Caring..

Cover photo:
Austin Adrian
Inside cover photo:
Lucas Hammond
480 University Avenue
Suite 1014
Toronto, Ontario
M5G 1V2
Tel: (416) 592-1232
Fax: (416) 592-1285
Email: info@pogo.ca
www.pogo.ca
Caring...
Our thanks to the families who allowed us to share their
experiences and photographs in this report, and to the staff
who assisted with its content. Thank you, also, to Jim Hockings,
Off Broadway Photography, who donated several of the photos.
POGO gratefully acknowledges the financial support of the
Ontario Ministry of Health and Long-Term Care (MOHLTC).
POGO is the official source of advice to the MOHLTC on
childhood cancer care and control.
Printing generously donated by The Printing House Ltd.
Printed on the Xerox iGen3 Digital Colour Press.
ANNUAL REPORT 2004/2005

Each year in Ontario…
... Close to 400 children are
diagnosed with cancer
... More than 2500 children
have cancer treatment
or follow up care
...100 children die of cancer
By 2010…
... About one in every 300
young adults (15-45) will be
a childhood cancer survivor
...each step
of the way
POGO brings together childhood cancer experts and stakeholders from across Ontario.
Together they develop programs and services to support children with cancer, their families
and their professional caregivers. They also look beyond the child’s initial diagnosis and
treatment to the needs that many cancer survivors experience as they grow into adolescents
and adults. Working with the Ministry of Health and Long-Term Care, they are able to
develop and implement these programs, services and initiatives.
POGO identifies service gaps and determines how best to address them. It helps to bring
together the work of its partnering treatment centres and support programs so that the
family’s care experience is as seamless as possible - each step of the way.
POGO’s work is built on a solid foundation of knowledge and experience, data and evidence,
enriched by the commitment and collaboration of people and organizations who care
passionately about the future of children with cancer.
POGO - where caring is the best medicine for kids with cancer
02

Advocating, learning and sharing
POGO is a non-profit, charitable organization, formed in 1983 by
a group of pediatric oncology professionals who recognized the
need for a networked system of care for children with cancer.
POGO works in collaboration with the five specialty pediatric oncology hospitals in Ontario, along
with professional caregivers and other partners drawn from community hospitals, community services,
childhood cancer patients and survivors, and their families, corporate and private benefactors,
and volunteers. Together, they help to shape healthcare policy in Ontario and continually drive
improvements to the care of children with cancer. Since 1995, POGO has been the official source
of advice on childhood cancer care and control to the Ministry of Health and Long-Term Care.
Five tertiary centres form the ‘hub’ of pediatric cancer
care in Ontario. These are the centres where newly
diagnosed children begin their treatment.
Six POGO satellite centres, located in community
hospitals from Sudbury to Windsor, work with the
tertiary centres and continue providing components
of the child’s care, closer to their home.
AfterCare clinics provide follow-up monitoring to
ensure that the late side effects of childhood cancer
treatment, that can occur in adolescent and adult
survivors, are prevented or minimized.
03
AfterCare Clinics
Children’s Hospital of Eastern Ontario, Ottawa
Kingston Regional Cancer Centre,
Kingston General Hospital, Kingston
Princess Margaret Hospital, Toronto
The Hospital for Sick Children, Toronto
McMaster Children’s Hospital,
Hamilton Health Sciences,Hamilton
Children’s Hospital of Western Ontario, London
The Ottawa Hospital Regional Cancer Centre
Children’s
Hospital of Eastern
Ontario, Ottawa
Princess Margaret Hospital,
Toronto
Kingston
General
Hospital,
Kingston
The Hospital for Sick Children,
Toronto
McMaster
Children’s Hospital, Hamilton
Children’s Hospital
of Western Ontario, London
Satellite Programs
Dr. Ronald D. Barr
President
Dr. Corin Greenberg
Executive Director
Message from POGO’s President & Executive Director
A decade ago, the Ministry Of Health and Long-Term
Care (MOHLTC) asked for POGO’s advice regarding
the framework and resources that were needed to
effectively direct pediatric oncology in Ontario. We
consulted with multidisciplinary stakeholders across
the province and provided the Ministry with a detailed
ten-year plan. As a result, the government allocated
resources appropriately, and POGO was able to
implement significant improvements to the pediatric
oncology system of care in this Province. Last year the
Ministry asked us to repeat the process, this time for
a five-year period. We again chose a highly inclusive
process. The resulting Provincial Pediatric Oncology
Plan (PPOP) identifies the next stage of program,
service and research development that will build
upon the foundation POGO has helped to create in
Ontario, and which will drive further improvements
to the care of kids, survivors and families.
