LONG LIVE LIFE.
ANNUAL REPORT 2010
HEART AND STROKE FOUNDATION OF CANADA
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More to learn. More to experience.
LETTER FROM THE CEO
More to see. More to enjoy. There’s always more to live for. This is why the Heart and Stroke Foundation continues to work tirelessly to fund major research initiatives and targeted education programs to ensure that we all spend more time living and less time battling disease. Long live healthy, rewarding lives. Long live making the most of the moments we have.
Long live life.
I am enormously proud to have served as CEO of the Heart and Stroke Foundation of Canada (HSFC) for the past nine years. Over this period, the Federation has become a stronger and more cohesive organization thanks to the dedicated, inspired leadership of senior staff, senior volunteers and our funded researchers across the country who have relentlessly pursued our mission while ensuring strong stewardship of our precious donor dollars. Thanks to the collective work of every provincial Heart and Stroke Foundation, the Foundation’s 2005 Strategic Plan objectives have largely been met. Over 60 per cent of artery-clogging trans fats were removed from the Canadian food supply. Health Check™, our flagship food information program, grew five-fold and moved into the food service sector – helping thousands more consumers make a healthier food choice. The Canadian Stroke Strategy, under the leadership of HSFC and the Canadian Stroke Network, has transformed stroke awareness, prevention and care across the country, greatly reducing the devastation of this terrible disease.
Our women’s awareness campaign, The Heart Truth™, has forever changed the way Canadian women understand their risk of heart disease and empowered them to take action to reduce their risk factors. A new focus on knowledge translation is helping ensure the research we fund is more quickly translated into advances in heart and stroke prevention and care. And innovative new partnerships such as the Coalitions Linking Action and Science for Prevention (CLASP) are helping us expand our reach as we seek to reduce chronic diseases that affect millions of Canadians by working together. Long live life. These three simple words inspire the Foundation’s work. I am extraordinarily pleased to pass the CEO reins to Bobbe Wood, who has been a visionary leader in the Foundation as CEO of HSFBC&Y since 1999. The Foundation moves into 2011 in a position of strength after a decade of collective progress – giving hope now and for the future to millions of Canadians. Sincerely,
Sally Brown Chief Executive Officer
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The 2010 Heart and Stroke Foundation Annual Report on Canadians’ Health exposed a perfect storm of risk factors and demographic changes that will occur in our society over the next 10 years. In the following pages, you will see just some of the ways the Foundation is addressing these threats, while recognizing the vitally important role of donor and partner investment.
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D I F F E R E N T FA C E , S A M E T H R E AT The very face of our communities is changing. Today, heart disease and stroke are increasingly crossing age, gender and ethnic lines, with no Canadian being left unaffected. The challenges are many: an aging population, tragic effects of unhealthy eating, inactivity in our children and youth and a new surge of at-risk groups. These factors have begun to inhibit the progress that has been made across the continuum of cardiovascular care.
FAST-TRACKING CANADIAN HEART HEALTH
The Heart and Stroke Foundation is committed to protecting all Canadians from having their lives cut short. Our leadership and collaboration with government, partner organizations and industry, plus strategic investments in innovative research and education keep this vision alive. Thank you for being part of this vital effort.
A plan for action The Canadian Heart Health Action Plan (CHH-AP), released in February 2009, was created in partnership with the Heart and Stroke Foundation to decrease the growing burden of cardiovascular disease (CVD) in Canada. This comprehensive strategy proposes six key recommendations to make Canada a heart-healthy nation, through a plan that is practical and sensitive to regional differences. In its January 2010 report, the team set numerous health goals for Canada, among them, to decrease: • the annual mortality rate from CVD by 25 per cent • the burden of CVD diseases in the Aboriginal population • the number of hospitalizations per year for heart failure and stroke by 25 per cent.
The conservative estimate of savings from implementing this plan would be $1 billion per year in direct costs and $2 billion per year in indirect costs.
Keeping our eye on prevention The Foundation has partnered with the Canadian Institutes of Health Research (CIHR) to support world-class research competitions in heart disease and stroke. By collaborating across research institutions, the Foundation creates strong partnerships that invest in our future health. In the Prevention of Cardiovascular Disease initiative, the Foundation is co-funding three grants. One grant went to Lisa Dolovich and Beatrice McDonough’s investigation at McMaster University. Their research focuses on how community-based networks can be more effective in screening, preventing and managing blood pressure in order to reach more patients and lower hypertension rates.
