Region: Toronto

NEWS RELEASE

TORONTO, ON — June 3, 2021 – The Sun Life Walk to Cure Diabetes for JDRF is the largest fundraising event in Canada that rallies the type 1 diabetes (T1D) community to unite and raise funds for T1D research.

This year’s Walk is a family-friendly, virtual, and interactive event that will bring together those impacted by T1D.  The Walk aims to raise critical funds for research that will get us closer to giving Canadians freedom from T1D. Join us for a uniquely immersive and interactive experience filled with fun challenges, prizes, entertainment, and the celebration of coming together to change the future of T1D. Our community will experience the Walk within a brand new virtual and interactive world. They will be able to discover the Walk route as if they were physically there, browse our different booths, meet with friends along the way and celebrate with us during the main show.

As we commemorate the 100 years since the discovery of insulin, we are challenging participants to each walk 100km to mark this milestone and to raise funds for T1D research that will move us beyond insulin, accelerating toward a cure. Whether it is a route in your room, a track in your backyard or a loop around your neighborhood, it doesn’t matter where you walk, just that you register. And if walking isn’t your thing – we’re encouraging participants to ‘think 100!’ Like 100 bottle returns, 100 sit ups, or 100 donations.

“Research much be accelerated forward and during this period of uncertainty, it is heartening to see that we can rely on the power of community to support one other,” says Dave Prowten, President and CEO of JDRF Canada. “The Sun Life Walk to Cure Diabetes for JDRF is a testament to the passion and resolve of a group of people who are inspired by a common goal: to create a world without T1D.”

Sun Life has been involved with the Walk since 2014 as the National Sponsor and increased its already strong commitment to diabetes in Canada by becoming the National Title Sponsor of the Walk in 2018. Since announcing global support of the cause in 2012, Sun Life has committed more than $38 million globally in support of diabetes awareness, prevention, care and research initiatives.

“One of the fastest growing health challenges of our time, diabetes and prediabetes affects 11.5 million Canadians,” said Milos Vranesevic, Senior Vice-President, Chief Marketing Officer, Sun Life. “As we celebrate the discovery of insulin and the improvements it has had on the treatment of diabetes, there is still no cure. That is why our partnership with JDRF is so important. Sponsoring the Walk is one of the ways we can raise awareness and money to help those with diabetes live healthier lives.”      

While we may not be together in person this year, we will still come together to walk the distance for the more more than 300,000 Canadians touched by T1D and their families. It is a movement that empowers people who refuse to be defined by their disease – a way the T1D community can come together and accelerate towards a cure.

Join the 2021 Sun Life Walk to Cure Diabetes for JDRF and help us accelerate our research from the comfort of your own home (link).

About JDRF Canada

JDRF is the leading global organization funding type 1 diabetes research. Our goal is to raise

funds to support the most advanced international type 1 diabetes research and progressively

remove the impact of this disease from people’s lives – until we achieve a world without type 1

diabetes. JDRF collaborates with a wide spectrum of partners and is the only organization with

the scientific resources, regulatory influence, and a working plan to better treat, prevent, and

eventually cure type 1 diabetes. JDRF is the largest charitable funder of and advocate for research to cure, prevent and treat T1D in the world. For more information, please visit jdrf.ca.

Sun Life in the community
At Sun Life, we are committed to building sustainable, healthier communities for life. Community wellness is an important part of our sustainability commitment and we believe that by actively supporting the communities in which we live and work, we can help build a positive environment for our Clients, employees, advisors and shareholders. Our philanthropic support focuses on health, with an emphasis on diabetes awareness, prevention, and care initiatives; and mental health, supporting programs and organizations with a focus on building resilience and coping skills.

We also partner with sports properties in key markets to further our commitment to healthy and active living. Our employees and advisors take great pride in volunteering close to 12,000 hours each year and contribute to making life brighter for individuals and families across Canada.

For more information:

Vanessa Parent

Bilingual Marketing & Communications Specialist at JDRF Canada

C: (647) 459-7881

vparent@jdrf.ca

Wednesday, April 7, 2021, Toronto, ON – “JDRF Canada applauds this week’s provincial government announcements out of Saskatchewan and Manitoba, which are expanding access to insulin pumps and continuous and flash glucose monitoring devices for those living with type 1 diabetes,” says Dave Prowten, president and CEO, JDRF Canada.

