Hot Talks at Markham Theatre- November 12th- Stephen Lewis & Dr. Jeff Turnbull
On Thursday, November 12th at 7:30 pm Give a Day is very pleased to present Hot Talks at Markham Theatre. We will be welcoming Stephen Lewis, chair of the Stephen Lewis Foundation and former Special Envoy for HIV/AIDS in Africa, and Dr. Jeff Turnbull, Chief of Staff at the Ottawa Hospital and Medical Director of the Ottawa Inner City Health Project who will be discussing the topic “Canadian professionals and social activism: an option or an obligation?” The evening will also include beautiful music by Madagascar Slim and Soul Influence. Tickets are only $20 and are available through the Markam Theatre box office by calling 905-305-SHOW or 1-866-768-8801 or online.
Published by: GiveADay on October 28th, 2009 | Filed under GAD Events, Give a Day 2009, MediaComment now »
Be a Part of the Solution
Dr. Tim O’Shea, Give a Day supporter writes…In my last post I talked about the importance of remembering the personal stories behind the staggering statistics that describe the HIV/AIDS pandemic. I have seen firsthand how much of a difference these personal stories can make. In 2006 my mother attended the Stephen Lewis Foundation’s grandmothers conference in Toronto as an observer. Hearing the African grandmothers describe the realities of their day to day existence literally changed my mother’s life. Since that time she has started a grandmothers group in our hometown and has helped this group to raise over $80,000 in just over two years. Somehow she manages to find the time to do all of this while continuing to be an enthusiastic and loving grandmother to her own seven grandchildren. So, you see, the more we learn about the people that this disease is affecting, the more we learn that they are grandmothers, sisters, sons and daughters just like us, the harder it is to look away. Similarly, as we learn more about the people working tirelessly to end this pandemic, it makes us want to join the fight, to be part of the solution. Give a Day provides a way to add your voice, and your resources, to the ever expanding group of outstanding people working to make a difference, like my mom.
JoAnne O'Shea
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Kingsway Harambee – November 21st- West Toronto
A group of approximately 50 friends and neighbors in Toronto’s West end will be gathering for the first annual Kingsway Harambee celebration at a local pub. The event will be sure to please with great African music, artwork from Zimbabwe, great food, great friends and all for a great cause.
Published by: GiveADay on October 26th, 2009 | Filed under GAD Events, Give a Day Harambees, MediaComment now »
Give a Night 2009 – November 26th – The Roosevelt Room
We are very excited to announce that we have secured a venue and have confirmed the date of Give a Night 2009. Give a Night will be held at the brand new Roosevelt Room on November 26, 2009. The official opening of the Roosevelt Room is November 5, but we had a chance to check it out and it is amazing! If you’re interested in more information about the venue, the link to the Roosevelt Room is: www.therooseveltroom.ca.
We are also happy to report that the Silent Auction committee has already secured a number of fantastic prizes, including platinum Leafs tickets, floor seats for the Raptors, gift certificates for some great restaurants, and lunch with Bob Rae! We are continuing to approach local business for more great donations. If you are interested in donating to the silent auction, please contact Ken Jennings (kjennings@osler.com).
Give a Night is just over a month away and we are all very excited with how the event is shaping up. Check back with us soon for more details about the event, including ticket information and the launch of the event site (www.giveanight.ca).
If you have any questions or would like more information about the event, please feel free to contact Adam Gutkin (agutkin@osler.com), Caroline Descours (cdescours@goodmans.ca) or Anastasia Sukalsky (asukalsky@beardwinter.com).
Sincerely,
Your 2009 Give a Night Committee
Published by: GiveADay on October 23rd, 2009 | Filed under GAD Events, Give a Day 2009, Give a Night 2009, Media, Workplace CampaignsComment now »
Creating a Connection
Dr. Andrew Pinto, Give a Day supporter writes…The “Give A Day” campaign is a lot more than just collecting donations. It’s about linking our work here with the daily work of dedicated clinicians, nurses and volunteers who are facing the AIDS pandemic in low-income countries.