In the ten year period since developing that first
provincial plan, POGO has been the driving force
behind many successful initiatives, among them:
the establishment of a Provincial Oncology Satellite
Program; the introduction of a system of AfterCare
Clinics; creation of the Successful Academic and
Vocational Transition Initiative; the founding of POGO’s
Research Unit; development of the first Pediatric
Oncology Nursing Program; confirmed status as
Official Advisor to Ontario’s Ministry of Health and
Long-Term Care on pediatric cancer care and control.
More recent accomplishments include our
newly-designated status as a ‘45.1’ entity under Ontario’s
new Personal Health Information Protection Act.
The legislation has stringent regulations about who
may gather, hold and use data, and how the information
can be used. POGO already has a unique, valuable
database (POGONIS) on childhood cancer - a rich source
of information for research and policy development,
gathered over the past 20 years. This new status will
allow us to link to other databases for information that
we previously could not access. This is an enormous
step forward, enriching our ability to identify and
address issues related to pediatric oncology, and
greatly expanding the potential of our research.
Over the past busy year, we have added a satellite
clinic at the Rouge Valley Health System, Centenary
Health Centre (RVC), and two new adult AfterCare
clinics in London and Ottawa, to better serve the
population in these areas. We were also able to step
up our support for the Interlink organization, taking
over the administration and management of the
Pediatric Interlink Program, and ensuring that this
wonderful provincial resource is secure under the
POGO umbrella.
In the spirit of collaboration, we want to transport
some of what we’ve learned so that others may
benefit from our work. We have helped six Spanish
speaking countries in Central America over the
past several years to establish their own databases
and contribute to local planning and improved care.
Through POGO’s Provincial Nursing Committee,
we are also helping to develop nursing leadership
in these countries, where the under-15 age group
is high and the volume of children with cancer
correspondingly significant.
We thank the pediatric oncology professionals, the
survivors and families, the POGO staff, and countless
supporters who share our deep commitment to
improve the care and outcomes for children with
cancer. Together, we are committed to doing all that
we can to ensure that survivors and their families
have the support that they deserve.
04

Bringing care closer to home
Following through…
Located in six community hospitals across Ontario,
POGO’s pediatric oncology satellite centres provide
many aspects of children’s ongoing cancer care close to
their home, while helping to reduce the workload at
Ontario’s five tertiary childhood cancer centres. The
centres follow well-researched POGO standards and
guidelines to ensure the best possible care for children
across Ontario. Over the past year, the centres offered
care for almost 300 children and their families.
Christopher is an engaging five-year-old with big
blue eyes and an elfin grin. He was just a toddler
when he was admitted to Toronto’s Hospital for
Sick Children (HSC) with a type of cancer known
as Langerhans cell histiocytosis. His mother, Tracy,
recalls months of driving back and forth between
Kitchener and Toronto. “I have nothing but praise
for the HSC staff,” she says, “But those early days
were miserable. Christopher couldn’t eat or drink
before his treatment and we had to get up before
dawn to be sure that we’d arrive in time for our
appointment.” It was a relief when Christopher was
finally able to have his treatment transferred to the
POGO satellite clinic at the Grand River Hospital
Patti Bambury, RN, Satellite Coordinator at Grand
River Hospital (left), with Christopher and his mother,
Tracy. She knows how much it means for families
to have their child’s care provided close to home.
in Kitchener. “The care is excellent,” notes Tracy,
“and we’re only ten minutes away from the hospital.”
Lesley Collins, POGO’s Manager of the Satellite and
AfterCare Programs notes: “Everyone has worked very
hard to ensure that the Satellites provide the same
quality of care as that of the tertiary centres.” The child’s
care is still coordinated through the tertiary centre where
they were first diagnosed and treated, but it is the
Satellites that carry out the ongoing program of care.
The family returns to the tertiary centre from time to
time, for follow up, or if there are major interventions
that are more appropriately handled at the tertiary
center. Lesley stresses that, “The collaboration and
communication between the tertiary and satellite
centres has been critical to their success.”
A sixth satellite was opened this past year, at the Rouge
Valley Health System, Centenary Health Centre and
POGO is continuing to look for ways to provide
components of care in remote places. It is also developing
processes for local health care providers who want to
provide more knowledgeable care for children with
terminal cancer, within their home community.
It’s easy to assume that once a child’s cancer is cured
they will go on to live a completely normal life. But
for as many as half of all childhood cancer survivors,
the toll of the disease and treatment on their young,
developing body shows up in later years. Problems
may include cardiac complications, fertility issues,
neuro-cognitive impairments (such as learning disabilities)
and secondary cancers. There is evidence that early
identification and treatment of potential complications
can improve outcomes. Using well-researched guidelines
developed by POGO, seven AfterCare Clinics offer
services to monitor and promote the well being of
these individuals. The Clinics also provide a vitally
important avenue to collect data for POGO’s Research
Unit; data that may lead to treatment changes that
will benefit future generations. With funding from the
Ministry of Health and Long-Term Care, and POGO’s
support, two new AfterCare Clinics were opened
this past year. Together, the seven Clinics currently
serve more than a thousand children and close to
nine-hundred adult survivors, across Ontario.