The Foundation is also co-funding three grants in the Healthy Living and Chronic Disease Prevention initiative. One example is Jonathan McGavock’s research at the University of Manitoba, which is evaluating the province’s new policy on physical education for secondary school students. The aim of these projects is to develop better strategies to protect the future health of Canadians.
GIVING CANADIANS MORE TIME Help us fund more life-giving research, advocate for important health policy and social change, and empower Canadians to live healthy, long lives. Please give at heartandstroke.ca
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Although our understanding of stroke has deepened over the past decade, stroke remains a very serious threat to our health. It’s the third leading cause of death and a leading cause of disability in Canada. What’s more, an aging population is expected to cause the incidence of stroke to double in the next 10 years.
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A P R E V E N TA B L E TRAGEDY More than 50,000 strokes occur each year, leaving too many Canadians mentally and physically disabled. The tragedy is that 80 per cent of strokes are preventable. The leading cause of stroke is high blood pressure, affecting six million Canadian adults. With a continued focus on reducing all risks, and by helping Canadians adopt healthier lifestyle habits, we can stop strokes from robbing us of valuable years and life.
MAKING STROKE A DISTANT MEMORY
Not long ago, stroke was a mystery. Today, the Foundation’s increased investment in stroke research has successfully unravelled the mystery enough to deliver life-altering advances in treatment and prevention. We can now stop strokes from wreaking havoc on the brain, and we are working hard to reduce the devastation strokes have on survivors and their families.
Keeping healthcare providers on top of their stroke game
New award program in stroke recovery
The first Canadian Stroke Congress was held in Quebec City in June 2010. More than 1,000 participants and 90 national and international speakers came to share the knowledge and findings that are improving the lives and well-being of stroke patients. At Congress, the Quebec government made a commitment to significantly improve its province’s stroke care.
The Dr. Tony Hakim Innovative Stroke Research Award was established this year through the Heart and Stroke Foundation Centre for Stroke Recovery, supporting The Heart&Stroke Be Pulse Aware kiosk at innovative and ‘outside the box’ thinking for a research the first Canadian Stroke Congress in Quebec project focused on stroke recovery. This year’s recipient City, June 6, 2010. is Dr. Hillel M. Finestone for his work in stroke rehabilitation using virtual reality balance exercises. His research also focuses on the impact stroke has on nutritional needs of stroke patients who have swallowing wouldn’t have known to call for emergency medical services problems (dysphagia), as well as the role of inflammation that helped them or their loved ones to survive – and thrive. in the brain after a stroke.
The Stroke Congress is an event that complements our existing forum for action on stroke, the Stroke Collaborative, which addresses the information needs and practices that support clinicians, healthcare providers and educators in their work in stroke prevention and treatment.
A Canadian vision for stroke care The Canadian Stroke Strategy is a joint initiative of the Heart and Stroke Foundation and the Canadian Stroke Network designed to support an integrated approach to stroke awareness, prevention, access to treatment, rehabilitation and community reintegration in every province and territory. This strategy is already saving countless lives, while also having remarkable influence on secondary stroke prevention and recovery.
For more information about stroke research, please visit heartandstroke-centrestrokerecovery.ca
Over and over − lives saved by warning signs It’s critical for everyone to know the warning signs of stroke to ensure critical and timely emergency help. That’s why the Foundation continues to put a cross-Canada focus on promoting the warning signs through TV and radio awareness campaigns. So many survivors and family members have come forward over the years to thank the Foundation. They have told us that, without these ads, they
A quivering heartbeat away from stroke This year, the Foundation put the focus on an emerging risk factor for stroke: atrial fibrillation. This condition causes an irregular heartbeat and increases the risk for ischemic stroke – stroke caused by a blood clot – by three to five times. It is estimated that up to 15 per cent of all strokes are due to atrial fibrillation. This was the focus of the 2010 Stroke Month report card and the new Foundation Be Pulse Aware campaign, which was launched at the first annual Stroke Congress. Read more at heartandstroke.ca/ bepulseaware
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THE EQUAL-OPPORTUNITY KILLER Our nation’s women are at risk. The leading cause of death for women in Canada is heart disease and stroke, taking more female lives than all forms of cancer combined – yet too many women are not aware. Together, we can create the necessary changes that will give these women more life to live. We’re making it easier for women to understand the truth about their hearts to empower positive change.
