Laurel Martin

Wrapping up a research career with non-profit, academic, government, and for-profit organizations, Laurel now focuses on volunteering, learning new things, and doing activities that are closely aligned with her personal goals and values. Almost 10 years ago, a contract job with a small newcomer-focused organization led Laurel to a serendipitous relationship with a group of young men with diverse needs and goals. Now part of her large local chosen family, conversations with these and others whose backgrounds are unlike hers, led her to reconsider many things she has learned to take for granted. With this renewed perspective, tempered with a desire to make services better for everyone, Laurel joined Shared Health as a volunteer Patient Family Advisor.

Laurel’s bio-family is spread across the country and through them, she learns about the user-perspectives and differences in healthcare in other provinces. Some of her greatest concerns surround inequitable care among and within the provinces and territories and the cost of duplicate services in each of the Canadian health jurisdictions. As Laurel looks forward to and prepares for healthy aging, she spends her down time learning and doing basic home improvements and keeping an environmentally positive garden and yard.