Canadian Association of Paediatric Health Centres Conference in Quebec City: October 18 to 20, 2015

Canadian Association of Paediatric Health Centres Conference:

Child Health <<Solutions>> pour la santé de nos enfants

October 18 to 20, 2015 in Quebec City

By Lisa Stromqist, Special to Inspirations

The Canadian Association of Paediatric Health Centres (CAPHC) is a national association of hospitals, rehab centres, homecare agencies and others that provide healthcare services to children and youth. We create programs, projects and services that support our member organizations in providing the best care for children and their families.

CAPHC is thrilled to be holding our 2015 Annual Conference in Québec City, October 18 to 20.   "Child Health <<Solutions>> pour la santé de nos enfants" is not only the title and theme of this year's conference but also represents CAPHC's commitment to our child and youth healthcare community!

CAPHC’s Annual Conference is the largest meeting of child and youth healthcare providers in Canada, engaging a wide range of stakeholders that include Hospital CEOs, Chief Financial Officers, Senior Administrators, Physicians, Clinical Directors, Multidisciplinary Practitioners, Policy Makers, Researchers, and Families and Youth.

True to our strategic imperatives; Make a Difference, Be the Voice, Take the Stage and Be Here for Tomorrow, the CAPHC Conference is an interactive forum where we provide our community  with the opportunity to learn about strategies, best practices and the latest innovations in children’s health care delivery and celebrate the  true collaborative nature of CAPHC’s work.  

With a focus on “Solutions” in child health CAPHC is privileged to welcome Dr. Michel Boivin, Canada Research Chair in Child Development, and Professor of Psychology at the School of Psychology at Université Laval and an international expert in Early Childhood Development. His Keynote Presentation entitled: “The Science of Early Childhood Development and the Challenges of Informing Public Policy”, will bring insight and solutions to current and emerging physical and mental health issues that challenge this vulnerable population.

“Attitude, Passion and Determination” will be brought to our conference this year by our most inspiring 2015 Motivational Speaker, Chantal Petitclerc: Paralympic Champion and World Record Holder.

We are also delighted to welcome Cirque du Soleil - Cirque du Monde to our 2015 Closing Keynote Session. Their Presentation entitled “A Social Circus - Alternative Solutions in the Area of Healthcare” will send off the 2015 CAPHC Conference delegates in style with  two examples of innovation in this very special field “Transition between school and active life”: Montreal Centre de réadaptation Lucie Bruneau;  and “Espace Transition”: CHU Sainte-Justine, Montreal Quebec.

We invite you to look at our Preliminary Program  to see the more details of our plenary, concurrent symposia and workshops that emphasize multiple “hot topics” in the areas of mental health, paediatric palliative care, patient safety, quality improvement, the impact of national paediatric benchmarking, integrating research and patient care, family integrated care and childhood rehabilitation.

We hope to welcome you in Quebec City, October 18 to 20 along with our national partners - Canadian Family Advisory Network; the Canadian Association of Child Life Leaders, the Canadian Child and Youth Health Coalition, Canadian Children’s Hospital Foundation Executives, CIHR - Institute of Human Development Child and Youth Health, the Paediatric Chairs of Canada, the Public Health Agency of Canada, the Pediatric Surgical Chiefs of Canada and many more! French translations will be available on site.

                                                                                                                                    

The Canadian Association of Paediatric Health Centres (CAPHC) was established in 1968 as the Canadian Association of Paediatric Hospitals, representing all children’s hospitals in Canada. In 2001, the organization expanded its national reach to include all children’s hospitals in the country, many community hospitals, regional and provincial health authorities, rehabilitation centres, and home care provider agencies. All CAPHC member organizations provide essential healthcare services to Canada’s children and youth.

Today, CAPHC supports child and youth healthcare professionals from more than 70 organizations across the country. Each year, 8.75 million children and youth rely on the services of CAPHC’s member organizations. As a national organization, CAPHC is uniquely positioned to influence system-wide change, advocating for the very best healthcare for Canada’s children and youth. All children’s hospitals in Canada and their respective Children’s Hospital Foundations are members of CAPHC, providing strong linkages to clinical care, education and research.

CAPHC’s Vision: “Knowledge to Action: Enabling the Best Healthcare for Canada’s Children and Youth”

This vision underlines the importance of CAPHC’s current and future commitment to improving healthcare and to advancing healthcare equity for all of Canada’s children and youth.

CAPHC’s 4 Strategic Imperatives:

•      Make a Difference: Keeping pace with the rapid release of available data and best practice; synthesizing and disseminating this information to all CAPHC members;

•      Be the Voice: Being a strong advocate for the healthcare needs of Canada’s children and youth.

•      Take the Stage: Increasing the awareness of child and youth healthcare needs and challenges through improved messaging, communications and visibility.

    •     Be Here for Tomorrow: Strengthening the value proposition of CAPHC by building     capacity to  provide high value products and services to all CAPHC members. 

