Friday, February 16, 2018 – CARP is delighted to announce that Laura Tamblyn Watts, LLB, will be joining CARP as its first National Director of Law, Policy and Research. Laura joins CARP from her work at the Canadian Centre for Elder Law, where she held positions as Senior Fellow and National Director. She is a frequent presenter, keynote speaker and lecturer, and appears regularly in the media as an expert on aging issues.

Laura’s nearly 20 years’ experience in law and aging brings with it a deep understanding of the issues older Canadians face. Recognized nationally and internationally as a leader in the field, Laura brings a wealth of experience and a track record of success in law reform, research partnerships, and, above all, making real change happen on behalf of Canadians as we age.

A prolific author and law reformer, Laura has authored numerous leading articles and chapters on law and aging issues. She was one of the key researchers in the recent national prevalence study on abuse and neglect in Canada. Her work on criminal elder abuse issues was part of the driving force to amend the criminal code to allow for increased sentencing options for people who had committed crimes against older adults.

In addition to being a founding member of the National Initiative for Care of the Elderly, Canada’s largest network on aging issues in Canada, Laura is an active board and advisory panel member of numerous research institutes on aging. She also teaches Law and Aging at the University of Toronto.