Video: Perspectives on brain health in Chinese communities in Canada: Presented by Dementia Talks! Canada

This May 2023 discussion featured leading experts about brain health and dementia care in Chinese communities in Canada. Watch the recording and hear our speakers discuss the need for cultural sensitivity in dementia care, accessing community supports, and more.

About this talk

The Chinese diaspora comprises one of the largest ethnic groups in Canada. In the 2021 census, 1.7 million people reported being of Chinese origin.   

As Anthony B. Chan writes in the Canadian Encyclopedia, “Chinese Canadians….have contributed to every aspect of Canadian society, from literature to sports, politics to civil rights, film to music, business to philanthropy, and education to religion.”  

Chinese people in Canada have also made significant contributions nationally and internationally to the fields of brain health, healthy aging, and dementia research and care.  

In this edition of Dementia Talks! Canada, filmed on May 26, 2023, researchers, leaders and people with lived experience discussed these and other topics. The speakers also talked about the need for cultural sensitivity in dementia care, accessing community supports, and more.  

Speakers included:

  • Dr. Roger Y.M. Wong, Clinical Professor in the Division of Geriatric Medicine in the University of British Columbia Department of Medicine and a Consultant Physician of the Geriatric Consultation Program at the Vancouver General Hospital. He is the Vice Dean (Education) in the UBC Faculty of Medicine.
  • Dr. San Ng, CEO of Yee Hong Centre for Geriatric Care. Yee Hong is one of Canada’s largest culturally appropriate seniors care organization offering long-term care, home and community support services, palliative care, and an Institute for Social Innovation in Aging.
  • Shirley Tam, Volunteer Facilitator for Chinese-speaking caregiver support groups at the Alzheimer Society of B.C. Shirley’s mother was diagnosed with Alzheimer’s disease in 2018, and Shirley has been very involved in her care until she passed away in a nursing home few months ago.
  • Wency Leung, Health Reporter at the Globe and Mail, will moderate this discussion.

The Dementia Talks! Canada series is produced in partnership between the Alzheimer Society of Canada and Brain Canada. For more information, contact publications@alzheimer.ca

Helpful links that were shared in the live webinar chat

More about the speakers at this talk 

Dr. Roger Y.M. Wong, CM, BMSc, MD, FRCPC, FACP, FCAHS, FCGS 

A smiling midlife man with glasses wearing a blue shirt and black jacket

Dr. Roger Wong is a Clinical Professor in the Division of Geriatric Medicine in the University of British Columbia (UBC) Department of Medicine and is a Consultant Physician of the Geriatric Consultation Program at the Vancouver General Hospital. He is the Vice Dean (Education) in the UBC Faculty of Medicine.  

Dr. Wong has been appointed to the Order of Canada, the first time a geriatrician is appointed to the country's highest civilian honour, for his contributions to the field of geriatric medicine, including the advancement of policies, education and specialized, culturally sensitive health care. 

Dr. Wong received his M.D. degree with Honours in Research from the University of Alberta and completed his postgraduate and fellowship training there. He was elected to the Fellowship of the Canadian Academy of Health Sciences, one of the highest honours in the health sciences field in Canada. 

Nationally, he is the Chair of the Senior Education Deans Network of the Association of Faculties of Medicine of Canada, and Vice Chair of the Royal College of Physicians and Surgeons of Canada Geriatric Medicine Examination Board. Dr. Wong has also been elected to the Fellowship of the American College of Physicians and the Fellowship of the Canadian Geriatrics Society to recognize the impact of his work. 

Dr. Wong has received a number of prestigious awards in recognition of his exceptional national leadership in the field of older adults’ health care, including the Ronald Cape Distinguished Service Award, which recognizes an individual who has made an outstanding contribution to the health care of older adults in Canada and is the highest honour given by the Canadian Geriatrics Society. He is also awarded the Lions Club International Medal of Merit, the highest honour that the Lions present to non-members, as a special recognition for his outstanding community contribution in seniors care and medical education.  

