GCAW 2011: Round-up (part 2)

Prize Winners

Congratulations to Jeanna McCuaig and the Toronto Area GCs for their strong impact this year. This group showed a strong collection of both hospital-based and community initiatives and were able to creatively and effectively weave the ‘Myth Busters’ theme into their events successfully. As such, this group has won a $200 gift card to a local restaurant of their choice.

We also want to recognize the group in Calgary who put together the hilarious and informative ‘Genetic Myth Busters Video.’ We know how much work must have gone into putting this together. Calgary also organized a number of other events. This group has won a $50 gift card to a local restaurant of their choice. Here is the link to watch their video on YouTube: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Z1HebbOcRvU.

Photos!

GCs in BC set-up an information booth at the University of Victoria.

People in Ottawa gathered at a local pub for a Genetics trivia night.

Winner of Ottawa trivia night, receiving his DNA11 prize.

GCs in Calgary set up an info booth and display at Alberta Children’s Hospital

Raechel Ferrier speaking at the Alberta Family History Society

GCAW 2011: Round-up (part 1)

As you know, the mission of Genetic Counselling Awareness Week is to help increase the profile of our profession in Canada. By all measures, we can say that our mission was accomplished!  By building on our successes of last year, we were able to surpass our goals and expectations for our second annual GCAW. One of the most notable successes of this year was the increase in media coverage, with the airing of 3 different TV-spots: one in Calgary, one in Winnipeg and one on the national morning show, Canada AM. Thank you to the genetic counsellors interviewed for representing our group with such warmth and professionalism.

Behind the scenes we had a hard-working group of GCs from the Media and Communications committee.  One of the most important pieces in the success of GCAW 2011 was the theme ‘Genetics Myth Busters.’  This theme provided a strong focus for the development of community and institution-based events, and also resonated quite strongly with the media and the general public.  This is definitely going to be a tough theme to beat for next year (so please start brainstorming now)! We especially thank the 2011 Media and Communications committee volunteers.

And of course, the week could not have happened without all of the genetic counsellors across the country who took time out of their busy lives to plan, advertise and attend GCAW events.  We have compiled a list of the various happenings across the country (see below).  It is truly astonishing to see how much work and effort was put in to ensuring this year was a success.  Thank you!

We will be posting the winners of the GC Awareness Week prizes on this blog in the next few days, and will also post pictures from the week.  Stay tuned!

British Columbia Regional coordinator: Kirsten Bartels	Information display at the University of Victoria Posters displayed at the BC Cancer Agency, Women’s and Children’s Hospital, and the University of Victoria
Alberta Regional Coordinator: Sajid Merchant	Edmonton Medical Genetics Rounds at the University of Alberta– “A new era in prenatal diagnosis: Non-invasive detection of Down syndrome” Interactive display table in the cafeteria of the University Hospital Interview with Susan Christian on Global News Edmonton Calgary “Myth busters” video slide show! Information display at Alberta Children’s Hospital Gave a talk to the Alberta Family Histories Society (audience about 150 people) on the importance of knowing your family medical history Gave a lecture for a third year undergraduate course (MDSC 341 – Principles of Human Genetics) on “A Day in the Genetics Clinics” Medical Genetic Grand Rounds regarding the process undertaken by the CAGC to develop Core Competencies for Canadian Genetic Counsellors
Saskatchewan Regional Coordinator: Janet Lucas	Information booth at the Royal University Hospital
Manitoba Regional Coordinator: Jessica Hartley	Meet and greet luncheon with Genetic Counsellors “Introduction to Genetics” lecture Genetic myths and facts in primetime television NSGC meeting highlights Myths and facts in popular literature Film screening: “At my mother’s breast” Interview with Jessica Hartley on CTV MorningManitoba
OntarioRegional Coordinators: Lauren Higgins and Jeanna McCuaig	Ottawa Genetics Trivia Night and meet and greet with Genetic Counsellors Trivia question featured on CHEO Quick Poll and Genetic Myths and Facts posted throughout the hospital Toronto Movie screening: Extraordinary Measures Genetic Grand Rounds and meet and greet with Genetic Counsellors Interactive display booth at SickKids Information booth at North York General Hospital Interactive display at Princess Margaret Hospital by counsellors from Princess Margaret and Toronto General Hospital Information session: “Is Genetic Counselling the career for you?” Educational presentations to high school students by U of T genetic counselling students Amanda and Laurence Video by DNA DIVA, Mike O’Ray and the Sister Chromatids from North York! Interview with CTV Canada AM by Allison Janson Hazell Blog post about Genetic Counselling Awareness Week on the DNA Exchange Sudbury Information booth at the Sudbury Outpatient Centre Daily hospital-wide e-mails regarding genetic counselling Hospital-wide Genetic Myths e-mail contest with prize Kingston Genetics trivia night
Quebec Regional Coordinator: Rachel Vanneste	Movie screening: GATTACA Information booths at Hôpital Sainte-Justine and Montreal General Hospital Myth busting discussions with Genetic Counsellors at CHUM Saint-Luc, CHUM Notre- Dame and CHUM Hotel Dieu
Nova Scotia/New Brunswick/PEI Regional Coordinator: Aidan Thomas	Information booths Myth or Fact quiz cards in cafeteria Advertising internally on hospital website
Newfoundland/Labrador Regional Coordinator: Mary Connolly-Wilson	Poster displays at Memorial University Student Centre, Health Sciences Centre, and Janeway Children and Women’s Health Centre Documentary screening: “In the family” followed by a discussion with Genetic Counsellors Trivia night featuring a round of Genetics Trivia

Thank you!

