St. John’s, N.L. – August 11, 2010

Cross-country bike odyssey to finish on Thursday in St. John’s, NL with emotional reunion between aunt and nephew – University of Victoria student cycled 7,500 km by himself to raise awareness and funds in support of brain injury survivors in honour of his aunt.

As he arrives on Thursday, August 12, 2010 at St. John’s historic waterfront centre, University of Victoria physics student Brad Cownden, 23, looks forward to a warm embrace from his aunt who inspired him to cycle across Canada. His aunt, Connie MacKenzie, traveled alone, mostly by bus, all the way from Victoria to greet Cownden upon his successful finish in St. John’s. MacKenzie suffered a near-fatal car accident 10 years ago that severely impacted her brain and her lifestyle. A former nurse, MacKenzie has not been able to work due to permanent damage to her critical-thinking centres. It was her battle to recover that inspired Cownden to embark on his cross-country ride.
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The Brain Injury Association of Canada wishes all Canadians a Safe and Happy Holiday Season

Media Release
Friday, November 13, 2009 FOR NOON RELEASE
Presentation at West Vancouver Community Centre on Saturday, November 14 at 12:30 p.m.
Spirit Room | 2121 Marine Drive | West Vancouver | BC | V7V 4Y2 | 604 921-3411

Read the full Press Release

- By Yvan Michel Teasdale

On July 11th at the National Conference held at Villa St Martin in Pierrefonds, Quebec , our President Shirley Johnson and Yvan Teasdale, Chair of the Government Relations and Public Affairs Committee, presented a $2,000 Bursary to Phillip Roy, a student at the Université du Québec at Rimouski in the presence of his proud mother Manon Lefort. Phillip is pursuing a master’s degree in Management of Maritime resources.

A second $2,000 bursary will be awarded to Akira Peters of Yukon who is pursuing an Honours BA in English and History at the University of Saskatchewan.

The Selection Committee composed of Board of Directors, namely, Marina White (Nfld & L.), Larry Carlson (Sask.) and Yvan Teasdale (Que.) had the difficult task of selecting only two candidates for the second edition of a $2,000 Bursary Program awarded to brain injury survivors pursuing post-secondary education opportunities in an English or French institution or apprenticeship/trades program in Canada.

Upon learning that he would be receiving a bursary, Phillip said: ‘’I danced in joy when I learned that I qualified for a bursary’’.

Congratulations to the selected candidates! We wish them success in their endeavours and we will follow their progress with interest.

If you were not selected this year, please try again, or, if you did not apply, you should consider doing so in time for the 2010-2011 school year. If you are applying using the BIAC online application or BIAC’s application form, you must send it by April 30th of the given year. Bursary information will be posted on our website.

Designed to Entertain, Educate and Legislate

Gatineau, Québec – June is Brain Injury Awareness Month, a national initiative helping Canadians of all ages become more aware of the causes of acquired brain injury and its prevention. Year-round, the Brain Injury Association of Canada (BIAC) spearheads ways to teach people how to protect their brain and those of their children. During Brian Injury Awareness Month, BIAC will be organizing various events and activities designed to entertain, educate, and legislate.

Brain Injury Awareness Month 2009 – Entertaining & Educating
* (Across Canada) The Great Canadian Barbecue… BIAC invites Canadians to host barbecues in their backyards, a park, campground, parking lot, or anywhere friends, work colleagues, and family can be brought together. BIAC will provide someone to talk about brain injury prevention, while a brain injury survivor can inspire change with his/her success story. The format is whatever is comfortable. BIAC can also supply its logo for BBQ event signs or banners. Interested organizers should contact harry.zarins@biac-aclc.ca.
* The Brain Injury Association of Nova Scotia will be hosting their Annual Golf Tournament (June 15, Brightwood Golf and Country Club).
* The Brain Injury Society of Toronto will be organizing a Brain Injury Prevention Rally (June 18, noon-2pm, Nathan Philips Square) and an evening reception at Toronto’s Hard Rock Cafe (5-8pm).
* In June, Alberta brain injury survivor, Ian Young, will be riding VIA Rail across Canada, stopping in selected towns and cities to bring his acquired brain injury story and message of prevention. Go to www.biac-aclc.ca for more information about the voyage and to learn more about Ian (Happening Now section; story, “Glenrose Patient Rewarded for Courage” Follow the journey at www.ianyoung.ca