LOVE, GALILEO....LOVE, MICHAEL; A TRIBUTE SHOW

By Wendy Singer

On June 10, over 100 guests gathered in the gym of Galileo Adult Education Centre to be dazzled by the school’s Social Integration Services Program (S.I.S.) students. This group of nearly 50 students worked diligently for 10 months with their team of teachers and staff to prepare their musical, Love, Michael, a tribute to Michael Jackson. 

ABC

Martina Schiavone, Galileo S.I.S. student, and Robert Stocker

Galileo’s Principal Martina Schiavone opened the show, welcoming guests from the EMSB including former Director General Robert Stocker, and representatives from CRDITED de Montréal. She thanked the EMBS for supporting Galileo’s initiatives, “even when we have the craziest ideas!”

This musical performance was particularly exciting as it came on the heels of some of the S.I.S. students’ trip to New York City. This first ever adventure proved to be an incredible experience to all who attended, and raised the performance bar to Broadway heights.

The show began with an energetic performance of ABC, which had the whole group on stage dancing their hearts out. Other numbers included a fabulous rendition of Thriller, and poignant dances to Man in the mirror, and They don’t really care about us.

Love, Michael was laced with fun choreography and contagious smiles. The school spirit was undeniable, with students proudly wearing their black I Love Galileo t-shirts. It was often a challenge for audience members to stay seated! 

Thriller!

Most moving was the S.I.S. students rendition of Man in the mirror, where dancers brought hula hoops to their faces to symbolize mirrors. The lyrics ‘if you want to make the world a better place, take a look at yourself and make a change’ were emphasized with signs that students displayed, sharing powerful messages: Open your heart; I am not a label; Say no to racism.

Man in the Mirror

Man in the Mirror

Galileo’s Vice-Principal Joe Cacchione took to the stage to share some heartfelt words of appreciation. Cacchione was instrumental in planning the adventure to New York, along with the help of his friend Antoni Snopek (who I had the pleasure of sitting beside). When I asked Snopek when asked how he enjoyed the adventure to the Big Apple, he replied: “This trip changed my life.”

This show took months of planning, and involved many staff and volunteers. The community supporting this group of students, and the students themselves, are inspiring, and their energy is contagious.

As Louise Panet-Raymond stated in her closing remarks, “Over the past two years, Galileo is quickly becoming the gem of the EMSB.” Indeed true, they will be increasing their student numbers in the year to come, and look forward to welcoming more students to their school.

Following the musical, guests were invited to enjoy a beautiful lunch with their star performers, and visit the students’ classrooms for a first-hand view of the amazing work that they are doing.

Congratulations, Galileo! We are already looking forward to next year’s performance. Have a great summer!

Joe Cacchione and Antoni Snopek

Galileo Adult Education Centre is located in Montreal North. S.I.S. is a program set by the Ministry of Education (MEESR) designed for adults who experience difficulties of a psychological, intellectual, social or physical nature. It is distinctively designed to help students acquire the necessary skills to be able to integrate and participate in society to their fullest potential.

CEREMONY AT SUMMIT SCHOOL

The Dynamic Funds Caregiver of Inspiration 2015

JESSE HEFFRING Recognized at a Ceremony at Summit School

By Jade Horner-Chinappi

Summit School in St. Laurent from the outside looks like many Montreal schools.  Housed in a regular brick building there is nothing about it that speaks to what is happening inside its walls.

For over 50 years, there has been magic happening at Summit School.  The magic is the seed of dedication, hard work and loyalty that has blossomed into making Summit School what it is today; a safe haven for special needs students to flourish.

A place where their ideas and imagination have been allowed to grow.

Jesse Heffring (far left) Cathy Vlahos-Perez, Herman Erdogmus

On June 3, 2015 the gymnasium of Summit School quickly filled to capacity as excited students and staff came to honour its Volunteers. The ceremony began with the enthusiastic school choir singing, ‘Come down with me and say hello.’  There were 18 hard working volunteers present, who sacrifice their time and energy to the school. As each stood as their name was read aloud, the students of Summit School responded back with cheers, laughter and waving hands.

After the volunteers were honoured, Jesse Heffring was honoured for receiving the Dynamic Funds Caregiver Inspirations award. Jesse has dedicated 10 years of his life to bringing his love of filmmaking and theatre to the students of Summit School. It doesn’t stop there though; Jesse also started the school’s Media Program, and spearheaded the founding of the Copy Centre, and the T.E.C.C. Program at Summit School.

 Nominated by Inspirations Newspapers own Wendy Singer, and presented by Wendy Singer and Mike Cohen, Jesse received movie passes, and a stunning piece of original artwork from Jason Goldsmith and Ellis of Big Blue Hug.  The hand painted glass image called Imagination, illustrated perfectly the creative energy that is Jesse Heffring.

Since 2004 Jesse has work with Summit School students creating original short films, which have been shown at film festivals, and has produced major theatrical shows, one that was staged at the Rialto Theatre in 2014, where 35 guest artists, and 55 Summit students lent their talents to the production of You’ll Never Walk Alone.

In his usual manner, upon receipt of his awards, Jesse Heffring made sure to include everyone in his speech.  “I see this as an award for Summit School,” he smiled. Speaking to the responsive crowd, he thanked Inspirations Newspaper, the staff of Summit School, citing their “talent, dedication and sacrifice,” and lastly, he spoke directly to the students declaring their love and originality were his inspiration.