In the budget announced Tuesday on April 6^th, Saskatchewan committed to creating a new program which will cover the costs of continuous glucose monitors (CGMs) and flash glucose monitors (Flash GMs) up to age 18 and expand the Saskatchewan Insulin Pump Program to all ages. Said Dustin Halvorson, parent of a child with type 1 diabetes: “Our family is so happy to see the provincial government follow through with their promise to expand coverage for individuals and families living with type 1 diabetes. This week’s announcement shows we’re being heard and that those who have the burden of monitoring their blood sugar levels minute by minute, hour by hour, day by day are going to have access to technology to help them live easier, healthier, safer lives moving forward.”

Manitoba announced Wednesday that it will begin covering CGMs up to age 25 and will expand coverage under the Manitoba Pediatric Insulin Pump Program by changing the age limit on eligibility from under 18 to under 25. Manitoba and Saskatchewan join the Yukon as the only three Canadian provinces or territories to cover CGMs. Ontario and Quebec cover Flash GMs for some with type 1 diabetes.

As for insulin pumps, British Columbia, Alberta, Ontario, the territories and now Saskatchewan cover pumps for all ages. With today’s announcement, all other provinces, except Quebec, cover until age 25. Quebec is now the sole remaining province that stops coverage for insulin pumps at age 18.

“With type 1 diabetes care having gone online as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic, technologies such as continuous and flash glucose monitoring are becoming more and more important as they’re helping to drive the transition to virtual and remote care. As well, moving the age limit to age 25 for insulin pumps will help young Manitobans transition from pediatric to adult care and use these important and evolving technologies. We’re grateful for the Manitoba government’s efforts to expand access for Manitobans with type 1 diabetes,” says Dr. Nick Hajidiacos, JDRF board member, internal medicine specialist and parent of a child with type 1 diabetes.

For Canadians living with type 1 diabetes, self-management is accomplished through careful measurement of blood glucose and administration of insulin. CGMs and Flash GMs rely on sensors attached to the body which measure glucose in the interstitial fluid just below the skin, replacing the traditional finger prick method. The glucose reading is sent to the screen of a reader device, a smartphone or an insulin pump, providing users with an up-to-date reading of glucose every few minutes – readings which help the user calculate insulin dosage. These devices can also include alarms that alert the user and/or their caregivers if blood sugar levels are rising or dropping rapidly and require urgent action.

Studies show that use of diabetes technologies such as insulin pumps, CGMs and Flash GMs help improve self-management of diabetes, including important measures such as overall blood glucose (HbA1C) and time in target range (TIR), keeping more people out of hospital.

“Without government support, many adults and children living with diabetes will continue to struggle to manage the cost, or worse, be forced to make do with inferior and out-of-date technology,” adds Prowten. “This will only increase the divide between those who can and those who cannot afford these technologies. We’re urging all provinces to move forward with similar measures to increase access to the technology Canadians need to manage their type 1 diabetes.”

JDRF credits the grassroots efforts of parent groups in Manitoba and Saskatchewan, as well as medical students at the University of Saskatchewan, for elevating the need for provincial coverage for diabetes technologies.

Improving access to advanced glucose monitoring devices and insulin pumps for all Canadians living with type 1 diabetes is the goal of JDRF’s Access for All campaign. Type 1 diabetes devices help those living with the disease better self manage it, leading to improved health outcomes and better quality of life.

To learn more about JDRF’s #AccessForAll campaign check out jdrf.ca/accessforall.

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For more information contact:

Vanessa Parent

JDRF Canada

514-262-6346

vparent@jdrf.ca

The Sun Life Ride to Defeat Diabetes for JDRF invites people across Canada to join this high-energy virtual corporate fitness event and raise funds to support type 1 diabetes research

TORONTO, ON — October 22, 2020 – The Sun Life Ride to Defeat Diabetes for JDRF – a high-energy, corporate fitness event – happening on October 22, will bring together participants from across Canada into the same virtual space for some friendly competition and to raise $1.6 million to help create a world without type 1 diabetes.

Participants can choose to spin on a stationary bike, stretch with a yoga routine or break a sweat at a fitness class, in an hour-long virtual event where they will participate in fitness and fundraising challenges, celebrate top performers and recognize collective accomplishments – all while moving for a cure.

