2015-Board Members and Message - Scleroderma Society Of Canada

General Meeting 2015
Back Row - Rebecca Wissenz (ON), Gillian Little (AB), David Queen (BC)
Middle Row - Rosanne Queen (BC), Helen Goerzen (MB), Jason Doucette (NS), Louise Goulet (SK), David Sauvé (ON), Marion Pacy (MB), Susan Dyck (AB)
Front Row - Melissa Patton (BC), Catherine Fortuné (ON), Michelle Richard (NS), Anna McCusker (ON), Maureen Worron-Sauvé (ON), Yvon Leveille (QC),
President’s Message
An Annual General Meeting is a time to reflect and learn from the past year, celebrate our accomplishments and strategize for the future.
In 2015 we reached out and expanded our base of support and we now call companies such as Actelion; Bayer Canada;
Peace Naturals; DynaCare; First Ontario Credit Union and Wissenz Law our friends and allies.
In addition, we received two incredibly generous anonymous donations of $100,000 each in support of research - Wow.
With the generosity of Scleroderma Ontario, Canada was able to enter into a unique partnership with Scleroderma
Foundation U.S., Scleroderma Research Foundation U.S., and Scleroderma TriState. 2014 saw the launch of a new international Voice Campaign for our JUNE AWARENESS efforts. SclerodermaAware.org website connecting with links to the four
supporting organizations showcased the unified campaign and asked for a pledge. Pledge that “you will tell 50 other
individuals about scleroderma and share what scleroderma is.” Time Square billboard displayed the message of SclerodermaAware and introduced the four partners with their own logos and contact information. We have built on this
significant initiative and in 2015 the “HARD WORD – HARDER DISEASE” was adapted by Scleroderma Canada as the
marketing tool and consistent messaging for National Scleroderma efforts. British Columbia, Manitoba, Nova Scotia and
Ontario promoted this unified awareness initiative.
Scleroderma Canada was given the extraordinary opportunity to have an Executive Director through the generous
support of Scleroderma Ontario. The Executive Director, Anna McCusker, was hired in March of 2014 by Scleroderma
Ontario and a percentage of her time has been dedicated to promoting Scleroderma Canada.
The annual National Scleroderma Conference is one of the greatest support resources that Scleroderma Canada offers.
This can be a life changing event for many of our patients and care providers. The Conference provides a unique and
inspiring opportunity for people living with this disease. The connections made at the conference are some of the
strongest bonds and support networks that can be created for a person living with scleroderma.
With great need comes great opportunity. Thank you for your steadfast support.
It makes our work possible.
Maureen Worron-Sauve
2015
ANNUAL
REPORT
Download Report
HERE