Conversations with Leaders – The Power of Community Connection

This live, virtual event will feature a conversation between Dr. Julian Abel, palliative care physician and international leader in the compassionate communities movement, and Dr. Mary Lou Kelley, Canadian researcher, advocate for community-based approaches to aging and end-of-life care, and a dedicated Compassionate Ottawa volunteer. Together, they will explore Talk, Learn, Connect (TLC)—a community connector program developed in the UK that helps strengthen neighbourhood relationships and support people through life’s challenges.

The conversation will highlight how this grassroots initiative enables more social connection, cultivates mutual support, and builds compassionate communities from the ground up. Julian will share insights from the UK experience, and Mary Lou will reflect on how the model could be adapted and implemented in Canada. There will be time for questions after the conversation.