Peace River, AB — The Rural Health Professions Action Plan (RHPAP) is excited to announce an inspiring and diverse lineup of speakers for the upcoming RHPAP Conference this fall in Peace River, Alberta.
The conference will bring together healthcare professionals, municipal leaders, educators, researchers, students, AIR committees, and rural champions from across Alberta for two and a half days of practical learning, collaboration, and networking focused on strengthening healthcare in rural and remote communities.
This year’s featured keynote speakers and presenters include nationally recognized leaders in resilience, leadership, rural medicine, strategic planning, and integrated care.
Among the featured speakers is Jennifer Barroll, leadership strategist, speaker, and author of the upcoming book Make Work Better: Leading with the Human Edge. Her keynote session, The Generational Advantage: Leveraging Generational Strengths to Build Stronger Teams, will explore how organizations can build stronger workplace cultures and improve collaboration across generations.
Attendees will also hear from Jeremy Evans, widely known as “The Grizzly Dude,” whose remarkable story of surviving a near-fatal grizzly bear attack and receiving lifesaving care from rural healthcare heroes has inspired audiences across North America. His keynote, Picking Up the Pieces, focuses on resilience, mental fortitude, and perseverance through adversity.
Veteran strategist and government relations expert Hal Danchilla will bring decades of experience in leadership, communications, and strategic problem solving. Danchilla has advised municipalities, organizations, and political leaders across Alberta and Canada for more than 30 years and will share insights relevant to leadership, advocacy, and navigating complex challenges in rural communities.
The conference will also feature healthcare and education leaders Dr. Aaron Johnston and Dr. Richard Martin, who will present on the Importance of Rural Exposure and the critical role rural training experiences play in developing Alberta’s future healthcare workforce.
Dr. Johnston is Associate Dean of Distributed Learning and Rural Initiatives at the University of Calgary’s Cumming School of Medicine and a national leader in rural medical education. Dr. Martin, Assistant Dean of the University of Alberta’s Northern Alberta Medical Program, has spent more than three decades practicing comprehensive rural family medicine in northern Alberta while mentoring the next generation of physicians.
Additional sessions will include presentations from Kim Simmonds, CEO of Primary Care Alberta, Chantal Crawford, and Dr. Jonathan Somerville of Sundre, who will speak on a trauma training panel, as well as Marlene Raasok and Darlene Schindel from the Alberta Association of Gerontology, who will lead discussions focused on integrated care and supporting rural caregivers through stronger community collaboration and connected services.
In addition to conference programming, attendees will have opportunities to connect during unique offsite networking experiences hosted at Lac Cardinal Pioneer Village & Museum, Peace River Brewing, and the Peace River Art Hub.
“The RHPAP Conference is about bringing together people who care deeply about the future of rural healthcare and rural communities,” said Tracy Sopkow, RHPAP CEO “This year’s speaker lineup offers a powerful combination of practical insight, inspiration, leadership, and real-world experience that attendees can bring back to their own communities.”
The conference offers:
• Two and a half full days of programming
• Meals included
• Networking events and community experiences
• Early bird registration of $225 until June 9 at 11:59 p.m., representing a $75 savings
Peace River itself will serve as part of the conference experience, showcasing the resilience, innovation, and community-rooted care that define rural Alberta.
More information and registration details can be found by clicking here.
Financial contribution for RHPAP has been provided through the Ministry of Primary and Preventative Health Services.
Media Contacts:
Emily Rachel
Advisor, Marketing and Communications
emily.rachel@rhpap.ca
587.321.0652