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from the newly renovated website http://www.parkinson.ca/ . Parkinson ADVISOR Spring 2001 2001 IS A WATERSHED YEAR in the Canadian Parkinson’s community. This is the year that groups from across the country will place a priority on working together to improve the lives of all Canadians with Parkinson’s. Parkinson’s organizations Canada-wide (see the list below) recently signed an Agreement that will help these organizations optimize national and local research initiatives and improve the delivery of quality services to all people with Parkinson’s disease and their loved ones. It is not news to anyone that in the past the Parkinson’s community in Canada has not worked as an efficient collective. The Agreement addresses this need for greater cohesion and efficiency. By collaborating, our organizations hope to achieve a number of goals, namely: - To move The Parkinson Foundation of Canada (soon to be renamed Parkinson Society Canada) to the forefront of national health charities; - To attract more public support for national peer-reviewed research; - To be taken seriously in our advocacy efforts by federal and provincial governments and organizations, such as the Canadian Institutes of Health Research; - To ensure that all Canadians with Parkinson’s receive a minimum standard of service; - To enhance the profile, identity, and awareness of Parkinson’s disease across Canada; - To encourage collaborative initiatives among Canadian Parkinson’s organizations; and - To assist The Foundation’s regions and divisions to move towards the desired goal of self-sufficiency. The future of The Parkinson Foundation of Canada and all the regional representative organizations has never looked more promising. In a recent tour of 11 cities across the nation, David Simmonds, our Board Chair, and I were buoyed by the collective sense of enthusiasm and goodwill that met us at each stop. There is a genuine desire to work together to ensure that the needs of every Canadian with Parkinson’s will be addressed. The close to 100,000 Canadians with Parkinson’s and all of their loved ones deserve nothing less. Mary Jardine Executive Director The Parkinson Foundation of Canada New Name, Renewed Commitment FOR MORE THAN 35 YEARS, The Parkinson Foundation has served Canadians living with Parkinson’s. But at last year’s national strategic planning meeting, delegates came to the agreement that our organization’s name does not truly reflect what we do. Traditionally, the primary purpose of a "foundation" is to raise and administer funds. In fact, The Parkinson Foundation does far more. We are committed to providing a variety of services to people who have Parkinson’s and to their care-givers. While raising funds for research into the cause and treatment of Parkinson’s is certainly an important part of our mandate, we also strive to educate all Canadians about this condition and to advocate on behalf of our community. On May 3, 2001, we will officially become Parkinson Society Canada/Société Parkinson Canada. On the same day, a new logo will be unveiled at an official ceremony in Ottawa. The new name, chosen by consensus from across the country, reflects both our national identity and our fundamental purpose - that is, a society of Canadians joined together in the common goal of finding a cure and easing the burden of people living with Parkinson’s disease. With Parkinson’s Awareness Month in April, the launch of our new name comes at an ideal time. New public education materials - including a revised, state-of-the-art Web site (www.parkinson.ca) - are now in development under the banner of Parkinson Society Canada/Société Parkinson Canada. As well, a recently produced video and public service announcement will help us increase the profile of our organization, recruit volunteers and encourage financial contributions. In recent years, Parkinson’s disease has been given a new face, thanks to public figures such as Michael J. Fox, Muhammad Ali and Pierre Elliot Trudeau. Now is our opportunity to take advantage of that enhanced recognition. Changing our name to Parkinson Society Canada/Société Parkinson Canada is a small but significant step in that direction. The latest in News and Information from The Parkinson Foundation of Canada Working together Who’s involved - The