Sarah Bercier, Ba, Ma Email & Phone Number

Ottawa, Ontario

Ottawa, Ontario

Relied upon by several companies, public service, not-for-profits and community organizations to prepare and deliver educational, dynamic, entertaining and interactive seminars on a variety of key life and workplace related issues. Repeatedly requested to share specialized insight pertaining to the psychological and lifestyle aspects of retirement and aging and all associated change management.Client list includes: - Retirement Planning Institute: Canada’s premier provider of retirement planning seminars for the Public Service- Shepell FGI: Work, Health and Life Learning Sessions for this EFAP provider- Canadian Forces: Retirement and Second Career Seminars- National Judicial Institute- Health Canada: Retirement Workshops- Several other organizations, churches, and community groups with extensive older adult membership. Writing skills are called upon to generate articles covering a variety of timely retirement topics spanning volunteerism, navigating retirement as a single, dealing with spouses, finding purpose, coaching and sexuality in later life. Retained by the Conroy Group to create content for LifeScape – a web site designed to assist individuals with retirement planning.Passionate about helping others, privately coach clients regarding areas of concern during the transition to the retirement years. Tap into expert knowledge of local and regional resources. Regularly share contacts for resources including caregiving support, volunteer connections, education opportunities, grief support and much more for retirees. Have a detailed list of printed material and bookmarked websites ready to share with clients as they embark on change.

Ottawa, Canada Area

Over the course of tenure, wore triple hats for this national not-for-profit multi-disciplinary scientific and educational association established to provide leadership in matters related to the aging population. As the principal staff member specialized in aging, served as a resource for others.Managed the details and steered the marketing strategy of the CAG’s Annual Scientific and Educational Meeting with 800+ delegates, 500+ speakers, 100+ volunteers and personally created the 100+ page program guide. Handled all logistics (i.e. schedules, session development, keynotes, exhibits, lunches, awards, special events, AV needs, hotel, travel and volunteer coordination). Throughout the year, collaborated with national program development committees to determine conference content, goals, objectives, and programming.Headed the quarterly organizational newsletter including the development and selection of content, desktop publishing, printing and distribution.Managed the development of the Seniors Affiliate of the Canadian Health Network - a Government of Canada web site designed to provide Canadians with reliable health information. Guided the review and selection of critical content and informational tools. Managed project staff. Partnered with committees, experts and government representatives in successfully establishing a trusted network on aging.

Winnipeg, Manitoba

Recommended and entrusted to identify service needs of seniors living in subsidized public housing. In keeping with the mandate to foster independent living, identified gaps in service needs. Typical areas of need included home care, foot care, meal programs, tax and financial assistance, transportation, friendly visiting and substance abuse management. Held case conferences as required with individuals from relevant organizations to ensure the appropriate care for each individual.Sourced and formalized a network of professionals, organizations, programs and services in order to address identified care needs and establish individualized plans of care. This allowed for the opportunity to extend healthy, independent living to seniors within the identified communities.Leveraged multi-cultural sensitivity for those seniors who were immigrants, many lacking a familial support network and who were often English as a Second Language (ESL).Benchmarked best practices for the role by writing a job manual to ensure performance consistency with peers, thus avoiding service gaps. The new guide was wholeheartedly embraced by management and staff.Managed three buildings upon assignment. Worked effectively and efficiently to the extent that a fourth and a fifth building were added to the portfolio of responsibility. This paved the way for a total of 500 seniors to have access to the program, many of whom did not previously have access.

Master Of Arts (M.A.), Clinical Counseling

Activities and Societies: Yearbook Editor, Social Committee Coordinator

Bachelor Of Arts (B.A.), Psychology