“This year we are bringing the excitement and energy of our Ride event to people’s homes and giving corporate Canada a unique way to come together for team building fun, to enjoy a healthy break during the busy work day, and most importantly, to turn type 1 diabetes into type none,” said Dave Prowten, President and CEO of JDRF Canada. “Research and support for those living with type 1 diabetes cannot stop and we are relying on the power of corporate Canada to help reach our $1.6 million goal to accelerate the pace of type 1 diabetes research.”

“There are over 300,000 Canadians living with type 1 diabetes. We know the impact it can have on people’s lives. That’s why we have donated $32 million globally to programs that support diabetes awareness, prevention, care and research since 2012,” said Robert Dumas, President and CEO, Sun Life Québec. “The Sun Life Ride to Defeat Diabetes is a great opportunity for people across Canada to connect and raise money for type 1 diabetes research and care initiatives. Sun Life is proud to sponsor the Ride and help Canadians live healthier lives.”

Join the Sun Life Ride to Defeat Diabetes for JDRF on October 22 at one of the following times: 12PM EDT, 4PM EDT and 7PM EDT

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About JDRF Canada

JDRF is the leading global organization funding type 1 diabetes (T1D) research. Our mission is to accelerate life-changing breakthroughs to cure, prevent and treat T1D and its complications. To accomplish this, JDRF has invested more than $2.2 billion in research funding since our inception. We are an organization built on a grassroots model of people connecting in their local communities, collaborating regionally for efficiency and broader fundraising impact, and uniting on a national stage to pool resources, passion, and energy. We collaborate with academic institutions, governments, and corporate and industry partners to develop and deliver a pipeline of innovative therapies to people living with T1D. Our staff and volunteers throughout Canada and six international affiliates are dedicated to advocacy, community engagement and our vision of a world without T1D. For more information, please visit jdrf.ca.

Sun Life in the community

At Sun Life, we are committed to building sustainable, healthier communities for life. Community wellness is an important part of our sustainability commitment and we believe that by actively supporting the communities in which we live and work, we can help build a positive environment for our Clients, Employees, advisors and shareholders. Our philanthropic support focuses on two key areas: health, with an emphasis on diabetes awareness, prevention, and care initiatives through our Team Up Against Diabetes^TM platform; and arts and culture, through our award-winning Making the Arts More Accessible^TM program.

We also partner with sports properties in key markets to further our commitment to healthy and active living. Our Employees and advisors take great pride in volunteering over 13,000 hours each year and contribute to making life brighter for individuals and families across Canada.

JDRF Media Relations Contact
Soledad Vega
National Marketing and Communications Manager, JDRF
647-459-7881
svega@jdrf.ca

Sun Life Media Relations Contact
Meredith Mundick
Manager, Corporate Communications, Sun Life
416-979-4048
meredith.mundick@sunlife.com

 

TORONTO, October 2nd, 2019 – JDRF welcomes the Conservative announcement yesterday committing to legislation making it easier for Canadians with type 1 diabetes (T1D) and others to qualify for the Disability Tax Credit (DTC).

The Fairness for Persons With Disabilities Act would reduce the number of hours needed to qualify for the DTC from 14 to 10. This would allow more people to qualify as the so-called 14-hour-rule has proven in the past to be a significant barrier.

According to the Disability Advisory Committee (DAC) annual report published last spring: “The combined time requirement, in terms of both minimum number of hours and weekly sessions, excludes many applicants who receive life-sustaining therapy. Access to the DTC has been severely limited particularly for people living with type 1 diabetes. Any individual who needs life-sustaining therapy, by definition, will spend considerable time every week engaged in that therapy.” The DAC suggested that “Instead of having to submit an account of the number of times and hours per week involved in these therapies, the person needing life-sustaining therapy should automatically meet the criteria”.

The purpose of the DTC is to provide a small measure of tax relief for the extraordinary expenses faced by Canadians with disabilities and chronic diseases. Type 1 diabetes is an extremely costly disease. Depending on income level, province and private insurance coverage, Canadians with T1D may face up to $15,000 annually in out-of-pocket costs.

JDRF greatly appreciates this effort to expand access to the DTC. We are calling for legislation to expand access to the DTC to be introduced and passed as soon as possible in the next Parliament.

