Agenda
Thursday, October 17, 2024

Dinner Reception (Admiral Ballroom)

Michelle is the Director of Development and Community Relations at Myeloma Canada and as a member of the organization since 2016, has a very personal connection to myeloma. Her father Richard Oana, who passed away in December 2015, was a myeloma patient for over eight years. Her father’s strength, determination, and resilience over eight years inspired Michelle in many facets of her life and led her to discover her passion for philanthropy. Bringing to the table her degree in marketing and background in development, community relations, and fundraising, she is committed to making myeloma matter by helping to empower and improve the lives of all Canadians affected by the disease. Passing the torch from father to daughter, Michelle feels privileged in her role not only to honour her father’s legacy, but to be able to help patients and families living with the disease across the country.

In 2021, Michelle founded the Health eMatters program as a way to foster, empower, engage and strengthen the voices of the Canadian cancer advocate community. As the next generation of advocates are flourishing, new ways to advocate and reach audiences are also ever expanding. A program she is very passionate about, the event is designed specifically to help advocates hone their skills, master new tools, network, and increase their impact in Canada, and beyond.

Dinner Reception (Admiral Ballroom)

Meet Peter Laneas
As a two-time testicular cancer (TC) survivor, Peter Laneas discovered his passion for awareness, advocacy and connecting with other young adult cancer survivors by 30 years old. First attending a one-man comedy show about TC, he found his laughter again and “dad joke” style punchlines, leading to becoming the first national spokesperson for Testicular Cancer Canada. His advocacy and peer support have aligned with Young Adult Cancer Canada as a volunteer leader for Localife – Toronto, and this commitment continues to this day. He continues his peer support work in his social media presence, professional life, and as an open forum spokesperson and as a steering committee member/co-host for Health eMatters conference.

With over 20 years since his first diagnosis, Peter has led a passionate life for mindfulness and present thinking. His work history includes advocacy visibility both as a cancer survivor and as a member of the LGBTQ+ community. From being the provincial brand ambassador for Jack Daniel’s, to home health care support during the pandemic, to now sailing the 7 seas as a future cruise sales manager for the luxury cruise line, Azamara, Peter joins us with a humbled perspective on cancer advocacy and thinking global while impacting local.

Meet Robert Hawke
Robert Hawke is a comedian, author and speaker. Rob honed his storytelling and comedic skills with The Second City Comedy Troupe. He has shared in a Canadian Comedy Award and Gemini Award Nomination for Best Writing in a Comedy Series. Robert has performed for U of T Medical School, Canadian Mental Health Association, Sun Life Financial, Boating Association of Ontario, and many more.

His original keynote The Excellence Principle: Unleashing Your Potential Through The Power of Feeling Good gives audiences immediately usable tips and tools to build resilience in these ridiculous times.

Rob wrote the books Kicking Cancer’s Ass: A Lighthearted Guide to the Fight of Your Life and Doing Happiness: Uncovering the Hidden Benefits of Feeling Good.

Dinner Reception (Admiral Ballroom)

28-year-old Canadian, spun her life’s challenges into a tale of resilience and inspiration.

Diagnosed with oral cancer at a young age, Tyra faced the battle of her life. Undergoing a 14-hour surgery to reconstruct her tongue & a neck dissection, Tyra’s challenges were complex—she had to reteach herself how to eat & talk all over again. Tyra became an advocate for cancer awareness, especially among young adults with her cancer. Her unexpected journey transformed her into a voice for impactful change, breaking the silence surrounding cancer and offering hope to those grappling with similar struggles.

Tyra’s compassion extends beyond advocacy. She dedicates her time to mentoring cancer patients, providing them with guidance, support, and a source of inspiration as they navigate their own journeys towards healing.

Tyra’s story is a testament to the power of resilience and the transformative nature of adversity. Through her advocacy, artistry, and mentoring, she proves that even in the face of darkness, there is light, and through dance, compassion, and mentorship, one can find healing, strength, and ultimately, hope.

Dinner Reception (Admiral Ballroom)

Alvina Nadeem is an engineer, coach, change management advisor, and mother of two boys. Diagnosed with high-grade ovarian cancer in March 2023, just two weeks after her 36th birthday, she credits her Stage 1 diagnosis to luck, intuition, and a proactive medical team. Since then, Alvina has been dedicated to patient advocacy and research, determined to raise awareness and drive change for this “silent killer.”

Alvina serves on the board of Ovarian Cancer Canada (OCC) and is an active member of OCC’s Patient Partners in Research program, contributing to patient representation in research. She also serves on the Public Advisory Council (PAC) of Health Data Research Network (HDRN) Canada, where she integrates patient perspectives into health data research. Additionally, she co-founded Chai and Hope with Harjeet Kaur to raise cancer awareness in the South Asian community, empowering individuals to speak up and seek help. An advocate for Equity, Diversity, and Inclusion (EDI) across the care continuum, Alvina focuses on improving EDI in research, clinical trials, and life after treatment, ensuring patients not only survive but thrive.

With a mechanical engineering background and PROSCI certification in change management, Alvina is passionate about applying her expertise in human-centered and systems-based process design to drive change in healthcare. She also champions leveraging technology and data to bridge the gap in research on people assigned female at birth, addressing disparities in male and female health research. Alvina’s journey with ovarian cancer has ignited a personal mission to raise awareness and funds to eradicate this disease. In her own words: “In a world with self-driving cars and AI in our pockets, it is high time for a change!”