Dear friends of Parkinson Society BC,
It has been my honour and privilege to serve the Parkinson’s community in British Columbia for over 10 years. As I am approaching my 70th birthday, I have made the decision to retire at the end of April 2024. My time at Parkinson Society BC has been filled with experiences that have been rewarding, exciting, challenging, and sometimes filled with heartache.
I consider myself fortunate to have built many meaningful friendships with individuals and families who have graciously shared their experiences in navigating life with Parkinson’s disease. Among our community, some have reached the end of their journey over the course of my ten-year tenure and they will be remembered fondly for their strength, courage, and vulnerability. By entrusting me and the Society with your challenges, together we have worked to advocate for improving care and support for those affected by the disorder.
Of significance, Paddi Wood (in memory) and Chris Olsen, who shared their fragile, often painful lives with the government, community, and media. These efforts resulted in BC’s Ministry of Health agreeing to provide coverage for Duodopa therapy, an advanced Parkinson’s treatment. In relation to Deep Brain Stimulation (DBS), I would like to acknowledge Jim Smerdon, Sue Allan (in memory), Maureen Hafstein (in memory), and Richard Mayede who helped to highlight the importance of this intervention. To the many exercise proponents, I appreciate the way you’ve led by example and helped others to embrace movement. For the many others too numerous for me to name here, I wish to express a heartfelt thank you for your friendship and support in making a difference for the Parkinson’s community.
I have had the opportunity to collaborate with exceptional volunteers, including those who held leadership roles on the Board, support group facilitators, clinical professionals who generously contributed their time and expertise, SuperWalk organizers, and many others who provided invaluable assistance. Additionally, our donors who consistently increased their support year after year, enabling us to expand our impact. I must also acknowledge our remarkable team of dedicated staff, with whom it was a wonderful experience to work.
Our notable achievements over the past decade have included:
- Doubling of the number of DBS surgeries performed every year.
- Successfully advocating for and onboarding a second DBS neurosurgeon.
- Securing Duodopa coverage with BC’s Ministry of Health.
- Establishing a new movement disorder clinic in Kelowna and subsequently, Victoria and Nanaimo.
- Advancing comprehensive team-based care through innovative funding partnerships with health authorities.
- Expanding virtual programs and services, including clinical counselling, physiotherapy, and healthcare navigation.
- Spearheading awareness campaigns aimed at broadening understanding of the disease and services offered by the Society.
Of course, there is still work ahead of us. Despite the addition of a second neurosurgeon, British Columbia still falls behind other provinces in terms of neurosurgeon availability, where one per million in population is the benchmark. Furthermore, while we observe growing support for team-based care, these teams need to be expanded. Exciting advancements in therapies, such as subcutaneous delivery of levodopa and MRI-guided ultrasound, are on the horizon.
I am confident that future ambitious campaigns will be launched, and your ongoing support for the Society and the Parkinson's disease community will play a pivotal role in advancing this mission.
Thank you for a great ten years!
Sincerely,
Jean Blake
Chief Executive Officer