Making the Invisible Visible AND MORE...

Making the Invisible Visible Educational Conference

The Sickle Cell Association of Ontario and the Black Health Alliance will host Making the Invisible Visible, Shining a Spotlight on Sickle Cell Disease, which celebrates almost 30 years of sickle cell education and the United Nations 2008 declaration of the disease as a public health problem. Individuals and families affected by the disease and anyone interested can attend. The symposium will also be very helpful for health care professionals.

Presentations will cover a range of critical subjects such as multidisciplinary treatment and health promotion for the disease. The meeting will address cultural stereotypes and barriers to treatment for what the United Nations describes as one of the world’s foremost genetic diseases. Internationally recognized speakers including UK based Dr. Simon Dyson who specializes in the diseases social aspects; Dr. Pranesh Chakraborty who heads theOntario Newborn Screening Program at Children's Hospital of Eastern Ontario and SickKids International’s Dr. Alvin Zipursky, who earlier this year organized an international symposium in Cotonou, Benin to discuss topics including priorities in Sickle Cell Disease research and the potential for a global Sickle Cell Disease network, will attend. The program of speakers and topics for the conference is available at www.sicklecellontario.com.

Education about the inherited blood disorder is important because Toronto is one of the world's most diverse and multicultural populations. Predominantly affecting people of African, South Asian, Mediterranean and South American heritage, the disease is evident in populations from Portugal, Spain, France, mainland Italy, Corsica, Sardinia, Sicily, Cyprus, Greece, Turkey, the Middle East including Lebanon, Israel, Saudi Arabia, Kuwait and Yemen, as well as India and Sri Lanka. Based on Toronto’s population, it is a microcosm of the life-threatening condition characterized by severe, unpredictable pain episodes and complications that can limit daily activities and cause disability.

The conference takes place Friday, November 20, 5 – 9 p.m. and Saturday, November 21, 8 a.m. - 5:00 p.m., at the Scarborough Civic Centre, 150 Borough Drive (McCowan & Ellesmere). Registration: $70 adults; $40 students; people with Sickle Cell Disease and their families are eligible for a discounted rate. To register call (416) 789-2855 or email sicklecell@look.ca

Media Contact: J.R. Dash ¨ (416) 293-4234 ¨ dashcommunications@msn.com

Award-winning GTA children’s choir kicks off new concert season withLimitless

Fresh from celebrating its first national music award, again proving the value of hard work and dedication the Toronto Children’s Concert Choir is launching its new performance season with Limitless on Saturday, November 28, 2009 at 6:30 p.m. The 55 member group, kids ranging in age from seven to 18 represent the Greater Toronto Area. This joyous evening of song and dance will also showcase the Afro-Latin rhythms of guest artist Lady Son. The Toronto concert will be held at Knox Presbyterian Church, 630 Spadina Avenue.

Last month in Calgary, the Gospel Music Association of Canada named the choir's Show Me The Way, from its 2008 debut album Our Message, Children’s Song of the Year. TC3, as it's familiarly known, was also nominated for Children’s Album Of The Year and Choir Song Of The Year. For a first recording, that recognition speaks volumes about TC3’s calibre, says the choir's Executive Artistic Director, the Reverend Denise Gillard. “Hopefully this national recognition will retire our Toronto’s best-kept-secret music label.” Seventeen-year- old TC3 member Andre McIntosh says, “To see such a simple song go so far makes winning a really big honour. We’ve sung Show Me The Way many times in different moods and settings but this win makes it even more inspiring.”

TC3 depends on concerts and record sales to fund the majority of its programming. “We have the vision, we have the talent,” says Rev. Gillard. “What we need are the resources to sustain and develop the program to reach even more urban youth so we can help broaden their abilities and choices. This concert provides an opportunity for the community to show its support for these ambitious young people.”

For tickets
Limitless concert tickets are $7 to $12. To order, call 416-751-9970 or email info@tc3.ca. A limited number will be available at the door.

To learn more visit TC3 and Lady Son

Listen to TC3’s debut CD Our Message under the Micah Records label.

Media Contact: J.R. Dash ¨ (416) 293-4234 ¨ dashcommunications@msn.com