"It's Going to Happen to All of Us": Why Palliative Care Training Can't Wait with Tiara Sisson

What happens when Canada doesn't have enough trained workers to care for its aging population — and what role do career colleges play in closing that gap? In this episode of the EdUp Canada podcast, host Michael Sangster sits down with Tiara Sisson, President of Life and Death Matters, an organization that has partnered with career colleges across Canada for over 15 years to train personal support workers, healthcare aides, and continuing care professionals in palliative care.Tiara brings a remarkable personal history — from special education to legal work to directing administration at one of North America's largest correctional facilities — all leading to her current mission: ensuring that the men and women entering Canada's long-term care and hospice sector leave their training not just with technical competence, but with the emotional intelligence, resilience, and palliative approach that defines truly excellent care.This is a conversation about the value of skills-based training, the very real funding pressures facing Canada's career college sector, and why the stakes have never been higher for getting palliative care education right.[00:02:00] — From special education to law to running one of North America's largest correctional facilities — the unlikely path that led to palliative care.[00:06:00] — Government funding cuts, visa caps, and what the current climate really means for career colleges and their partners.[00:07:00] — Why module nine is the most powerful moment in PSW training — and what a palliative lens actually changes for students.[00:09:00] — The single most important skill in long-term care, and why it has nothing to do with clinical technique.[00:11:00] — The emotional reality of losing patients — and why the best programs build caregiver resilience into the curriculum from day one.[00:12:00] — What managing 10,000 inmates teaches you about showing up for people on their hardest days.[00:16:00] — The one question that has guided every major career decision: "What do I need to do to create the future I want?"[00:20:00] — A closing call to stay informed — because when it comes to palliative care, it's going to happen to all of us.Read the full transcript here: https://share.descript.com/view/0pKfXPozxpA Listen to past episodes here: https://www.edupcanada.ca/