“Keep being yourself, keep working hard, and one day you will have your special moment.”

Congratulations Jesse and Summit School!

To read the full article about Jesse Heffring, visit page for of our Spring / Summer 2015 edition: http://www.inspirationsnews.com/pdf/Editions/Inspirations_Spring_2015-05-22.pdf

Summit School is a private school recognized and subsidized in the public interest by the Ministère de L'Education du Loisir et du Sport. The students, ranging in age from four to 21, present with a range of difficulties including intellectual disabilities, autism, and/or behavioural and emotional disturbances.

Herman Erdogmus, Jesse Heffring(middle), Wendy Singer and
Summit School students

Creatability: A celebration of special art and artists

                         

Billy, representing the YM-YWHA with Guy Giard

Créatability: A celebration of special art and artists

By Wendy Singer

It started with an idea. An idea that had been percolating for years, was solidified over a leisurely  lunch at a popular Cote des Neiges Greek restaurant, and brought to fruition less than one year later.  

We (meaning the folks at The Big Blue Hug, Rekinexion, and Inspirations), often attend expositions and conferences to share what we do, how we can help teachers, caregivers, and families help their loved ones with special needs. But how could we help those individuals directly? Provide people with special needs the opportunity to gain valuable experience while sharing their talents with the public at large? How could we create a paradigm shift of how society views what special needs people can achieve and the role they have in our society?

The answer was created in one single word: Créatability.

Thanks to the vision and hard work of Jason Goldsmith and Lisa Marcovici, the first ever special needs artisan market that Montreal has ever seen was held on May 8, and surpassed all expectations for both organizers and exhibitors.

The event, which was sponsored by Lucy Pires and Sihem Oka from Investors Group, and Inspirations Newspaper, brought 16 artists with varying special needs together to share their talents, and sell their works. Their task for the evening included sharing their artistic process with the public, telling their stories, and selling their works. In return, they received solid work experience that will serve them well in the future, and most certainly at future Créatability events.

Some artists were experienced, others were first-time exhibitors. It was Lama Alabed's first time sharing her beautiful paintings. Her first task learned: how to price her work!

Lama Alabed with her beautiful paintings

Diana Crawford from Light a Dream, a candle making business that promotes their student's understanding of various business and economic principles, spent most of the event hidden in a corner away from her table. She brought students Leanna and Zach along to sell their delightful stock of candles in all shapes and sizes, including cappuccino glasses and cupcakes. 

"The students have excellent work experience in the store, but they are always supervised," shared Crawford. "This is the first time that they've ever been on their own. And in this environment, they are thriving."

In an email exchange that I had with Crawford after the event, she shared the most touching comments: "We met so many amazing people and had such a great time (at Créatability). Just a little aside....because of the enthusiasm and support Zach received for his photographs he has decided to definitely pursue his career in photography. Before this event, praise had been mostly from friends and family,. This time it was from strangers which seemed to help validate his talent and his confidence even more. Both students are somewhat shy or reserved. I had the extreme priviledge, goosebumps and all, to see them really come out of their shells and show off how very capable they are. Thank you for this!!!"

Leanna and Zach at the Light a Dream table

There are few words to describe the joyful feeling in the Rekinexion studio, where the event was held. One could sense change in the air. The over 150 visitors that passed by took their time, got to know one another, appreciated the talent and the courage it takes to share personal works and stories. And artists connected with one another, bonding in their shared accomplishment and experiences.

Kenza from Kenza's Creations and Lucilla Guerrero

Créatability Expo featured other talented artists, including Heidi Vormer (Remrov), who creates stunning hyper photorealistic drawings, Kirk Davidson, a talented painter, and Eli Adams Photography from Vermont. Guests were treated to music by Frank Verpaelst, and Steven Elie Atme.

Adams attends LiHigh School in Vermont, where students are encouraged to spend two days of every week out in the community working with an adult mentor who is an expert in the field that interests them. Adams' passion is photography. Known at 'The Light Hunter', his talent is unquestionable in viewing his exceptional photos. 

"This is Eli's first time leaving Vermont," said Zohara Zarfati, who accompanied Adams from LiHigh to Créatability. " We will go as far as we need to to help our students succeed. Even as far as Canada."

Eli Adams (red t-shirt) with his aunts, and Zohara Zarfati (far right)

Créatability's first event created a solid foundation for its mission for the future. "The vision that drives this endeavor begins with the artisan market and continues long term in supporting any person with an intellectual, developmental or physical disability in finding and maintaining meaningful employment, be it through self-employment or working for others, " shared Goldsmith, Founder of The Big Blue Hug. "I am already planning our next event!"

Thank you to all of our friends, both old and new, who supported us and came out to meet the artists.

To view more photos of the event, visit the Creatability Facebook page. 
If you are interested in learning about future Créatability events, contact creatabilityexpo@gmail.com. 
Visit www.creatabilityexpo.com for more information and a list of the exhibitors.