Pediatric Oncology Group of Ontario Archives

Bruce Power to support Brain Tumour Foundation of Canada, Pediatric Oncology Group of Ontario through Ontario Hockey League partnership for 2019-2020 season

Posted on November 5, 2019 by admin

TIVERTON, ON – November 1, 2019 – Bruce Power will continue its sponsorship agreement with the Ontario Hockey League (OHL) for the 2019-20 season by highlighting its support of Brain Tumour Foundation of Canada and the Pediatric Oncology Group of Ontario (POGO).

Through its partnership, Bruce Power will sponsor games in 16 OHL communities during the regular season to raise awareness around Brain Tumour Foundation of Canada and POGO. Both organizations will have an opportunity – through splitting the 16 games – to set up information/awareness kiosks inside the arenas on their respective game nights while the teams will promote POGO, Brain Tumour Foundation of Canada and Bruce Power on its social media channels and through their in-game promotions.

“Since becoming a partner of the Ontario Hockey League in 2017, we’ve been able to work with the league and teams on charitable initiatives that help raise awareness around the important work being done by the Brain Tumour Foundation of Canada and POGO on behalf of cancer patients and their families across Ontario,” said James Scongack, Executive Vice-President, Corporate Affairs and Operational Services. “Supporting these two organizations is an extension of the work our employees are doing in providing the world with medical isotopes that are used every day in the diagnosis and treatment of cancer.”

OHL Commissioner David Branch says the league and its teams share Bruce Power’s commitment to making their communities better places to live through charitable programs.

“The Ontario Hockey League greatly appreciates the work being done by our partners at Bruce Power and their support of these two great organizations that help countless people in our communities,” Branch said. “Cancer impacts everyone and this charitable effort will raise a great deal of awareness league-wide.”

Brain Tumour Foundation of Canada didn’t hesitate to participate in the Bruce Power-sponsored games, having seen an increase in awareness around the organization and its programs with its presence at OHL games last season.

“For 37 years now, Brain Tumour Foundation of Canada has funded brain tumour research while providing the brain tumour community with emotional support, access to accurate information and a connection to others facing this challenging disease,” said Susan Marshall, Chief Executive Officer, Brain Tumour Foundation of Canada. “We’re grateful to Bruce Power, the Ontario Hockey League and its clubs for allowing us to tell our story to hockey fans throughout the province.”

Like Brain Tumour Foundation of Canada, POGO works in several OHL communities and is taking advantage of the opportunity to tell its story to major junior hockey fans.

Each year in Ontario, there are over 4,000 families with a child in cancer treatment or follow-up care. More than 86 per cent of children diagnosed with cancer will survive. Nearly 60 per cent of these survivors will experience complications either due to the disease itself, complex surgical procedures or the rigorous rounds of radiation and chemotherapy they were given during treatment. POGO champions childhood cancer care for now – for life.

“Creative collaboration allows us to work towards a collective goal, and POGO is proud to partner with Bruce Power and the OHL to raise awareness of Childhood Cancer across Ontario,” said Lynn Wilson, Chief Development Officer at POGO.

The Bruce Power-sponsored games begin this evening in Kingston and Kitchener and continue through February 5.

Kingston Frontenacs – November 1, 2019 (Brain Tumour Foundation of Canada)
Kitchener Rangers – November 1, 2019 (POGO)
Mississauga Steelheads – November 17, 2019 (POGO)
Sudbury Wolves – November 17, 2019 (POGO)
Oshawa Generals- November 22, 2019 (POGO)
Barrie Colts – November 23, 2019 (Brain Tumour Foundation of Canada)
Peterborough Petes – November 23, 2019 (POGO)
London Knights – December 28, 2019 (Brain Tumour Foundation of Canada)
Sarnia Sting – January 3, 2020 (Brain Tumour Foundation of Canada)
Hamilton Bulldogs – January 4, 2020 (POGO)
Niagara IceDogs – January 9, 2020 (POGO)
Ottawa 67’s – January 12, 2020 (POGO)
Guelph Storm – January 17, 2020 (Brain Tumour Foundation of Canada)
Windsor Spitfires – January 19, 2020 (Brain Tumour Foundation of Canada)
North Bay Battalion – January 30, 2020 (Brain Tumour Foundation of Canada)
Sault Ste. Marie Greyhounds – February 5, 2020 (Brain Tumour Foundation of Canada)