Parkinson Foundation of Canada (PFC) - Victoria Epilepsy and Parkinson’s Centre Society - The B.C. Parkinson’s Disease Association - The Parkinson’s Society of Alberta - The Parkinson’s Society of Southern Alberta - Saskatchewan Parkinson’s Disease Foundation - All chapters and support groups of PFC in Manitoba - Parkinson’s Society of Ottawa-Carleton - Ontario Division of PFC - Quebec Division of PFC - Maritime Region of PFC - Newfoundland and Labrador Region of PFC Funding the Future AN IMPORTANT PART of The Parkinson Foundation of Canada’s mandate is to fund research into the cause of Parkinson’s disease, its cure and treatment. This year, the Foundation allocated $480,000 in grants and fellowships to Canadian researchers. "I’m delighted to announce that The Foundation is able to fund this important research," says Executive Director Mary Jardine. "Not only were we able to allocate research funds for the first time in several years, but we contributed $30,000 more than was originally budgeted." Researchers from across Canada are invited to submit applications for grants from The Foundation. A scientific advisory board comprised of 13 prominent Canadian neurologists then reviews the research proposals and ranks them according to merit. The Foundation disperses grants according to this ranking. The projects funded by these grants represent both basic research into the cause and cure of Parkinson’s disease as well as clinical research, which focuses on treatment and improved quality of life for patients. While the subject matter of these research projects is well beyond the understanding of the average layperson, it is important to know that quality work is being done in this country to improve the future for all people with Parkinson’s. These grants finance more than research; they fund hope. The following is a list of the recipients of The Parkinson Foundation of Canada 2001-2002 grants and fellowships: - Dr. Paul Albert, University of Ottawa: Desensitization of dopamine D1 receptors - Dr. Pierre Blanchet, University of Montreal: Clinical impact of orphenadrine on the response profile to levodopa in Parkinson patients - Dr. Laurie Doering, McMaster University: Stem cell therapy for Parkinson’s - Dr. Edward Fon, McGill University: Role of Parkin-mediated ubiquitination in Parkinson’s disease - Dr. Theodoor Hagg, Dalhousie University: Nigrostriatal recovery using PTP inhibitors and neurotrophic factors - Dr. Wayne Martin and Dr. Marguerite Weiler, University of Alberta: Freezing of gait in Parkinson’s disease: potential benefit from Botox injection - Dr. André Parent, Centre de recherche, Laval University: Dopamine neurons and fibre path-ways in human basal ganglia - Dr. Claude Rouillard and Dr. Daniel Levesque, Laval University: Role of dopamine D1, D3 and serotonin receptors in levodopa-induced sensitization in an animal model of Parkinson’s disease - Dr. Jean Saint-Cyr, Dr. Jonathan Dostrovsky and Dr. William Hutchison, University of Toronto: Radiological and clinical evaluation of STN DBS - Dr. Lara Fallon, McGill University: Neuroscience, cell biology - Dr. Shigeki Ohta, University of Calgary: Neural stem cells and brain repair, neural gene discovery - Dr. Taresa L. Stefurak, University of Toronto, Neuropsychiatry of Parkinson’s disease, functional neuroimaging Parkinson Post hiatus PARKINSON POST, the national magazine of The Parkinson Foundation of Canada, has temporarily suspended publication. While the Foundation is committed to publishing Parkinson Post in the future, the Parkinson Advisor newsletter will fill the breach for at least the next six months. If you wish to receive this newsletter, please contact the Society office at 416-227-9700 or 1-800-565-3000 or e-mail us at [log in to unmask] Rogers Media, publishers of Parkinson Post, will refund all outstanding subscriptions. APRIL IS PARKINSON’S AWARENESS MONTH. April 22 to 28 is National Volunteer Week. Easter and Passover are celebrations of renewed hope, as is Spring itself. What better time to make and keep a promise to do something for others - and for yourself. Sometimes the idea of volunteering can be daunting. What can I do? Where do I start? Who do I call? The following list suggests a wide variety of opportunities - big and small - for you to make a difference in the fight against Parkinson’s disease. - Call