Brain Injury Awareness Month 2009 – Legislating
* BIAC is calling on all Canadians to support Private Members Bill C-289 by writing to the Public Health Agency of Canada to explain that they want all helmets sold in this country to be built using the highest standards possible, as developed by the Canadian Standards Association. The bill would amend the Hazardous Products Act, so as to prohibit the advertising, sale, or import into Canada, of recreational snow sport helmets that do not meet a national standard. The amendment is being re-introduced by the Honourable Dr. Hedy Fry (Vancouver Centre). For more information about Bill C-289, the issues involved, and how Canadians can support Dr. Fry’s efforts, please visit www.biac-aclc.ca.

6th Annual BIAC Conference (Pierrefonds, QC; July 10-12)
Successful STEPS (STrategies for Education, Prevention and Support)
Join us once again at Villa Saint Martin, along the banks of the Des Prairies river for BIAC’s 6th annual three-day conference. Highlighted by a Friday evening Hawaiian Oyster Odyssey, the weekend is an invaluable opportunity to exchange ideas and participate in informative presentations, as hosted by many renowned brain injury professionals and survivors. For more information, and to register, visit www.biac-aclc.ca/en/annual-conference.

National Bursary Program
BIAC will award its two $2,000 bursaries at the Successful STEPS Annual Conference (Pierrefonds, QC; July 10-12), which help Canadian acquired brain injury survivors pursue educational opportunities in an English or French post-secondary institution or apprenticeship/trades program.

For more information about the Brain Injury Awareness Month, please contact us.

The Brain Injury Association of Canada fully supports the establishment of a Canadian Caregiver Strategy. So many of our families fill the role of primary caregiver and therefore this initiative has great significance in the acquired brain injury community. We encourage Canadians to write to their Members of Parliament indicating their support for the development and implementation of a Canadian Caregiver Strategy.

Federal government urged to establish a Canadian Caregiver Strategy
Ottawa, May 8, 2009 – The Canadian Cancer Society (CCS) and the Canadian Caregiver Coalition (CCC) urges the federal government to acknowledge and support family caregivers through the establishment of a Canadian Caregiver Strategy. The groups are bringing their message to more than 50 Parliamentarians during a luncheon held on May 7 on Parliament Hill.

Family Caregivers contribute an astounding $25 to 26 billion of unpaid labour to the health care system, providing care and assistance for immediate and extended family and friends who are in need of support because of age, illness or long term conditions.

In a 2007 Pollara survey, 23 per cent of Canadians said they had cared for a family member or close friend with a serious health problem in the preceding 12 months, with 22 per cent of these people missing one or more months of work and 41 per cent using personal savings to survive financially while providing care.

The CCS and the CCC are recommending that Parliamentarians establish a Canadian Caregiver Strategy; key components of the proposed Strategy would include:

Minimizing excessive financial burden placed on family caregivers by expanding the scope of the current tax measures and Compassionate Care Benefit (CCB) administered under federal employment insurance programming.
Safeguarding the health and well being of family caregivers through the provision of respite care.
Enabling access to information and education to ensure that caregivers can competently and confidently provide care.
Creating flexible workplace environments that respect caregiving obligations.

“The current economic downturn will only increase the need for a Canadian Caregiver Strategy, which is central to ensuring that our health care system can meet the needs of all Canadians,” says Jimm Simon, Chair of the Canadian Cancer Society. “A quick win is possible for family caregivers through an expansion of the Compassionate Care Benefit.”

