Tag: volunteer

Celebrating outstanding commitment through the Dr David Green Awards

These individuals show extraordinary commitment to raising funds, increasing awareness and advocating for the neuromuscular disorder (NMD) community, supporting continued research, engaging other community members and building positive connections.

Volunteers are the backbone of our organization. They share creative ideas, give their time, and contribute their experiences to help advance advocacy efforts, push research forward, and deliver essential programs and services. MDC is very grateful to have such amazing individuals and groups committed to supporting our mission and the Canadian NMD community.

Learn more about our 2023 award winners.

Recognizing dedication and passion beyond measure

Muscular Dystrophy Canada (MDC) recognizes and celebrates the contributions of individuals and groups who champion our mission with courage, determination, and passion through the Dr. David Green Awards Program. We are excited to announce the list of our esteemed 2021 award winners. These individuals show extraordinary commitment to raising funds, increasing awareness and advocating for the NMD community, supporting continued research, engaging other community members and building positive connections.

The type of compassion and leadership recognized by these awards is personified in Dr. Colleen O’Connell, MDC’s 2021 recipient of the Outstanding Healthcare Partner award. This award is presented to a physician or clinician for outstanding achievements in improving neuromuscular disorder clinical practice and/or who has played a major or lasting role in improving the quality of life of people affected by neuromuscular disorders and their families.

In the past year, Dr. O’Connell has supported MDC’s knowledge sharing and advocacy initiatives. Particularly, Dr. O’Connell supported MDC with gathering and sharing credible and timely information regarding COVID-19 and NMDs. She has advocated on behalf of patients with NMDs to receive prioritization for vaccination. She also presented at our #LetsTalkNMD webinars, and most recently, she is the chair of transition of care in DMD for an upcoming Duchenne conference. She has supported MDC in many ways and is exceptionally knowledgeable, available and willing to support the NMD community in Canada.

“MDC is incredibly grateful to have so many groups and individuals dedicated to supporting our mission and the NMD community as a whole,” says Stacey Lintern, CEO of Muscular Dystrophy Canada. “From giving their time, contributing innovative ideas, sharing their experiences and helping to advance MDC forward in all areas of our Mission efforts, volunteers are the back-bone of our organization. Thank you doesn’t even begin to cover just how appreciative we are of each and every one of you”.

We are so lucky to have such an amazing group of supporters, including Dr. O’Connell, who continue to support our Mission, challenge us to be better and unite the neuromuscular disorder community. Click here to learn more and see a full list of this year’s award winners.

2021 Award Winners

MDC Change Agents 

As we celebrate National Volunteer Week, we are happy to share that the following members for MDC’s Advocacy Advisory Committee have been selected:

Catherine Boivin
Quebec
Profession: Digital Technologies Specialist and Consultant
Connection to MDC: Adult affected by a NMD

Alfred Breton-Pare
Quebec
Profession: Senior CRA; Project Manager; Clinical Research Manager
Connection to MDC: Parent of a child affected by a NMD, MDC Board Member

Emily Hong-Wing Chan, BSc (Hons), MSW (Cand.)
Ontario
Profession: Social Worker
Connection to MDC: Adult affected by a NMD

Dr. Sue Dojeiji MD, Med, FRCPC
Ontario
Profession: Physiatrist-in-Chief, Clinical educator; Neuromuscular Researcher
Connection to MDC: NMD Clinician-Scientist

Susan Jahnke
British Columbia
Profession: Business Owner & Website Manager
Connection to MDC: Adult affected by a NMD

Corrine Kagan, BA (Hons)
Ontario
Profession: Past Senior Program Director (ABI)
Connection to MDC: Adult affected by a NMD

Dr. Colin Kovacs, MD, Med, FRCPC
Ontario
Profession: Family Medicine/HIV Primary Care Physician; Assistant Professor in Internal Medicine at U of T
Connection to MDC: Adult affected by a NMD, Member of NMD4C

Ken Kramer, Q.C.
British Columbia
Profession: Principal & Senior Associate Counsel at KMK Law
Connection to MDC: Adult affected by a NMD

Louis Joseph Lauziere
Ontario
Profession: Past Senior Policy Advisor in Dept of Justice at Gov of Saskatchewan
Connection to MDC: Adult affected by a NMD

Michael Low, JD
Alberta
Profession: Litigation Associate at Fasken Martineau DuMoulin LLP
Connection to MDC: Parent of a child affected by a NMD

Stefanie Marinich-Lee, LLB.
Ontario
Profession: Lawyer, Corporate HR
Connection to MDC: Adult affected by a NMD

Erin Novakowski
Alberta
Profession: Undergraduate student at U of Alberta; Disability Social Media manager; Writer and Contributor for Accessible Housing Canada
Connection to MDC: Adult affected by a NMD

Thu Parmar, B.Sc. Pharm
Alberta
Profession: Clinical Pharmacist; Managed public drug programs at Alberta MoH; Senior Manager of Government Relations & Public Policy at Hoffmann-La Roche Limited (Roche Canada)
Connection to MDC: NMD Industry Partner

Jalee Pelissier
Ontario
Profession: PT/OT Aide
Connection to MDC: Adult affected by a NMD

Kara Reid, BSc OT
New Brunswick
Profession: Occupational Therapist
Connection to MDC: Member of Neuromuscular Clinic, MDC Board Member

Dr. Kerri Schellenberg  MD, MMedEd, FRCPC, CSCN (EMG)
Saskatchewan
Profession: Neurologist and Medical Director ALS Clinic; Neuromuscular researcher.
Connection to MDC: NMD Clinician-Scientist

Erica Vella, BA
Ontario
Profession: Digital Broadcast Journalist with Global News Toronto
Connection to MDC: Family member of an adult affected by NMD

Fatima Vido-Vecchio, B.Sc. PT
British Columbia
Profession: Physiotherapist
Connection to MDC: Member of Neuromuscular Clinic

Elaine Whitmore
Ontario
Profession: Past CEO of John McGivney Children’s Centre
Connection to MDC: Friend of persons affected by NMD; Advocate

We are thankful to all who applied and applaud our new members for coming forward to help us work together towards inclusive policies that reflects and respects Canada’s diversity, values the neuromuscular experience and are accessibility-focused.

We look forward to influencing positive change together! If you have any questions about advocacy, please email advocacy@muscle.ca

National Volunteer Week 2020

Muscular Dystrophy Canada is a volunteer-driven organization. We rely on dedicated, enthusiastic, diverse and dynamic people to help us meet our mission – from clients to family members, community supporters to like-minded organizations, and healthcare professionals to Fire Fighters and beyond.

All of our volunteers are key partners in the delivery of MDC’s support programs, services, fundraising efforts, and governance. We want to thank ALL of our wonderful volunteers for everything they do, and for believing in our mission.

For National Volunteer Week (April 19–25), we highlighted a few of our extraordinary volunteers. Read their profiles below:

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