DATE Lab Chats: Valentine's Day Edition
Join our DATE Lab team in celebrating Valentine’s Day!
Love is just around the corner and the DATE lab loves celebrating! We recognize that not everyone chooses to celebrate partnerships or friendships on Valentine’s Day and that’s okay. We also understand this season can be difficult for those who have lost someone they love to dementia or caregivers who are struggling to find support and time to take care of themselves.
Whatever your situation may be this Valentine’s Day, we extend our sincere love and gratitude for being a part of our small community. We love what we do in the lab and are thankful for getting to share it with you!
This month we sat down with the DATE lab team to celebrate the work we do and share a little about how we celebrate valentine’s day with sweets.
Read below…..
Kristina Kokorelias, Policy Analyst
Kristina Kokorelias
What do you love most about working in dementia research?
The people I’ve gotten to meet and the stories I’ve heard.
What is your favourite candy/sweets to celebrate Valentine’s with?
Sour gummy candy….they don’t even need to be heart shaped.
If you could write a love note to any historical figure dead or alive, who would it be and what would you say?
Ruth Bader Ginsburg- you once said “[I want to be remembered as] someone who used whatever talent she had to do her work to the very best of her ability. And to help repair tears in her society, to make things a little better through the use of whatever ability she has…” and I’d say, congratulations, you achieved that.
Alana Bernick, Project Coordinator
Alana Bernick
What do you love most about working in dementia research?
Having the meaningful opportunity to collaboratively learn with individuals who bring diverse and rich lived experiences
What is your favourite candy/sweets to celebrate Valentine’s with?
CHOCOLATE!! (anything chocolate and peanut butter … 😊 )
If you could write a love note to any historical figure dead or alive, who would it be and what would you say?
That’s a tough one … but let’s go with William Shakespeare! I would probably reference some of his beautiful works with a modern twist … maybe throwing in some heart emojis!
Erica Dove, PhD student
Erica Dove
What do you love most about working in dementia research?
Being “on the ground” with the participants and learning about their unique perspectives regarding technology
What is your favourite candy/sweets to celebrate Valentine’s with?
Mini eggs! (not really a Valentine’s day treat but oh well)
Katie Newton, MSc OT student
Katie Newton
What do you love most about working in dementia research?
I love working with older adults and this research makes me feel like I'm doing something that could really help them.
What is your favourite candy/sweets to celebrate Valentine’s with?
Anything with chocolate!
Juanita Atton, Research Analyst (and author of this newsletter!)
Juanita Atton
What do you love most about working in dementia research?
I enjoy getting to challenge the stigma that persons with dementia cannot learn to use technologies. Helping individuals find new activities on tablets that they otherwise would not have thought they could learn to do is very rewarding.
What is your favourite candy/sweets to celebrate Valentine’s with?
Macaroons! (La Durée Rose flavour is my all time favourite)
If you could write a love note to any historical figure dead or alive, who would it be and what would you say?
Dr. Rita Levi-Montalcini (1909-2012)- thank you for your perseverance and love for knowledge during a time when your very life was at stake. Your contributions to neurodevelopment and chronic pain are critical to modern-day research.
Maria Acenas, Research Analyst
Maria Acenas
What do you love most about working in dementia research?
Working with participants and getting to know them on a personal level
What is your favourite candy/sweets to celebrate Valentine’s with?
Chocolates (anything with peanuts and caramel in it!)
If you could write a love note to any historical figure dead or alive, who would it be and what would you say?
Kamala Harris “thank you for continuing to pave the way for all women”
Mary Hynes, Masters student
Mary Hynes
What do you love most about working in dementia research?
I enjoy being a part of a research lab that sees beyond how to better warehouse or that is looking for an eventual miracle cure
What is your favourite candy/sweets to celebrate Valentine’s with?
My favourite treat is quality dark chocolate and ice wine
If you could write a love note to any historical figure dead or alive, who would it be and what would you say?
I would write a love letter to my deceased husband [content redacted for privacy]
Nirusa Nadesar, Masters student
Nirusa Nadesar
What do you love most about working in dementia research?
What I love most about dementia research is hearing about all the unique experiences everyone has surrounding this topic, and also hearing firsthand, just how many people are affected by this disease.
What is your favourite candy/sweets to celebrate Valentine’s with?
Hershey Kisses
If you could write a love note to any historical figure dead or alive, who would it be and what would you say?
I would write a love note to Jane Austen. I would thank her for her eloquent writing contributions and commend her for prioritizing her own work, all while not being recognized as a writer by her peers.
Dr. Arlene Astell, Principal Investigator
Dr. Arlene Astell
What do you love most about working in dementia research?
The opportunity to challenge negative stereotypes and misconceptions by continually confounding expectations of what people living with dementia can do.
What is your favourite candy/sweets to celebrate Valentine’s with?
Dark Chocolate
If you could write a love note to any historical figure dead or alive, who would it be and what would you say?
Mary Astell (1666-1731) - thank you for your courage and writings and taking a leading role in challenging the status quo on women's roles and expectations within society.
Erin Kirk, MSc OT student
Erin Kirk
What do you love most about working in dementia research?
I love the innovative ways we are integrating technology into understanding cognitive processes and how to support and connect with people with dementia.
What is your favourite candy/sweets to celebrate Valentine’s with?
My favourite valentine sweet: Hershey’s chocolate kisses
If you could write a love note to any historical figure dead or alive, who would it be and what would you say?
Rosalind Franklin: I would tell her that her scientific work discovering the structure of DNA has not gone unnoticed in modern times, and that I admire her as a woman in STEM!