Academics, practitioners, and community leaders gathered on Monday, October 20, 2025, at the NUSU Student Centre for a full day seminar hosted by Nipissing University and Rare Dementia Support (RDS) Canada, to explore how implementation science can drive meaningful change across Northern Ontario and beyond.
The seminar entitled Discovery to Impact: Best Practices and Implementation Science in Northern Ontario and Beyond was an output of the CIHR (Canadian Institutes of Health Research)-funded study RDS Canada: Peoples, Spaces, Places, and featured leading voices in the field sharing insights, strategies, and research findings that are shaping health and well-being outcomes across diverse populations.
Left to Right: Dr. Christina Victor, Dr. Mary Pat-Sullivan, Dr. Kevin Wamsley, Dr. Scott Russell
Dr. Scott Russell, Chancellor of Nipissing University provided opening remarks welcoming all participants and setting the tone for a day of collaboration and impactful dialogue followed by a variety of speakers who shared practical approaches to research implementation, with a focus on youth, brain health, mental wellness, rare dementia support, and social connection in both Indigenous and aging populations.
Topics and speakers included:
- Loneliness Interventions Across the Life Course: Evidence to Implementation: Professor Christina Victor, Brunel University London
- How Community-Led Evaluation Creates Evidence-Informed Brain Health Support Programs: Jordon Antflick, Ontario Brain Institute
- Translating Knowledge and Experiences of MAiD using Digital Stories and a Podcast: Katherine Kortes-Miller, Lakehead University
- Digital Tools and Strengths-based Conversations with Indigenous Children. Moving from Research to Wise Practices: Nancy Young, CHEO, and Cindy Peltier, Nipissing University
- Thriving in Youth Sport and Beyond: Mark Bruner, Nipissing University
- Mobilizing Knowledge to Build a Rare Dementia Support Community in Canada: Mary Pat Sullivan and Veronika Williams, Nipissing University
"It was an incredible honour to gather with professionals and academics from across the province and beyond to connect and explore the future of implementation science in Northern Ontario," shared Dr. Mary-Pat Sullivan, Professor of Social Work at Nipissing University and Director of RDS Canada. "Thank you to all participants for joining us for a day of meaningful conversation and collaboration."
To learn more about RDS Canada visit https://raredementiasupport.ca/.
