McGill Cares: Young Caregivers: Hidden Responsibilities, Remarkable Resilience

McGill Cares webcasts are designed to support informal caregivers. During candid, 30-minute interviews with leading experts, Claire Webster, Founder of the McGill Dementia Education Program, explores topics related to caring for a loved one who is living with dementia.

Young Caregivers: Hidden Responsibilities, Remarkable Resilience

Oliver Fitzpatrick  is a public health advocate, caregiver, and Partnerships and Knowledge Translation Specialist at the Canadian Centre for Caregiving Excellence. He is committed to advancing awareness, support and empowerment for caregivers, with a particular focus on the experiences and needs of young caregivers. He has worked across non-profit and grassroots movements, fostering intersectoral collaborations on issues including disability justice, care and 2SLGBTQIA+ student advocacy.

Drawing on both his professional experience and his own experiences as a caregiver to a chronically ill friend and to his partner with a disability, Oliver brings a personal and informed perspective to the realities of young caregiving. Before joining the Canadian Centre for Caregiving Excellence, he helped establish young caregiver services at AMI-Quebec and contributed to the growing young caregiver movement in Canada through awareness and policy initiatives. He holds a BA in Public Health with a focus on Disability Studies from the University of Victoria and was the recipient of the 2023 Young Caregiver Advocate Award.

During this special McGill Cares webcast, Oliver Fitzpatrick will discuss the often-unseen realities of young caregiving and the important roles young people may take on when supporting a family member, friend or loved one living with an illness, disability, mental health challenge or other care need. He will reflect on the challenges and strengths associated with young caregiving, including its potential impact on education, relationships, emotional well-being and future plans. Together, Claire and Oliver will explore how greater awareness, peer-based support and meaningful resources can help young caregivers feel recognized, supported and empowered.

This free webcast will be available in English and French.
October 14, 2026

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