Lisa Lamoureux was only two months old when she
was diagnosed with neuroblastoma, the most common
cancerous tumor in infants and young children.
She had one tumour in her neck and another in her
abdomen. Fortunately she responded well to treatment.
Now 20, she’s in her third year of criminology at
Carlton University, with hopes of becoming a lawyer.
When she turned 18, she transferred from the AfterCare
Clinic at the Children’s Hospital of Eastern Ontario
(CHEO) to the Adult Late Effects Clinic at The Ottawa
Hospital Regional Cancer Centre (TOHRRC).
So far, Lisa has had no lasting effects from her cancer,
but she’s aware of the risks and knows that regular
checks are important. “Last year, I was having some
stomach problems,” she recalls, “I worried that it
Even with her heavy
course load, Lisa
Lamoureaux always
takes time for her
annual check-up
at POGO’s Adult
Late Effects Clinic.
“It’s kind of like a
safety net,” she says.
might be a recurrence of my cancer. The staff checked
me out and reassured me that it was not a tumour.
They understood why I was worried because they
knew my history. It’s kind of like a safety net. I drop
in for my echocardiogram and a couple of other
tests every twelve months and then I’m good to go
for another year!”
Dr. Karen Mandel is a Pediatric Haematologist/Oncologist,
and Director of POGO’s AfterCare Program in Ottawa.
Twice monthly, she runs the Adult Late Effects Clinic
at TOHRCC. “As we learn more about the long-term
effects of some cancer treatments,” observes Dr. Mandel,
“we’re making adjustments to the acute treatment.
For example, after seeing, through the Late Effects
Clinics, the outcome of those treatments on children’s
ability to learn, we have modified or eliminated radiation
treatments to the head in children with leukemia.
Clearly, the AfterCare program is important to
today’s childhood cancer survivors because it provides
expert medical knowledge of their special needs.
It is also a vital source of information that will
benefit future generations.”
2004-2005 HIGHLIGHTS
• This year’s fundraising
Gala attracted 650 guests
and raised over $160,000
for the POGO Pediatric
Oncology Financial
Assistance Program
• POGO’s Financial
Assistance Program
provided support
to 1,100 families
with children in
cancer treatment
• POGO helped several
Central-American countries
establish their own
databases, contributing
to local planning and
improved care
06

Helping navigate the maze
Giving support and encouragement
The devastation and disruption of a cancer diagnosis
is daunting but the bewildering complexity of the health
care system can place even more stress on parents.
POGO supports eight pediatric Interlink Community
Cancer Nurses who follow the progress of young patients
and their families while in hospital and after discharge.
These knowledgeable professionals coordinate each
phase of the lengthy course of cancer care by linking
hospital and community services. Over the past year,
almost 700 children with cancer and their families
have benefited from the support and coordination of
services provided by this dedicated team of nurses.
Marilyn Cassidy is part of the Interlink team, and
a member of POGO’s Board of Directors. She works
at CHEO. “A large part of my role is education,”
she says, “For example, I frequently meet families in
their home, often with their Community Care Access
Centre (CCAC) worker. I will bring them information
about the child’s treatment needs and go over the
things they need to do and watch for.” She explains
that she helps to build a support network for the
family that is based on her understanding of their
needs, at home, work and school.
The Porter family was grateful for the support they
received from Interlink when their five-year-old son,
Curtis was diagnosed with neuroblastoma. After five
grueling rounds of chemotherapy, the malignant
tumour growing on his left adrenal gland has shrunk
by fifty-percent. Next comes surgery to remove the rest
of the tumour, then another round of chemotherapy
and, finally, a stem cell transplant.
2004-2005 HIGHLIGHTS
• Over the past year,
POGO’s Satellite Centres
cared for almost
300 children and
their families
07
• Two new AfterCare
Clinics were opened in
London and Ottawa,
giving childhood cancer
survivors better access
to professionals who
have expertise in the
late effects of pediatric
cancer and its treatments
Interlink nurse, Marilyn
Cassidy, has become
a familiar face for
Christopher and his
family. “I feel that I
can talk to her,” says
Christopher’s mother,
Julie, “if we had to do
all these things on our
own, I wouldn’t know
where to start.”
In the weeks since Curtis’ devastating diagnosis,
Marilyn Cassidy has become a familiar face for
the family. “She came to our home and went over
the support programs that were available to us,”
says his mother, Julie, “We see her at least once a
week and I feel that I can talk to her - especially if
things are not going well with Curtis. She has already
organized a place for us to stay in Toronto when
Curtis goes to Sick Kids for his surgery. If we had
to do all of these things on our own, I wouldn’t
know where to start.”
Over the past year, this Interlink group of nurses
has come under the POGO umbrella, helping to
ensure a more secure and stable province-wide service
for the families that they serve. POGO has also just
hired an Interlink Coordinator to function as the
interface between the nurses and POGO, and to
support them in their work.
