Staff of the Central West Ontario Region branch of the Canadian Diabetes Association (CDA) hosted a Diabetes Research Forum on April 12 at The Court at Laurelwood retirement home in Waterloo.
Senior regional director Candy Lipton expressed her gratitude for the volunteers who give of their time and talents to help the CDA.
She introduced regional director Joe Maloney and invited everyone to take time to visit the vendors who set up displays for the evening. She encouraged everyone to sign the Diabetes Charter, donate to the Clothesline program, and fill out the pledge card to make changes for a healthier lifestyle.
Keynote speaker Dr. Alison Duncan is a professor in the department of human health and nutritional sciences at the University of Guelph. She spoke on understanding functional foods and their role in diabetes prevention and management.
To optimize healthy aging, it is important to intervene with healthier lifestyle choices, she explained. Dietary management is the first line of defense for type 2 diabetes. Canada’s Food Guide is a great resource. Nutrition labelling is a good guideline. Conventional foods and functional foods consumed daily for nutrition can be optimized resulting in health benefits beyond basic needs.
She presented her research on three studies involving, soy, bagels, and pulses – lentils and legumes that offer superior nutrition.
Her team created a toolkit for dietitians, Functional Foods for Healthy Aging, a resource book full of recipes and essentials of nutrition. She donated three resource books for door prizes.
Public Programs and Services co-ordinator Heidi Fraser announced the evening as a night of hope to honour volunteers and community partners.
Nicole Holder, community engagement co-ordinator, invited Alice Van Ankum to help present the awards. Canvassers included Debbie Goring, Louise Marshall, Audrey Miller, Liz Schulz, Ella Kraemer, and Eric Kraemer. In honour of her friend Emily who has Type 1 Diabetes, 11 year old Ella went out canvassing with her father, Eric, and raised $837.
Canvassers from the North Perth – North Wellington Branch area included George Van Ankum, Grace Balch, Bill Balch, Mary Slater, Diane Kuipers, Gea Lobsinger and Shirley Franklin. Liz Schulz and Audrey Miller were awarded their 10-year length of service certificates. Alice Van Ankum, George Van Ankum, and Nancy Dietrich received awards for 40 years of service to the CDA.
Volunteer of the year was Carol Schofield; young volunteer award went to Elizabeth Broderick; the corporation award to the Scotiabank in Orangeville; the partnership award to Grand River Hospital; and Diana Sherifali R.N., Ph.D., C.D.E. won the health professional award.
Marg Stevens was presented with the Novo Nordisk Half Century Award by Michele Bischof. Stevens has taken insulin injections for over 50 years and is diabetes nurse educator with offices at the Palmerston and Mount Forest hospitals.
Volunteers at the North Perth – North Wellington Branch of the Canadian Diabetes Association can be reached at 519-338-3181 or npnw@diabetes.ca.
