Paul Robitaille
Co-Chair
Paul works at a national not-for-profit, supporting thousands of young entrepreneurs as
they launch their dreams into successful ventures. His career spans banking,
accounting, and digital marketing, where he brings a collaborative and strategic mindset
to fostering innovation and growth. A dedicated volunteer, Paul holds service to others
as a core value, demonstrated through his involvement in various organizations and his
passion for the Alzheimer Society, inspired by his experience as a caregiver for his
mother with dementia. With expertise in leading change, Paul is driven by creating
meaningful impact and helping new ideas come to life.
Jasmine Moshen
Co-Chair
Jasmine is the co-chair of APPLE. Her passion for dementia advocacy is deeply personal, as her late father had dementia, and her mother is currently living with the condition. Beyond her personal experience, she has navigated the complexities of the healthcare and support systems, gaining insight into the resources available and the unmet needs of both individuals with dementia and their caregivers.
Professionally, she is an agile coach, helping teams at a bank foster collaboration and efficiency. She is also a yoga teacher and laughter yoga leader, bringing mindfulness and joy to those she serves. She is committed to building a compassionate, informed community for those affected by dementia.
Tanya Loucks
Member
Tanya Loucks is a mother of two, a caregiver to her husband, Tony, and her aging mother. Her family’s journey started in 2017 when her husband experienced multiple episodes of TIA (Transient Ischemic Attack) and then a stroke in 2020. In 2021, Tony was diagnosed with mild cognitive impairment and in 2022, he was diagnosed with young-onset dementia with cerebral amyloid angiopathy and probable Alzheimer's. Tony was 53 at the time. They decided to share Tony’s diagnosis with family and friends and invited them to join trail walks with their dog.
In the early part of their journey, Tanya contacted Alzheimer’s Society Peel, who connected them with various community services such as First Link, Trans Help, Adult Day Programs, Virtual Rec Connect, Behavioural Support Ontario, Support Groups for People Living with Dementia and Care Partner Cafe for caregiver support. After a couple of stays in hospitals, Tony spent some time at Baycrest before transferring to Long Term Care.
Today, Tanya uses her shared experience as a member of APPLE and an advocate for improving Dementia Care in the community, and one’s own Brain Health. She believes that by taking care of your physical and mental health, you are improving your brain health and reducing your own risk of dementia.
Heather Relf
Member
Heather is a passionate healthcare advocate with a strong commitment to improving healthcare in Mississauga. Through her work with Mississauga Health’s Community Health Advisory Network, she has been a key voice in shaping inclusive healthcare strategies since July 2022. Heather draws on her personal and professional experiences to ensure that healthcare systems are designed to meet the needs of all individuals.
In addition to these roles, Heather serves as a Caregiver Advisor on the Mississauga, Ontario Health Team’s Older Adults Planning Table, where she contributes to the development of a multi-year Seniors Care Strategy. Her work is focused on ensuring older adults receive the care and support they need to live healthy, fulfilling lives. She also plays a vital role in the development of innovative digital health systems for older adults, advising on a centralized digital tool that enhances healthcare coordination and access.
Heather’s contributions extend to dementia care as well. Since January 2024, she has served as an Advisory Board Member for the Alzheimer's Society’s APPLE program, advising on dementia strategy in areas such as education, training, and support. Her dedication to improving healthcare access, safety, and community well-being has made her a respected advocate and leader in local health initiatives.
Mark Boyak
Member
I'm 77 years old, in good health, and was diagnosed in September 2023 with short-term memory loss.
Once I received this diagnosis and was looking for help, I reached out to First Link to start my discovery of dementia and what I may expect.
First Link provided contact with Peel Alzheimer's Society. I have a support counsellor to help my partner and me review questions and answers. I'm active with an early dementia support group.
Andrea Isaacs-Scarlett
Member
Andrea Isaacs-Scarlett has been a member of APPLE since 2023. Her interest in APPLE arose out of the need to connect with others who had family members living with dementia and to make a difference in the lives of those caring for their loved ones living with dementia.
