Andrew Magnaye

Leaving a legacy is often on Andrew Magnaye’s mind – not of material goods or wealth, but of caring for others and being the best person you can be. It’s a promise he made to two family members, now passed – his grandmother and aunt, who came to Canada from the Philippines.

Magnaye brings their spirit of generosity and nurturing to his role as Senior Policy Analyst with the Ministry of Assisted Living and Social Services at the Government of Alberta. It felt like the right position for him – a chance to build on his experience as an Education Coordinator with Caregivers Alberta, where he provided information and support to empower family caregivers.

“Being able to help influence major changes at this level is a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity,” says Magnaye, a Winnipeg native, now based in Edmonton. “I get to see problems, policy issues, and even the way systems operate, through many lenses.”

One of his goals is to ensure more people know that support is available – and where to find it – when they need it most. “I approach my work based on my experience and as a caregiver,” he says. “Coming from an immigrant family, we assumed we were going to care for elders ourselves. We knew little about the health care system or the benefits and programs that could help us. I want to break down those walls for those who feel there isn’t support available.”

Magnaye’s work today is influenced by his experience with AGE-WELL and with the University of Alberta. Through AGE-WELL’s unique training program, EPIC, Magnaye saw a world of possibilities to improve the lives of caregivers, including those in immigrant families – a role he understood well, having cared for his grandmother from an early age. He also credits AGE-WELL researcher Dr. Janet Fast, who was his academic supervisor on the Research, Aging, Policies and Practice (RAPP) Team at the University of Alberta, for getting him on the right career track.

“I want to make sure that caregiving and dealing with challenges in life isn’t so isolating. That is what draws me to the work I do.”

– Andrew Magnaye

Working as a research assistant alongside the late Dr. Fast and RAPP research manager Jacquie Eales was an “eye-opening” experience for him. From them, he learned he had a wealth of avenues open to him – something also reinforced during an international exchange at Sheffield University in the UK. There, with support from AGE-WELL, he aimed to deepen his understanding of migration and care.

“I thought the only way you could help caregivers was by being one, or being in health care,” he explains. “Janet and Jacquie made me realize there’s so many environments where caregivers can play a role, especially from the research and policy side – really understanding how people in my position can use data, evidence and lived experiences to guide what they do.”

AGE-WELL inspired him to reach far and wide in that pursuit. “It encourages building bridges, instead of silos, between those of us who want to improve the lives of older individuals and caregivers.”

Reflecting on his career to date, Magnaye recognizes a common thread: “I want to make sure that caregiving and dealing with challenges in life isn’t so isolating. That is what draws me to the work I do.”

That’s a legacy Magnaye and his family can be proud of.