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With an unwavering commitment to individual, family, organizational, and community well-being, Nora Spinks is the founding Chair of the Board of Legacy West Healing, a non-profit focused on supporting families impacted by and experiencing addiction and substance use disorder in their family or by close friends and colleagues. Nora is the founder and CEO of Work-Life Harmony Enterprises, a social research and consulting firm established in 1986. Nora's extensive experience, spanning several decades, including her tenure as CEO of the Vanier Institute of the Family (2011-2021), has been instrumental in collecting and interpreting data, leading research collaborations, and offering practical solutions to Canada's complex social issues. Her unique perspective and strategies have inspired innovative government, community, and workplace programs and policies.
Nora chaired Canada’s National Seniors Council, advising the government on matters of interest and importance to older persons and those who study, serve, and support them. She led the Military and Veteran Family Initiative at the Vanier Institute. She founded and co-chaired the Canadian Military and Veteran Families Leadership Circle with the Chief of Defence and the Chief of Military Personnel Command. She currently serves as a member of Veterans Affairs Canada’s Advisory Group on Families. She is a long-time member of the Advisory Council at the Military Family Research Institute at Purdue University. Nora is an advisor to the Families Matter Research Group, which focuses on the wellbeing of military, veteran, and first responder families. Nora is also on the Leadership Team and a co-founder of the Canadian Well-Being Knowledges Network based at McGill University.
Nora is a nationally and internationally recognized thought leader, gifted facilitator, and sought-after speaker. She has received various prestigious awards for her meaningful contributions to family life and well-being.
Actively raised awareness, fostered collaboration, and sparked innovation, supported military members, veterans, and their families, and amplified the distinct experiences, expectations, and perspectives of military and veteran families.
Co-hosted a Roundtable on Families in Canada with Canada’s Head of State, the Governor General, Canada’s Commander in Chief.
Co-hosted a Roundtable on Military and Veteran Families with Canada’s Chief of Defence.
Co-hosted annual Military and Veteran Families Roundtables with the Chief of Military Personnel Command.
Co-founded the Canadian Military and Veteran Families Leadership Circle with the Chief of Defence, fostering collaboration, building awareness, building capacity, and building community between and across community services among military and veteran families in Canada – activating knowledge and informing policy and program development.
Co-hosted annual Research Roundtables on Military and Veteran Families at the Canadian Institute of Military and Veteran Health Research (CIMVHR) Annual Forum Facilitated opening panels at two CIMVHR Annual Forums.
Delivered the opening Keynote at INVICTUS conference in Australia. Presented on the Medavie Health Expert Panel on Supporting Families of Serving and Retired Members of the Canadian Armed Forces and First Responders Living with Post-Traumatic Stress
Launched Canada’s Military and Veteran Family Initiative, mobilizing knowledge and translating evidence to practice, including but not limited to framing families as strong, courageous and resilient; Veteran Family benefits (in their own right); Mental Health programs and services.
Authored and edited several publications, fact sheets, peer-reviewed articles and reports on Military and Veteran Families in Canada, including but not limited to Best Practice Guide for Families Physicians and Working with Military Families (College of Family Physicians of Canada); School Counsellors Working With Military And Veteran Families (Vanier Institute and Canadian Counselling and Psychotherapy Association); Military and Veteran Families in Canada: Collaborations and Partnerships (MVF Roundtable); Military and Veteran family research: Setting the stage for the next chapter (CIMVHR Journal); Early Learning and Child Care Professionals and Practitioners Working With military and Veteran Families (Canadian Child Care Federation and Vanier Institute); A Snapshot of Military and Veteran Families in Canada and Research Recap: School Experiences of Children in Military Families (Vanier Institute); What Does the Term “Military Family” Mean? A Comparison Across Four Countries (CIMVHR), and more….
