CANN Award

Award for Excellence in Neuroscience Nursing

This annual award is presented to a member of the Canadian Association of Neuroscience Nurses (CANN) who demonstrates excellence in neuroscience nursing related to brain tumours. Established in honour of Pamela Del Maestro, RN, BSc, CANN member and a co-founder of Brain Tumour Foundation of Canada, the award includes the publication of the winner’s paper in the Canadian Journal of Neuroscience Nursing.

Award Amount: $1,500.00 (along with a framed recognition certificate). For information about applying for this award, please visit: www.cann.ca.

2011 CANN Award Winners

The winners of the 2011 Award for Excellence in Neuroscience are Emily Parent and Lauren Scott of Sick Kids Toronto. They received their award at the 42nd Annual Meeting and Scientific Sessions in Vancouver, BC in June. Their paper was called: "Paediatric Posterior Fossa Syndrome (PFS): Nursing Strategies in the Post-Operative Period." It will be published in an upcoming edition of the Canadian Journal of Neuroscience Nursing.

2010 CANN Award Winners

The winners of the 2010 Award for Excellence in Neuroscience Nursing are Dzigbordi Bankas, Beverly Espedido, Arbelle Manicat-Emo and Laura Bradbury of Sick Kids Hospital in Toronto. The award was presented for their paper, "Truth-telling and an adolescent diagnosed with a malignant brain tumour: Who are we protecting?”. The paper will be published in the Canadian Journal of Neuroscience Nursing in Fall 2010.

Photo: The 2010 CANN Award winners are pictured left to right - Dzigbordi Bankas; Beverly Espedido; Janic Gorayeb, Brain Tumour Foundation of Canada; Arbelle Manicat-Emo and Laura Bradbury

2009 CANN Award Winner

Linda Clarke was the recipient of the 2009 Brain Tumour Foundation of Canada Award for her paper, “Neurofibromatosis 2 – A Family Journey.” The paper was published in the Canadian Journal of Neuroscience Nurses. Linda’s involvement with Brain Tumour Foundation of Canada over the years has been remarkable. Linda has co-chaired the Spring Sprint program and has been continuously involved in supporting our Information Day program. With Linda’s recommendations of our programs and services to patients, families and the health care community, Linda has truly been an ambassador for Brain Tumour Foundation of Canada.

Photo: Linda Clarke, 2009 CANN Award Winner

There is one role however that stands out the most and that is the role she has had as Co-Facilitator for our Halifax Support Group. For eight years, patients and families in the Halifax area have benefited from her expertise, her passion and especially her kindness as they travel their own journey with a brain tumour.

Congratulations to Linda and thank you to all of the dedicated nurses who do so much every day in the fight against this devastating disease.

2008 Recipient Winners

In 2008, Brain Tumour Foundation of Canada is proud to announce that Lisa Pearlman, Kerry Hunter and Alison McVittie were selected by the Scientific Committee for the Brain Tumour Foundation Award for their case report: “Discharge Management of an Adolescent Female With Medulloblastoma and Posterior Fossa Syndrome.” Their paper will be published in the Canadian Journal of Neuroscience Nurses in the next few months. Congratulations and thank you so much to all the dedicated nurses who do so much in the fight against this devastating disease.

Photo: Kerry Hunter, Lisa Pearlman, Janic Gorayeb (Brain Tumour Foundation of Canada) and Alison McVittie

2007 Recipient Winners

Natalie Berkiw, Brain Tumour Foundation of Canada’s Information and Education Services Specialist, was delighted to present this year’s Canadian Association of Neuroscience Nurses (CANN) award to Wendy Blackburn, Grace Leung, and Catherine Morash (absent from photo) from Sunnybrook and Women’s College Health Sciences Centre.

The annual award recognizes excellence in the area of neuro-oncology nursing and was established in honour of Pamela Del Maestro, a co-founder of Brain Tumour Foundation of Canada. This year’s CANN conference took place on June 22nd in Edmonton, Alberta. Congratulations to Wendy, Grace, and Catherine for their continued commitment to those affected by a brain tumour.

2006 Recipient

The recipient of the 2006 Brain Tumour Foundation of Canada Award was Yasmin Khalili, the Clinical Nurse Specialist of the Brain Tumour Program at the Montreal Neurological Hospital. Her paper "Ongoing Transitions: the impact of a malignant brain tumour on patient and family," was presented at the CANN conference in Montreal, June 16, 2006.

Photo: Winner Yasmin Khalili (left) with Natalie Berkiw