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Every year, more Canadian women die of heart disease and stroke than men. Unhealthy diets and lifestyles are now putting even younger women at risk: about 1.7 million women between 20 and 34 are inactive, almost one million are overweight and more than 800,000 smoke. But despite the serious dangers these risk factors pose, too many women are still not taking action to help reduce their risk.
SUPPORTING WOMEN IN THE FIGHT
While estrogen provides some natural protection against heart disease until menopause, unhealthy lifestyle habits are putting younger women at risk. More work needs to be done to educate and help women – young and old – prevent their number one cause of death.
This year, in a five-month period, The Heart Truth™ campaign raised awareness of heart disease and stroke as the leading cause of death in women by eight per cent. The Heart Truth This dynamic campaign has brought together Canadian icons, celebrities and strong-willed survivors to increase awareness that the leading cause of death for women in Canada is heart disease and stroke. The campaign includes relevant and easy-to-adopt lifestyle change suggestions for women to reduce their risk. This year, The Heart Truth™ fashion show featured Canadian Olympic figure skater Joannie Rochette, comedian Caroline Rhea, Olympic ski-cross racer Ashleigh McIvor, actresses Shelia McCarthy and Kathleen Robertson and many others for a day of fun, fashion and, most
importantly, awareness and education. The Heart Truth also has a website to help women learn about prevention and become Heart Truth leaders in their communities. Learn more at hearttruth.ca
The difference a gender makes Dr. Louise Pilote, associate professor of medicine and director of the division of general internal medicine at McGill University, is one of the foremost researchers in the field of women and heart disease. Dr. Pilote heads up a multi-provincial study known as GENESIS
involving researchers from Vancouver to Halifax. They are exploring key gender differences by pinpointing the precise genetic, behavioural, psychosocial, biological and environmental factors that play out in heart disease progression in women and men. The study also examines differences in available health services and quality of life. The knowledge gained from this study will improve accurate diagnosis of heart disease in women as well as prevent heart attacks in young adults. Learn more at heartandstroke.ca/research
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We hear about it and see it every day: our children are not as healthy as they should be and this is putting them at risk. Over the past 15 years, Canada has seen significant increases in obesity, high blood pressure and diabetes in younger patients. By working with communities, governments and families, we are sparking change and giving today’s children their best chance at the life they were meant to live.
WELLNESS FROM THE GROUND UP Our kids are not getting enough opportunities to lead active, healthy lives. Lack of sidewalks, poor access to healthy foods and barriers to sport and recreation activities can make healthy living a challenge for our children. We have made it a priority to address these threats to our younger population whose lives – both in years and quality – are at stake. 10
CHANGING THE FUTURE FOR A GENERATION
Only 50 per cent of Canadian children between the ages of five and 17 are getting the minimum number of daily servings of vegetables and fruit. More than half aren’t active enough to help them grow up healthy. In response, the Foundation is actively creating solutions to keep our kids healthy for years to come.
Healthy kids coast to coast
The shape of things to come
For years, the Foundation has been making children’s health a priority right across the country. Our provincial Foundations continue to advocate for a wide variety of initiatives including healthy eating classes, walk-toschool programs and active recreation development. Most provinces also offer HeartSmart Kids™ toolkits for teachers, a curriculum-based program offering teacher training, including supplementary materials for students.
Up until recently, very little research has been conducted in children and how their environment is related to healthy body weights over time. Dr. John Spence is determining how the built environment influences physical activity, weight and diet in 2,000 children in Edmonton. This could change the way in which we build our communities in the future, helping support the health of our children for generations to come.
A healthy community, a healthy child
From Jump kids to Jump adults – 28 years and getting stronger
With Canada’s high rates of obesity, it is more important than ever to build active, healthy communities. Wellmaintained parks and safe, efficient walking and cycling networks make it easier for Canadians to get the physical activity they need. The Foundation has developed a toolkit, Heart&Stroke Shaping Healthy Active Communities, to support individuals and organizations in their efforts to create healthy change.
