Northumberland PACE Kicks Off New Wellness Series on October 23

The Northumberland PACE Speakers Series will launch its new season on October 23, 2025, with a virtual event focused on the challenges of independent living for seniors. Titled “Independent Living as We Age,” the webinar begins at 5:30 p.m. and features guest speaker Micki McLean, who brings over 20 years of experience in the retirement industry.

Jennifer Gillard, vice-president of patient experience, public affairs, and strategic partnerships at Northumberland Hills Hospital, highlighted the need for discussions around this topic. “Earlier this summer, we reviewed the speaker topics recommended by past participants and our planning committee, and there was a strong interest in the topic of living independently as we age,” Gillard stated. The event is part of a collaborative effort between various community health-care providers, including Northumberland Hills Hospital, to engage residents in meaningful conversations about health and wellness.

During the session, McLean, who serves as the general manager of Palisade Gardens Retirement Community in Cobourg, will share insights and personal stories from her extensive work with long-term care residents. Attendees will have the opportunity to explore the realities of finding suitable living arrangements for aging individuals and will learn how to identify the right time to make such transitions.

As part of the PACE series format, audience participation is encouraged, with questions accepted via email at [email protected] prior to the event or posed live during the discussion. The talk will last for one hour, consisting of a 30-minute presentation, followed by a 20-minute question-and-answer segment, and a brief summary by a moderator.

Advance registration is required, with a limit of 300 attendees. The event will be hosted on Zoom, and participants are advised to log in five minutes before the scheduled start time. Registration can be completed at www.pacetalks.com, where past recordings of previous talks are also available.

Since its inception in 2018, the Northumberland PACE initiative has offered free public education sessions covering various health and wellness topics. These sessions have attracted a diverse audience of community members eager to engage in dialogue and seek answers to their questions. PACE, which stands for Personalized Assessment and Change Education, draws inspiration from the TED Talks format and is supported by a coalition of health organizations, including the Northumberland Family Health Team, Community Health Centres of Northumberland, internal medicine specialists IMCare, and the Ontario Health Team Northumberland.

Monthly talks are generally scheduled for the fourth Thursday of each month at 5:30 p.m. As the series continues, Northumberland PACE aims to foster ongoing discussions that resonate with the community’s interests and needs.