Her mom developed dementia in her later years and later passed in 2023. She is a seasoned licensed General Insurance Broker currently employed at a brokerage located in Toronto, who enjoys coaching and mentoring future leaders in the industry. In addition to APPLE, Andrea volunteers with EWIIN, a not-for-profit geared toward Black professional women in the insurance industry.
She enjoys singing, interior decorating and networking.
Bhavini Patel
Member
Bhavini volunteers her time to advisory committees in the Peel and GTA area by contributing her lived experience as a caregiver, along with her professional expertise, to ongoing healthcare improvement strategies. Having grown up in Peel, she understands diverse community needs for the current and future population. She is also a member of the advisory committee at Ontario Caregiver Organization and on the Patient Quality & Effectiveness Committee at Trillium Health Partners.
Laila Pirani
Member
A seasoned healthcare professional (MSc.N) having more than 25 years of diverse experience in nursing education, research, and management and worked as an Assistant Professor with international consultancy expertise in curriculum development across Pakistan, Afghanistan, and Syria.
Actively involved in community service, and current affiliations include advisory roles in dementia care initiatives at various NGOs and advocacy groups in Canada. Possess strong skills in therapeutic communication and management, with a focus on geriatrics, mental health, and nursing education.
Recognized for excellence in nursing through awards from Sigma Theta Tau International Honour Society and multiple Best Teacher Awards. Engaged in research with funded projects and publications, contributing to advancements in nursing practices and education.
My journey. Since my arrival here in Canada, I took on the additional role I probably had already been doing for some time; I became a caregiver for my Mom, who was living with Alzheimer's, as well as my Dad, 84 years old, who survived Covid-19 despite being an IPF patient. It was the most transformational role of my life. There were levels of learning that will stay with me for life. Caring for someone you love with this disease is complicated, disorienting, and complex, AND there are beautiful moments of joy, connection, and community to be found. There are hard days and there are beautiful days.
Hersh Sedhev
Member
With over 30 years of experience in senior leadership roles, including Chief Executive Officer (Kingston Community Health Centres), Researcher/Educator (Queen's University), and Chair of a Local Health Integration Network (South East LHIN), I have consistently championed equity in healthcare delivery and decision-making processes.
In 2020, during the middle of COVID, I suddenly found myself on the other side of our health care system. I was now advocating for care for my husband after a hemorrhagic stroke, which also resulted in some cognitive issues. During that time, Alzheimer Society Peel was a guiding light for me; the counselling support gave me the strength to continue. Now that I am at a different stage, I am glad to be part of APPLE, a sounding Board for senior leaders of the Alzheimer Society of Peel, and contribute to making services more accessible and equitable.
Dr. Chandrakant P Shah
Member
Dr. Chandrakant P Shah is a Professor Emeritus at the Dalla Lana School of Public Health, University of Toronto and an Honorary Consulting Physician at the Anishnawbe Health Toronto. Through his research and teaching, he has advocated for the health and well-being of vulnerable groups, including individuals without homes, those living with dementia, the unemployed, visible minorities, and Indigenous Peoples, as reflected in his memoir To Change the World: My Work With Diversity, Equity & Inclusion in Canada.
Sean McBride
Member
Executive leader in healthcare with a passion for improving patient care access and reducing system complexity. He has served in numerous executive leadership roles responsible for operations and strategic growth with leading pharmaceutical companies, including Roche and GSK, healthcare leaders, including Bayshore Healthcare, and a startup biotechnology company, Appili Therapeutics.
He has played key roles leading commercialization, business and corporate development, reimbursement and access, pharmacovigilance, digital innovation, nursing and pharmacy services in support of oncology, neurology, and rare disease therapies in the Canadian market.
He has a Bachelor of Business & Economics from Simon Fraser. University and is a Master's candidate from the University of Barcelona. He has a comprehensive understanding of the healthcare regulatory environment in Canada and a passion for building public-private partnerships and engaging cross-functional stakeholders. He is a mentor and active contributor to Life Sciences Ontario.
