Sonya L. Jakubec, PhD (University of Calgary), MN (University of Victoria), BHScN (Auckland University of Technology), DipN (University of Alberta Hospital), RN

Sonya is a Full Professor with the School of Nursing and Midwifery at Mount Royal University (MRU) in Calgary, Alberta, Canada with a clinical background in community mental health nursing. She is the author of several textbooks and courses in related topics and has taught in nursing programs previously in West Africa, in British Columbia, Canada - and has been employed at MRU since 2003.

Sonya’s community-based research program is centred on the intersection of environment(s), health and wellbeing with a focus on nature connectedness for people with dementia, disabilities, and in palliative, end-of-life and grief care.

She collaborates with government and community groups locally, nationally and internationally to mobilize knowledge and employs novel approaches to dissemination and outreach that include documentary film, program/policy & guidelines development and immersive walking workshops.

You can find Sonya seeking the joy in family caregiving, walking Calgary's urban parks, community gardening, xc skiing and hiking in the foothills and in her happy place of Yoho National Park in Western Canada.