About Jill
Each day, the world teaches us a valuable lesson if we are open to learning it.
A guest speaker in 2024 at both the Alzheimer’s World Summit and the Reversing Alzheimer’s Summit, Jill Simpson is passionate about healthy aging, dedicating herself to educating older adults to be their best possible selves throughout a lifetime.
As a Seniors’ Fitness Specialist, Jill creates innovative programs to assist older adults in not simply maintaining, but improving their wellness as they age. Her unique technique simultaneously employs rhythm, movement, music, and exercise to enhance both physical and cognitive function.
Stressing the importance of lifestyle choices that prioritize physical and mental well-being, in classes, workshops, and speaking engagements, Jill shares the latest scientific discoveries in geriatrics and neuroscience and explains how to apply cutting-edge research to daily life to improve one’s aging trajectory.
PROFESSIONAL CERTIFICATIONS
A former dancer and choreographer, Jill became a professional fitness instructor in 2012, applying her intuitive understanding of movement and body awareness to launching a new concept of fitness programming for older adults, focusing on types of movement that will assist older adults to remain in control of their lives and age more vibrantly.
• Personal Training Certification [Canfitpro]
• Geriatric Certificate [McMaster University]
• Seniors’ Fitness Instructor [Canadian Centre for Activity and Aging]
• Certified Group Fitness Instructor [Canfitpro]
• Dancing with Parkinson’s Certified [Nation Ballet of Canada]
• Fundamental Movement Skills Coach [National Coaching Certification Program]
• Certified BoneFit® Instructor [Osteoporosis Society of Canada]
• Canadian Falls Prevention Program [University of Victoria]
CV & CREDENTIALS
• Guest Speaker – Alzheimer’s 2024 World Summit [2024]
• Guest Speaker – Reverse Alzheimer’s 4.0 Summit [2024]
• Keynote Speaker – International Women’s Day [2023]
• Rethinking Aging Workshop Series was selected for Government of Canada funding to make the program available to all Ontario Seniors [2022]
• Fitness for Your Aging Brain was selected for funding from the Government of Canada to make online classes available to all seniors in Ontario during pandemic lockdowns. [2023]
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• To Thrive Together Sustainable Living – Non-profit Organization – Executive Director [2019 – Present]
• The Dignity Project – Keynote Speaker [Collin’s College, Dallas,Texas, 2018]
• Columnist for ‘Embracing Change Magazine’ [Woolwich, ON 2018 – 2019]
• Dancing with DisAbility – Guest City Hall Performance [Kitchener, ON, 2016]
• Research Lead – Dignity and Vitality in Dementia Study [Kitchener, ON, 2015 – 2017]
• Alzheimer’s Society Minds in Motion© Instructor [2014-2016]
SKILLS
• Cognitive Fitness Programming
• Older Adult Fitness Specialist
• Programming for Cognitive & Physical Disabilities
• Workshop Development and Facilitation
• Motivational Speaking
• Healthy Aging Educator
• Dementia-friendly Environment Design
• Community Engagement and Building
VIDEOS
Alzheimer’s 2024 World Summit
Jill speaks with Summit host, Michael Morgan, about the profound effect of movement on cognitive function.
Dancing with disAbility “Life Without Limits”
Watch Jill’s group with Parkinson’s, MS, traumatic brain injury, stroke, Alzheimer’s and cerebral palsy in their guest performance at City Hall.
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Eden Mills Senior Tap Dance Swing Performance
Jill’s Senior Tap Dancers delight audiences with an exuberant energy that defies the negative stereotypes of aging.
To Thrive Together Sustainable Living
Hear about To Thrive Together’s – vision of a new way of aging with dignity, purpose and joy.