JDRF is encouraging all candidates in this year’s election to show their support for Canadians touched by type 1 diabetes by posting their photo on social media holding a sign saying “I ❤Canadians touched by type 1 diabetes” and using the hashtag #VoteTypeNone. See www.jdrf.ca/votetypenone for more on this campaign.

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About JDRF Canada

JDRF is the leading global organization funding type 1 diabetes research. Our goal is to raise funds to support the most advanced international type 1 diabetes research and progressively remove the impact of this disease from people’s lives – until we achieve a world without type 1 diabetes. JDRF collaborates with a wide spectrum of partners and is the only organization with the scientific resources, regulatory influence, and a working plan to better treat, prevent, and eventually cure type 1 diabetes. JDRF is the largest charitable funder of and advocate for
research to cure, prevent and treat T1D in the world. For more information, please visit jdrf.ca.

 

For more information:

Soledad Vega
Marketing and Communications Manager
JDRF Canada
647-459-7881
svega@jdrf.ca

 

 

Toronto, Ontario, September 9, 2019 – JDRF shares the excitement of the type 1 diabetes community around today’s arrival of the Dexcom G6,” said Dave Prowten, President and CEO of JDRF Canada. “While JDRF remains focused on our goal to cure type 1 diabetes, we welcome the arrival of new and innovative technologies like this that help Canadians living with the disease live easier, healthier, safer lives.”

“Unfortunately, these life-changing advanced blood glucose monitoring devices will remain out of reach for many families unless provincial governments step up to provide financial coverage. This is why JDRF launched our Access for All campaign earlier this year to urge governments to fund these technologies. We need Canadians’ support, so please send a letter to your provincial representatives.”

JDRF has played a pivotal role in novel CGM development, as well as access and adoption, including supporting a clinical trial that conclusively demonstrated that CGM use improved health outcomes for people with diabetes.

The Dexcom G6 is the first CGM to be interoperable, meaning that it can be used with other devices, like insulin pumps, mobile apps and artificial pancreas technology. This is particularly important for JDRF’s Open Protocol Initiative, which aims to have an insulin pump and a CGM “talk” to each other, regardless of whether they have the same manufacturer — as opposed to devices that are proprietary and not designed for interoperability.

To set up an interview with Dave Prowten about JDRF, its advocacy efforts, and its support of Canada’s type 1 diabetes community, please contact: Soledad Vega | svega@jdrf.ca | 647-789-2025

 

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About JDRF Canada

JDRF is the leading global organization funding type 1 diabetes research. Our goal is to raise funds to support the most advanced international type 1 diabetes research and progressively remove the impact of this disease from people’s lives – until we achieve a world without type 1 diabetes. JDRF collaborates with a wide spectrum of partners and is the only organization with the scientific resources, regulatory influence, and a working plan to better treat, prevent, and eventually cure type 1 diabetes. JDRF is the largest charitable funder of and advocate for
research to cure, prevent and treat T1D in the world. For more information, please visit jdrf.ca.

– Inaugural JDRF-led initiative provides grants of $5,000 each for a total of $105,000 to cover tuition and book costs – 

 

TORONTO, Ontario, September 12, 2019 – JDRF today released the names of the grant recipients awarded $5,000 each as part of the inaugural Boston Pizza Foundation Future Prospects Award Program for JDRF. Through the generous support of Boston Pizza Foundation Future Prospects, the national program will help students living with type 1 diabetes (T1D) and their families with tuition and book costs as they pursue post-secondary education in a university, college, or trade school.

The Award Program is designed to recognize and instill confidence in young leaders, role models and mentors in the type 1 diabetes community as they further their education in their various fields of interest.

“On behalf of everyone at Boston Pizza I would like to congratulate this year’s grant recipients on their successful submissions for the Boston Pizza Foundation Future Prospects Award Program for JDRF to help further their educational pursuits,” adds Michelle Schepel, Executive Director at Boston Pizza Foundation Future Prospects. “Future Prospects believes in helping build leaders and mentors. We are proud to support each of these young leaders in the JDRF community with a $5,000 award to help alleviate some of the financial burden associated with their schooling so they can in turn focus on their studies while they continue to manage their T1D. My sincere congratulations to all the award winners”.

