Community Rallies to Honour and Support the Cedars Cancer Centre’s World-Class Teams
Montreal, December 11, 2018 — The Cedars Cancer Foundation announced today that the Cedars Cancer Centre Inaugural Gala raised in excess of $1,285,000 dollars in support of leading-edge oncologic research, patient care and education. The December 6th gala attracted over 560 people, including members of the community, corporations, McGill University Health Centre (MUHC), McGill and Rossy Cancer Network-affiliated leaders, healthcare professionals and partners. National Bank of Canada President and CEO, Louis Vachon, served as honorary event chair while Diana Ferrara Scalia, Paola Aprikian and Daphne Tsadilas Shamie co-chaired the winter wonderland extravaganza orchestrated by Nadia Saputo.
“One in two Canadians will be diagnosed with cancer in their lifetime, while one in four will die of the disease. That is why we count on donor dollars to give us to the means to collaborate across fields, across the lifespan and with partners around the world,” states Dr. Armen Aprikian, Medical Director of the Cedars Cancer Centre. “I am proud to work with an exceptional team, but I know we can do even more for cancer patients if we can better leverage data and attract the world’s brightest clinicians and scientists to join us.”
Over 20,000 patients are cared for at the MUHC’s Cedars Cancer Centre and on Sarah’s Floor at the Montreal Children’s Hospital. Patients, young and old, count on the expertise of 14 tumour-site groups for complete and integrative therapies and services, including precision medicine, state-of-the art-technology, access to cutting-edge clinical trials, as well as a comprehensive supportive and palliative care program.
“On behalf of all the healthcare professionals, scientists, personnel and volunteers who work tirelessly to make the Cedars Cancer Centre and the MUHC a world-class facility, I wish to extend my deepest gratitude to our donor community,” states Jeff Shamie, President and CEO of the Cedars Cancer Foundation. “Their generous and ongoing investment is how the Cedars Cancer Centre’s multidisciplinary oncology teams and their colleagues will make big leaps in patient care, research and education.”
Cedars Cancer Foundation Chair Mark Saykaly adds: “The success of this event is a clear sign that Cedars continues to extend its roots in the community by galvanizing people from all cultures and walks of life around one purpose: helping cancer patients and their families; thank you for being there when we knock on your doors with transformational proposals.”
The 2018 Inaugural Gala benefiting the Cedars Cancer Centre not only celebrated the exceptional women and men who represent every division of oncology and the Cancer Research Program of the Research Institute of the MUHC, but also shone a spotlight on the importance of donor contributions in an era of diminishing national investment. During the event, Board Co-Chair Bruce Shadeed confirmed that the Gala had tipped the $50-million capital campaign over the $10-million milestone.
“We’ve our eyes directed on the present and the future,” concludes Bruce Shadeed. “I’d like to thank our Gala Co-Chairs for organizing such a meaningful and elegant event; the Cedars Cancer Centre teams for their dedication to our community; my capital campaign Co-Chairs, Michael Flinker and Andrew Lutfy, for their commitment; and our donors for understanding just how vital their contributions are to the Cedars Cancer Foundation’s mission. Together, we’re easing the pain that cancer causes patients and their families.”
Heartfelt thank you to all our donors and sponsors:
National Bank of Canada, Louis Vachon; Mike Flinker & Dr. Marcia Gillman & Family; Samcon - Sam & Diana Scalia; Mi Corazon Foundation; The Rossy Family Foundation; Garage/Dynamite; CIBC; Travelway; Tom & Gwen Nacos & Family; Ernst & Young; Dorel; KMPG; La Sirène de la Mer; Les Constructions Disca Inc.; Dr. Armen & Paola Aprikian & Family; The Saykaly Family; Ardene Foundation; Andrée Brien – Costco; Louise & Alan Edwards Foundation; Lise Waiter & Serge Rocheleau; Adam & Catherine Turner; Brian & Alida Rossy Family Foundation; Cathy & Frank Cianci; David & Bonnie Schatia; Dr. Roger Tabah & Family; Dr. Ari & Patil Meguerditchian; Mike & Valeria Rosenbloom Foundation; Arek & Christine Markarian & Family; ScotiaMcLeod; the Morris & Rosalind Goodman Family Foundation; Pipe & Piling Supplies Ltd; Bank of Montreal; Royal Bank of Canada; Bank of America Merrill Lynch; Minogue Medical Inc.; Jarislowsky Fraser; Schwarz Plastic Surgery; Groupe G & G; Kamik; M sur la Montagne; Marina Del Rey; Damco Group; Cisco; Tapis national; Bruce Kent Group; The Kersheh Group; Le Groupe Antonopoulos; Québecor; Rhoda & Joel Pinsky; Norman Zavalkoff Family Foundation; Armen Industries Inc.; Philohbar Design Canada Ltd; Placements Antis; FL Fuller Landau; Imad Khalil & Yasmine Ghandour; Uniformes Moderna; MUHC Division of Thoracic and Upper Gastrointestinal Surgery; Cedars Cancer Centre Radiation Oncology Division; Palliative & Supportive Care Division; JM Bastille; Yellow Shoes; Christofle; San Marco Pasticceria; Celebrations and Sofitel Montreal Golden Mile.