• An external expert review
panel endorsed the POGO
Research Unit’s scientific
accomplishments over
the past five years,
and supported the
proposed future direction
to undertake populationbased
research studies
When it’s time to consider their future, to make
choices about post-secondary education or a job,
childhood cancer survivors are often faced with more
challenges. Long stretches of hospitalization may have
seriously disrupted their schooling, and the cancer
treatment itself may have left them with long-term
health issues or disabilities.
POGO’s Successful Academic & Vocational
Transition Initiative (SAVTI) was created to support
survivors to make a successful, personally satisfying
transition from high school to post-secondary
learning or employment. The program utilizes
information from a neuropsychological assessment
of the individual, while taking into account their
school experience, medical history and personal
dreams and wishes. Barbara Dyce recently joined the
POGO team as the SAVTI Coordinator. She works
with adolescents to help them make realistic decisions
about what they want to do and links them with the
supports that are available to help them.
“Often survivors may need accommodations and
support while attending school or college,” says
Barbara, “and accessing resources can make the world
of difference.” She gives the example of survivors
who have neuro-cognitive deficits and who may need
extra time to study and complete their assignments.
Barbara connects them with the student services
department so that they have access to the supports
which will assist them in their studies.
SAVTI is a prototype for a unique collaboration
between different sectors of government, including
health, education, children and youth services,
and the private sector. POGO is working closely
with several government ministries to ensure
that the program has ongoing core funding to
support its success and expansion, so that it can
serve children across the province.
2004-2005 HIGHLIGHTS
• Opened a new Satellite
Clinic at Rouge Valley
Health System, Centenary
Health Centre (RVC)
• POGO has reached
the half-way point
in its $9 million
fundraising campaign
Nineteen-year-old Christopher Richie can attest to the
value of the SAVTI program. He has almost no memory of
the leukemia he had when an infant, nor its recurrence when
he turned five. Months of care and treatment at the HSC
finally cured him, but didn’t leave him entirely unscathed.
“My chemotherapy treatments slowed down my growth
and development and I had to take a growth hormone
for a couple of years while I was in high school,”
Christopher recalls. Later, he began to have difficulty
with his coordination. “My brain was working faster
than my ability to write,” he says. Neurological tests
showed that his problem was directly connected to the
effect that his earlier chemotherapy had on his brain.
In his last year of high school, Christopher was put in
touch with Robyn Lange, Barbara Dyce’s predecessor at
SAVTI. With her help, and his own determination, he
has learned how to deal with his mild disability and
pursue his dream of attending university. He is now in
his second year at Carlton University and considering a
career in teaching or the media. “The (SAVTI) program
gave me a chance,” he says. “I’m a little different from
other kids and it gave me a better understanding of
how to do what I wanted. I’ve learned that there are
always people to help - you just have to ask.”
Working at his
summer construction
job, Christopher
Richie, a childhood
cancer survivor,
was looking forward
to getting back to
university in the fall.
• POGO was designated
a ‘45.1 entity’ under
Ontario’s Personal Health
Information Protection Act
08

Providing practical help
Celebrating success, new targets
Tony Melman
Childhood Cancer
Charitable Council Chair
The POGO Young Leadership Connection also deserves
credit for its achievements in its inaugural year. These young
business and community leaders have made a long-term
personal financial commitment to POGO and are
determined to attract the support of their peers. Started by
five individuals just over a year ago, membership has already
grown to over 45, with pledges totaling over $100,000.
Over the past year, POGO’s Pediatric Oncology Financial
Assistance Program (POFAP) has provided support to over
1,100 families with children in cancer treatment. The
Program is intended to ease some of the financial burden
that childhood cancer can inflict on a young family.
It’s not unusual for one parent to quit work to care for
the ill child, resulting in a sudden drop in the family’s
income. And, for families who live a distance from the
tertiary treatment centres, the cost of daycare for other
children, travel, accommodation, and meals, can all
add to the strain on their reduced budget.
The POFAP application process is deliberately short
and simple. Funds are dispersed to each of the five
tertiary centres so that there is equal, timely access to
the support for families who need it. POGO currently
distributes $500,000 a year to Ontario families, however,
as the number of families seeking POFAP assistance
grows, so does the funding challenge. “We’re stepping
up our fundraising efforts,” says Bill Frid, POFAP
Coordinator, “because we know how important this
support is for so many families.”
Jill Daugherty and her family are very thankful
for the POFAP fund. At five months of age,
her son, Eric, was diagnosed with a brain tumour.
A year of chemotherapy reduced but couldn’t
completely remove the tumour. He then developed
acute leukemia and endured five cycles of
chemotherapy. A bone marrow transplant is
his only hope for a long-term cure. The family
lives in Kingston, Ontario, and most of Eric’s
care has been at Children’s Hospital of Eastern
Ontario in Ottawa.