“Today’s reality is that it will become increasingly difficult for families to provide care for their loved ones,” says Nadine Henningsen, President of the Canadian Caregiver Coalition. “The CCC believes that caregivers must be supported, recognized and protected through a Canadian Caregiver Strategy.”

The CCS and CCC commit to continuing to work with the government to advance the interests of Canadian family caregivers.

Nadine Henningsen, President, Canadian Caregiver Coalition

Congratulations to the CSA
The Brain Injury Association of Canada lauds the Canadian Standards Association in the development of recreational alpine skiing and snowboarding helmet standard to to help protect winter sports enthusiasts on Canadian slopes

The next step is to have the government approve Bill C-289 which will require the recreational alpine skiing and snowboarding helmet industry to follow the CSA standard in the same way as is required for hockey and lacrosse helmets in Canada.

Canada’s first Alpine Helmet standard helps make skiing, snowboarding and tobogganing safer!
Toronto, March 24, 2009 – Each year, hundreds of preventable head injuries are reported on Canadian ski, snowboard and toboggan hills.1 Canadian Standards Association (CSA), a leading developer of standards and codes, announces the country’s first recreational alpine skiing and snowboarding helmet standard to help protect winter sports enthusiasts on Canadian slopes.
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The NFB is pleased to inform you that the film Wipe Out is currently available for sale on DVD.

Brain Injury is the number one cause of death and disability amoung young men. Wipe Out tells the story of three young BC men who suffered traumatic brain injuries while pursuing extreme sports. Through their stories, the documentary explores the science or thrill-seeking and reveals how cultural forces and ignorance are propelling young men to dangerous new heights. This DVD was produced by the Knowledge Network in cooperation with the Brain Injury Association of Canada.

The DVD is available at $19.95 for home viewing or $89.95 for public viewing, plus shipping and handling ($4.00 + $0.75 per additional item) and applicable taxes.
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Bill C-289, a Private Members’ Bill to the House of Commons requiring all recreational snow sport helmets not approved by the Canadian Standards Association to be prohibited under the Hazardous Products Act.

Please take a few minutes out of your busy day to e-mail your Member of Parliament AND the Minister of Health, The Hon. Leona AGLUKKAQ, P.C.

Save a person from a possible serious brain injury or death and write that e-mail to your Member of Parliament AND the Minister of Health supporting Bill C-289!

Read the Press Release outlining the importance of this Bill

You can find your Member of Parliament.

The Minister of Health’s e-mail is Aglukkaq.L@parl.gc.ca

OTTAWA – The Honourable Dr. Hedy Fry, Member of Parliament for Vancouver-Centre and Chair of the BC Liberal Caucus, today re-introduced Bill C-289, a Private Members’ Bill to the House of Commons requiring all recreational snow sport helmets not approved by the Canadian Standards Association to be prohibited under the Hazardous Products Act.

Currently, helmets for hockey and lacrosse are regulated under hazardous-products legislation, but helmets for sports such as snowboarding and skiing are not.

“As a physician, I have seen the tragedy of brain injuries and the wastage of human potential caused by unprotected sport activities,” explained Dr. Fry. “The worst part is that it is now 2 years since I introduced this Bill, and since I pleaded with the Minister of Health to implement these changes through Cabinet.”

“This is not only a medical and safety issue – it is good public policy,” said Dr. Fry. “It is estimated that recreational head injuries cost Canadian taxpayers over $100 million each year.”

Dr. Fry’s bill also has the support of the Canadian Medical Association, and of helmet-safety expert Richard Kinar of the Brian Injury Association of Canada.

“A report by Ski Canada tells us that some ski and snowboard helmets for sale in Canada offer no more protection than putting a bag of milk over your head,” said Kinar. “The Conservative government continues to ignore this important health issue.”

Contact:
Daniel Rubinstein, Office of the Hon. Hedy Fry, P.C., M.P., (613) 220-0275
fryh0@parl.gc.ca