August 2009
Psoriasis Awareness Month
This month is your chance to increase awareness about the disease and educate the public that psoriasis is not contagious. For more information, click here.
World Breastfeeding Week
August 1 - 7
Visit the World Alliance for Breastfeeding at www.waba.org.my for more information on World Breastfeeding Week.
September 2009
National Arthritis Month
The Arthritis Society focuses its efforts on building community awareness and raising valuable funds for arthritis during Arthritis Awareness Month. Visit the Arthritis Society of Canada at www.arthritis.ca for more information.
Ovarian Cancer Month
Ovarian Cancer Canada is committed to building ovarian cancer awareness in the general public and among healthcare professionals. For more information on Ovarian Cancer Canada please click here. For information on the Winners Walk of Hope, go to www.winnerswalkofhope.ca.
Muscular Dystrophy Month
Muscular dystrophy is the name for a group of neuromuscular disorders that are characterized by progressive weakness and wasting of the voluntary muscles that control body movement. As muscle tissue weakens and wastes away, fatty and connective tissue replace it. In September activities are held around the country to raise awareness about this disease. Please click here for more information.
Fetal Alcohol Syndrome Awareness Day
September 9
People all around the world gather for events to raise awareness about the dangers of drinking during pregnancy and the difficulties of individuals and families who struggle with Fetal Alcohol Spectrum Disorders (FASD). Visit www.fasday.com for more information.
World Suicide Prevention Day
September 10
World Suicide Prevention Day on is an annual event sponsored by the International Association for Suicide Prevention, in collaboration with the World Health Organization. For more information please click here to visit the World Health Organization’s website. To visit the International Suicide Prevention Association’s website, please click here.
AIDS Walk for Life
September 14-21
Canada’s most important HIV/AIDS fundraising event is the annual Scotiabank AIDS Walk for Life. During the national event, communities host Walks to raise funds and to increase awareness about HIV/AIDS. To support the Scotiabank AIDS Walk for Life in your community, please click here.
Wound Care Link Nurse Workshop A
September 18 (8:30am - 4:00pm)
This workshop is primarily designed for nurses from all clinical areas, including RN's, RPN's and LPN's, however, other disciplines are welcome to attend. Student nurses may attend, however they must have completed the wound care component of their curriculum as the course content assumes the participant has a basic level of knowledge and experience in wound care. This workshop will take place at the St. Paul's Hospital Conference Centre, Providence Level 1, New Lecture Theatre.
Providence Health Care nurses: No charge - register at https://ccrs.vch.ca.
Nurses from other facilities: $50 fee payable at the door
Student nurses: $10 fee payable at the door
To register, click here to download and print the registration form and fax it in to Aara Morrison @ 604-806-8511.
National Prostate Cancer Awareness Week
September 19-25
During Prostate Cancer Awareness Week, the Canadian Cancer Society is encouraging men to take control of their health and learn how they can reduce their risk for all types of cancer. For more information visit www.cancer.ca.
World Alzheimer's Day
September 21
World Alzheimer's Day is on the 21st of September each year, and it is a day for Alzheimer associations worldwide to concentrate their efforts on raising awareness about dementia.
Alzheimer Coffee Break Day
September 25
Coffee Break is the Alzheimer Society's major annual where people gather to raise funds for local Alzheimer Societies. Participants make a donation in exchange for a cup of coffee. All funds raised are used to help fund local programs and services for people with Alzheimer's disease, their caregivers and their families. For more information, please click here.
World Heart Day
September 28
World Heart Day 2009 is to help people better understand their personal risk for cardiovascular disease, including hypertension (high blood pressure). It will be held on Sunday, 28 September. Heart health screening and other activities for the public are being planned in over one hundred countries worldwide. For more information, please click here.
Wound Care Link Nurse Workshop B
September 29 (8:30am - 4:00pm)
This workshop is primarily designed for nurses from all clinical areas, including RN's, RPN's and LPN's, however, other disciplines are welcome to attend. Student nurses may attend, however Wound Care Link Workshop A is a pre-requisite and must be completed before attending Workshop B. This workshop will take place at the St. Paul's Hospital Conference Centre, Providence Level 1, New Lecture Theatre.
Providence Health Care nurses: No charge - register at https://ccrs.vch.ca.
Nurses from other facilities: $50 fee payable at the door
Student nurses: $10 fee payable at the door
To register, click here to download and print the registration form and fax it in to Aara Morrison @ 604-806-8511.
October 2009
Autism Awareness Month
Join the Autism Society of Canada in raising awareness about Autism Spectrum Disorders during the month of October. Visit www.autismsocietycanada.ca for more information.
Breast Cancer Awareness Month
National Breast Cancer Awareness Month (NBCAM) organization is comprised of several national public service organizations, professional medical associations, and government agencies working in partnership to build breast cancer awareness, share information and provide access to screening services. NBCAM, and www.nbcam.org, are a year-round resource for patients, survivors, caregivers and the general public.
Celiac Awareness Month
The Celiac Sprue Association and Canada have celebrated October as Celiac Disease Awareness Month since 1987. Participate in Celiac Awareness Month and help increase awareness of celiac disease nationwide. Activities can occur nationally, locally or individually. For more information, please click here to visit the website.
Eye Health Month
Each year, the Canadian Association of Optometrists hosts Eye Health Canada Month, a national public awareness campaign that highlights the importance of eye health and regular eye examinations. For more information visit the Canadian Association of Optometrists at www.opto.ca.
Innovation in Eye Care Month
Seva Canada is an international non-governmental organization whose mission is the elimination of preventable and treatable blindness. Since 1982, their goal has been to create and share sustainable and economically viable eye care programs through international partnerships. For more information, please visit www.seva.ca.
