TABLE 1.

Understanding motivations by themes from the workshops from the perspective of the workshop participants

Motivation	Quote
Self‐fulfilment
Purpose	[I am motivated to make] ‘the health care system better by making it easier for the next person’ (YYC‐10).
Altruistic	[This is an opportunity] ‘to do something good for others’ (YEG‐07).
Establishing relationships	[Being able to] ‘establish relationships with other people exposes you to new pieces of the puzzle’ (YQL‐12). [This experience] ‘provides an opportunity to meet people (provider and patient) with similar or different ideas and experiences’ (YYC‐11).
Obligation	[My life‐changing experience] motivated me to want ‘to pay it forward’ (YQL‐12).
Recognition	‘I feel like I have accomplished something and I am being recognized for these efforts’ (YQL‐10). [I am motivated] ‘by a feeling of gratification and having the ability to affect change and see the results of your efforts’ (YYC‐11).
Improving Health care
Making a difference	‘To me this means it is making a difference at a system level, so the same thing won't happen again’ (YQL‐07). ‘My own personal experience was a huge motivator for me, my family member had issues and needed help in a negative medical situation’ (YQU‐04).
Speaking for others	‘This [opportunity] is like advocating for change and improvement while also advocating for patient and family centered care’ (YQL‐08).
Compensation
Acknowledgement	[Compensation] ‘ensures people aren't being used for their professional background’ (YEG‐09). [Being compensated] ‘is a respectful acknowledgement that values my participation’ (YQU‐07).
Encouraging participation	[Even though I don't need to be compensated, it is important to include] ‘marginalized groups because it eliminates barriers’ (YQU‐08).
Choice	‘Paying for these services shouldn't be mandatory, I don't need it, but others might’ (YQL‐13).
Influence
Access to senior health‐care administrators	[Influence is enhanced by] ‘being one of the movers or people with influence and when the people in power are asking you’ [to be involved] (YYC‐15). ‘Having access to influential folks not only give me more confidence it also reinforced that this was what was needed for change to occur’ (YQL‐19).
Partnership	‘Being treated like an equal and being part of this bigger group gives me the confidence to affect change’ (YQL‐16).
Learning New Things
Being effective	‘Being able to do this work requires that you know about the system’ (YYC‐14).
Personal value	[Learning things] ‘allows me to think about things I may not have and learning increases my personal value” (YEG‐10).
Provides meaning	‘Learning keeps your mind stimulated, especially when you are retired and allows people to better understand issues’ (YQU‐10).
Perks
Growing your network	[Travelling provides] ‘an opportunity to grow my network by interacting with like‐minded people across the province’ (YQU‐09).
Benefits	[Travelling] “is an exciting benefit that could be further leveraged by tying travel commitments with personal visits with family and friends’ (YEG‐12).
Rewards	[Travelling is a] ‘reward and an opportunity to learn new things’ (YQL‐18).
Conditional
Flexibility	[I would appreciate more] ‘opportunities that are flexible’ (YEG‐16).
Support	‘Participating from home’ and ‘having IT support to get connected’ (YQU‐3).

Abbreviations: YEG, Edmonton; YGU, Grande Prairie; YQL, Lethbridge; YYC, Calgary.