“I’m fortunate,” says Jill, “I have a family close
by to help care for my five-year-old daughter
when I’m with Eric at the hospital. Still, I’m
only able to do occasional part time work because
Eric frequently develops fevers and I never know
when we’ll have to pick up and go to the hospital.
When you lose one income, you suddenly realize
how quickly small expenses add up. POFAP
helped…it takes just a bit of stress out of a very
stressful situation. You don’t need money worries
on top of everything else.”
Thanks to the remarkable support of so many people,
this year has been one of incredible growth in terms
of our fundraising goals.
Our focus has been to develop a strong fundraising
program and to execute the best strategies to achieve
our goals. While we will continue to rely heavily
on government funding for our core programs, by
supplementing those resources, we know that we can
do so much more. Much of POGO’s success rests with
our ability to form strong, strategic relationships with
many individuals, groups and organizations across the
province and beyond. Likewise, our fundraising efforts
depend on building solid partnerships with people
who are interested in supporting our work. I am
pleased to say that this is an area where we have made
significant progress over this past year.
The POGO Childhood Cancer Charitable Council -
a group of major donors who volunteer their time to
solicit major gifts for POGO - has had a very successful
first year. Through their personal financial contributions,
their fundraising efforts and support of fundraising
events, such as the annual POGO Gala, they helped
to sustain POGO’s Pediatric Oncology Financial
Assistance Program (POFAP), and the vital work of
POGO’s Research Unit (PRU).
Our 2004 fundraising Gala was a tremendous success,
raising $165,000. We had remarkable sponsor support
and our volunteers were phenomenal in helping to
organize the event and sell tickets. I would like to
extend a special note of thanks to Merrill Lynch for
their generosity as the event’s presenting sponsor.
In 2004, POGO launched an ambitious $9 million
fundraising campaign focused on two priorities: the
Pediatric Oncology Financial Assistance Program and the
POGO Research Unit. Two years later, we have raised
almost half of this goal. I was delighted to contribute my
$5 million collection of vintage guitars and amplifiers
to the campaign goal. The money raised from the sale
of these pieces (over $3.2 million CDN to date) will form
an endowment fund to support POGO’s efforts in care,
education and research. With the continued generosity
and support of our donors we are confident that this
campaign will be a success.
As we move into a new year, we are truly excited about
the possibilities ahead. This is an organization with a
remarkable track record of proven results for a very
vulnerable population - children. We are enormously
grateful to all of our supporters for their commitment
to helping POGO. Every dollar raised, and every caring
hand extended helps to ensure that children with cancer,
their families, and childhood cancer survivors, receive
the care and caring that they deserve.
2004-2005 HIGHLIGHTS 2004-2005 HIGHLIGHTS
• The POGO Young
Leadership Connection
raised pledges totaling
over $100,000
09
• Over 300 pediatric oncology
professionals, from Canada,
the United States and
Europe, attended the
2004 POGO Symposium,
“Difficult Beginnings -
Cancer in Infancy”
• At the request of the
Ministry of Health and
Long-Term Care, POGO
developed a five-year
Provincial Pediatric Oncology
Plan for childhood cancer
control in Ontario
• A new Provincial
Coordinator was recruited
to facilitate the provincial
expansion of POGO’s
Successful Academic &
Vocational Transition
Initiative (SAVTI)
• POGO assumed the
administration and
support of the Pediatric
Interlink Nursing
Program for Ontario
and hired a provincial
program coordinator
• POGO’s fundraising efforts
generated over $600,000 for
the Pediatric Oncology Financial
Assistance Program (POFAP)
and the POGO Research Unit
(PRU); a 25% increase over
the previous year
10

We have achieved so much…
there is still so much to do
Thank you for your ongoing dedication
This has been an intense and remarkable year for
POGO. I am in awe of, and thankful for, the enormous
will and commitment of a multitude of people.
As mentioned elsewhere in this report, one of our most
important tasks this past year was to develop a five-year
Provincial Pediatric Oncology Plan for the Ministry of
Health & Long-Term Care. More than 200 people from
every corner of the Ontario pediatric oncology care
spectrum came together, with cancer survivors and
families to contribute their expertise and experience to
the process. We share a renewed sense of purpose and
optimism for having been able to contribute to the future
of cancer care for the children and families of Ontario.
As survival rates for children who have experienced
cancer grow, our POGONIS data registry is becoming
a critical source of information about the health issues
that can result from the treatment associated with
some childhood cancers. The tremendous news that we
have been granted a ‘45.1’ organizational status under
Ontario’s privacy legislation (along with only three
other organizations in the province) means that we will
now be able to use this data in a way that will allow us
to better understand many aspects of childhood cancer.
As we plan ahead, the work of POGO’s Research
Unit will become increasingly important. An external
review by a group of distinguished experts last fall
confirmed that POGO is uniquely placed to undertake
population-based research that will give us more
insight into cancer incidence, types and recurrences
relative to pediatric age group and geographical location.
