Event

One of the things we never talk about is the one thing that we all have in common: we will all die. 

Yet we don’t treat death the way we treat other human developmental stages. Nobody wants to bring it up, we often fail to plan for it, and we may end up in crisis when it is looming. Our inspiring and engaging speakers have dedicated their lives and careers to talking about death and dying. They would love to tell you’re their stories, especially about how replacing fear and denial with openness and acceptance improves the quality of life that you are living.

Session 4: Medical Assistance in Dying with Jennifer Sanford

Medical assistance to die isn’t just about offering a choice to a person who is terminally ill, it’s also about shaping how we—as a society—define dignity.

Medical assistance in dying (MAID) has now been a right for Canadians for nearly five years, yet misconceptions and misinformation about what MAID is, opposition advocacy, and the shortcomings of the current legislation continue to create barriers to access and acceptance. With new legislation on the horizon, this session addresses the future of MAID: how it can navigate a complicated landscape of stakeholders and politics, how it fits into a larger conservation about death, how we honor the trailblazers of MAID, and how good policy—and better dialogue—will make all the difference.

Jennifer Sanford is a storyteller and a rhetorician. She is a vocal advocate for the expansion of Canada’s Medical Assistance in Dying legislation as a non-partisan human rights issue. She has been through the MAID process twice: with her grandfather in 2018 and with her aunt the following year. Jennifer holds a Master of Arts in Political Communication from John Hopkins University and is currently completing the public policy leadership program at Harvard. You can find Jennifer pinned to a lav mic on the conference circuit or in college classrooms inspiring a new generation of communicators. You can hear her voice—and perspective—in the popular Canadian podcast, Conservative Like Me.

Registration required in order to receive a Zoom invite. Register online or call 604-929-3727, ext. 8166.

Please note: This program will be held on Zoom. What you’ll need: A computer with microphone (or headphones) and webcam for Zoom; or your smartphone/tablet. We will email you the Zoom link in advance of the event.