“We would like to congratulate this year’s grant recipients of the Boston Pizza Foundation Future Prospects Award Program for JDRF,” said Dave Prowten, President and CEO of JDRF Canada. “JDRF and Boston Pizza Foundation Future Prospects are thrilled to help young leaders of tomorrow get a financial head start by rewarding those who take that extra step as role models, leaders, and mentors to empower others while managing this challenging disease. We want to thank all of this year’s applicants for their interest in the program as we continue to find new, innovative, and meaningful ways to support Canada’s T1D community.”

Since the program launched earlier this year, JDRF received more than 120 applications from across Canada, demonstrating the incredible work young people are doing in the T1D community. Submissions were reviewed by a cross-functional volunteer selection committee who scored the applications using the rubric based on their contributions and impact on the T1D community.  

The winners of the 2019 Award Program are:

Aleksandar Ivovic (Ontario)
Alexandre Machado-Gédéon (Quebec)
Audrey-Eve Bourdon Pépin (Quebec)
Austin Shawaga (Alberta)
Benjamin Robert Thorne (New Brunswick)
Brittany Vogt-Epp (Saskatchewan)
Brooks Roche (Prince Edward Island)
Evelyn Riddell (Ontario)
Josée Daigneault (Quebec)
Justin Vezina (Quebec)
Kaleb Dahlgren (Saskatchewan)
Kristen Eng (British Columbia)
Lianne Adair (Manitoba)
Madelyn Wells (Ontario)
Marley Greenberg (Ontario)
Maryna Ell (British Columbia)
Michael Thornton (Ontario)
Mitchell Aguinaga (Nova Scotia)
Nick Wall (British Columbia)
Oria Megan Chen James (Ontario)
Tyson Fiveland (Alberta)

 

The Award Program is designed to recognize and instill confidence in young leaders, role models, and mentors in the type 1 diabetes community as they further their education in their various fields of interest. The Program reflects JDRF’s comprehensive community engagement strategy committed to helping those living with T1D live healthier, easier, and safer lives until a cure is found.

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About JDRF Canada:

JDRF is the leading global organization funding type 1 diabetes (T1D) research. Our goal is to raise funds to support the most advanced international T1D research and progressively remove the impact of this disease from people’s lives – until we achieve a world without T1D. JDRF collaborates with a wide spectrum of partners and is the only organization with the scientific resources, regulatory influence, and a working plan to better treat, prevent, and eventually cure T1D. JDRF is the largest charitable supporter of T1D research. For more information, please visit jdrf.ca.

 

For more information:

Arielle Nkongmeneck
National Bilingual Marketing and Communications Specialist
JDRF Canada
Phone: 647-789-2000 ext. 2046
Email: ankongmeneck@jdrf.ca  

 

About Boston Pizza: 

Boston Pizza International Inc. is Canada’s No. 1 casual dining brand with more than 390 restaurants in Canada and more than $1 billion in sales. Annually, Boston Pizza serves more than 40 million guests. The company has been recognized as a Platinum Member of Canada’s 50 Best Managed Companies. Boston Pizza believes that strong role models inspire kids to be great, and in 2014, the Boston Pizza Foundation created Future Prospects to help support organizations that mentor kids to reach their full potential. Boston Pizza International Inc. is located in Richmond, B.C., and has regional offices in Mississauga, Ontario and Laval, Quebec. For more information, visit www.bostonpizza.com.

About Boston Pizza Foundation Future Prospects:

Boston Pizza Foundation Future Prospects was established in 2014 to raise funds and awareness for organizations that provide kids in Canada with role models and mentoring programs.  Boston Pizza Foundation Future Prospects is proud to partner with Big Brothers Big Sisters, JDRF, Kids Help Phone, Live Different and the Rick Hansen Foundation. Since its inception in 1990, the Boston Pizza Foundation has raised and donated more than $29 million to directly improve the health and well-being of children and families.

 

For more information:
Michelle Schepel
Executive Director
Boston Pizza Foundation Future Prospects
Phone: 604-303-6375
Email: SchepelM@bostonpizza.com

 

 

 

 

Toronto, May 1, 2019 – JDRF Canada is deeply saddened at the loss of one of its founders, Helaine Shiff.  

“Helaine was a remarkable woman and her legacy to our community will live on forever,” said Dave Prowten, President and CEO of JDRF Canada. “She never let up and continued to the very end to help JDRF move towards our goal of a world without type 1 diabetes.”

