Board of Directors

In the picture:
David O. Johnston, Linda Marion (Vice-President), Lynn Travers, Janet Torge, Raquel Huggins
Deirdre Shipton, Ruth Pelletier (Founder), Mona Beck (President)
Missing: FrançoisHudon (Treasurer), Diane Lemay (Secretary), Bruce Cameron, Ann Martell

Mona Beck, President

Mona Beck is a graduate of McGill University’s Faculties of Nursing (BScN) and Education (MEd) and worked in the public health care system for over 40 years until her retirement in 2014.  For 14 years, she was a seniors’ Day Centre Coordinator and then became the Assistant Director of Nursing and Specialized Services for Jewish Eldercare and Maimonides Geriatric Centres. Mona also volunteered at the NDG Community Committee on Elder Abuse, eventually becoming the Chair for six-year period. She also serves on the Board and on various committees of the Alzheimer Society of Montreal. Since retiring, Mona Beck has worked as a course lecturer at CEGEP John Abbott College, providing nurses with Continuing Education courses. Since November 2017, she has also acted as the Local Service Quality and Complaints Commissioner (Ombudsperson) for CHSLD Bayview Inc.

Linda Marion, Vice-President

Born and raised in Rouyn-Noranda, Linda acquired her English primary and secondary education. After 4 years at the University of New Brunswick, she graduated with a Bachelor of Physical Education and returned to Rouyn-Noranda to begin a teaching career.

Rouyn-Noranda, located in the northwestern region of Abitibi-Témiscamingue, has a population of 42,313, of which just over 4% speak English. Presently École Noranda School – student population 100 - is the only English-speaking school in an official-language minority community. After 36 years in the teaching profession, as teacher and Principal, Linda retired from Noranda School in 2007. Principalship responsibilities and a Physical Education background assisted in honing her organizational and management skills. She also served on Rouyn-Noranda’s Access Committee. Presently a Board Member on Neighbours Regional Association of Abitibi-Témiscamingue, she acts as the rural link to Seniors Action Quebec (SAQ).

A Board member of SAQ since 2018, her awareness of English access to Quebec health and social services began while caring for her English-speaking parents. Recent involvement as a caregiver to a 100-year-old English-speaking neighbour was an “eye-opener” to the additional challenges of Quebec's aging English-speaking population. With the many challenges that the English-speaking seniors are presently facing, she believes that SAQ is vital watchdog. With this additional knowledge, she looks forward to helping English-speaking seniors have equal access to health care, to navigate their challenges and to be their spokeswoman. She is motivated by the knowledge that seniors are the fastest growing demographic, and by 2030, they will become nearly 25% of the total population!

François Hudon, Treasurer

Bio available soon

Diane Lemay, Secretary

Has resided in Longueuil since 1990. Retired from the Canadian Forces with 27 years of service. Diane holds a Certificate in Pastoral Ministries from College Andre Grasset, and has a BA with a major in Theology and a minor in Sociology. She is employed part-time as a Pastoral Animator in the Diocese of St Jean Longueuil. She served six years on the Board of Directors of the English-Speaking Catholic Council (ESCC), two years as President. She is also a member of the Catholic Women’s League of Canada, and a Past Provincial President, and Past Sub-Convener of the National Community Life Standing Committee. While on the Board of Directors for the ESCC she attended seniors' workshops sponsored by the ESCC. “As a senior myself, I am very interested in promoting healthy living for seniors, ensuring that seniors have adequate housing that fits their needs and finding ways and means to help isolated seniors in our communities.”

Bruce Cameron

Bruce Cameron is a retired social services professional with over 40 years of experience in child welfare, employment support, and community-based elder care. He founded and directed CDB Services à domicile, a social economy home care enterprise in Montreal, and has led numerous volunteer initiatives including Gay and Grey Montreal and Senior Pride Network Canada. Bruce holds degrees from York University and Concordia University and has been a long-time advocate for English-speaking seniors and the 2SLGBTQAI+ community. Passionate about equitable access to health and social services, especially in regional Quebec, Bruce brings both lived and professional expertise to the mission of Seniors Action Quebec.

Raquel Huggins

Raquel’s journey in community service began as a volunteer with Sun Youth's summer program for children. Over the years, she has had the privilege of working with various organizations, including the YMCA Westmount, YMCA NDG, Head and Hands, and the NDG Black Community Center. Her dedication to supporting her community led Raquel to pursue culinary studies in Toronto, where she became a certified nutritionist and volunteered at food banks and shelters for intimate partner violence survivors, providing healthy meals and meal prep instruction.

Upon returning to Montreal, Raquel continued her community involvement by joining the CDNBCA (Cote-Des-Neiges Black Community Association), where she worked with the Music and After-School Homework programs for children. Her passion for promoting nutrition and better cooking practices eventually led her into providing nutritional guidance and cooking workshops to their members, in conjunction working and supporting the members of CBAC (Council for Black Aging Community). This experience ultimately propelled Raquel to serve on the Board of Directors of both organizations at different times within the years she spent working with them. This is where Raquel has been deeply engaged for nearly a decade now and where she has been addressing the challenges and advocating for the needs of our senior population.

Raquel believes in the importance of promoting not only physical health but also mental and emotional well-being among seniors. By fostering social connections, providing accessible transportation options, and ensuring access to affordable services, we can enhance the quality of life for seniors and promote their independence and dignity.

David O. Johnston

A retired journalist and federal public servant with over four decades of experience in communications, official languages, and public engagement. David spent 33 years at The Montreal Gazette before serving as Quebec and Nunavut representative for the Commissioner of Official Languages. He currently volunteers as a guide at the Château Ramezay Museum and brings extensive expertise in public policy, media, and advocacy for English-speaking communities.

