This year, we’re honouring Mark and his family in South Surrey for the IG Wealth Management Walk for Alzheimer’s, presented by Go Auto. We’re revisiting his story and sharing some of Mark’s updates and reflections in the lead-up to this year’s Walk.  

Mark is nothing short of inspiring. Diagnosed with younger onset Alzheimer’s disease in 2025, the now 49-year-old father of three chose to face this new reality head on. Mark is keen to share his story, fight stigma and make a difference in the lives of others affected by dementia.  

Mark lives in South Surrey with his wife Shonna, their young son Michael and their new dog, Winnie. Mark and Shonna are grateful that his two adult children, Jacob and Mackenzie, live nearby.    

For Mark, the first warning signs were subtle: forgetting and mixing up people’s names – things Mark could easily attribute to the demands of raising a young family and his fast paced job as senior human resources director with Electronic Arts. But when he got lost driving home from work three separate times within a two-month period, he knew something was wrong.  

Finding out the cause wasn’t easy. Mark saw his family doctor and scored below age expectations on cognitive tests, but had to undergo a series of tests and assessments to rule out possible reasons for his symptoms before he could be referred to a neurologist. Eventually he got the referral and following additional cognitive tests, Mark was diagnosed with Mild Cognitive Impairment (MCI), cause unknown. Told to return for a checkup in six months, Mark was left with an endless sea of questions and, in searching for answers, a vacuum of information. 

“I was so desperate that I was reading articles during the day and medical journals at night trying to figure out my own future and how I could best advocate for myself,” he says.  

Unsure how to piece it all together, Mark called the Alzheimer Society of BC and Yukon’s First Link® Dementia Helpline – a resource mentioned to him by a friend. Although he did not yet have a formal dementia diagnosis, he was met with an offer of support.   

“The person on the other end of that line told me something I will never forget: 

‘It doesn’t matter that you don’t have a diagnosis. You belong here.’ She didn’t rush me. She didn’t redirect me. And then she called me back a few weeks later just to check in. That follow-up call changed everything. For the first time since visiting my family doctor, I felt less alone.”  

Still in the dark about the cause of his MCI, Mark sought a second opinion. His new neurologist provided a full review and report, and recommended a cerebral spinal fluid test, something no one on his medical team had yet suggested. By early 2025, a diagnosis was confirmed: younger onset Alzheimer’s disease. In that moment, Mark’s world shrunk. He had to take an indefinite step away from work and was told that he would no longer be allowed to drive.   

But Mark is not one to just give up. Working with the Alzheimer Society of BC and Yukon, Mark dove into learning, engaging in webinars and education sessions. Inspired by a panel of people talking about their own experiences with younger onset dementia, Mark connected with the organization’s Lived Experience team to add his voice to the conversation.   

Mark was emboldened, choosing to thrive with his diagnosis. Soon he found himself sharing his own experience on a webinar similar to the one that had first inspired him to share his story more broadly. In March, Mark shared his story at our Legislature Luncheon, an annual event that brings together policy makers and people with lived experience to help change the future of dementia in the province. He spoke on the power of advocacy and the importance of investing in well-rounded dementia care.  

“If we want earlier diagnoses, a clear dementia care pathway, better experiences for families and dignity for people living with dementia, we must invest, not just in research, but in navigation, coordination and human connection,” Mark says.  

Mark also shared his experience as speaker at the 2026 Breakfast to Remember in Vancouver. His ability to tell his story of being diagnosed while he was a father full of life and in the prime of his career, who chooses to work on acceptance of a dementia diagnosis rather than letting it consume him, is a powerful one. Mark’s experience and insights continue to unite and inspire caregivers, people living with dementia and their families. For Mark, his desire to share his journey is no longer about his own experience; it’s about making a difference in the lives of others affected by dementia, now and in the future.  

“My story isn’t my own anymore,” Mark says. “It belongs to everyone who carries their own story. It’s humbling and rewarding to share it and have people respond with gratitude for putting it out there and enabling them to take something positive away from it.”