This research will give us insights into the causes of
childhood cancer; the health and service needs of affected
11
Dr. Mark Greenberg
POGO Chair in
Childhood Cancer
Control/Medical Director
families; and the economic and financial aspects of cancer
as they relate to the families and to society at large.
A study of quality of life issues, so central to children
with this disease, is also high on our research agenda.
And there will be a continued emphasis on learning
more about the ‘late effects’ of childhood cancer, so
that we can plan ahead for survivors’ needs.
We anticipate that the work of our Research Fellows
will provide the Research Unit with additional valuable
information. For example, Dr. Caroline Roncadin,
POGO’s first Research Fellow, recently completed her
study on “Neurocognitive Outcomes in Children with
Down Syndrome who have been treated for Leukemia”.
Leukemia treatment often results in children having
negative late effects on their neurocognitive development.
While the incidence of Leukemia is disproportionately
higher in children with Down Syndrome, this is one
of the first studies to be conducted with respect to the
neurocognitive outcomes of this population.
An area of concern for all of us is the fact that
adolescents and young adults have not shown the same
dramatic improvements in survival as younger children.
While some of the reasons have to do with the kinds of
cancer they get, others have to do with a system of care
that does not serve them well. We need to understand
much more about the challenges unique to this age group,
and we hope that a series of studies, in collaboration
with Cancer Care Ontario, will provide new insights that
will guide future resource allocation and service planning.
All of these research and study initiatives will help us
to identify treatment and service requirements so that
resources are directed where they are most needed.
We have achieved so much, but there is still so much
to do. We must improve the systems we have in place
to speed diagnosis and therapy so that we can get
kids through as quickly as possible with as much
support as possible.
Our motivation is strong and, with the continued
commitment and support of so many people, I have
no doubt that we will succeed.
POGO BOARD OF DIRECTORS
President:
Dr. Ronald Barr
Chief of Service, Pediatric
Hematology/Oncology
Children’s Hospital, Hamilton Health Sciences
Treasurer:
Dr. Marianna Silva
Head, Division of Pediatric
Hematology/Oncology
Kingston General Hospital
Secretary:
Ms. Judy Van Clieaf
Child Health Services Director
The Hospital for Sick Children
Invitees:
Dr. Corin Greenberg
Executive Director
Pediatric Oncology Group of Ontario
ADVISORY COUNCIL
Ms. Patti Bambury
POGO Satellite Clinic Coordinator
Children’s Out-Patient Clinic
Grand River Hospital
Dr. Michael Leaker
Pediatric Hematologist/Oncologist
Children’s Hospital of Western Ontario
POGO STAFF LISTING
Executive Director
Dr. Corin Greenberg
cgreenberg@pogo.ca
416-592-1232 ext. 223
Medical Director
Dr. Mark Greenberg
mgreenberg@pogo.ca
416-592-1232 ext. 259
Administrative Assistants
Helen Craig
hcraig@pogo.ca
416-592-1232 ext. 230
Susan Grace
sgrace@pogo.ca
416-592-1232 ext. 250
Marlice Simon
msimon@pogo.ca
416-592-1232 ext. 227
Tami Sterling
tsterling@pogo.ca
416-592-1232 ext. 247
Senior Associate, Research &
Planning, & Co-Privacy Officer
Madeline Riehl
mriehl@pogo.ca
416-592-1232 ext. 234
Dr. Mark Greenberg
Medical Director
Pediatric Oncology Group of Ontario
POGO Chair in Childhood Cancer Control
University of Toronto
Members:
Dr. Maru Barrera
Child/Health Psychologist
The Hospital for Sick Children
Dr. Victor Blanchette
Chief, Division of Haematology/Oncology
The Hospital for Sick Children
Ms. Marilyn Cassidy
Pediatric Interlink Nurse Consultant
Interlink Community Cancer Nurses/
Children’s Hospital of Eastern Ontario
Jason Campbell
Survivor
Lynne Bridgman-Cleghorn
Parent
Ms. Carolyn Kennelly
Operations Director
Oncology/Medical Day Unit
Patients Service Unit