Helaine was a tireless champion of our community and relentless in her commitment to achieve a world without type 1 diabetes (T1D). When her son, Lorne, was diagnosed, Helaine and her husband Allan channeled their efforts to find a cure. With the goal of funding the best and brightest researchers around the world, Helaine and Allan Shiff pooled resources and worked tirelessly to improve the quality of life for young Canadians living with T1D. Their persistence paid off and JDRF Canada was founded in 1974.

“JDRF International is truly a global organization because of individuals like Helaine Shiff, who tirelessly worked in support our vision of a world without type 1 diabetes,” says Aaron Kowalski, President and CEO JDRF International. “We are forever thankful to the Shiff family and vow to continue working in partnership with our affiliate in Canada to carry on the work that Mrs. Shiff and her family started more than 40 years ago.”

Focused on excellence and achieving results, the Shiff Family was instrumental in shaping JDRF to become the leading T1D research organization it is today. As T1D trailblazers, they helped propel research forward, establishing Canadian investigators as some of the best and brightest in the field.

“As a founder of JDRF Canada, Helaine Shiff and her family helped forge one of JDRF’s most vital and valued international partnerships,” explains Mary Elizabeth Bunzel, JDRF International Chair of Chancellors. “She continued this commitment to creating a world without T1D as a beloved member of our Chancellors. We send our deepest sympathy to the entire Shiff family.”

Today, Helaine’s legacy continues with Lorne – Chair of JDRF Canada’s Board of Directors and a prominent volunteer in Canada and globally for the past 30 years – following in their footsteps to advance JDRF’s mission to ease the burden of others living with T1D.

Join us in paying tribute to Helaine Shiff to honour her life and continue her legacy at jdrf.ca/helaine.

 

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About JDRF

JDRF is the leading global organization funding type 1 diabetes research. Our goal is to raise funds to support the most advanced international type 1 diabetes research and progressively remove the impact of this disease from people’s lives – until we achieve a world without type 1 diabetes. JDRF collaborates with a wide spectrum of partners and is the only organization with the scientific resources, regulatory influence, and a working plan to better treat, prevent, and eventually cure type 1 diabetes. JDRF is the largest charitable supporter of type 1 diabetes research. For more information, please visit jdrf.ca.         

 

Media contact
Soledad Vega
Manager, Marketing and Communications
JDRF Canada
647-459-7881
svega@jdrf.ca

 

Sponsorship enables increased awareness of type 1 diabetes and investment in research, building upon Sun Life’s global commitment toward type 1 and type 2 diabetes

 

Toronto, ON – (April 25, 2019) – JDRF Canada is pleased to announce Sun Life Assurance Company of Canada (“Sun Life”) as the title sponsor of its signature Ride event. The newly named Sun Life Ride to Defeat Diabetes for JDRF is a unique stationary cycling event that sees 11,000 Canadians mobilize in communities across the country to pedal and last year alone raised $3.8 million for ground-breaking type 1 diabetes (T1D) research.

JDRF is very proud to be teaming up once again with Sun Life as the title sponsor for this event as they help raise awareness and funds for finding a cure to T1D. Sun Life became presenting sponsor of the Ride in 2017 and title sponsor of JDRF’s signature Walk event in 2018, solidifying their strong commitment to diabetes in Canada as part of their overall purpose of helping clients achieve a lifetime of financial security and live healthier lives. Now, with their increased involvement as title sponsor of the Ride, Sun Life further establishes themselves as proud supporters of the T1D community.

 “We are excited and proud to welcome our longstanding partner, Sun Life, as title sponsor for our Ride,” said Dave Prowten, President & CEO of JDRF Canada. “This partnership will be the second JDRF signature event in which Sun Life acts as a title sponsor, bringing their commitment to diabetes in Canada to the next level. Sun Life’s support through their sponsorship, corporate matching and employee participation will enable us to continue to increase awareness of T1D, accelerate the pace of diabetes research and ultimately work toward our singular vision: a world without T1D.”

The Sun Life Ride to Defeat Diabetes for JDRF has something for everyone – including team building, exercise, fun music, high-energy excitement, and the knowledge that ride participants are contributing to a great cause. This year’s Ride event will be held in over 35 locations across the country.

