Appointment to the National Seniors Council

GATINEAU, QC, June 12, 2013 /CNW/ - The Honourable Diane Finley, Minister of Human Resources and Skills Development, the Honourable Leona Aglukkaq, Minister of Health, and the Honourable Alice Wong, Minister of State (Seniors), today announced the appointment of two new members to the National Seniors Council (NSC). "I am pleased to announce the appointments of Dr. Marie Beaulieu and Mrs. Sharron Gionet as new members of the National Seniors Council," said Minister of State Wong. "Each of these new members will bring a wealth of expertise to the Council on issues of importance to older Canadians at a time when Canada is facing a demographic challenge of an aging population."

A professor of applied human sciences at the Université de Sherbrooke, Dr. Beaulieu specializes in the study of aging and constructive approaches to gerontology. Her research subjects include the social participation of seniors and the issue of elder abuse.

Mrs. Gionet is a charge gerontological nurse in the Geriatric Evaluation and Management Unit of the Horizon Health Network at St. Joseph's Hospital in Saint John, New Brunswick. In addition to her extensive volunteer work on committees related to addressing seniors' issues, she is a mentor for the Canadian Nurses Association's Gerontology Exam Preparation program in the Atlantic region. The NSC is mandated to provide advice to the federal government on matters related to the well-being and quality of life of Canada's seniors, including new opportunities and issues arising from a rapidly growing and increasingly diverse seniors population. Members appointed to the NSC bring with them unique perspectives and experiences that help the federal government understand the issues facing seniors today. The Council comprises a maximum of 12 members, including the Chair.

For more information on the NSC, please visit www.seniorscouncil.gc.ca.

SOURCE: Human Resources and Skills Development Canada