About Bruce Power
Formed in 2001, Bruce Power is an electricity company based in Bruce County, Ontario. We are powered by our people. Our 4,100 employees are the foundation of our accomplishments and are proud of the role they play in safely delivering clean, reliable, low-cost nuclear power to families and businesses across the province. Bruce Power is also a significant source of Cobalt-60, a radioisotope used for the sterilization of medical equipment around the world as well as a specialized form of cancer treatment called the Gamma Knife. Learn more at www.brucepower.com and follow us on Facebook, Twitter, LinkedIn, Instagram and YouTube.

For more information, contact:

John Peevers – Director, Corporate Communications – 519-361-6583 – john.peevers@brucepower.com

About the OHL

The Ontario Hockey League is a proud member of the Canadian Hockey League which is the world’s largest development hockey league with 60 teams in nine Canadian provinces and five American states. In addition to the OHL, the CHL is made up of the Quebec Major Junior Hockey League and the Western Hockey League. Last season, more than nine million fans attended CHL games in the regular season, playoffs and at the MasterCard Memorial Cup. The CHL supplies more players to the National Hockey League than any other league. Last season 527 graduates attended Canadian Universities on scholarships from CHL teams.

For more information, contact:

Josh Sweetland – Director, Communications – 416-299-8700 – jsweetland@chl.ca

About Brain Tumour Foundation of Canada
Brain Tumour Foundation of Canada is the only national charity offering information and support to patients affected by any kind of brain tumour – be it cancerous, non-malignant or metastases. The organization funds ground-breaking research across North America and, since 1982, has dedicated over $7.2 million to finding a cure and improving treatment for brain tumour survivors. Brain Tumour Foundation of Canada is funded solely through generous contributions from individuals, corporations, organizations, employee groups and special events. Learn more at Brain Tumour Foundation of Canada’s website at www.BrainTumour.ca.

For more information, contact:

Susan Marshall – Chief Executive Officer, Brain Tumour Foundation of Canada –smarshall@braintumour.ca – 1-800-265-5106 ext. 222

About the Pediatric Oncology Group of Ontario

In 1983, a group of passionate and visionary pediatric oncologists founded the Pediatric Oncology Group of Ontario (POGO). Today, inspired by the children and families whose lives we strive to improve, we champion childhood cancer care on behalf of the childhood cancer community. POGO is the official source of advice on childhood cancer to the Ministry of Health; a trusted source of information among colleagues, parents, survivors and the public; and the longstanding leader of a collaboration among the five academic pediatric oncology programs and other stakeholders, which has resulted in a highly integrated childhood cancer system. Learn more at www.pogo.ca and follow us on Facebook, Twitter, LinkedIn, Instagram and YouTube.

For more information, contact:

Jacqui DeBique – Communications Manager – 416-592-1232, ext. 266 – jdebique@pogo.ca

Bruce Power Expresses Support for POGO’s Survivorship Initiatives

Posted on October 31, 2019 by admin

L to R: Dr. Mark Greenberg, Senior Clincal Lead, Strategic Initiatives and Founder, POGO; Mike Rencheck, President & CEO, Bruce Power; Bill Walker, MPP, Associate Minister of Energy; Jill Ross, CEO, POGO; James Scongack, Executive Vice President, Corporate Affairs & Operational Services, Bruce Power; Dr. David Hodgson, Medical Director, POGO; Dirk Noyahr, childhood cancer survivor and client in POGO’s school and work counselling program

Tiverton, ON (October 30, 2019) — Bruce Power announced today that it is fully committed to supporting the Pediatric Oncology Group of Ontario’s initiatives to provide children with cancer, their families, and survivors of childhood cancer, with access to ongoing treatment, care and financial support.

The announcement, made at the MaRS Centre in Toronto, reinforces a $300,000 commitment made by Bruce Power to POGO on February 15 – International Childhood Cancer Day. Bruce Power, a leader in the production of medical isotopes that are used around the world to improve people’s lives, will provide the funding over the next five years as a key element of the company’s Community Investment and Sponsorship Program.

