Prince George, B.C. – UNBC researcher Dr. Shannon Freeman is being recognized for her significant contributions to improving the health and social needs of older Canadians living in rural and northern communities.

Freeman has been awarded a King Charles III’s Coronation Medal by the Canadian Hospice Palliative Care Association (CHPCA) for championing palliative care in northern B.C. and throughout the province. She is the Vice President of the B.C. Hospice Palliative Care Association and the provincial representative to the CHPCA.

As an emerging leader in B.C.’s health research system, the UNBC School of Nursing Associate Professor focuses on aging research, technology-based solutions for seniors and palliative care.

Freeman has spearheaded and contributed to a number of leading-edge projects in the area of aged care, including establishing the Centre for Technology Adoption for Aging in the North (CTAAN) in 2019. As an AGE-WELL National Innovation Hub at UNBC, CTAAN works in partnership with Northern Health to help older adults and their caregivers access and implement technology that supports independent living. The centre collaborates with technology innovators to test, pilot and promote solutions tailored to the unique needs of northern and rural populations.

Named a Michael Smith Foundation for Health Research 2020 Scholar, the five-year award has supported Freeman’s ongoing research. She has published widely in the field of palliative and hospice care and has been instrumental in co-designing a hospice-at-home program in partnership with the Prince George Hospice Palliative Care Society.

In an effort to support adults living with dementia, Freeman is working with colleagues at UNBC and research teams at Simon Fraser University and the University of British Columbia to determine what can be done to make neighbourhoods more livable and safer for older adults.

"Collaborating with older adults, caregivers, healthcare providers, researchers and technology innovators is essential to creating solutions that support independent living for all Canadians, but particularly those living in rural and northern communities,” says Freeman. “Ensuring people have the resources and technology they need to live in their homes for as long as they choose empowers them to age with dignity and grace. These supports not only improve individual well-being but also strengthen families and help northern and rural communities thrive."

The UNBC researcher is also involved in regional and provincial efforts to bridge the gap between innovative ideas and marketable concepts, most recently taking part in the Northern Regional Round Table for an Inclusive Entrepreneurial Future at UNBC.

Freeman’s dedication to improving the lives of older adults through broad collaboration, research-informed solutions and technology innovations continues to lead meaningful change – supporting Canadians to age well.