SPEAKERS from 2025

Jim Mulcahy was born, raised, and educated in Halifax, Nova Scotia.  He began his public school teaching career in a small Newfoundland outport before moving to Antigonish, Nova Scotia where he taught English and Drama for 33 years, and his wife Sarah worked as a registered medical technologist for a similar length of time at the local regional hospital. 

In his early fifties, Jim was diagnosed with his first cancer.  A year later, Sarah was diagnosed with Huntingtons.  Three of their four children were subsequently found to have inherited the same genetic illness. A few years later, Jim was diagnosed with his second cancer and retired from teaching.  He spent the next fifteen years as Sarah’s primary care giver before her death.  Three years later, Jim’s new partner died of glioblastoma, and one month after her death, Jim was diagnosed with his third cancer for which he is now being actively treated 

Throughout the last twenty five years, Jim has volunteered as a cancer patient advocate on various local, provincial, and national committees.  He also acted as writer/ director for the Park Bench Players, a group of six Antigonish adults living with schizophrenia. This  troupe, dedicated to reducing the stigma associated with mental illness, went on to perform their original three act play over a hundred times winning three national awards in the process. 

Jim has been a keynote speaker for a number of provincial and national hospice/ palliative care conferences.  He is also a volunteer in the palliative care and chemotherapy units at St. Martha’s.  The same hospital where he is receiving his own chemotherapy. 

Jim was awarded an honorary doctorate from Saint Francis Xavier University for his notable contributions in the fields of education, health care, and community development.   

His principal concern now is the future welfare of his family as his adult children diagnosed with Huntingtons are approaching the age when they can expect to become symptomatic. He has six grandchildren he loves dearly. 

Charlie is a palliative care physician consultant and the Medical Lead for advance care planning and goals of care designations with Calgary Zone. He is also Medical Lead for Physician Diversity, Wellness, and Development with Alberta Health Services Medical Affairs and is currently focused on strategies to foster a culture of professional fulfillment, belonging, and leadership excellence. Charlie is a Clinical Associate Professor in the Departments of Oncology and Family Medicine at the Cumming School of Medicine, University of Calgary. He is a Teacher-in-Training for Mindful Self-Compassion and is a facilitator of Mindful Practice in Medicine. A certified executive coach, Charlie is passionate about mindfulness-based practices, nonviolent communication, and positive psychology. He loves to sing and write music and enjoys zipping around Calgary on his e-bike.

Celebrated Comedian | Author | Mental Health Advocate Beloved comedian Jessica Holmes has brought the house down opening for giants such as Ellen DeGeneres, Russell Peters, Jerry Seinfeld, and Oprah Winfrey. She has performed at Just For Laughs and The Second City, and starred in the comedy series, The Holmes Show and Royal Canadian Air Farce. Her hilarious take on life’s challenges as well as her unique knack for impersonating celebrities have audiences in stitches.

Holmes, like millions of North Americans, has struggled both with post-partum depression and, as she puts it, “regular, run-of-the-mill, garden-variety depression”. Striving to help end the stigma around mental health issues, she openly shares her personal stories with the humour she’s known for, bringing light to what can often be a dark topic. Holmes’ funny and inspiring book, Depression The Comedy: A Tale of Perseverance, takes readers deeper into her mental health journey with validation and warmth. She is also grateful to help further reduce the stigma around mental illness as a Bell Let’s Talk celebrity ambassador.

Holmes’s greatest joy is helping people take simple, sustainable steps towards fulfillment and well-being, one laugh at a time. In 2025, she will receive her Master’s of Applied Positive Psychology from the University of East London. Follow Holmes on Instagram at @HappyFunHolmes.

Virginia is a Clinical Ethicist based out of the Alberta Children’s Hospital and continuing care in the Calgary zone. She is a graduate of the University of Toronto’s MHSc in Bioethics program and completed her fellowship in Clinical Ethics through Alberta Health Services. Virginia began her career in healthcare as a Registered Nurse in the Neonatal Intensive Care Unit in Toronto. 

Ashley Mollison (she/her) is a PhD candidate at the University of Victoria focused on caregiving at the end-of-life in contexts of inequities. For the last decade, Ashley has coordinated research projects though the Palliative Approaches to Care in Aging and Community Health research program at UVic to make visible the experiences of people facing serious health issues alongside social and structural inequities. This program of research led by Dr. Kelli Stajduhar has developed, implemented, and evaluated resources, programs, and services to advance equity-oriented palliative care. Ashley also holds positions as coach and advisor with Healthcare Excellence Canada as well as research associate with Cancer Care Alberta. Ashley is a white settler with Scottish and Irish heritage, and works and resides on the Territories of Treaty 7 – those of the Blackfoot Confederacy (Siksika, Kainai, Piikani), the Tsuut’ina, and the Iyarhe Nakoda Nations (Bearspaw, Chiniki, and Goodstoney) – and Districts 4, 5 and 6 of the Métis Nation within Alberta.

Lisa Shirt is a Registered Nurse and a Clinical Nurse Specialist who currently works with the Palliative Consult Service, seeing families in the community. Prior roles including working with the Head and Neck Cancer population at Tom Baker Cancer Center, and many years in various inpatient and outpatient roles within Oncology, both in Calgary and Vancouver.

Lisa is passionate about palliative care and has a special interest in early palliative interventions.

When not working, Lisa loves being outside in the mountains –  running and hiking, skiing, and spending time with her family and dogs.

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Kristen Viaje Tucker is a Palliative Care physician working in the PEOLC Calgary Zone. She covers acute care, home care, and the Intensive Palliative Care Unit. If she is not at work, she is probably at the gym, at the yoga studio, or travelling. 

Shannon MacKinnon is a social worker, counsellor, supervisor, and artist who makes their home in Calgary, Alberta. Shannon has had over five years of experience providing direct patient care and staff support in hospice settings. Shannon holds a leadership position and has adjunct interests and training in incorporating spirituality, including psychedelic-assisted therapy for palliative and trauma-effected populations.

Dr. Tracy Powell, a registered nurse and associate professor at the School of Nursing and Midwifery at Mount Royal University in Calgary, has a clinical background in oncology, cancer care, and palliative care. With over 25 years of experience in clinical practice and academia, Dr. Powell’s research program is dedicated to understanding and improving medical assistance in dying, with a particular focus on the experience and perspective of family members and caregivers.