Celebrating Excellence: Meet CHPCA’s 25 Coronation Medal Nominees, Part 2

In January, CHPCA was proud to announce the 25 Coronation Medal recipients we nominated for their dedication and contributions to hospice palliative care in Canada. To celebrate each recipient’s achievements, and thanks to the support of the Saint Elizabeth Foundation, we want to help you get to know a little more about each of them. Learn more about the recipients from Quebec, the Prairies, and Western Canada by reading their bios below!

For the recipients in Atlantic Canada and Ontario, see part 1 of this blog post here!

Quebec

Johanne de Montigny

The survivor of a plane crash in 1979, Johanne de Montigny became a pioneer in palliative psychology in Canada. She worked with Dr. Balfour Mount to establish psychological support services for patients and bereaved families at the Royal Victoria Hospital. She has spent close to 30 years training and supervising psychologists in Québec and France, while teaching at Université de Montréal and UQAM. A sought-after speaker and author of four books, she has distinguished herself in the field of palliative care, receiving the Ordre des psychologues du Québec award in 2018 and the AQSP award in 2019.

 

Dr. Justine Farley

A family doctor specializing in palliative care and geriatrics, Justine Farley was the head of palliative care services at Montréal’s St. Mary’s Hospital and assistant professor at McGill University. Since 2016, she has been practicing at a seniors’ residence. The vice-president of the Association québécoise de soins palliatifs, she is a board member of the Canadian Hospice Palliative Care Association and has chaired the AQSP congress since 2018. Active in the Coalition du Québec pour l’accès aux soins palliatifs, she contributes to the site Palli-Science and offers Pallium LEAP training. A prominent speaker, she is an advocate for improvements in palliative care.

 

Zelda Freitas

Zelda Freitas is a Professional Social Worker and Clinical Senior Advisor at CIUSSS Center-West Montreal, specializing in caregiving, palliative care, and adult mistreatment. An Adjunct Professor at McGill’s School of Social Work, she develops courses and mentors students. Zelda co-founded the Caregiver Grief Connexion project and serves on advisory boards, including McGill’s Council on Palliative Care and the Canadian Center for Caregiving Excellence. She is a frequent presenter, researcher, and collaborator with organizations supporting caregivers and individuals with advanced illnesses. Her personal caregiving experience informs her compassionate approach, while she balances her professional achievements with family life.

 

Dr. Louise La Fontaine

Louise La Fontaine, a graduate in medicine from Université de Sherbrooke (1980), began specializing in palliative care after a career in a semi-rural region where she discovered the importance of the therapeutic relationship. She holds a master’s degree in clinical ethics and a doctorate in practical theology and has also trained in clinical hypnosis. Committed to improving palliative care, she has held important roles, including medical advisor, professor and co-founder of the first hospice in the Lower St. Lawrence. President of the AQSP since 2017, she initiated the Coalition du Québec pour l’accès aux soins palliatifs and created the first university department in palliative care at the Université de Sherbrooke.

 

Michèle Viau-Chagnon

Michèle Viau-Chagnon, co-founder of Le Phare, Enfants et Familles, revolutionized pediatric palliative care in Québec. At the Montreal Children’s Hospital, she coordinated an innovative palliative care program and developed training in end-of-life care and bereavement. In 1999, she launched Le Phare, which initially offered home care services and then opened Québec’s first pediatric hospice in 2007, thanks to an ambitious fundraising campaign. A visionary and philanthropist, Michèle raised over $60 million for Le Phare and received many awards, including the Ordre national du Québec and the Meritorious Service Cross.

 

Manitoba

Dr. Michael Harlos

Dr. Michael Harlos dedicated 29 years to palliative care. He was the first Medical Director of Palliative Care for the Winnipeg Regional Health Authority, holding the role for 20 years, and founded Winnipeg’s Pediatric Palliative Care service. A University of Manitoba Professor, he was Section Head of Palliative Medicine for 22 years. Dr. Harlos co-founded the Canadian Network of Palliative Care for Children, maintained Palliative.info for 17 years, and was a Clinical Team Lead for Canadian Virtual Hospice. Honored with awards like the CHPCA Pediatric Excellence Award, he now enjoys time with his wife of 41 years and four grandchildren.