He is Board Member and Chair, Research and Knowledge Transfer and Exchange Committee of the Alzheimer Society of Canada, and he has received a number of Awards of Appreciation from the Alzheimer Society of British Columbia to recognize his advocacy work in the community. He has also received numerous medical education awards, including the Royal College of Physicians and Surgeons of Canada’s Duncan Graham Award for Outstanding Contribution to Medical Education for his impact on medical education across Canada, the Donald Richards Wilson Award for his excellence in integrating the CanMEDS roles, the UBC Killam Teaching Prize, the UBC Faculty of Medicine Clinical Faculty Award for Career Excellence in Clinical Teaching, and the UBC Department of Medicine Master Teacher Award. 

Dr. Wong works tirelessly to advance academic and clinical health sciences related to geriatrics, and his work has made significant impact on the care for older people in Canada and the world. He was the 13th President of the Canadian Geriatrics Society and founded the state-of-the-art Acute Care for Elders (ACE) Unit in Vancouver, which has been implemented nationally and internationally. His clinical research focuses on hospital medicine in vulnerable older adults, including quality improvement in acute care geriatrics. Dr. Wong has made significant contributions in showcasing Canadian geriatrics around the world, culminating in his selection as the Trevor Howell Guest Lecturer in London, a prestigious honour bestowed by the British Geriatrics Society for an eminent physician or scientist with an international reputation. Dr. Wong also received the International Visiting Professor Medal from the Australia and New Zealand Society of Geriatric Medicine, the first Canadian who has received this highest honour awarded by the Society to an international scientist in geriatrics. 

Dr. Wong has published and lectured extensively on geriatric medicine and medical education. He is also a TEDx Speaker whose talk has been curated by the TED website and viewed by international audiences around the world. 

Dr. San Ng, MBA, PhD 

A woman with long brown hair in a red shirt and black jacket, smiling

Dr. San Ng is CEO of Yee Hong Centre for Geriatric Care, one of Canada’s largest culturally appropriate seniors care organization offering long-term care, home and community support services, palliative care, and an Institute for Social Innovation in Aging that builds capacity through research, advisory services, and a Career College for Personal Support Workers and leaders. Dr Ng is passionate about supporting older adults, their caregivers and loved ones to “live their lives to the fullest – with independence, health and dignity” in their own homes and at Yee Hong. 

Prior to her current role, for over 25 years Dr. Ng was Managing Director of Vision & Results Inc., a management consulting firm that supported organizations and partnerships across acute care, primary care, community care, mental health, and a wide array of social service agencies in governance, strategy, and operations. San has also held leadership roles at KPMG, Bank of Montreal, and Boehringer-Ingelheim.  

Dr. Ng holds a PhD from the University of Toronto, Dalla Lana School of Public Health - Institute of Health, Policy, Management and Evaluation, an MBA from McMaster University, and a BSc from the University of Alberta. Dr. Ng is board member of the Ontario Long-Term Care Association, and Past Co-Chair of the Canadian College of Health Leaders GTA Chapter. 

Shirley Tam

A woman with short hair and glasses, smiling

Shirley is a volunteer with the Alzheimer Society of B.C. Her main role has been a facilitator for Chinese speaking caregiver support groups since 2019, both online and in person.

Shirley’s mother was diagnosed with Alzheimer’s disease in 2018, and Shirley has been very involved in her care until she passed away in a nursing home few months ago. Because of her lived experience as a caregiver, she is passionate about supporting and empowering other caregivers in this journey of care.

Before she retired, Shirley had worked as a Program Manager for the Department of Family Medicine at the University of British Columbia for over 25 years. In addition to the Alzheimer Society of B.C., she also volunteers with BC Self-Management Program and Senior Peer Support program within the Chinese Community in Vancouver.

Moderator: Wency Leung 

A woman with midlength black hair, smiling in a blue shirt

Wency Leung is a Toronto-based health reporter for the Globe and Mail.  

She joined the Globe in 2010 and covers a wide range of health issues, with a special interest in brain health.  

She focuses on telling the stories of patients, their caregivers and the people who are seeking better and more equitable ways of preventing and addressing illness.  

Before joining the Globe, Leung reported for the Vancouver Sun, the Prague Post, the Cambodia Daily and Reuters news agency.

Dementia Talks! Canada

Join us for regular online talks that bring together researchers, people with lived experience, and community members to discuss vital topics and stories in dementia.

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Dementia-Friendly Canada

By the end of the decade, almost one million Canadians will live with dementia. The impact of dementia is and will continue to be felt across all borders, sectors and cultures. We must act and build a dementia-friendly Canada now.

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