking at future dates to attend
Prime Minister of Canada, Mark Carney—declined
Ontario Ministry of Long-Term Care—declined
Ontario Minister of Long-Term Care, Natalia Kusendova-Bashta—declined
Ontario Minister of Health, Sylvia Jones—declined
Representatives from Ontario Health atHome—looking at possibly scheduling in the new year

Thank You To Our Sponsors

Our Engagement Sponsor

Our Leading Sponsor

Our Advertisement Sponsor

October Community Sponsor

Want to be a sponsor?

More Information Here

Repeat Community Sponsor

Share Your Story—

Advocate Change

Your voice can help drive change. By sharing your long-term care advocacy experience anonymously, you will help raise awareness, strengthen our collective voice, and inspire action toward a more compassionate, accountable, and person-centred long-term care system.

At each monthly event, you'll receive a QR code to access our Daring to Share Elder Care Story platform, where you can share your experience anonymously, in your own words. Every story helps highlight the realities of long-term care and supports advocacy for meaningful system improvements across Ontario and Canada.

Your permission will always be requested before your story is published or shared with elected officials, community partners, healthcare organizations, or other stakeholders working to improve long-term care.

To protect everyone's privacy, please do not include the names of healthcare workers, staff members, or specific facilities. These stories are not about assigning blame—they are about advancing collaboration, accountability, and lasting system-wide change.

Share Your Story Here

Food Proudly Sponsored
throughout our series by Aspira Royale Retirement Home

Grab your snacks and non-alcoholic beverage to take to your seat and settle in to Listen, Learn, Connect, and Advocate

The Hank Reyers

Parkinson's Fund

Through the Hank Reyers Parkinson's Fund, all net proceeds of your ticket will support Parkinson Canada research.

The Monthly Event

Share Your Caregiving Story
Anonymously

THE LOCATION

The Studio

by Kaufmann Photography
4 Cataraqui St, Kingston, ON K7K 1Z6

With original brickwork, stamped concrete floors with in-floor heat, soaring ceilings, and oversized windows that flood The Studio with natural light, it is the

perfect space to experience your event.

Skillfully restored to exude old-world charm and grandeur, The Studio is located in the Woollen Mill, one of the most beautiful and historic buildings in

Kingston, Ontario.

LOCATION

Kingston, ON

Canada