 “Sun Life is proud to deepen our commitment to JDRF and to those living with type 1 diabetes in Canada as the Title Sponsor of the Sun Life Ride to Defeat Diabetes for JDRF.  We’re teaming up with riders from coast-to-coast as they challenge diabetes and make a difference for Canadians who live with the disease,” said Jacques Goulet, President, Sun Life Canada. “At Sun Life, we are committed to helping raise awareness and funds for the prevention, care and research of both type 1 and type 2 diabetes. Our partnership with JDRF in support of the Ride also helps us deliver on our purpose of helping our clients achieve a lifetime of financial security and to live healthier lives.”

To join  the Sun Life Ride to Defeat Diabetes for JDRF, raise funds for diabetes research, and pedal toward a cure visit jdrfride.ca to learn more and help turn type one into type none.

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About JDRF Canada

JDRF is the leading global organization funding type 1 diabetes research. JDRF’s goal is to progressively remove the impact of type 1 diabetes from people’s lives until we achieve a world without this disease. JDRF collaborates with a wide spectrum of partners and is the only organization with the scientific resources, regulatory influence, and a working plan to better treat, prevent, and eventually cure type 1 diabetes. JDRF is the largest charitable supporter of type 1 diabetes research. For more information, please visit www.jdrf.ca.

 

About Sun Life in the community

At Sun Life Financial, we are committed to building sustainable, healthier communities for life and we’re proud to hold the Caring Company designation from Imagine Canada. Community wellness is an important part of our sustainability commitment and we believe that by actively supporting the communities in which we live and work, we can help build a positive environment for our Clients, Employees, advisors and shareholders. Our philanthropic support focuses on two key areas: health, with an emphasis on diabetes awareness, prevention, care and research initiatives through our Team Up Against DiabetesTM platform; and arts and culture, through our award-winning Making the Arts More AccessibleTM program. In Quebec, our sponsorship and donation initiatives also focus on home economics and financial education.

We also partner with sports properties in key markets to further our commitment to healthy and active living. Our Employees and advisors take great pride in volunteering over 18,000 hours each year and contribute to making life brighter for individuals and families across Canada.

 

JDRF Media Contact:	Sun Life Media Contact:
Arielle Nkongmeneck	Yasna Criscione
JDRF Canada	Sun Life Financial
T: (647) 789-2000 ext. 2046	T: (416) 204-8110
ankongmeneck@jdrf.ca	yasna.criscione@sunlife.com

                 
 

 

 

Toronto, ON (March 21, 2019) – JDRF Canada is pleased to announce the appointment of Dr. Sarah Linklater as Chief Scientific Officer (CSO). Sarah has over a decade of extensive experience as a professional scientific editor, with a focus on clinical diabetes and endocrinology, basic immunology and other areas of the life sciences. Prior to working in publishing, Sarah carried out research on mechanisms of immune regulation at UBC in Vancouver and at the San Raffaele Telethon Institute for Gene Therapy in Milan, Italy. In her role as JDRF Canada’s CSO, Sarah will lead the organization’s efforts to advance and expand its research partnerships and support its efforts to effectively engage the type 1 diabetes (T1D) community. Sarah will start her new role on April 16, 2019.

“I’m really excited for the opportunity to shape T1D research in Canada, and work with a global organization whose mission is to improve the lives of people living with T1D and ultimately cure this disease,” said Sarah.

“We are thrilled to have Sarah join our passionate team of professionals.  She brings a unique combination of scientific experience and communications expertise that will help us accelerate our research program,” said Dave Prowten, President and CEO of JDRF Canada. 

Dr. Sarah E. Linklater (née Allan) completed her PhD in Experimental Medicine at the UBC Faculty of Medicine under the supervision of Professor Megan Levings, a JDRF funded researcher. Her PhD studies focused on the function of regulatory T cells in health and autoimmune disease and she has published several peer-reviewed original research articles, reviews and book chapters on the topic, as well as conducted a number of podium presentations. In her latest role, she helped to launch The Lancet Diabetes & Endocrinology, now the leading clinical diabetes journal worldwide, and became Editor-in-Chief in 2017. Her responsibilities included: maintaining an international network of advisors, authors, and peer reviewers; critically appraising and triaging research, review, and opinion content submitted to the journal; overseeing the peer review processes of the editorial team; and leading a variety of special projects in clinical diabetes and endocrinology. 

