Vancouver, BC – April 24, 2026 – Optima Living is proud to announce that Sharon Conway, Senior Leader, Integration and Culture, has been named a 2026 Best Executive honouree in the Human Resources category by The Globe and Mail’s Report on Business magazine.
Since joining Optima Living in 2022, Conway has played a pivotal role in one of the fastest growth periods in the organization’s history, which saw Optima expand by more than 1,000% by revenue, integrating approximately 4,500 suites and 2,200 employees through multiple acquisitions.
Conway has led the human side of this growth with a person-first approach that prioritizes seamless, respectful transitions. At the core of this success is Optima Living’s “Monday Becomes Tuesday” integration philosophy, championed by Conway to prioritize stability, respect, and cultural alignment over speed. This approach—which seeks to enhance our residents’ homes, rather than disrupt them—has enabled Optima to scale rapidly while also strengthening culture and employee engagement.
Under Conway’s leadership, Optima Living has maintained employee turnover below 10 per cent, compared to industry averages of 35 to 40 per cent in Canada and up to 75 per cent in the United States. Employee and resident satisfaction scores have increased year-over-year throughout this period of growth, in some cases by more than 10 percentage points.
Conway has built Optima’s HR function from the ground up. What began as a team of one has grown into a high-performing group of HR leaders spanning talent acquisition, labour relations, HR advisory, and strategic projects—supporting a complex workforce where nearly 70 per cent of communities operate under collective agreements.
She has also advanced innovative, purpose-driven initiatives that reflect Optima Living’s commitment to people, place and community, including the Welcome Home refugee employment program and a mental health podcast designed to support frontline caregivers.
“Sharon is an exceptional leader who has fundamentally shaped how we grow as an organization,” said Karim Kassam, Co-Founder and Principal at Optima Living. “At a time when rapid expansion often comes at the expense of culture and engagement, Sharon has proven that the opposite is possible. She has scaled our people, our culture, and our performance simultaneously.”
The Best Executive Awards recognize leaders across Canada who demonstrate exceptional leadership, innovation, and impact within their functions. Conway will be featured alongside fellow honourees in the May 2026 issue of Report on Business magazine.
About Optima Living
Founded in 2007 by two friends inspired by a love for seniors and their families’ dementia journeys, Optima Living was created to offer a more home-like experience in seniors housing and care.
What began as a personal mission has grown into one of Western Canada’s leading senior living and continuing care providers, offering Independent Living, Assisted Living, Supportive Living, Long-Term Care, Brain Health and Memory Care, including Optima’s own proprietary brain health and care model: Spark, Your Wellness, Your Way.
Today, we are the only Top 10 Canadian senior living and care provider focused exclusively on Western Canada, serving 4,300+ residents in Alberta and British Columbia.
Guided by our North Star, Let us welcome you home™, we are committed to People, Place, and Community. With resident-first philosophy, deep community ties, and a focus on innovation, we are shaping a future defined by integrity, dignity, and empathy.
At Optima Living, senior living is about thriving, not just residing. We’re defining aging with purpose by creating communities where residents live well with dignity, connection, and joy.
Discover how we are changing the landscape of senior living at https://optimaliving.ca/.
Optima Living: Let us welcome you home™.
Contact:
Katie Matthews
Senior Manager, Communications
Optima Living
T: (236) 988-5883 | E: katie.matthews@optimaliving.ca
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