UVic Institute on Aging & Lifelong Health

06/23/2026

Have you heard of Hypoxic and Anoxic Brain Injury?👂

Hypoxic brain injuries occur when the brain is partially deprived of oxygen. Where Anoxic brain injuries occurs when the brain is completely deprived of its oxygen supply for an amount of time.🧠

These can lead to significant challenges in memory, mobility, and emotional health, among other symptoms affecting an individuals quality of life.💚

Causes can include overdoses, strokes, near-drowning, strangulation or cardiac arrest, making them closely linked to ongoing public health issues like the toxic drug crisis and intimate partner violence (IPV).

06/18/2026

This Pride Month, we celebrate the contributions, resilience and diverse experiences of 2SLGBTQIA+ older adults across B.C.

Their stories and advocacy have helped build stronger, more inclusive communities. We must continue improving services so all seniors can age with dignity, safety, respect and belonging.

06/17/2026

Congratulations to our 2026 Brain Art Contest Winners 🎉

🏆 People's Choice Award Winner (based on 65 votes!):
"My Tongue" by Fernanda Ezquerra Silva

🏆 Adult Reflections (25+ years):
"Connected Through Belonging" Facilitated by Lisa Blackwell, Student Art Psychotherapist with the Canadian International Institute of Art Therapy and the Victoria Brain Injury Society Art Group

🏆 Teen & Youth Visions (13–24 years):
"What Roots Us, What Raises Us" by Vidhi Parekh

🏆 Young Creators (12 years & under):
"I Am From" by Thea Gawryluk

Thank you to EVERYONE who submitted a piece of work. You made this year's showcase at the Audain Gallery the biggest yet! See you next year!

06/16/2026

06/12/2026

DEFY DEMENTIA On The Road
🗓️Tuesday, July 7, 2026
⏱️1:00 - 4:00pm
📍University Club, UVic

Join us for an engaging afternoon exploring what we can do to reduce risk factors for dementia and how everyone can enhance their brain health.

Co-hosted by Jay Ingram and Dr. Allison Sekuler, President and Chief Scientist at Baycrest Academy for Research and Education and the Centre for Aging + Brain Health Innovation (CABHI), this event is in-person and livestreamed, with panel and Q&A.

Registration is required. Register here:

Join us for an engaging afternoon exploring what we can do to reduce dementia risk—co-hosted by Jay Ingram and Dr. Allison Sekuler, President and Chief…

06/11/2026

Happening today with IALH Research Fellow Dr. Mariko Sakamoto ✨

Coming soon to the Yakimovich Wellness Centre: Addressing Inequities in Dementia Care Through Community-Led Approaches: A Focus on BC’s Chinese Community (June 11, 1-3 p.m.)

Canadians living with dementia – and those who care for them – need more supports that truly enhance their quality of life. For individuals from ethno-racial communities in Canada, accessing these supports can be especially challenging due to systemic inequities, including racism, language barriers, and cultural stigma surrounding dementia. In this session, Dr. Mariko Sakamoto will share insights from an innovative, nationally led project focused on developing meaningful quality-of-life supports for people living with dementia and their care partners in underserved but equity-deserving communities across Canada, with a focus on Black, Chinese, and South Asian communities. Learn more and register: https://eldercarefoundation.org/event/quality-of-life-supports-for-the-chinese-community/

06/11/2026

☕ Come chat with the Board next Wednesday Coffee to learn more about the open Director of Internal/University Relations position! If you're interested in advocacy and governance, we'd love to talk to you! The interim election will take place at the next Grad Rep Council meeting on Tuesday, June 23rd. Find more info at gss.uvic.ca/elections

06/10/2026

June is ALS Awareness Month. The Blue Cornflower is a hardy wildflower despite it's fragile appearance and the national flower of hope for ALS.

Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis (ALS) - also known as Lou Gehrig's disease - is a progressive neurodegenerative disease that affects the nerve cells in the brain and spinal cord. There are few effective treatments for ALS and no cure.

Learn more at ALS Society of BC:
https://www.alsbc.ca/support-us/june-is-als-awareness-month/