the national office of The Parkinson Foundation of Canada or your local chapter (see telephone numbers on page 4) and volunteer to sell tulips for the Society’s annual fundraising campaign. - Visit your local National Bank and buy a bunch of tulips in support of The Parkinson Foundation of Canada. Buy two bunches, and give one to someone you love. - Keep tulips on your desk at work throughout the month of April. Use them as an opportunity to edu-cate your co-workers about Parkinson’s disease. - Read an article about Parkinson’s (check out the Society’s Web site at www.parkinson.ca) and pass it on to a friend. - Call your local chapter of The Parkinson Foundation of Canada and volunteer whatever time you can afford, whether it’s one afternoon to take registrations at SuperWalk or an hour each week doing office chores. - Make a donation to The Parkinson Foundation of Canada. - Consider including a bequest to The Parkinson Foundation of Canada in your will. - Call your community newspaper and offer to write a column about Parkinson’s disease. - Donate a book about Parkinson’s to a local school, library or long-term care facility. - Make a commitment to educate one person about Parkinson’s disease this month. - Offer concrete help to someone with Parkinson’s or to a caregiver: cook a meal, drive them to a support group meeting, mow their lawn. - Ask a friend to go for a walk. Use your outing as a springboard to plan your participation in SuperWalk in September. - Thank a volunteer for making a positive difference in your life. April - Your month to take action A NEW AWARD HAS RECENTLY BEEN created to celebrate individuals who make life better for Canadians with Parkinson’s disease. The Dr. Morton Shulman Award is a memorial for the renowned Toronto physician who served his community as both a member of the Ontario Legislature and as the city’s Chief Coroner. Dr. Shulman, who had Parkinson’s disease, was a significant benefactor to The Parkinson Foundation of Canada and was instrumental in bringing the Parkinson’s medication Deprenyl to Canada. Dr. Shulman died last year at the age of 75. An award committee, consisting of Dr. Shulman’s daughter Dianne Saxe, Toronto neurologist Dr. Tony Lang, and Foundation Chair David Sim-monds, Vice Chair Meredith Saunderson and Executive Director Mary Jardine, will review nominations of candidates to receive the award. Specifically, the award will be conferred on "a person who, through fearless advocacy and an ability to make change, has clearly made life better for Canadians with Parkinson’s and their families". For more details about the Dr. Morton Shulman Award, contact Maryann Istiloglu at The Parkin-sonFoundation of Canada, 1-800-565-3000. Celebrating Parkinson Heroes The Parkinson Foundation of Canada Toll-free: 1-800-565-3000 Tel: (416) 227-9700 British Columbia Victoria Epilepsy and Parkinson’s Centre Tel: (250) 475-6677 B.C. Parkinson’s Disease Association Toll-free (B.C. only): 1-800-668-3330 Tel: (604) 662-3240 Alberta Parkinson’s Society of Alberta Toll-free: 1-888-873-8901 Tel: (780) 482-8993 Parkinson Society of Southern Alberta Toll-free (AB only): 1-800-561-1911 Tel: (403) 243-9901 Saskatchewan Saskatchewan Parkinson’s Disease Foundation Tel: (306) 966-8160 Manitoba Parkinson Foundation of Canada Toll-free: 1-800-565-3000 Ontario Central and Northern Ontario Toll-free: 1-800-565-3000 Tel: (416) 227-9700 Ottawa Region: Parkinson’s Society of Ottawa-Carleton Tel: (613) 722-9238 Southwestern Ontario Toll-free (ON only): 1-888-851-7376 Tel: (519) 680-0430 Quebec Quebec Division Toll-free: 1-800-720-1307 Tel: (514) 861-4422 Maritimes Maritime Division Toll-free (NB, NS, PEI only): 1-800-663-2468 Tel: (902) 422-3656 Newfoundland and Labrador Newfoundland and Labrador Division Toll-free (NFLD only): 1-800-567-7020 Tel: (709) 754-4428 Be sure to visit our newly updated Web site at: www.parkinson.ca janet paterson, an akinetic rigid subtype, albeit perky, parky PD: 54/41/37 CD: 54/44/43 TEL: 613 256 8340 EMAIL: [log in to unmask] "a new voice" home page: http://www.geocities.com/janet313/ . "new voice news" latest posts: http://groups.yahoo.com/group/nvnNET/ . ---------------------------------------------------------------------- To sign-off Parkinsn send a message to: mailto:[log in to unmask] In the body of the message put: signoff parkinsn