Children’s Hospital of Eastern Ontario
Epidemiologist
Dr. Mohammed Agha
magha@pogo.ca
416-592-1232 ext. 226
Database Administrator & Research
Assistant, & Co-Privacy Officer
Bruna DiMonte
bdimonte@pogo.ca
416-592-1232 ext. 224
Clinical Programs Coordinator
Lesley Collins
lcollins@pogo.ca
416-592-1232 ext. 222
POFAP Coordinator
Bill Frid
bfrid@pogo.ca
416-592-1232 ext. 253
POGO Symposium Coordinator
Susan Kuczynski
skuczynski@pogo.ca
416-592-1232
POGO Conference & Educational
Events Coordinator
Gillian Lachance
glachance@pogo.ca
416-592-1232 ext. 237
Managing Director,
Development & Strategy
Vanessa Yakobson
vyakobson@pogo.ca
416-592-1232 ext. 225
Development Officer
Mindy Webber
mwebber@pogo.ca
416-592-1232 ext. 233
Development Coordinator
Erika Empy
eempy@pogo.ca
416-592-1232 ext. 252
SAVTI Provincial Coordinator
Barbara Dyce
bdyce@pogo.ca
416-592-1232 ext. 255
Health Data Analyst
Linda Turner
lturner@pogo.ca
416-592-1232 ext. 248
Comptroller
Richard Smith
rsmith@pogo.ca
416-592-1232 ext. 240
Ms. Mary Jo Decourcy
Pediatric Oncology Nurse Practitioner
Children’s Hospital of Western Ontario
Dr. Jacqueline Halton
Chief, Division of Hematology/Oncology
Children’s Hospital of Eastern Ontario
Ms. Cathy Humphreys
Child Life Specialist
Children’s Hospital, Hamilton Health Sciences
Dr. Lawrence Jardine
Head, Section of Paediatric
Haematology/Oncology
Children’s Hospital of Western Ontario
Dr. Brenda Spiegler
Pediatric Neuropsychologist
The Hospital for Sick Children
Dr. Mark Bernstein
Chief of Service
Hematology/Oncology
Ste. Justine Hospital
Ms. Susan Posgate
Oncology Clinic Nurse
McMaster Children’s Hospital,
Hamilton Health Sciences
IS Manager
Husein Patel
hpatel@pogo.ca
416-592-1232 ext. 231
Students
Andrea Craig
acraig@pogo.ca
416-592-1232 ext. 246
Summer Students
Maya Fowlie
mfowlie@pogo.ca
416-592-1232
Research Fellows
Iris Epstein
iepstein@pogo.ca
416-592-1232 ext. 229
Dr. Caroline Roncadin
croncadin@pogo.ca
416-592-1232
12

POGO Donors 2004/2005 POGO Giving Groups and Sponsors 2004/2005
POGO PLATINUM PARTNERS
$100,000+
Multi-year pledges:
RBC Foundation
Scotiabank
POGO SILVER PARTNERS
$50,000-$74,999
Multi-year pledge:
The Lawrence and Judith Tanenbaum Family
Charitable Foundation
POGO LEADERS
$25,000-$49,999
Multi-year pledge:
John and Patty Cleghorn
Single Gift:
Xerox Canada
POGO BENEFACTORS
$10,000-$24,999
Multi-year Pledges:
Donald J. Lewtas
Jeremy Freedman and Judith Finer-Freedman
Richard and Lynne Waugh
Single Gifts:
Goodmans LLP
Morgan Stanley Canada
RioCan Real Estate Investment Trust
TD Bank Financial Group
Wiring Mart Ltd
Anthony and Valerie Melman
David Kassie
POGO SUPPORTERS
$5,000-$9,999
Bluffers Park Yacht Club
Loblaw Companies Limited
Shoppers Drug Mart
The Ben and Hilda Katz Charitable
Foundation
The Howard and Carol Tanenbaum Family
Charitable Foundation
Torys LLP
Kevin Sullivan
POGO FRIENDS
$1,000-$4,999
A.J. Lanzarotta
Agnico Eagle Mines
AIM Trimark
Barrday Inc.
Cara Foods
Concord Steel Centre Inc.
Crane Fund for Women and Children
Franklin-Templeton Investments
GAM on Yachting
Giant Storage Inc.
Global Television Network
Guardian Group of Funds
Hailon Foundation
HBC Charitable Foundation
Hydro One Networks
Hyperion Solutions of Canada
MacKenzie Financial
Masters Insurance
Mercer Human Resources Consulting
Million Dollar Round Table Canadian
Charitable Foundation
Oakleaf Consulting
Procter & Gamble
The Warren and Debbie Kimel Charitable
Foundation
The Winnipeg Community Foundation
Amy Stoddart
Ana Lopes
Andrew Sheiner
Anthony Munk
Berry Meyerowitz and Robyn Goren
Brad Crompton
Bregman Family
Charles and Libby Winograd
Christopher Blackwell
Dan Casey
David Roland
Edward & Marla Schwartz
Elizabeth Delbianco
Jordan Rosenberg
Kenny Solway
Laura Hurley
Lori Jackson
Lula Vihos
Nancy Pencer
Patricia MacDonald
Paul & Victoria Hand
Paul Habert
Paul Spafford
Peter Dey & Phyllis Ortved
Peter L. Buzzi
Richard Venn and Carol Mitchell
Robert Spindler
Stephen Sandler
Ted Margel
DONATIONS OF
$500 TO $999
Armstrong Partnership Ltd.
