Salimah Walji-Shivji – AgeCare

Salimah Walji-Shivji became CEO of AgeCare in January 2024, bringing a unique blend of legal, social work, and healthcare experience. Her journey to this pivotal position is rooted in a passion for service, continuous education and building strong, compassionate communities. Holding a master’s in social work from the University of Calgary and a law degree from the University of Manitoba, she has dedicated her career to advocating for better healthcare services and creating impactful change.

Salimah Walji-Shivji | AgeCare | CEO

Before joining AgeCare, Walji-Shivji spent more than 12 years with Alberta Health Services, holding various positions, including General Counsel, where she played a key role in establishing a clinical legal law team. Since joining AgeCare in December 2015 as general counsel and subsequently taking on the role of chief operating officer, her leadership has been pivotal to placing AgeCare on the map within the senior care landscape in Canada.

“My career has taken many pivots and turns throughout the years, teaching me that the unplanned moments often lead to the most rewarding destinations,” Walji-Shivji says.

AgeCare is a leading provider of continuing care for seniors, operating in more than 50 communities across Alberta, British Columbia, and Ontario. With over 10,000 staff members, AgeCare serves seniors through long-term care, assisted living, and independent living facilities. The organization delivers person-centered care, focusing on compassion, collaboration, and innovation. Founded in 1998, AgeCare has been at the forefront of senior care, continually expanding its reach and improving services to meet the growing needs of Canada’s aging population.

It’s not easy

As CEO, Walji-Shivji is well aware of the challenges AgeCare faces in the years ahead. Staffing shortages remain a pressing issue, particularly in smaller, remote communities, where attracting and retaining talent is difficult, often due to lack of amenities such as affordable housing. Recruiting healthcare professionals to rural areas is an ongoing challenge that requires creativity and persistence. Walji-Shivji emphasizes that AgeCare constantly evaluates its recruitment and retention strategies to ensure they are meeting the needs of both employees and residents.

Another challenge is the increasing demand for senior care services as Canada’s population ages. The demographic shift means that organizations like AgeCare must constantly innovate, partner, evolve and present value to meet the growing need for quality care.

“Moving into the future, creativity, innovation, and advocacy will continue to be vitally important for AgeCare as we respond to a changing demographic landscape,” Walji-Shivji says.

Innovation is at the heart of AgeCare’s strategy for growth and improvement. The company is rolling out new technologies in collaboration with strategic partners to make care delivery more efficient and effective. In 2024, AgeCare opened its first community in Kamloops, British Columbia, which will provide care for 100 long-term residents. Construction is also underway for three new homes in the Calgary area. These developments are part of AgeCare’s broader growth strategy, supported by its partnership with Hestia Construction, which ensures the company can efficiently deliver vibrant communities with state-of-the-art design and infrastructure.

A highlight for Walji-Shivji and the organization this past year was the announcement of a partnership with Mount Royal University to establish the AgeCare Research Chair in Aging. This initiative reflects AgeCare’s commitment to advancing research, best practices and innovation to improve care for seniors across Canada.

“We’re committed to advancing research and educational opportunities to enhance the future of long-term care for Canadians. Only through an investment in education will we further the sector and ensure that we are evidence-based in our advancements,” she explains.

Diverse viewpoints

One key factor behind AgeCare’s success is the diversity of its leadership team. The executive team comprises 11 members with varied healthcare, law, business, hospitality and human resources management backgrounds. Walji-Shivji emphasizes that this diversity is crucial for providing well-rounded perspectives and solutions.

“We have intentionally built a diverse leadership team at AgeCare, including diversity in gender, age, education, and professional background. This diversity has been vital in our success, as each person brings unique strengths and ideas to the table,” she notes. The diverse leadership also reflects AgeCare’s resident demographic, ensuring that various perspectives inform decisions.

AgeCare prioritizes recruiting and retaining talent, especially in a competitive labor market. Walji-Shivji believes that creating an emotional connection to AgeCare’s mission is key to attracting and retaining the right people.

“One of our main priorities is never losing sight of our purpose as an organization—leading with our hearts and focusing on person-centered care,” she says. AgeCare is committed to fostering a supportive work culture emphasizing professional development, mentorship, and continuous training.

The organization also prioritizes diversity, equity, and inclusion in hiring practices. Walji-Shivji explains that this is essential for creating a culture of learning and respect. She adds that sharing experiences, cultures, and life experiences has excellent value and richness. AgeCare regularly reviews its recruitment and retention strategies based on employee feedback and market trends to remain competitive.

Leading and growing

Despite the challenges of leading a large organization with a national portfolio, Walji-Shivji finds deep fulfillment in her role. The hardest part of her job is making national decisions while balancing each province’s unique regulatory and funding frameworks. However, seeing the impact of AgeCare’s work on residents makes it all worthwhile.

One initiative that has brought Walji-Shivji closer to AgeCare’s staff is the “Lunch with Salimah” program. In this program, she visits communities to meet with employees and gather feedback. The program has been a source of inspiration for her, as it highlights the dedication and creativity of AgeCare’s team members.

“Each visit left me inspired by the ideas that were shared and impressed by the commitment of each of our staff to providing residents with the best experience possible,” she shares.

Walji-Shivji also enjoys touring AgeCare communities and interacting with residents, which reminds her of the immense importance of the organization’s work.

“Our residents are at the heart of everything we do, and seeing the smiles on their faces makes me feel so proud to work at AgeCare,” she says.

In addition to her role at AgeCare, Walji-Shivji is passionate about teaching. More than a decade ago, she wrote a course on the intersection of social work and law and has taught the course several times.

Her journey into healthcare and law began with a passion for social work. She credits her parents for encouraging her to pursue a law degree after completing her master’s in social work. Her career path was shaped by an incredible mentor, David Weyant QC, ICD.D at AHS, who trusted her to build a clinical legal team, allowing her to pursue her passion.

“At the end of the day, what drives me—and everyone at AgeCare—is the belief that we can create communities where everyone feels valued, respected, and at home. This is the legacy we are building together,” Walji-Shivji says.