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About JDRF
JDRF is the leading global organization focused on type 1 diabetes (T1D) research. Driven by passionate, grassroots volunteers connected to children, adolescents, and adults with this disease, JDRF is the largest charitable supporter of T1D research. The goal of JDRF is to improve the lives of every person affected by T1D by accelerating progress on the most promising opportunities for curing, better treating, and preventing T1D. JDRF collaborates with a wide spectrum of partners who share this goal.

Since its founding in 1970, JDRF has awarded more than $1.7 billion to T1D research. Past JDRF research efforts have helped to significantly improve the care of people with this disease, and have expanded the critical scientific understanding of T1D. JDRF will not rest until T1D is fully conquered. 

For more information, please visit jdrf.ca.

Media contact:

Soledad Vega
Manager, Marketing and Communications
JDRF Canada
647-459-7881
svega@jdrf.ca

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Toronto, ON – March 20, 2019 – JDRF Canada, the leading global funder of type 1 diabetes research, welcomed the news in this year’s federal budget that the government intends to end the practice of clawing back contributions to Registered Disability Savings Plans (RDSPs) for those whose eligibility status for the Disability Tax Credit (DTC) has changed.

“We’re pleased the government has recognized the unfairness that was inherent in clawing back funds, in some cases amounting to tens of thousands of dollars, that vulnerable Canadians used to cover their extraordinary medical expenses, says Dave Prowten, President and CEO at JDRF Canada. Canadians with type 1 diabetes spend up to $15,000 annually in out of pocket costs managing their disease. The move to end the RDSP clawback is welcome; though the government has missed an opportunity in not moving forward with a national diabetes strategy.”

JDRF had made a number of recommendations to the Government of Canada in its pre-budget submission– that Canada develop a national diabetes strategy, fix problems with the Disability Tax Credit and the Registered Disability Savings Plan, introduce a National Diabetes Registry, and include all types of insulin under any National Pharmacare Plan that’s introduced.  

JDRF Canada along with Diabetes Canada and other groups had been urging the government to commit to funding a national diabetes strategy in Budget 2019 before the burden of diabetes gets worse for Canadians, the health care system and the economy.

“Canada is in desperate need of a measurable outcome-focused national strategy,” adds Prowten. “Without a coordinated, national approach to tackling diabetes the incidence rate in Canada will continue to escalate.”

Diabetes prevalence in Canada is not only skyrocketing, but is already among the worst of developed countries. Canada now has the sixth highest incidence rate of type 1 diabetes (T1D) in children age 14 years and younger in the world. With T1D increasing faster in Canada than in many other developed countries (effectively doubling every 20 years), and type 2 diabetes increasing at an even faster rate, there is an urgent need to address what many now refer to as the diabetes epidemic.

For this reason, JDRF Canada made support for a national diabetes strategy one of five key recommendations in our 2019 Pre-Budget Submission. JDRF will continue to advocate for our other recommendations. For example:

• Including insulin amongst the drugs covered by any national pharmacare program that’s developed. Noting the government’s intention to move forward and develop a national pharmacare program, including a new national formulary of prescription drugs, JDRF will continue to express the need for all types of insulin to be covered for all Canadians with T1D.
• Changes to the Income Tax Act aimed at fixing problems that Canadians with T1D encounter in qualifying for the Disability Tax Credit and the Registered Disability Savings Plan. We remain hopeful that these recommendations might still be addressed and look forward to the Disability Advisory Committee’s first report this spring.

Considering the difficulties that Canadians with T1D still encounter in qualifying for the Disability Tax Credit, more consideration should have been given to the simple and practical amendments JDRF had proposed for the Income Tax Act and Canada Disability Savings Regulations.

We will continue to strongly advocate that Canada develop a national diabetes strategy, a type 1 diabetes registry of patients and for all other recommendations from JDRF’s pre-budget submission not included in today’s budget.

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About JDRF

JDRF is the leading global organization funding type 1 diabetes research. Our goal is to raise funds to support the most advanced international type one diabetes research and progressively remove the impact of this disease from people’s lives – until we achieve a world without type 1 diabetes. JDRF collaborates with a wide spectrum of partners and is the only organization with the scientific resources, regulatory influence, and a working plan to better treat, prevent, and eventually cure type 1 diabetes. JDRF is the largest charitable supporter of type 1 diabetes research. For more information, please visit jdrf.ca.         

 

Media contact
Arielle Nkongmeneck
Bilingual Marketing and Communications Specialist
JDRF Canada
647-789-2025
ankongmeneck@jdrf.ca