Ann Martell

Ann Martell is a bilingual human resources executive with over 30 years of leadership experience in healthcare, public service, and consulting. She has held senior roles at organizations including the CISSS des Îles, CHU de Québec – Université Laval, and Jeffery Hale – Saint Brigid’s, specializing in HR strategy, labour relations, and organizational development. Ann holds a Master’s in Industrial Relations from Université Laval and has served on numerous boards, including YWCA Canada, YWCA de Québec, Voice of English-speaking Québec, and regional health and education institutions. Her service has earned her national recognition, including the Queen Elizabeth II Jubilee and Diamond Jubilee Medals.

Deirdre Shipton

After close to forty years in Nursing, Deidre retired and moved from Montreal to Harrington, QC, a community, of less than 700 people, a little north of Lachute. She soon found herself involved in the community and often as an advocate for unilingual English-speaking seniors, trying to access services in the healthcare sector. Her community involvement has given her the opportunity to work with some wonderful individuals and organizations, opportunities that she would not have had in the city. Her work with community seniors' groups has resulted in grants for the rebuilding of community centres in need of repair and the development of programs for seniors and caregivers.

She has been involved with numerous community organizations some of which include, Harrington Golden Age, La résidence de Lachute, Laurentian English Services Advisory Network - Argenteuil (LESAN-A), Comité régional pour l’accès aux services en langue anglaise (CRASLA), and Rouge Valley Days, a seniors' weekly wellness day program.

I thrive in this community's spirit with its people and beauty. I am privileged to serve individuals and groups with my healthcare background. And I so look forward to meeting and serving with the exceptional community of Seniors' Action Quebec.

Janet Torge

Janet Torge is the founder of Radical Resthomes, an innovative housing model focused on affordable, co-living for seniors who want to stay out of institutional residences. The idea for Radical Resthomes was conceived some 30 years ago when she and her friends watched their parents age and did not want to end up in a seniors’ residence. The vision has changed and Janet has aged - but she never lost sight of the idea that seniors come in all shapes, sizes and personalities. Their housing should be just as varied as they are.

She has also worn the hats of television documentary producer, radio talk-show host, traffic reporter, Montreal Gazette columnist and co-founder of the first rape relief centre in Canada.

In the last couple of years, Janet has felt the need to become more involved with other senior community groups also working on projects designed to support and foster healthy aging. She is a member of the Board of Directors for the Eva Marsden Centre for Social Justice and Aging and is a regular speaker at conferences and gatherings in Quebec and across Canada dealing with senior housing and healthy aging.

Lynn Travers

Before arriving in Canada, Lynn taught for five years in the UK. Before gaining employment at the ministère de l’Éducation de Québec (MEQ), she worked as a teacher, vice-principal, principal, and special projects officer at the Jérôme-Le-Royer School Board.

At the MEQ, Lynn first worked as the Montreal regional coordinator before joining the English services team within the Ministry. This unit, where she ultimately became team leader, was responsible for the interface between the English school boards and the Ministry of Education. In her final years at the MEQ, she acted as the assistant to the Assistant Deputy Minister, dealing with policy decisions for the English education sector across the province.

On retirement in 2009, Lynn was asked to work as the Secretary to the Advisory Board on English Education, a position equivalent to that of an Executive Director. She retired from this position in June 2024. Also, in 2009, Lynn earned a post-graduate diploma in translation and has run a translation business since qualifying. Clients include school boards, universities, and community groups such as QCGN. Lynn is on the Board of the Montreal University Women’s Club (MUWC) and the Quebec Provincial Association of Retired School Educators (QPARSE). She enjoys reading, walking, volunteering, and travelling in her spare time.

Founder, Ruth Pelletier

For close to 60 years, Ruth has been an activist and advocate for the less fortunate, both in her paid positions as well as in her volunteer activities. Beginning in the1960’s, Ruth worked in geriatrics at the Verdun Protestant Hospital now known as The Douglas Hospital. She then moved into a different field and in the late 1960’s was a founding member of the Greater Montreal Anti-Poverty Coordinating Committee (GMAPCC).

Her consumer advocacy work at The Central Council for Consumers of Ville Marie Social Services led to employment opportunities as a broadcaster with CJAD, CFCF and as a weekly contributor on CBC ‘s “Home Run” radio.

Following 12 years with Alliance Quebec, where she initially worked in Community Development and ended as the Executive Director, Ruth became the Executive Director of The Canadian Continence Foundation, a national health organization.

As the founder of Seniors Action Quebec (SAQ), Ruth had the opportunity to bring the community together at pre-budgetary consultations and to submit their views on matters such as housing; health concerns such as long-term-care, oral health and the financial issues facing seniors. The challenges and needs are many.

Other files Ruth has worked on are Age Friendly Cities, Ageism, Mature Workers, Housing, Inter-Generational projects, and mental health challenges such as anxiety, social isolation and depression that have drastically increased in the wake of the COVID-19 pandemic.

Ruth continues to organize conferences and webinars for Seniors Action Quebec and other organizations so seniors are informed and continue to participate. In addition, she has served for 5+ years on the Seniors Council with her local MP, Mr. Peter Schiefke and is also a member of Mr. Greg Kelley’s (Provincial Liberal MNA) Seniors’ Committee.

Apart from being a member of Seniors Action Quebec, Ruth is also a member of Montérégie West Community Network, St Antoine Seniors’ Center, Montreal Council of Women, Kiwanis Lakeshore Montreal Club and recently became a member of the Advisory Board for EngAGE at Concordia University. She is also a member of the Canadian Deprescribing Network’s Public Awareness Committee, as Quebec’s representative.

Her family consists of 5 children, 8 grandchildren and 2 great grandsons.