In 1981, Davis Gerrie, school programs coordinator, was one of the first teachers in Thunder Bay to coordinate a Heart&Stroke Jump Rope for Heart™ event day. He knew it was a good cause, but he also saw it as a way to get his students excited about active, healthy living. Twentyeight years later, these students are returning to schools as teachers and running their own Jump events. This national program reaches more than 4,000 schools and 600,000 students each year while raising millions of dollars for research, health education and social change that benefit Canadians of every age. Get your school and child involved in Jump. Visit jumpropeforheart.ca
Read more at heartandstroke.ca/healthycommunities
Healthy food choices for all Heart&Stroke Health Check™ is one way the Foundation helps Canadians eat well. The program provides educational guidance to Canadians through the logo on grocery products and restaurant menu items, as well as healthy eating information. Health Check encourages Canadians to read package labels and to compare products when grocery shopping to make the healthiest choices, and to ask for nutritional information when dining out. Working actively with the food industry, Health Check has already helped to reduce sodium levels by 25 per cent to 70 per cent in some food categories. In just four years, 14 companies have removed 500,000 kilograms of salt from their products to meet the Health Check criteria – the equivalent of 20 dump trucks of salt driven from our food supply. The program and its nutritional criteria continue to evolve to help Canadians and their families make healthy food choices. Read more at healthcheck.org
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Sudden cardiac arrest can happen to people of any age – at any time. With immediate CPR and early defibrillation, the chance of a person surviving a sudden cardiac arrest is significantly increased. The Foundation has been playing a leadership role in resuscitation in Canada since the 1970s and continues to call on Canadians to learn how to save a life.
LIFE IS IN YOUR HANDS Up to 45,000 cardiac arrests occur each year, and less than five per cent of those who have a cardiac arrest outside of a hospital survive. The good news is that we know how to improve survival rates and we are taking action. The Heart and Stroke Foundation is working to increase the number of Canadians who survive cardiac arrest through education, awareness and funding. 12
CPR FOR ALL
Fifty years ago, researchers discovered the life-saving practice of cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR). Since then, the technique has changed based on new science to improve success rates. The Foundation has played a critical role by ensuring these changes are incorporated into national resuscitation awareness and training programs to stop cardiac arrest from taking its next life.
Restarting hearts and lives The Heart&Stroke Restart a Heart, Restart a Life™ program supports Canadian communities in improving their cardiac arrest survival rates. When CPR is used in combination with an automated external defibrillator (AED), survival rates increase by up to 75 per cent. The Restart program raises community awareness of the need to learn CPR and has a mandate to fund and advocate for the placement of more AEDs in public places and areas where cardiac arrests can and do occur.
From Canada to the world This past year, the Foundation’s CPR Anytime™ Kits contributed to an Olympic legacy in cardiac safety. The Foundation was pleased to support the cardiac safety of visitors to the Vancouver 2010 Olympics and Paralympic Winter Games by providing 10,000 kits to train 10,000 volunteers in the life-saving skills of CPR. The Heart&Stroke CPR Anytime™ for Family and Friends™ Kit is a self-directed program designed to teach the core skills of CPR in as little as 22 minutes. These easy-to-use kits are helping Canadians learn CPR in the comfort of their own home. The more Canadians who know CPR, the better the chances of helping more Canadians get a second chance at life.
More research – more time – for victims of cardiac arrest The Jump Start Resuscitation initiative aims to support the next generation of researchers who are interested in improving the quality of patient care and patient outcomes during cardiac arrest. The program supports a research scholarship, fellowship, doctoral award and masters studentships. It was created in partnership with the Heart and Stroke Foundation of Canada and Canadian Institutes of Health Research Institute of Circulatory and Respiratory Health. In 2009, the award recipient was Doug Andrusiek at the University of British Columbia. His study looks at the variations in Emergency Medical Services response times, differences in mortality associated with each minute passed, the effect of pre-hospital treatment on survival and the number of rescuers dispatched. This research will help develop more effective ways to respond to out-of-hospital cardiac arrest, including optimal timing and the number of rescuers needed to increase survival rates.
LEARN CPR IN THE COMFORT OF YOUR OWN HOME The Heart&Stroke CPR Anytime™ Family & Friends™ Kit allows anyone to learn the core skills of CPR for adults and children in just 22 minutes. Visit heartandstroke.ca/cpranytime to order your kit today.
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Putting their hearts into it Every year HSFC recognizes community champions, visionary researchers, committed volunteers and dedicated staff who play an important role in our fight against heart disease and stroke.