“Our commitment to the people of Ontario crosses many paths,” said Mike Rencheck, Bruce Power President and CEO. “We provide 30 per cent of the province’s electricity at 30 per cent less than the cost to generate residential power. We inject $4 billion into Ontario’s economy every year, and we contribute $2 million annually to grassroots initiatives, events and organizations that improve the lives of children, adults, Indigenous peoples and military veterans.

“The continuing efforts around our production of medical isotopes are heavily focused on working with the medical community and other partners to find new ways for treating cancer. We share the values of POGO in providing state-of-the-art care to those afflicted with cancer in their childhood years, and doing what it can for families dealing with this life-changing diagnosis.”

One program supported by the Bruce Power funding is POGO’s school and work counselling service for childhood cancer survivors (SAVTI). POGO launched this program in 2002 to address a significant gap in survivor care, helping survivors, aged 16 plus, with neurocognitive challenges receive the necessary support to set and attain realistic educational and employment goals. POGO provides one-on-one counselling tailored to a student’s medical past and subsequent cognitive profile to help them bridge the gap between high school and whatever comes next for that student. POGO counsellors, specialists in their field, support clients in London, Hamilton, Toronto, Ottawa, Kingston and the surrounding areas. Together with neuropsychologists, they also help young people identify and access the accommodations they need, connect to resources in the community, and receive guidance to empower them to become self-advocates at school and at work. POGO counsellors provided services to over 400 cancer survivors last year.

“Bruce Power’s multi-year commitment provides stable funding that will allow us to plan long-term for initiatives that support childhood cancer survivors, as well as Ontario families with children in cancer treatment,” said Jill Ross, POGO’s CEO. “Our work with community partners like Bruce Power, who share our commitment to helping people deal with cancer, plays an important role in ensuring a high-quality, safe and coordinated system of care that addresses both their physical and emotional well-being.”

“In addition to being the backbone of our province’s energy system, Bruce Power is now also an important partner in Ontario’s health care system, producing life-saving medical isotopes and providing financial and other supports to help fight childhood cancer,” said Bill Walker, MPP, Bruce-Grey-Owen Sound and Associate Minister of Energy. “I commend your commitment and look forward to the great work from your new partnership with the Pediatric Oncology Group of Ontario.”

About the Pediatric Oncology Group of Ontario
In 1983, a group of passionate and visionary pediatric oncologists founded the Pediatric Oncology Group of Ontario (POGO). Today, inspired by the children and families whose lives we strive to improve, we champion childhood cancer care on behalf of the childhood cancer community. POGO is the official source of advice on childhood cancer to the Ministry of Health; a trusted source of information among colleagues, parents, survivors and the public; and the longstanding leader of a collaboration among the five academic pediatric oncology programs and other stakeholders, which has resulted in a highly integrated childhood cancer system. Learn more at www.pogo.ca and follow us on Facebook, Twitter, LinkedIn, Instagram and YouTube

In Conversation with Dr. Paul Gibson

Posted on September 8, 2016 by admin

As POGO’s Associate Medical Director, Dr. Gibson provides oversight for POGO’s seven Satellite Clinics including clinical practice and professional development training. He also chairs POGO’s Technology and Therapeutic Advisory Committee (TAC) that works to ensure timely and equitable access to state-of-the-art cancer treatment to all children in Ontario. Dr. Gibson was a member of the executive committee of the Provincial Pediatric Oncology Plan (PPOP), POGO’s long-range plan for childhood cancer care in Ontario. He is also a pediatric oncologist, and recently joined the team at McMaster Children’s Hospital in Hamilton. He is also an Associate Professor of Pediatrics at McMaster University.

Q. What does Childhood Cancer Awareness Month (CCAM) mean for you?

Dr. Gibson: September is a time to celebrate collaboration. It’s a time to acknowledge the team efforts that lead to the remarkable outcomes in children’s cancer. It’s the families, the doctors, the nurses, the child life specialists, pharmacists, rehabilitation professionals, information coordinators, volunteers, tertiary hospitals and satellite centres. The saying is that it takes a village to raise a child. Well, it takes a province to care for families impacted by childhood cancer.

