Celebrating a Remarkable Career

“This has been my dream job. I feel very fortunate to have had the privilege of finding a cause that I am passionate about, and then being able to work with so many like-minded people at the Alzheimer Society of Saskatchewan, and across Canada, who are equally as passionate about improving the lives of people with dementia. Walking alongside people living with dementia, learning from them, and partnering with them to help others on this journey has been the highlight.”

– Joanne Bracken, CEO, Alzheimer Society of Saskatchewan

Over the past 23 years, Joanne Bracken has led the Alzheimer Society of Saskatchewan through some remarkable moments and she has helped grow the organization into the rich and diverse community of support that it is today.

Since launching her career in 1988 as the Activity Director at St. Mary’s Villa in Humboldt, Saskatchewan, Joanne has been involved in supporting people living with dementia in some capacity. Joanne shares that her passion for dementia care began in Humboldt under the leadership of Marion Armitage who was the Director of Care.

Joanne was responsible for helping implement one of the first dementia care units in rural Saskatchewan. Bracken says, at the time, she didn’t really understand much about dementia. 

“Marion took me under her wing and shared books and resources with me and sent me to conferences, but, most importantly, she mentored a person-centered approach to care that was inspirational and sparked my passion for dementia care. Marion also introduced me to the Alzheimer Society of Saskatchewan.”

– Joanne Bracken

In 1992, a career change for Joanne’s husband, Mark, took their young family to Regina. Joanne continued her passion for caring for people living with dementia as a Recreation Therapist at a number of facilities, including Santa Maria and Pioneer Village, eventually becoming the Recreation Therapist at Pioneer Village’s Adult Day Support Program. In August of 2000, Joanne joined the Alzheimer Society of Saskatchewan as the Programs and Services Manager. She was named the CEO in February of 2002.

Throughout Bracken’s career with the Alzheimer Society of Saskatchewan, there are many notable milestones. One of Joanne’s first responsibilities was to develop a dementia strategy for Saskatchewan. The completion of the Strategy for Alzheimer Disease and Related Dementias in Saskatchewan prompted the Government of Saskatchewan to begin funding the work of the Society. Funding from the Government of Saskatchewan was initially $35,000 for the establishment of First Link Resource Centres in Regina and then Saskatoon. At that time, the Resource Centres housed single employees at each location and services were solely for supporting caregivers of people living with Alzheimer’s disease.

Since then, under Bracken’s leadership:

• Services have expanded to also support people living with different types of dementia – Joanne created the Alzheimer Society of Saskatchewan’s first support group for people who have dementia.
• The organization has grown to include seven Resource Centres located across Saskatchewan that provide support to over 2700 individuals from more than 300 communities.
• Annualized Government funding for the Society has increased to over $1.2M.
• The Society was the second province in Canada to adopt First Link Care Navigation to better support clients with complicated and complex needs and/or those who are at higher risk.
• Research has become a strategic priority and the Society is now directing 22% of all dollars spent towards funding research – the highest amount in the history of the organization.
• The organization has become an Alzheimer Society Federation champion in leading dementia friendly community awareness activities.

“Joanne has been an amazing asset to the Alzheimer Society of Saskatchewan. She was one of the reasons I became involved with the Society and joined the Board of Directors in 2018. 

Joanne is a kind, caring, compassionate, and skilled leader that has inspired and built a great team at the Alzheimer Society. It has certainly been a delight working with such a capable individual who is extremely passionate to help those living with dementia and their families/supporters.”

– Dan Kohl, President, Alzheimer Society of Saskatchewan Board of Directors

 “Joanne is and has always been committed to including the voices of people with lived experience with dementia. In all Society projects, Joanne pushes for a ‘Nothing about us without us’ approach. She has raised the profile and visibility of people diagnosed and living with dementia in our province and has helped changed some of the narrative and stigma around dementia.”

– Joanne Michael, Director of Programs and Services, Alzheimer Society of Saskatchewan

Joanne has also been instrumental in developing partnerships to help the Society achieve its mission. One such partnership was the 2010-2020 Saskatchewan Research Chair project, a $2M research initiative co-funded by the Alzheimer Society of Saskatchewan and the Saskatchewan Health Research Foundation. The success of this collaboration resulted in the creation of the present-day Dementia Research Solutions Program, which awards grants to research teams with at least two Saskatchewan-based researchers from different disciplines, and at least one Saskatchewan-based knowledge-user. In every grant application, research teams are strongly encouraged to involve individuals with lived/living experience.

“As a research funding partner, Joanne has established the Alzheimer Society of Saskatchewan as a major player within Saskatchewan and Canada. In addition to co-funding research with the Saskatchewan Health Research Foundation, Joanne has partnered with national funders and is networked with researchers within and outside Saskatchewan.

Through her leadership and guidance, Joanne is a fundraiser, funder, and facilitator of excellent health research, benefiting those with Alzheimer’s disease and other dementias in Saskatchewan. In Joanne’s words “Research is Hope”. I will continue to use this quote in years to come. Thank you for all you have done, Joanne!”

 

– Patrick Odnokon, CEO, Saskatchewan Health Research Foundation

On behalf of the Alzheimer Society of Saskatchewan’s Board of Directors, Senior Leadership Team, and Staff Members, we congratulate you on your exemplary career with the Society, Joanne.  We thank you for your passion, visionary leadership, and commitment to advocating for and improving the lives of people affected by dementia. We wish you all the very best in your retirement!