HSFC McDonald Scholar Awarded to HSFC’s highest-rated New Investigator Dr. Gavin Oudit (University of Alberta)
HSFC Distinguished Clinician Scientist Presented to the highest ranked clinician in our New Investigator competition in partnership with the CIHR Institute of Circulatory and Respiratory Health and AstraZeneca Canada Inc., this prestigious, high-impact award encourages excellence and fosters the best possible research among clinicians across health disciplines Dr. Gavin Oudit (University of Alberta)
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HSFC Barnett Scholar Awarded to a highly ranked HSFC New Investigator in stroke research Dr. Majid H. Mohajerani (University of British Columbia)
This is what happens when you put your heart into it. ™
HSFC Chair’s Award
HSFC Distinguished Service Award
HSFC Award of Merit
Recognizing the outstanding contribution to the Federation by a provincial Foundation or Federation office staff person
Recognizing an exceptional Heart and Stroke Foundation of Canada volunteer
Recognizing an exceptional contribution to the HSFC mission
Rhae Ann Bromley (Heart and Stroke Foundation of Saskatchewan)
Cleve Myers, CA (Charlottetown)
For her wealth of knowledge and communications expertise coupled with creativity and insight, which have been instrumental in informing and reaching strategic goals in areas of HSF mission priority.
Dr. Antoine Hakim, OC, MD, PhD, FRCPC (Ottawa)
For his leadership, service and unflagging energy in For his stellar commitment, contributions and leadership harnessing the potential and the passion of countless in helping guide the HSF Federation to the vibrant individuals across Canada to improve the health organization we are today. outcomes of stroke survivors.
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Working together to support tomorrow’s research leaders
The Heart and Stroke Foundation of Canada works with corporations to increase the number of research fellowships available to the next generation of researchers in Canada. These awards allow research fellows to train with renowned cardiovascular researchers. The work of these talented researchers leads us closer to finding the answers we need – for life. This year, support from industry partners resulted in two new fellowships to outstanding young researchers. HSFC gratefully acknowledges the support of the following companies:
The HSFC/AstraZeneca Research Fellowship
The HSFC/Pfizer Research Fellowship
Dr. Paul Y. Kim (Thrombosis and Atherosclerosis Research Institute and McMaster University. Supervisor: Dr. Jeffrey Weitz)
Dr. Krishna Singh (St. Michael’s Hospital. Supervisor: Dr. Subodh Verma)
Protein may hold key to dissolving blood clots faster Heart attacks and strokes occur when a blood clot forms in an artery. The clot blocks blood flow, preventing oxygen and nutrients from reaching these vital organs. The degree of damage depends on how quickly a clot can be dissolved and blood flow restored.
Most often, when you hear about BRCA1, it’s bad news. But this gene – which has been linked to cancer – may play a pivotal role in preventing heart disease and stroke.
In its non-mutated form, BRCA1 may provide the basis for a novel treatment for atherosclerosis, the build up of plaque (fatty substances) which causes blood vessels to That’s pretty clear. What isn’t so clear is what contributes narrow and is a leading cause of heart disease and stroke. to these clots forming in the first place and what makes If this is the case, then testing for BRCA1 could enable them more or less prone to dissolving quickly. That’s health care providers to intervene early in people who where Dr. Kim’s work investigating the role of a protein have low levels of this gene. Ultimately, Dr. Singh says, his called fibrinogen in forming and dissolving clots comes research could lead to the development of a novel therapy in. One form of the protein seems to make clots that are to induce higher levels of BRCA1, thus preventing or slower to form – and slower to dissolve. Dr. Kim wants to providing early treatment for atherosclerosis. find out why. This research could lead one day to the development of new interventions to help clots dissolve faster. The result? Reduced death and disability from heart attack and stroke.
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When good things happen to bad genes
SHARING THE HEART TRUTH
The Heart Truth is that leading cause of death for women in Canada is heart disease and stroke – but most don’t know it.
