PROSTAID Calgary/Prostate Cancer Canada Network Calgary Society is your first destination for prostate cancer support in Calgary, Alberta, Canada and across the world. With information and support through our online videos, support meetings, prostate cancer news, and awareness initiatives, we help men and their families during their journeys with prostate cancer.

 

The Digital Examiner is our in-house publication with a monthly circulation of > 1300.  It is distributed across Canada to members and professionals who have an interest in prostate cancer. The Digital Examiner contains information about meetings, public awareness events, note-worthy research about prostate cancer, new drugs and therapies, and clinical trials, particularly in Calgary.

Our website has information about events, meetings, and links to more than 100 videos of past presentations to our group about prostate cancer.  We also have an expanding social media presence via Linked In, Facebook, Twitter, and YouTube. These digital platforms allow us to expand our reach into the community and to expand our membership.  Frequently, visitors to our website and YouTube channel from across Canada and the US say “Thank goodness I found you”.

Awareness Events provide information about PROSTAID Calgary and prostate cancer.  In 2015, we sponsored Cancer Survivorship Symposium in Calgary, AB attended by >200 registrants.  Annual events open to the public include our “Fun in the 50s Festival” and Show ‘n Shine with car and motorcycle exhibits, Fire-Up About Prostate Cancer – in collaboration with Darkside Racing, health care exhibits, support for Man Van PSA testing, and national television coverage of a Calgary Stampeders Football game in September.

Outreach Reach and Collaborations:  Through our own awareness programs, we “touch” more than 1 million Canadians a year with our messages about prostate cancer.  In addition, we collaborate with Prostate Cancer Canada, Prostate Cancer Centre and Tom Baker Cancer Centre in Calgary, University of Calgary and University of Alberta researchers, Wellness Centre in Calgary, and pharmaceutical companies.

Member Development – we support the attendance of 4 – 5 members to the annual September conference of Prostate Cancer Research Institute in the United States.  The conference provides information presented by leading urologists, oncologists, and scientists to prostate cancer survivors and family members in attendance. On their return, these members become key mentors in our peer-to-peer support programs for men and families dealing with prostate cancer.

“One in three Canadians will experience cancer. In my family, my father had prostate cancer, my mother died with ovarian cancer, and my wife was diagnosed andsuccessfully treated for breast cancer 6 months after my initial prostate cancerdiagnosis. Having faced cancer, and at least for the time being having beatenit, I now have a much greater appreciation for each day. I firmly believe thatmaintaining a positive attitude and helping others along their journey goes along way to a successful recovery.” – Bob Shiell, prostate cancer survivor and President of the Prostate Cancer Canada NetworkPROSTAID Calgary/Prostate Cancer Network Calgary has 3 missions:

• To provide peer-to-peer mutual support for men and their families on their journey with prostate cancer,

• To increase public awareness and understanding of the disease,

• To advocate for a strong provincial voice in matters relating to prostate cancer.

Developing and maintaining services for survivors and their families is an ongoing challenge which we meet in a variety of ways:

Monthly meetings that include:

Warriors – private group meetings for men whose prostate cancer has returned after primary treatment.

Wives, Partners, and Caregivers – private group meetings for individuals who provide support for men with prostate cancer, and

General meeting –  public meetings that include an invited guest speaker such as – urologists, oncologists, research scientists, nutritionists, and other health care professionals.

Knowledge Library – We offer our members an extensive lending library about issues related to prostate cancer.

The Digital Examiner is our in-house publication with a monthly circulation of > 1300.  It is distributed to members and professionals across Canada with interest in prostate cancer. The Digital Examiner contains information about meetings, public awareness events, note-worthy research on prostate cancer, new candidate drugs in the research pipeline, and clinical trials available to our members in Calgary.

Our Website has information about events, meetings, and links to our YouTube Channel, containing more than 100 videos of past presentations to our group about prostate cancer.

Affiliations with Prostate Cancer Canada, Canadian Cancer Survivorship Network, Prostate Cancer Centre and Tom Baker Cancer Centre, both in Calgary, Alberta Prostate Cancer Research Initiative, and the Alberta Cancer Network.PROSTAID Calgary relies on the support and expertise of volunteers and on donations and fund raising to support our programs of peer-to-peer support, awareness and advocacy.

Volunteer to…

1. Join our Board of Directors – come share your special talents and experience with our 15 member Board of men and women.  Special skills useful to our Board of Directors – corporate secretary, treasurer, advertising, community liaison, clinical liaison, pharmaceutical liaison, media liaison, social media, website, etc
2. Help out at our general meetings, “Show and Shine” Car Show, casino fundraiser (every 18 months) and other awareness events.
3. Facilitate one of our private focus groups
4. Manage our Knowledge Library
5. Support our mascot “Dr. Digital”

Spread Awareness

1. Join our Speaker’s Bureau–present information to businesses and service clubs
2. Meet the public–trade shows, health fairs
3. Assist Dark Side Racing–in their Fire-Up for Prostate Cancer Awareness program
4. Calgary Stampeders partnership

Fundraising Events

1. Alberta Gaming and Liquor Commission – Casino approximately every 18 months.
2. “Fun In The 50s” Show and Shine (annual car and motorcycle show).
3. Wine Festival – new theme each year.

Donate 

1. Donate now online
2. In-kind donations of all types of goods and services.
3. Become a sponsor or donor
4. Donate a car