Influenza Immunization Awareness Month
Information on who should receive, and how to get the influenza vaccine can be found at the Health Canada website. Please click here for more information.
SIDS Awareness Month (Sudden Infant Death Syndrome)
October is Sudden Infant Death Syndrome (SIDS) Awareness Month, a time to educate parents, caregivers, and family members about the risk factors associated with SIDS. Visit www.sidscanada.org for more information.
International Day for Older Persons
October 1
For more information, please click here.
Mental Illness Awareness Week
October 5 - 11
Mental Illness Awareness Week (MIAW) is an annual national public education campaign designed to help open the eyes of Canadians to the reality of mental illness. For more information visit the website at www.miaw.ca.
World Mental Health Day
October 10
World Mental Health Day is a day for global mental health education, awareness and advocacy. It was first celebrated in 1992 at the initiative of the World Federation for Mental Health, a global mental health organization with members and contacts in more than 150 countries. Visit www.miaw.ca for more information.
World Sight Day
October 11
World Sight Day (WSD) is an annual day of awareness focusing global attention on blindness and vision impairment. Included on the official World Health Organization calendar, WSD is co-ordinated by IAPB under the VISION 2020 Global Initiative. The theme, and certain core materials are generated by IAPB. All events are organised independently by members and supporters. This years theme is ‘Eyes on the Future - fighting vision impairment in later life’. Please click here for more information.
World Menopause Day
October 18
In observation of this day, the International Menopause Society, through its organ the Council of Affiliated Menopause Societies, distributes sample press materials to inform women about menopause, its management and the impact of estrogen loss. World Menopause Day can also be a call to implement policies that support research and treatment in the area of menopausal health. Please click here for more information.
International Stuttering Awareness Day
October 22
Visit the Canadian Stuttering Association for more information. A brochure for ISAD can be downloaded here.
November 2009
Crohn's and Colitis Awareness Month
The Crohn’s and Colitis Foundation of Canada is committed to raising funds for medical research. They strive to ensure that people are aware of this disease and that support is available. Please visit www.ccfc.ca for more information.
C.P.R. Awareness Month
Every November the Heart and Stroke Foundation celebrates CPR Awareness Month. Each province celebrates by organizing different events such as mass CPR training or offering CPR courses throughout the month. Visit the Heart and Stroke Foundation for more information.
Diabetes Month
Visit the Canadian Diabetes Association to find out how you can become involved in raising awareness and funds for diabetes research throughout the month of November. Visit the Canadian Diabetes Association for more information at www.diabetes.ca.
Osteoporosis Month
Events take place across the country in support of osteoporosis month.
Christmas Seal Campaign
The Christmas Seals campaign dates back to 1907 when it was first created to help raise funds for the creation of tuberculosis hospitals. The campaign remains a huge support of the American Lung Association programs dedicated to fighting lung diseases. Visit www.lungusa.org for more information.
Incontinence Awareness Month
Visit the Canadian Continence Foundation at www.canadiancontinence.ca for more information.
National Down syndrome Awareness Week
November 1 - 7
National Down Syndrome Awareness Week is a campaign that focuses on the strengths and abilities of people with Down syndrome. By doing so, they are helping to ensure equitable opportunities for all people with Down syndrome. Please click here for more information.
Diversity Matters: An Ongoing Conversation
November 2 - 3
Diversity Services at Providence Health Care and Covenant Health (Alberta) are pleased to announce their first bi-annual conference on diversity and cultural competence in health care.
Health care practitioners, educators, and community service providers face increasingly diverse populations in their professional work. This diversity includes an expanding range of unfamiliar patient beliefs, preferences and expectations in health management, education methods and communication styles. Providers and patients often encounter significant language and other symbolic barriers. New or different inter-professional competencies and organizational approaches are therefore needed to ensure the provision of safe and ethical care.
Diversity Matters will be an opportunity to learn, network, and share leading practices in serving diverse patients and communities.
For more information about the conference workshops and plenary speakers, or to register, please download our Registration and Conference Information package.
World Diabetes Day
November 14
The International Diabetes Federation leads this campaign and this year’s theme is diabetes in children and youth. Visit www.worlddiabetesday.org for more information.
National Addiction Awareness Week
November 16 - 22
A time to celebrate being sober and raise awareness about addictions. For more information visit the National Awareness Addiction Week site at www.naaw.net.
World COPD (Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease) Day
November 19
This is an event organized by the Global Initiative for Chronic Obstructive Lung Disease (GOLD) to improve awareness and care of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) around the world. Please click here for more information.
December 2009
Christmas Seal Campaign
The Christmas Seals campaign dates back to 1907 when it was first created to help raise funds for the creation of tuberculosis hospitals. The campaign remains a huge support of the American Lung Association programs dedicated to fighting lung diseases. Visit www.lungusa.org for more information.
Tapestry Foundation’s Angel Campaign
Be an Angel throughout the month of December by making a donation to the Angel Campaign. The Angel Campaign is the largest fundraising event of the year for Tapestry Foundation for Health Care.
Watch for angels to be lit at each of the sites heralding news of the campaign. Angel Trees will be available at each site to display hundreds of angels – each bearing the name of a special donor.
For further information about the Angel Campaign or how to make an Angel donation, call us at 604.877.8335.
World AIDS Day
December 1
World AIDS Day is on December 1st, marking the 20th annual World AIDS Day. It is a time to remember those who are living with, or affected by, HIV and AIDS and those who have lost their lives to this disease.
International Day of Disabled Persons
December 3
The International Day of Disabled Persons is a day to celebrate and acknowledge the experience and capabilities of people with disabilities. For more information visit the UNA Canada website. |