Council Members
The chair of the Seniors Advisory Council for Alberta is a Member of the Legislative Assembly, appointed by the Premier.
Council members represent the entire province based on six regions, in addition to a representative from the Alberta Medical Association and another from Alberta's universities. They are appointed by Order in Council.
Members
- George VanderBurg, Chair, Seniors Advisory Council for Alberta and MLA, Whitecourt - Ste. Anne
- Diana Anderson, North East Region
- Rosemarie Biggs, Edmonton and Area Region
- Diane Caleffi, Calgary and Area Region
- Dr. Al Cook, Alberta's universities
- Jean Dreger, Calgary and Area Region
- Clyde Elford, Calgary and Area Region
- Dr. Bill Forbes, Edmonton and Area Region
- Beverly Homeniuk, Edmonton and Area Region
- Laurie Lyckman, South Region
- Dawn Parent, Central Region
- Harjit S. Rai, Calgary and Area Region
- Dr. Harry Zirk, Alberta Medical Association
Biographies
George VanderBurg
Chair, Seniors Advisory Council for Alberta and MLA, Whitecourt - Ste. Anne
George VanderBurg was appointed chair of the Seniors Advisory Council for Alberta by the Premier in January 2007. He was elected to his first term as member of the Legislative Assembly for Whitecourt-Ste. Anne in March 2001 and re-elected to his third term in March 2008.
In addition to being the chair of the council and his regular MLA duties, Mr. VanderBurg serves as a member of the Treasury Board, the Cabinet Policy Committee on Public Safety and Services, and the Special Standing Committee on Member Services. He is also the Chair of the Standing Committee on Public Safety and Services, and a member of the Canadian Energy Research Institute.
He was appointed Minister of Government Services in April 2006 and appointed Acting Minister of Innovation and Science in August 2006. He held both positions until December 2006.
He has also served on several provincial committees, as the director of the Northlands Park Board and as chair of the Electrical Transmission Commission.
Prior to becoming an MLA, Mr. VanderBurg served 15 years in municipal politics. He was the Mayor of Whitecourt for almost nine years and six as a town councillor.
Over the years, Mr. VanderBurg, an active Rotarian, and his wife were successful owners and operators of various businesses in Northern Alberta. He was President of the Whitecourt Chamber of Commerce and was the recipient of the Chamber of Commerce President's Award. Mr. VanderBurg has also been named Whitecourt's Citizen of the Year and recognized with the Alberta Chamber of Commerce Small Business of the Year award.
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Diana Anderson
North East Region
Diana Anderson has spent most of her career working to improve the quality of life for seniors and to dispel myths about aging.
Ms. Anderson was the president of the Alberta Council on Aging and chaired the policy advisory and health committees. She has also served on the Lakeland Health Authority board and on the steering committee to implement accommodation standards for supportive living facilities.
Ms. Anderson has developed outreach programs for long-term care residents, worked with pastoral care groups and taught post-graduate courses in gerontology. She currently leads a program that brings youth and seniors together.
Her community service was recognized with the awarding of an Alberta Centennial Medal.
Ms. Anderson became a member of the Seniors Advisory Council for Alberta in 2007.
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Rosemarie Biggs
Edmonton and Area Region
Rosemarie Biggs was a community pharmacist when she started a home visit program for seniors. She used her prescription deliveries as an opportunity to discuss with seniors their medications and how to take them properly.
Her community and professional involvement includes serving as president of the Alberta Pharmaceutical Association in 1996. She was re-elected as the association’s president in 1998.
Mrs. Biggs has also spoken nationally and internationally, and has received several awards in recognition of her work. The awards include the Canadian Pharmacists' Association's Pharmacist Care of Older Persons Award and the Pride of Strathcona Award for her dedication to patients' well-being.
Ms. Biggs became a member of the Seniors Advisory Council for Alberta in 2007.
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Diane Caleffi
Calgary and Area Region
Diane Caleffi began her career with the Calgary Police Service as an executive secretary in the Field Operations and Tactical Support sections and with Olympic Security for the 1988 Olympic Winter Games. She now runs her own business providing executive and personal assistant services.
She has served as a member of Executive Women International, as a safety officer for Calgary West Little League and as a volunteer with the Calgary Women's Emergency Shelter Turning Points Dinners.
Currently, Mrs. Caleffi is a board member with the Calgary Health Region. She is also an advisory member for the Manor at Garrison Woods.
Mrs. Caleffi became a member of the Seniors Advisory Council for Alberta in 2004.
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Dr. Al Cook
Alberta's universities
Dr. Cook specializes in assistive device technology and is currently researching the use of robots to develop and reveal cognitive and language abilities in children who have severe disabilities.
He received his Bachelor of Science in Electrical Engineering at the University of Colorado and his masters in Bioengineering as well as his doctorate from the University of Wyoming.
In addition to being associated with the Assistive Device Service at the Glenrose Hospital, Dr. Cook has served as Co-Director of the Assistive Device Center at California State University.
Dr. Cook is a Professor in the Department of Speech Pathology and Audiology at the University of Alberta. He was dean of Rehabilitation Medicine from 1994-2007. Dr. Cook serves on several committees for Alberta Health & Wellness and the local Capital Health Authority.
Dr. Cook became a member of the Seniors Advisory Council for Alberta in 2008.