Allison Hazell and Lauren Higgens

Co-Chairs, GC Awareness Week 2011

Happy Awareness Week + Hilarious Video!

Happy Genetic Counselling Awareness Week 2011!

What better way to kick of the week that with a smile? Some creative Ontario GCs have put together another fun(ny) video for Awareness Week this week. Check it out– and share the video (and a chuckle) with your friends!

Note: Rumor has it, there is another group that has been working on a video for this year. Stay tuned for updates! Here it is! A video created by Calgary-based GCs:

Genetic Myth or Fact?

The theme for GC Awareness Week this year is Genetics Myth Busters. The planning committe has put together a few examples here, for you to share with friends,  use in your events or on your posters. If you have any other ideas and examples to add to the mix, please add them to the comments section below.

1. MYTH or FACT? I only need to worry about my family history of breast  cancer if it is on my mother’s side of the family.

ANSWER: MYTH! Hereditary cancer syndromes, including breast cancer syndromes, can be passed down from either the maternal or paternal side of the family. Concerned about your family history of cancer? Talk to your doctor about the possibility of a referral to a Genetics Clinic to learn more about your risks.

2. MYTH OR FACT? I look more like my dad, so I have more of his DNA and I am more likely to develop his health problems down the road.

ANSWER: MYTH! We inherit 50% of our DNA from each parent, regardless of which parent you physically resemble. It is important to be aware of the family health history on both sides of the family.

 3. MYTH or FACT? Ninety-nine percent of our DNA sequence is the same between all human beings.

ANSWER: FACT! The vast majority of our DNA sequence is the same between individuals. About 1% of our DNA is variable between people, and it is this 1% that accounts for the differences between people (for both physicial and health-related traits)

Genetic Counsellors in Quebec Launch French Site

As genetic counsellors across Canada prepare to celebrate genetic counselling awareness week later this month, GCs in Quebec have once again created a French-language website in order to disseminate information about the week and their scheduled events. Thank you to Gail Ouellette  for spearheading this effort, and to Rachel Vanneste for helping coordinate GCAW in Quebec again this year.

To access the site please visit: https://sites.google.com/site/consgenetique/

2nd Annual Genetic Counselling Awareness Week!

The 2nd annual GC Awareness Week is set to take place the week of November 20-26, 2011 across Canada. We are busy preparing for this week and have some exciting new ideas for this year! Stay tuned for more information over the coming months.

Inaugural GC Awareness Week: A Huge Success!

Thank you to everyone who participated in the first annual Genetic Counselling Awareness Week in November 2010. The success of this week exceeded our expectations! On each province page we have posted information, photos and feedback from each participating centre, so please take a look around. We have asked event organizers to provide us with their comments about what worked well, and what they would change for next year. We hope that this will allow us to learn from our successes and mistakes, so next year will be even better. If you have questions, please feel free to comment on these posts, as we will all benefit from both the questions and the responses.

Prizes!

As an incentive to participate in this week, we offered to award the group that showed the most enthusiasm and creativity in organizing their events with a $200 gift card to a local restaurant or eatery of their choice. We are happy to report that the winners of this year’s prize are the genetic counsellors at Winnipeg Health Sciences Centre. A special shout our to Jessica Hartley, the regional organizer for this group. Check out the Manitoba page to see the huge amount of work they put into this year’s GC Awareness Week.

In addition, all participating centres were entered into a draw for a $50 gift certificate of choice. Congratulations goes out to the GCs at North York General Hospital, who are the winners of this years draw. (sidenote: This centre also happened to have a pretty creative idea, and were close runners up for the ‘enthusiasm and creativity’ prize!)

Thanks again to everyone who helped out with this initiative. We are already looking forward to next year!

Welcome!

Genetic Counselling Awareness Week, from November 21-27 2010, is an initiative created to celebrate and promote the genetic counselling profession in Canada. During this week, genetic counsellors across the country will come together to help increase awareness of our profession both within the health care community and the general public. This site will serve to help collect information and stories about specific events and festivities that are taking place across the country. Select your province on the right-hand side of this page for a list of events occurring near you.

 

Genetic Counselling Awareness Week was started in 2010 in order to commemorate the 20-year-anniversary of the Canadian Association of Genetic Counsellors (CAGC).