 

Dr. Bruce Martin

Dr. Bruce Martin, a Queen’s University graduate, dedicated over 30 years to northern and Indigenous healthcare, working with over 30 First Nations and Inuit communities. Since 2011, Bruce has specialized in adult and pediatric palliative care through the Winnipeg Regional Health Authority and the University of Manitoba. His commitment to equitable healthcare access is reflected in his Master’s research on palliative care in remote Inuit communities. Recognized for his interprofessional approaches, Bruce values the lessons he learned from patients, mentors, and communities he served. A proud husband, father of five and grandfather of two, he enjoys woodworking, sewing, cooking, and storytelling.

 

Saskatchewan

Dr. Vivian Walker

Dr. G. Vivian Walker, a Saskatchewan native, has dedicated over 40 years to medicine, serving in family practice, cancer care, and palliative care. Inspired by her Swedish-Canadian roots and a no-nonsense RN mother, Viv finds purpose in accompanying patients and families through life’s final chapter. She played a key role in building Saskatchewan’s first free-standing hospice, a career highlight. Supported by her husband Keith, their four children, and seven lively grandchildren, Viv treasures life’s balance and joy. Guided by Mother Teresa’s words, “We can do no great things, only small things with great love,” her ongoing work remains deeply meaningful.

 

Alberta

Elaine Klym

Elaine Klym, RN, has over 35 years of nursing experience, including 30 in Hospice Palliative Care. A certified specialist, she helped establish a ten-bed residential hospice in Sudbury, ON, including pediatric care. Elaine’s advocacy spans national efforts like Bill C-220, improving bereavement leave for caregivers. As a caregiver for her terminally ill father, she gained firsthand insight into caregiving challenges, driving her passion for change. She has held leadership roles with provincial and national hospice associations and is now Vice-President of the CHPCA and Resident Care Manager at Dulcina Hospice, inspiring others with her dedication to compassionate end-of-life care.

 

Donna Wilson

Dr. Donna Wilson, a retired University of Alberta Nursing Professor and Registered Nurse, has over 35 years of experience in healthcare, research, and education. Her work focuses on aging, ageism, end-of-life care, and grief, with a commitment to improving hospice palliative care policy and access. Widely published with over 400 works, she has advanced home-based palliative care and patient autonomy in end-of-life decisions. A dedicated educator and mentor, Donna ensured nursing students received hospice training. She continues to volunteer, research, and advocate for better end-of-life care globally, leaving a lasting impact on healthcare policy and compassionate care.

 

British Columbia

Dr. Fraser Black

Dr. Fraser Black is a Clinical Professor at UBC and a family physician at Victoria’s Cool Aid Society Community Health Centre. With nearly 30 years in palliative care, he supports patients from underserved populations through Victoria’s Palliative Outreach Resource Team (PORT), addressing barriers they face like poverty and homelessness. Dr. Black has contributed to palliative care initiatives in Nepal, India, Tanzania, and Brazil for over 20 years and is a former board member of the International Association for Hospice and Palliative Care. Based in Victoria since 2002, Fraser enjoys his off-grid cabin and acquiring new scars.

 

Shannon Freeman

Dr. Shannon Freeman, Associate Professor at UNBC’s School of Nursing, specializes in the health and social care needs of older adults in rural and northern communities, focusing on aging, palliative care, and caregiving. She holds a PhD in Health Studies and Gerontology from the University of Waterloo and an MSc from Tohoku University in Japan. Dr. Freeman founded CTAAN, an AGE-WELL innovation hub improving technology for aging populations, and received the 2020 Michael Smith Foundation for Health Research – AGE-WELL Scholar Award. Her research and collaborations with communities enhance the quality of life for vulnerable populations in rural and northern Canada.

 

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A virtual ceremony honouring all 25 Coronation Medal recipients will be held on February 28, 2025 at 2:30PM EST (Click here to register to attend). Please join us in celebrating them for their invaluable contributions to strengthening quality hospice palliative care in Canada.

To learn more about the Coronation Medal recipients in Atlantic Canada and Ontario, see part 1 of this blog post here!