Network News - Winter 2009/2010 (PDF 3.7Mb - Canadian Breast ...

The people involved in the SAN
extended an invitation to anyone
interested in seeing the formation
of a national network of breast
cancer survivors to meet for coffee
and doughnuts. The meeting
wasn’t an official part of the
agenda. It had been organized
during the only available time,
somewhere around 7 AM on
the second or third day of the
conference. I remember someone
telling me they had hoped for at
least 30 people to attend, 60 at the
maximum. There was standing
room only. I think every woman
diagnosed with breast cancer at
the Forum was in attendance.
The energy and enthusiasm was
contagious; a national network
would give us a national voice
and connect us across the country.
Participants volunteered to represent
different parts of the country. Mary
Drover represented Saskatchewan and
was one of the first co-chairs of CBCN.
This was the initial conception of the
Canadian Breast Cancer Network,
and with the support of the amazing
people who worked at Health Canada’s
Canadian Breast Cancer Initiative, the
Network was officially launched the
following November in Toronto.
I was also privileged to attend the
founding meeting of CBCN and to be
inspired by the very committed women
who knew that this disease was far
too common to be kept hidden and
discussed in hushed tones. It was a
visioning workshop dedicated to setting
goals and determining future direction.
What would CBCN be? How would it
link people across Canada who were
affected by breast cancer? Once again
the energy was amazing. CBCN would
be advocacy at its best, giving legitimate
voice to people diagnosed with breast
cancer. The CBCN logo was officially
adopted at that meeting. The “dancing
lady” logo had been designed by the
nephew of one of the Health Canada
staff. One of my strongest memories
from those two days is hearing Carol
Spiro, the president of Breast Cancer
Action Ottawa, speak. She told her
story and powerfully expressed her
CBCN Board of Directors, November 2007
vision of the change that was needed. I
met Dianna Schreuer, immediate past
president of CBCN and Eva Bereti, a
past Board member, at the founding
meeting. Finally, I remember towards
the end of the founding workshop
noticing two women sitting on the
sidelines who, for years, had lobbied for
a national movement of breast cancer
survivors. They were just soaking it all
in. And so the CBCN journey began.
Through the years I remained attuned
to CBCN. I continued to meet up with
Eva Bereti at other breast cancer events,
and my admiration for her commitment
to her values and principles grew every
time I was in her presence. Eva is the
embodiment of strength and humility.
Today she remains a strong voice
for Aboriginal women and women
diagnosed with breast cancer. I met
Dianna Schreuer again when I joined
the Board of CBCN in 2005 and was
able to witness the growth of CBCN
under her leadership. Another CBCN
past president with whom I had the
honour of working was Karen DeKonig.
We were on a committee to ensure
the ongoing federal funding for the
Canadian Breast Cancer Initiative and
breast cancer research in particular.
Advocating on behalf of breast
cancer research remains one of my
passions. We need the highest quality
research based on a collaborative and
comprehensive national breast cancer
research framework that eliminates
redundancies and is collaboratively
funded.
As President of the Breast Cancer
Action Saskatchewan, I was invited
to participate in a number of national
meetings. At a meeting ten years ago, I
met Jackie Manthorne, the brand new
Executive Director of CBCN. Over the
past ten years Jackie has shepherded the
Network through many ups and downs
and brought many inspirational ideas to
fruition. During my tenure as President
of CBCN, the three contributions
(among hundreds) that stand out have
been her diligence in almost single
handedly keeping CBCN afloat during
times of financial drought, the highly
successful launch of the Breast Cancer
Wait Times report card, and bringing to
life the vision from the Young Women’s
Consultation of having a conference
dedicated to the issues faced by young
women diagnosed with breast cancer.
Those of us who have been lucky
enough to work with Jackie know how
much she has given to CBCN. We
know that CBCN would not be where
it is today without her. We honour
Jackie and thank her most sincerely
for her commitment and compassion.
We are not only celebrating 15 years of
CBCN, we are celebrating Jackie’s 10 th
anniversary as Executive Director of
CBCN. •
Network News Winter 2009-10 3