Dr. Jane Philpott’s idea struck a chord: the simple donation of a day’s wages to an organization that directly delivers care to HIV-positive people who need it. When I first heard about this, I was a family medicine resident. I trained at a clinic that served a large number of people living with AIDS in Toronto. Creating a tangible connection between my work and the struggle in sub-Saharan Africa was important to me. I knew that millions of men, women and children there did not have access to the life-saving drugs that were available to our patients here.
This connection was further strengthened when I had the opportunity to volunteer as a physician with Dignitas International, one of the organizations that receives support from the GAD campaign. I am grateful to have had this privilege. The clinicians, nurses, students and patients in Malawi taught me a great deal, not just about clinical care, but the meaning of pragmatic solidarity.
As I settle back into my life in Toronto, my greatest hope is to reflect their commitment and passion in my day-to-day work. Our work and our worlds are indeed linked. This campaign not only helps organizations deliver AIDS related care to patients in low-income countries, but also gives our work here greater meaning.
Andrew Pinto is a family physician and resident in Community Medicine.
The views presented here are his own.
Published by: GiveADay on October 22nd, 2009 | Filed under Give a Day 2009, HIV/AIDS in Africa, Media, Workplace CampaignsComment now »
Canadian Professionals and Social Activism: an Option or an Obligation?
Give a Day to World AIDS presents…
“Hot Talks at Markham Theatre”
Thursday, November 12, 2009
7:30 pm
On the topic…
“Canadian professionals and social activism: an option or an obligation?”
Featuring…
1. Mr. Stephen Lewis
Chair, Stephen Lewis Foundation
Former UN Special Envoy for HIV/AIDS in Africa
Professor in Global Health, McMaster University
2. Dr Jeff Turnbull
Chief of Staff, The Ottawa Hospital
Medical Director, The Ottawa Inner City Health Project
3. Madagascar Slim
Madagascar Slim fuses blues and African tradition with guitar magic and award winning (three Junos!) originality.
4. Soul Influence
The music of this African a cappella ensemble brings the vibrancy of Africa to the hearts of those who hear it.
Event sponsors
- Markham Stouffville Hospital, Department of Family Medicine
- Chapel Ridge Funeral Home, Markham
- Rogers Television – Official Media Sponsor
Location: The Markham Theatre for the Performing Arts
Admission $20
For tickets, call 905 305 SHOW (7469) or 1 866 768 8801
Or order online.
Published by: GiveADay on October 16th, 2009 | Filed under Give a Day 2009, HIV/AIDS in Africa, Media, Workplace CampaignsComment now »
Give a Night 2009
And we are off!!! Planning for Give a Night 2009 is now in full gear! We had over 40 articling students representing 23 Toronto law firms attend our first organizational meeting this past Wednesday. Everyone was very enthusiastic about the event and full of great ideas.
This year’s event will be held on Thursday, November 26. Last year, the event sold out with over 500 tickets sold and almost $14,000 raised. The bar has been set, but we are up for the challenge!
Check in with us again soon to find out more details!
Sincerely,
Your 2009 Give a Night Organizing Committee
Published by: GiveADay on October 9th, 2009 | Filed under GAD Events, Give a Day 2009, Media, Workplace CampaignsComment now »
Statistics Don’t Tell the Whole Story
Dr Tim O’Shea, Give a Day supporter writes…As part of my Masters of Public Health course this year I am taking a class on health and human rights. Today’s class focused on HIV and AIDS. The professor started the class off by reciting some of the statistics which define the pandemic. She then reminded us that, behind each one of these numbers, there is a person, a family and a community. And she wept. She is an incredibly accomplished expert in the field, trained as a lawyer, with extensive experience at high level international organizations over many years. The passion which she so obviously feels for this topic was evident. It reminded me again that this disease is an intensely personal one, and as much as the almost unfathomable scope of the pandemic drives us to action, we need to continue to realize that the statistics don’t come close to telling the whole story. HIV/AIDS, on a global scale, is a disease of the marginalized and vulnerable. The virus both exploits these disparities and worsens them in a vicious cycle. Perhaps that is one reason why the Give a Day campaign has brought together the worlds of health care and law with such success. The way that HIV affects one’s health is obvious. But there is also a clear justice issue here; injustice both leads to, and results from, infection with HIV.
Published by: GiveADay on October 2nd, 2009 | Filed under Give a Day 2009, HIV/AIDS in Africa, Workplace CampaignsComment now »