Q. What led you to pediatric oncology?

Dr. Gibson: As an undergraduate student, I worked as a counsellor at a variety of summer camps for kids with special needs and interacted with pediatric oncology patients and the dedicated professionals caring for them. It was here that my interest in oncology was sparked. I spent two summers in Alberta where I had the pleasure of working with Kids Cancer Camps of Alberta. Once in medical school, I was fortunate enough to be granted a studentship to spend the summer working with the pediatric oncology team at the Children’s Hospital of Eastern Ontario (CHEO). My experience there cemented my goal to become part of this world. I was fortunate to train in pediatric oncology at SickKids and then spend 10 amazing years working as part of the team at Children’s Hospital in London.

Q. What aspects of your work bring you the greatest joy, challenge or sadness?

Dr. Gibson: When I tell people I work in childhood cancer, their first response tends to be, ‘It must be so sad.’ I always explain that while the bad days can be awful, the vast majority of days are filled with laughter, levity and team work. Day to day we see our patients enjoying the moment, playing with their families, nurses, child life specialists, therapeutic clowns and volunteers. The biggest challenge still lies in the fact that we don’t cure every patient. Our team is profoundly impacted by challenges such as relapses and patients we can’t cure. It’s important for us to lean on each other in those hard times.

Q. When and why did you become involved with POGO?

Dr. Gibson: I first became involved with POGO as a trainee at SickKids. I participated in the annual POGO symposiums and enjoyed being part of the collective provincial community. I also had the chance to be a presenter during the Satellite Education Days and learn more about the communities served. When I joined the team in London in 2010, I came to appreciate the important job POGO plays in ensuring excellence and equity in kids’ cancer care throughout the province. POGO not only serves as the official advisor to the Ministry of Health, but also an important facilitator of collaboration and cooperation between professionals caring for children with cancer throughout Ontario.

Q. What mark do you want to make as POGO’s Associate Medical Director and as an oncologist?

Dr. Gibson: POGO’s successes over the past 30+ years have been built on the backs of dedicated volunteers and leaders. As the Associate Medical Director, I wish to make my mark by not only continuing the programs, relationships and advocacy of the past, but also to play a role in helping to usher in new therapies and technologies to improve childhood cancer outcomes for all patients in Ontario.

Q. If you could say one thing to the families and children in your career, what would that be?

Dr. Gibson: I would say, “Thank you!” It’s an incredible privilege to be ‘let in’ to their family dynamic at a time most would say is their worst. Not only do families allow us to work with them and care for their child, but so many also participate in research and clinical trials knowing that the knowledge we gain may never impact their child, but may improve the care and outcomes of countless children in the future.

Q. What would be your call to action to Ontarians for CCAM?

Dr. Gibson: Ontarians must make childhood cancer research a priority. While more children survive childhood cancer now than ever before, too many young lives are still lost every year. We must ensure Ontario children have access to clinical trials that will aim to improve outcomes and minimize long-term complications. We must also ensure that we take our best efforts to care for those who survive but are left with immense health challenges and also those who will not be cured and deserve the same world- class care at the end of life.

Dr. Gibson graduated medical school from Queen’s University, Kingston, Ontario, in 2004 and started training in pediatrics at BC Children’s Hospital. He has practiced pediatric hematology and oncology exclusively since starting his subspecialty training at Sick Kids in 2007.

Dr. Gibson served as Physician Lead for the creation and implementation of a variety of computerized provider order entry efforts in Southwestern Ontario, both within and beyond oncology. He has participated in a variety of research endeavours aimed at improving symptoms and quality of life in children and adolescents undergoing cancer therapy.

Dr. Gibson is an avid sports and music fan and when he’s off duty attends Blue Jays’ and Toronto Leafs’ games, and supports independent musicians and festivals.

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Tag: Pediatric Oncology Group of Ontario

Bruce Power to support Brain Tumour Foundation of Canada, Pediatric Oncology Group of Ontario through Ontario Hockey League partnership for 2019-2020 season

Bruce Power Expresses Support for POGO’s Survivorship Initiatives

In Conversation with Dr. Paul Gibson