Come out and join us for a full day of learning, wellness, and community. Hear from a diverse panel of speakers who will share fresh perspectives on Parkinson’s care, highlight the latest research developments, and provide practical tools and insights for living well with Parkinson’s.
Please note: A delicious and nutritious lunch will be served. While registration remains open until one day prior to the event, please notify us of any allergies or dietary restrictions by Monday, October 5.
Presentations
Parkinson’s Together: Managing Symptoms & Maximizing Quality of Life
In this informative and engaging session, Heather Russell will guide attendees through a holistic look at Parkinson’s disease, exploring both motor and non-motor symptoms and how they impact everyday life.
Drawing from her extensive experience at the Movement Disorder Clinic at London Health Sciences Centre, Heather will highlight the important role of exercise, nutrition, sleep, and social connection in managing symptoms and improving quality of life.
Attendees will also gain a clearer understanding of current treatment options, including the three device-aided therapies available in Canada, helping to better navigate the evolving landscape of Parkinson’s care.
Arts for Parkinson’s
Did you know that dance, singing, and theatre can have meaningful benefits for people living with Parkinson’s and their carepartners?
In this engaging presentation, Rebecca Barnstaple will explore recent research on the positive impacts of arts participation and introduce the growing concept of “arts on prescription,” where healthcare professionals can refer patients to arts-based activities as part of their wellness and care journey.
Navigating Healthcare and Feeling Lost
Ever felt overwhelmed navigating the healthcare system?
In this motivational and comedic keynote presentation, Sarah Boston shares her all-too-relatable journey through referrals, confusing forms, long wait times, and inconclusive medical visits.
Blending humour with lived experience, this session offers reassurance, connection, and practical insight for anyone who has ever felt lost within the healthcare system.
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Speakers
Heather Russel
HEATHER RUSSELL is a Registered Nurse with nearly three decades of experience in healthcare, beginning her career in 1996. She has worked across a range of specialized areas including Neurology and Neurosurgery inpatient care, Epilepsy, Paediatric Oncology, and Hospice.
Since 2014, Heather has been a Movement Disorder Clinic Nurse at London Health Sciences Centre, where she focuses on supporting individuals living with Parkinson’s and other movement disorders. She is passionate about improving patient outcomes through education, symptom management, and multidisciplinary care.
Heather is an active member of the Canadian Association of Neuroscience Nurses (CANN) and regularly contributes to the profession as an international presenter, advisory board member, and educator for fellow nurses.
Rebecca Barnstaple
REBECCA BARNSTAPLE is an Assistant Professor at the University of Guelph whose work explores how the arts can support people living with chronic and complex conditions. She is passionate about rethinking healthcare by integrating more holistic, preventative approaches, including social prescribing and arts on prescription.
With experience in community health and a strong understanding of the Canadian healthcare system, Rebecca brings both practical insight and research expertise to her work. She is especially interested in how creative practices can help improve wellbeing and quality of life.
Trained as a dance/movement therapist, Rebecca has spent over a decade developing and leading dance programs for people living with Parkinson’s. Her work blends research, creativity, and connection to create meaningful, engaging experiences for participants.
Dr. Sarah Boston
DR. SARAH BOSTON is a veterinary surgical oncologist, ACVS board-certified small animal surgeon, and Founding Fellow of both Surgical Oncology and Oral & Maxillofacial Surgery. She practices at the Capital City Specialty & Emergency Animal Hospital in Ottawa and previously held tenured faculty positions at the University of Guelph and the University of Florida.
She has authored numerous veterinary publications and textbook chapters and is a sought-after speaker, presenting nationally and internationally on surgical oncology. Sarah is also the best-selling author of Lucky Dog: How Being a Veterinarian Saved My Life. In recent years, she has developed a passion for stand-up comedy, completing the Humber College Comedy Performance and Writing Program in 2023, where she received the Award for Academic Excellence and the Tim Sims Encouragement Award.
Now a regular performer at Yuk Yuk’s Comedy Club in Ottawa, she has brought her solo shows to festivals across Canada and internationally, and will be performing at the Halifax Comedy Festival in 2026. She also hosts the podcast Comedicine, where she speaks with healthcare professionals who are also comedians. Sarah is passionate about bringing more humour into veterinary medicine—and believes veterinarians need to laugh more.