CI Mutual Funds
Connolly Marble and Granite
Earth Tech (Canada) Inc
Global Precast
Highland Yacht Club
National Wood
PharmAssist Foundation
Reversomatic Heating and Manufacturing
Siga International Inc.
Soil-Eng
St. Paul Guarantee Insurance Company
Thornwood Homes
Torstar
Annonymous
Bryan and Doreen Rakusin
David and Sandra Smith
David Maldoff
Dr. Melvyn Kay
Issie and Terry Grachnik
Kirby Gavelin
Michael and Anna D’Amico
Neill & Linda Judelman
Nick Savidis
Nigel Wright
Robert Grandy
Sandra Title
Stephen and Michelle Pincus
Stephen Brown
T.M. Coulton
Timothy Duncanson
Giving Groups
CHILDHOOD CANCER
CHARITABLE COUNCIL
Chair:
Tony Melman
Members:
Brad Crompton
I. Berl Nadler
John Sullivan
Shannon Langton
Tom Barber
POGO PATRONS
J. Robert S. Prichard & Ann E. Wilson
John Cleghorn
Larry Tanenbaum
Rick Waugh
Shari Fell
POGO YOUNG
LEADERSHIP CONNECTION
5-Year Pledges of
$2,000-$5,000
Alex Ber
Amie Rocket
Andrew Stein
Ari Yakobson
Avi Greenspoon
Beverly Suliteanu
Bob Cawston
Brad Nathan
Brentwood Strasler
Cari Cogan-Krensky
Corina Weigl and James Joyce
Darren Slavens
David Durno
David Beaton
David Bacon
David and Tamara Finch
Desiree Mathias
Dimitra Davidson
Elen Steinberg-Brodie
Eric Demirian
Glen and Carolyn Oliver
Graham Fell
Ian Cleghorn and Lynne Bridman Cleghorn
Jason Robertson
Scott & Nona Morrow
Stacey Yuen
Stuart & Lana Sherman
Tim Gravely
Tim & Laurie Foote
Sponsors
POGO GALA 2004 -
CASABLANCA
Presenting Sponsor
Merrill Lynch
Gold Sponsor
Onex Corporation
Silver Sponsors
Davies Ward Phillips & Vineberg LLP
GMP Securities Ltd.
Goodmans LLP
Novartis
RBC Financial Group
Siemens
Bronze Sponsors
Blake, Cassels & Graydon LLP
Chestnut Park Real Estate
Fasken Martineau
Fraser Milner Casgrain
Monitor Company
Parkview BMW
Pilot Insurance
Private Client Services
RH Carter Architects
Workbrain
Gift Bag Sponsor:
Royal De Versailles
Beverage Sponsor:
Calvet
Polar Ice Vodka
Media Sponsors
CFRB AM 1010
Cineplex Odeon Cinemas
Mix 99.9 FM
Childcan
GlaxoSmithKline
Hoffmann-La Roche
MDS Laboratory Services
Princess Margaret Hospital Foundation
Other
Agnico-Eagle Mines
Artificial Intelligence in Medicine (AIM)
Schering Canada
CAMP GREEN ACRES
FAMILY FUN DAY FOR POGO
Host
Camp Green Acres
Presenting Sponsor
TD Commercial Banking
Silver Sponsor
Toronto Professional Firefighters Association
Bronze Sponsors
Boston Scientific
Other Sponsors/Donors
BBQ Gourmet
Canada Bread
Cott Beverages
Kayla and Ralph
Kids Can Cook
M&M Meat Shops
Maple Leaf Foods
Markham Fire Department
Morris Brown & Sons
Neal Brothers Food
Sandylion Stickers
Grand River Toy Company
SKR Delivery Moving & Storage
Sobey’s
Sol Cuisine
St. Urbain Bagel
ViBE Dance Studios
Superior Sound
Print Sponsors and Designers
Media Platforms
Torre Lazur
Jim Williams
Today’s Parent Toronto
Due to a significant increase in donations this year we are unable to list donations under $500.
POGO would like to extend a sincere thank you to all of our loyal donors.
Joan Schatz & Geoffrey Belisle
Josef & Erin Prosperi
John Ruffolo
Jon & Ellise Gasner
POGO MULTIDISCIPLINARY
SYMPOSIUM - 2004
Platinum Sponsor
Media and Advertising Sponsors
Cineplex Odeon
City Parent
Today’s Parent
Jordan & Faith Banks
Nestle Nutrition
Kara McIntosh
Kim Fobert
Silver Sponsors
Michael Davidson
Amgen
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At time of printing, the POGO 2004/2005 audited Financial Statements were not available for inclusion
in this Annual Report. To obtain a copy, please contact Ms. Susan Grace at (416) 592-1232, ext 250.
Rebekah McIntosh
Richard Wachsberg
Robyn Scott
Sandra Hollingsworth
Bronze Sponsors
Canadian Cancer Society - Ontario Division
Centura Brands
14