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Jean Dreger
Calgary and Area Region
Jean Dreger has worked with many boards and committees serving seniors. She has been the chair of Health and Housing on the Mayor’s Seniors Advisory Council and a board member for the Calgary Association of Gerontology.
She has also volunteered with a number of other groups including the Canadian Association of Retired Persons Advocacy Committee and the Elder Friendly Group through the University of Calgary Faculty of Social Work.
Ms. Dreger also wrote A Voice for Seniors, a column in the Calgary Herald, and she is a graduate of the Lutheran Hospital Ministry with a counseling certificate.
Ms. Dreger became a member of the Seniors Advisory Council for Alberta in 2004.
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Clyde Elford
Calgary and Area Region
Clyde Elford has shared his time with many organizations. He has served as president of several clubs, including the Canukeena Club, Probus Club and Food Executive club. He has also been a member of the Calgary Naval Veterans Association, Royal Canadian Legion, Kerby Centre, Red Cross and the Calgary White Hatter organization.
He worked with the 1988 Olympic Winter Games volunteer team and has used his public relations and marketing experience to assist organizations like SAIT through its Advisory Board of Marketing. Presently, he is a member of the Alberta Mental Health Review Panel.
Mr. Elford has been recognized for his service to the community with the Queen’s Jubilee Medal and the Alberta Centennial Medal.
Mr. Elford became a member of the Seniors Advisory Council for Alberta in 2004.
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Dr. Bill Forbes
Edmonton and Area Region
Dr. Bill Forbes has worked in a variety of positions with seniors. Through his involvement with the Capital Health region, an education board and a variety of associations, he has met many older Albertans and understands their concerns.
Dr. Forbes has also served as president of three Canadian community colleges and has volunteered with numerous community, provincial and national not-for-profit associations.
Dr. Forbes became a member of the Seniors Advisory Council for Alberta in 2004.
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Beverly Homeniuk
Willingdon, Edmonton and Area Region
Beverly Homeniuk has served on several boards, committees and organizations at district, regional and provincial levels in the Vegreville region.
She has also been an outreach worker with the Vegreville Health Unit, where she developed and implemented visiting programs for the elderly and homebound. Most recently, she served in an administrative position with the provincial government where a large part of her role involved providing support and assistance to seniors.
In 1998, Mrs. Homeniuk was awarded the Northeast 4-H Region Award of Distinction for volunteer leadership, and her family received the Edmonton Northlands/Alberta Motor Association Farm Family Award in 2001.
Mrs. Homeniuk became a member of the Seniors Advisory Council for Alberta in 2007.
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Laurie Lyckman is very familiar with issues important to seniors, their caregivers and families. Now the director of care for a seniors lodge, she is keenly interested in how best to improve the quality of life of seniors and help them understand the options and opportunities available to them.
Mrs. Lyckman also helps fundraise for several health foundations and has been an executive member of the Lodge Activity Coordinators Association of Alberta for 13 years.
In 2005, Mrs. Lyckman received an Alberta Centennial Medal for her contributions to the community.
Mrs. Lyckman became a member of the Seniors Advisory Council for Alberta in 2006.
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Dawn Parent has worked with several organizations, boards and commissions. She has also been a Lacombe town councillor for the past 17 years and has served on the Lacombe Foundation Board. Her work with seniors and housing authority boards and experiences caring for aging parents sparked her interest in working with seniors.
After retiring from her account manager position with a national bank, Mrs. Parent entered the real estate sales business, where she continues to work. She is also a board member with the Persons with Development Disabilities Central Region Board and the Alberta College of Medical Lab Technologists board.
Mrs. Parent became a member of the Seniors Advisory Council for Alberta in 2005.
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Harjit S. Rai
Calgary and Area Region
Harjit Rai is especially interested in assisting elderly people and believes seniors can be active and healthy community members. Mr. Rai is also a strong supporter of cross-cultural relations. He served as a director for the Calgary Multicultural Centre and as president of the Sikh Society of Calgary. He remains actively involved with Calgary’s Sikh Society and the Deshmesh Culture Centre.
Born and raised in India, Mr. Rai has worked in the general insurance, life insurance and real estate fields. He has been a real estate broker in Calgary for more than 20 years.
His commitment to the community was recognized with an Alberta Centennial Medal.
Mr. Rai became a member of the Seniors Advisory Council for Alberta in 2006.
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Dr. Harry Zirk
Alberta Medical Association
Dr. Harry Zirk has spent much of his career promoting the health and well-being of seniors.
After graduating from the University of Calgary medical school in 1990, Dr. Zirk completed his family practice studies at the University of Alberta. He also received a post graduate fellowship in the Care of the Elderly program in 1993.
He has served as medical director of Geriatric Health Services at the Grey Nun’s Hospital in Edmonton.
A practicing family physician in the Edmonton region, Dr. Zirk’s major areas of interest include senior’s health promotion and achieving optimal wellness.
Dr. Zirk is an Associate Clinical Professor at the University of Alberta and holds memberships in several geriatric health related committees addressing the issues most important to seniors.
Dr. Zirk became a member of the Seniors Advisory Council for Alberta in 2008.
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The regional structure was developed by the Seniors Advisory Council for Alberta to maximize its resources and the location of council members. A 
detailed map with community names is also available.
