JOINT MESSAGE FROM THE NATIONAL PRESIDENT AND THE CHIEF EXECUTIVE OFFICER Celebrating and thanking our volunteers


As you’ve just read, we had a busy and exciting summer at CCFC, getting ready to launch Gutsy Walk. At each stage in the rebranding process, we were reminded that we were not creating success – we were building on a solid foundation of success created by those who have poured their volunteer time and fundraising energy into the Heel ‘n’ Wheel- a-Thon for 16 years.


We sincerely hope we have honoured those efforts with our intentions to grow this event so that we can fund even more IBD research and education.


The new face you see above is CCFC’s new National President and Chair of the Board of Directors, Marty Cutler. Marty has been a CCFC member for over 20 years, and as President of Fairmount Books in Markham, Ontario, hosts an annual book sale that has raised more than $2 million for IBD research since 1996. While Marty has proven his own commitment to CCFC over the years, he continues to be inspired by the rest of our remarkable volunteers across the country and has immense respect and admiration for their positive energy, enthusiasm, hard work and dedication.


Our annual Congress, held this past October 13 to 16 in Toronto, was when we came together to celebrate these volunteer successes and prepare ourselves for the hard (but rewarding!) work ahead. There are too many Congress 2011 highlights to list them all, but here are a few:


 Gutsy Walk, to be held all over Canada on June 10, 2012, was offi cially unveiled;


 We celebrated the highest gross revenue in the organization’s history – an incredible $12.67 million;


 Our founder Marilyn Finkelstein once again inspired us to try to keep up with her in striving to wipe out IBD forever;


 Dr. Fred Saibil was awarded the Finkelstein Award for his many years of dedication and volunteer service to CCFC, beginning at that very fi rst meeting in Albert and Marilyn Finkelstein’s basement in 1974;


 Guest speaker Dr. Mark Silverberg provided helpful perspective on the present and future of IBD treatment and research;


 CCFC’s plans to enter the realm of advocacy were announced, with the initial focuses being on increasing government funding for IBD research, improving bathroom access,


2 The Journal EDITION 3 | 2011 Marty Cutler,


National President and Chair Board of Directors


Kevin W. Glasgow, MD Chief Executive Officer


and ensuring more equitable and improved access to IBD treatments;


 We shared our Big Ideas, and challenged each other to T ink Big over the coming year; and


 Our Chapters and individual volunteers were recognized for their much-appreciated achievements over the past year.


November’s Crohn’s and Colitis Awareness Month will have wrapped up by the time you read this, but this past month we once again celebrated the true grit of the Canadian IBD community. We congratulate Lori Ann Frey of Watrous, Saskatchewan - this year’s Gutsiest Canadian, as well as our regional Gutsy Canadians. You can read more about these inspiring Canadians on pages 4 and 5.


Finally, at our National Board of Directors meeting in October the torch was passed from some other remarkable Canadians – our Board volunteers – to a new group of Directors who offer their expertise and experience in a wide range of fields. Sue Abrametz, Christiane Chabot, Ash Matta and Margaret Prouse have served out their Board terms with CCFC, and we welcomed Duane Green (Toronto), Angela DiVirgilio (Montreal) and John Robichaud (Maritimes) to the Board. Outgoing National Treasurer Ash Matta was also honoured with the CCFC Pacesetter Award for his outstanding contributions over eight years on the CCFC Board of Directors.


From our CCFC family to yours, we hope you have a healthy and happy holiday season.


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