Brainstorming about women’s cancers in Atlantic Canada Mar 25, 2008
This Monday, Halifax will be the site of a unique collaboration to discuss women's cancers in Atlantic Canada. The Atlantic Invitational Think Tank on Women's Cancers will bring together health professionals, community agencies, policy makers, volunteers and people affected by women’s cancers to explore strategies to assist people across Atlantic Canada to more easily access services for information and support.
The Think Tank is the initiative of representatives from breast cancer information partnerships in New Brunswick, Newfoundland and Labrador, Nova Scotia and Prince Edward Island, who have received many inquiries for information and resources from organizations addressing other cancers. These networks see a benefit in sharing the lessons they have learned from their experiences with the breast cancer community. By organizing the Think Tank they are initiating the exploration of the feasibility of partnering with cervical, ovarian, and uterine cancer organizations to provide information and support more broadly to people impacted by women’s cancers.
The Atlantic Think Tank on Women's Cancers has received funding support from the Public Health Agency of Canada, and the Canadian Partnership against Cancer, and sponsorship from several national and regional organizations. The planning committee believes that by working together, women's cancer groups can share their knowledge with a wider community and maximize resources to benefit Atlantic Canadians.
There is great enthusiasm for this collaboration, which is the first of its kind in Atlantic Canada. The Think Tank will feature: a profile of the four women's cancers by the Atlantic Centre of Excellence for Women’s Health; lessons learned from ongoing collaboration between provincial and territorial breast cancer networks; the experience of an ovarian cancer survivor who sought information and support after her diagnosis; a summary of the work of the Canadian Partnership Against Cancer; and a presentation highlighting the experience of the Manitoba Breast and Women’s Cancer Network, which has extended its breast cancer focus to provide information, support and services to those affected by women's gynecological cancers.
The invitational event will be held Monday, March 31, 2008 at the Inn on the Lake in Halifax, Nova Scotia. Event planning and facilitation for the Atlantic Think Tank on Women's Cancers is provided by The Quaich Inc., a knowledge based company which works with clients across sectors to build healthy and safe communities. The company’s main office is in Charlottetown, Prince Edward Island.
For additional information, contact:
New Brunswick
Wendy Cyr Chair, Atlantic Invitational Think Tank on Women's Cancers Chair, New Brunswick Breast Cancer Information Partnership, Inc. (506) 632-5620 (506) 632-5652 (fax) morwe@reg2.health.nb.ca
Newfoundland and Labrador
Elaine Ledwell Planning committee member, Atlantic Invitational Think Tank on Women's Cancers Co-Chair, Lupin Partnership for Newfoundland and Labrador (709) 777-6057 eledwell@bspnl.nf.ca
Judy Poole Planning committee member, Atlantic Invitational Think Tank on Women's Cancers Co-Chair, Lupin Partnership for Newfoundland and Labrador (709) 456-2401 ext. 226 (709) 456-2562 (fax) judy.poole@lghealth.ca
Nova Scotia
Barbara Thompson Planning committee member, Atlantic Invitational Think Tank on Women's Cancers Network Coordinator, Nova Scotia Breast Cancer Network & Breast Cancer Action Nova Scotia (902) 463-8042 barbarathompson@bca.ns.ca
Barbara Clow Planning committee member, Atlantic Invitational Think Tank on Women's Cancers Executive Director, Atlantic Centre of Excellence for Women's Health (902) 494-7790 bclow@dal.com
Erin Hemmens Researcher, Atlantic Invitational Think Tank on Women's Cancers Research Assistant, The Atlantic Centre of Excellence for Women's Health 902-494-7877 er579728@dal.ca
Prince Edward Island
Norah Smith Planning committee member, Atlantic Invitational Think Tank on Women's Cancers Member, PEI Breast Cancer Information Partnership 902-894-2914 nesmith@ihis.org
General information
The Quaich Inc. thinktank@thequaich.pe.ca www.thequaich.pe.ca
