The ALS Society of Canada applauds the 30 recipients of The Queen Elizabeth II Diamond Jubilee Medal – all of whom have a helping hand in finding a cure for ALS. This commemorative medal is a tangible and lasting way to pay tribute to 60,000 Canadians whose achievements have benefited their fellow citizens, their community, their organization and the country.
Meet the recipients from across the country who were awarded the Queen Elizabeth II Diamond Jubilee Medal on April 28, 2012 for their contribution to ALS:
British Columbia
William Quirk - For his important contributions as a community philanthropist in support of the ALS cause and for his dedication and commitment to funding much needed research.
Andrew Eisen - For his consecutive 31 years of volunteer service to the ALS Society of BC, and his dedication to ALS research and finding ways to improve quality of life when living with ALS.
Charles Krieger - For his volunteerism on the Board of the ALS Society of BC for over 20 years, and for his dedication to caring for people living with ALS and research into the cure.
Ellen Mahoney - For her 26 consecutive years of volunteer service as patient services coordinator for the Victoria Chapter of the ALS Society of BC, and the compassionate care she offers to people living with ALS, their families, and caregivers.
Alberta
Jane Rivest - For her dedication and leadership in establishing a standard of excellence in service and supports for people living with and affected by ALS.
Norman Pollock - For his contributions and leadership with the ALS Society of Alberta Board of Directors in “making each day the best possible day for people living with and affected by ALS” in spite of the challenge of living with ALS each day himself. Norman passed away on June 21, 2012.
Saskatchewan
Peg Frey - For her years of service to the ALS community in Saskatchewan, and specifically for her contribution as the board fundraising chair and the endless hours she has given to increase funds for the ALS Society of Saskatchewan for client services.
Lisa Pluhowy - For her years of service and immeasurable dedication as board chair to lead the ALS Society of Saskatchewan from the depths of despair to a thriving organization providing quality support to its clients and families living with ALS.
Manitoba
Kathleen Kirk - For her ongoing contribution and support to the ALS Society of Manitoba as a former Board member, fundraiser and client advocate, while living with ALS.
Diana Rasmussen - For her over thirty years of continued and compassionate care and support of, and advocacy for, individuals living with ALS in Manitoba.
Ontario
Elizabeth Grandbois - For her unparalleled determination to raise the national public profile of ALS, and for being a courageous advocate and optimistic and inspirational role model to others living with ALS.
Arthur J. Hudson - For his leadership as a founding member of the ALS Society of Canada 35 years ago and, known as one of the fathers of modern day ALS care, for establishing the first multidisciplinary care clinic in Canada and only the second in North America.
John Pollock - For his dedication to increasing ALS awareness and research funding by leading the way for the WALK for ALS which continues more than 10 years later to be the most significant financial source of support for ALS research in Canada.
Dora Redmen - For providing support and education for more than 10 years to those living with ALS in the London area, and for leading the London WALK for ALS to raise over $1.8 Million for care and research.
Tim Robertson - For his tireless work to advocate and educate about living with ALS at events, support groups, for media, and on film, and for inspiring his daughter, Lindsay, to raise more than $350,00 over seven years as a lead organizer of the Halton WALK for ALS.
Michael Strong - For his important contributions of international acclaim to advancing ALS research and clinical care, and sharing his passion with new generations of students, researchers and clinicians.
Jeff Sutherland - For his tireless efforts since going from doctor to patient upon his diagnosis of ALS, to advocate for ALS awareness, educate physicians through the ALS Ontario Symposium, and inspire the hugely successful Georgetown WALK for ALS.
Doretta Thompson - For her years of dedicated service as a board member of the ALS Society of Canada, in particular for her expertise in public awareness and her passion for growing the research program to help Canadian researchers get closer to the cure, faster.
Lorne Zinman - For his dedication and leadership in establishing the Canadian ALS Research Network (CALS), the first national alliance of ALS clinicians and researchers committed to the expansion of ALS clinical research studies in Canada and beyond, and to the pursuit of effective therapies for patients with ALS.
Quebec
Monique D’Amour - For her outstanding commitment to supporting her clients with ALS and to clinical research in Quebec while mentoring young neurologists in the field of neurology.
Pour son engagement remarquable à supporter ses clients atteints de la SLA et à soutenir la recherche clinique au Québec, tout en encadrant de jeunes médecins dans le domaine de la neurologie.
Heather Durham - For her significant contributions to neuroscience research, mentoring young scientists, and for her expertise and leadership in promoting excellence in ALS research in Canada.
Angela Genge - For her important contributions to caring and supporting her clients with ALS in Quebec and for her leadership role in clinical research.
Jean-Pierre Julien - For his important contributions to breakthroughs in ALS research creating hope for people touched by the disease, and for sharing his passion with new generations of researchers in Quebec.
Pour avoir contribué à des percées importantes dans la recherche sur la SLA, donnant ainsi de l' espoir aux personnes touchées par la maladie, et pour avoir transmis sa passion chez les nouvelles générations de chercheurs au Québec.
New Brunswick
Al Kavanaugh - For his immense success over many years of fundraising for the WALK for ALS in his community, and for his past contributions as a board member of the ALS Society of New Brunswick.
Janika Smit - For her many years of support and dedication to the board of the ALS Society of New Brunswick and more importantly to people and their families living with ALS in her community and beyond.
Nova Scotia
Michael Watson - For his extraordinary determination and advocacy efforts on behalf of Canadian Veterans that live and have lived with ALS.
Susan Rahey - For her role as the ultimate health care professional and her tireless compassion, dedication, and advocacy for people living with ALS in Nova Scotia
Prince Edward Island
Marie Salamoun-Dunne - For her leadership in founding the ALS Society of PEI and for over 25 years growing the organization to create public awareness and provide care and support for all living with ALS on the Island.
Newfoundland and Labrador
Cheryl Power - For her longstanding dedication to providing the best possible support and care to families affected by ALS, and for her leadership in establishing the ALS Society of Newfoundland and Labrador.
Cal Cole - For his tireless commitment to developing community support for ALS in Newfoundland and Labrador, and working to make life better for those living with ALS.