Palliative Care Conference 2026

Dmitry Chepovetsky
Emcee

Dmitry Chepovetsky is a Ukrainian-born Canadian actor, with a career spanning more than three
decades, delivering intelligent, layered performances in both genre-defining hits and critically acclaimed dramas.

Chepovetsky is known for his Gemini Award–nominated performance as Bob in ReGenesis, where he
portrayed a brilliant biochemist navigating global crises at the intersection of science and ethics, as Bo in the award winning CTV/ CW hit comedy Children Ruin Everything and the historical icon Nikola Tesla on Murdoch Mysteries. Chepovetsky has been featured in Fox Studios’ Tubi original films Meet the Killer Parents and Dressed for Success and has done guest starring turns in multiple series including Law & Order Toronto: Criminal Intent, Hudson and Rex, Transplant, It: Welcome to Derry, Killjoys, Departure and Frankie Drake. His international features include Finch and Midland, Man of the Year and Lucky Number Slevin.

Dan Johnson
Keynote Speaker

Dan Johnson’s youngest son, Luke, passed away in July 2024, just a few months after his 8^th birthday. Luke‘s last weeks were spent in a hospice. In honour of Luke, the Johnson family launched a Live Like Luke Canada Crossing last summer by cycling from Vancouver to Port Dover, their hometown. It took them 48 days to complete the ride and in the process they’ve raised close to $500,000 for a new hospice to serve Norfolk and Haldimand counties. 

Dan will share his personal journey of losing his beloved son, how palliative care had supported his family and why a hospice is so important for the community.  

From Data to Dignity: AI’s Emerging Role in Palliative Care

Maria Panzera Rugg
Hospice and Palliative Care Nurse Educator, Life and Death Matters

Maria Panzera Rugg is a palliative care nurse leader with more than three decades of experience supporting individuals and families through serious illness, caregiving, and grief. Her work blends advanced clinical practice, educational leadership, and a deep commitment to dignity, compassion, and family centred care.

She currently serves as a hospice and palliative care nurse educator with Life and Death Matters in British Columbia and part time as palliative pain and symptom management coordinator with VON Hospice Durham in Ontario. In these roles, she mentors interprofessional teams, strengthens community capacity, and develops accessible, evidence informed curricula across the lifespan.

Maria’s expertise spans perinatal, pediatric, adult, and older adult palliative care, with leadership in regional pain and symptom management, quality improvement, and serious illness communication. She also contributes to academic teaching and mentorship as an adjunct lecturer in the University of Toronto’s Faculty of Nursing and through her long standing appointment in the division of palliative medicine.

The Gift of Care

Harry van Bommel
Author, Educator & Caregiver

Harry van Bommel became a family caregiver over 40 years ago when he cared for his parents and grandfather at home until they died. He is the author of 58 books in the fields of caregiving, palliative care, management and staff development, learning skills, and recording family histories. His books, speaking, videos, and recorded songs all come from a patient-family perspective.

Since 1999, over 200,000 copies of his books, Caring for Loved Ones at Home and Family Hospice Care have been distributed through more than 500 organizations across Canada for free distribution to patients, families, professionals and volunteers and also available for free reading and downloading from his web site. Harry has been an adult educator since 1981 and has a Masters of Adult Education Degree from St. Francis Xavier University in Antigonish, Nova Scotia.

Opioid Use in Palliative Care

Dr. Jenny Lau
Clinician-Investigator, Princess Margaret Cancer Center

Dr. Jenny Lau is a palliative care physician, trained in family medicine at the University of Ottawa, and then completed her year of added competency in palliative care at the University of Alberta.

Dr. Lau is a clinician-investigator at Princess Margaret Cancer Center, and advocates for equitable access to palliative care for vulnerable populations. She leads a nationally funded research program focused on opioid-related harms in palliative care. 

Pain Management

Brenda Derdaele
Palliative Pain & Symptom Management Consultant, Scarborough Centre for Healthy Communities

Brenda Derdaele has been a nurse for 32 years, with 25 of those years devoted to palliative care, primarily as a visiting nurse and palliative care coordinator with Ontario Health at Home, where she had the privilege of walking alongside patients and families during some of their most meaningful moments.

Brenda currently works as a palliative pain and symptom management consultant at Scarborough Centre for Healthy Communities, having spent the past five years in Durham Region and now beginning this role in Scarborough. This work is very close to her heart as she is truly grateful to be here with others who share a deep commitment to compassionate, patient-centred care. 

A Good Death

Leonard Benoit
Indigenous Patient Navigation Specialist, Toronto Regional Cancer Program

Leonard, born as Qualipu Mi’ Kmaq, comes from the unceded territory of Newfoundland and Labrador. He has called Toronto home for the last 21 years. 

He is a nurse with a passion for palliative care and is a certified death doula. For the last 8 years, he has worked as an indigenous patient navigator at the Toronto Regional Cancer Program. Recently, he joined Sunnybrook Health Sciences Center as their indigenous health and partnership lead.