The Heart and Stroke Foundation’s The Heart Truth™ awareness campaign celebrated its third year educating Canadian women with lifesaving messages empowering them to protect their heart health. The heart truth is one in three women die of heart disease or stroke, but women can reduce their risk by as much as 80 per cent by making lifestyle changes and taking action to improve their health. Share the truth, visit thehearttruth.ca The Heart Truth campaign gratefully acknowledges the support of founding sponsor, Becel, and Year 3 contributing sponsors Ocean Spray, Pfizer, Rogers Consumer Publishing, Shoppers Drug Mart and the Providence Heart + Lung Institute at St. Paul’s Hospital in Vancouver without whom the program would not be possible.
We all have women we care about in our lives: mothers, partners, sisters and friends. By sharing the heart truth we can make sure they have the knowledge and resources they need to protect their heart health.
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Caring donors CORPORATE CHAMPIONS
Multi-year support The ongoing and generous support of these corporate partners reinforces their commitment to helping us create a healthier Canada.
The support of our corporate partners plays a critical role in our mission to help Canadians live longer, better lives. Their partnership helps to rally business and strengthen our efforts to activate communities. These pillars of the community are connecting companies and employees to our mission. Together, we are making Canada a better and healthier country for everyone.
†
COLLABORATION FOR A SMOKEFREE CANADA
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Since 2007, the Foundation and Pfizer Canada have been working in a unique collaboration with the University of Ottawa Heart Institute (UOHI) to prevent cardiovascular disease by helping smokers quit. With Pfizer’s generous commitment of $3 million, the Foundation is helping to expand the network of hospitals and primary care physicians implementing a successful smoking-cessation model established at the UOHI. Through this joint initiative, three Centres for Excellence in Smoking Cessation have been established and more than 70 hospitals have joined the network. By 2012, 30 new family healthcare teams will also be implementing the model.
Making a Difference Together
† Registered trademarks of Boston Pizza Royalties Limited Partnership, used under license.
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Annual giving Our heartfelt thanks to these caring and generous corporate partners, who are helping to create healthy change.
$1,000,000+
$10,000 – $49,999
Pfizer Canada Inc. Sanofi-aventis Canada Inc.
AGF Investments Inc. Allergan Inc. Astellas USA Foundation Bayer Inc. Bell Employee Giving Program BMO Employee Charitable Foundation Bristol-Myers Squibb Canada Campbell Company of Canada Canadian Imperial Bank of Commerce CIBC Children’s Foundation CN Employees’ and Pensioners’ Community Fund Fiera Foods Company Florida Department of Citrus Franklin Templeton Investments GoodLife Fitness Clubs Hanesbrands Inc. Heck Investments Ltd. Investors Group Financial Services Inc. John Deere Foundation of Canada Mackenzie Financial Medavie Blue Cross Medtronic of Canada Ltd. Merck Frosst Schering Pharmaceuticals Ontario Produce Marketing Association Post Foods Canada Corporation Raleigh Canada Ltd. RBC Foundation Reliance Home Comfort SSQ Financial Group Swarovski Canada Ltd.
$500,000 – $999,999 Transamerica Life Canada Unilever Canada Inc.
$100,000 – $499,999 AstraZeneca Canada Inc. Boehringer-Ingelheim Canada Ltd. Boston Pizza Foundation Canola Council of Canada The Cowan Foundation Federated Health Charities Corporation Fortinos Hamilton Beach Brands Canada, Inc. Johnson & Johnson Inc. Loblaws Company Ltd. Procter & Gamble Inc. TD Bank Financial Group
$50,000 – $99,999 Auto Control Medical Inc. BMO Financial Group The Fitness Depot NIMDAC Foundation Novartis Pharmaceuticals Canada Inc. OPG Employees’ and Pensioners’ Charity Trust Scotiabank Group Sun-Rype Products Ltd.
Talbots (Canada) Inc. United Way of the Alberta Capital Region United Way Toronto Wilson Dunn Promotions Ltd. Woodcliffe Corporation Wyeth Consumer Healthcare Inc.
CREATING CARDIAC-SAFE COMMUNITIES The Cowan Foundation invests in the health of communities. It was only natural then that The Cowan Foundation first supported the Heart and Stroke Foundation’s commitment to place automated external defibrillators (AEDs) across the country through the Foundation’s Heart&Stroke Restart a Heart, Restart a Life™ program and the Chase McEachern Tribute Fund. The Cowan Foundation acted as an early catalyst by providing $2 million to support the placement of AEDs in priority communities across Canada. With their continued commitment, the Heart and Stroke Foundation can work to ensure that life-saving AEDs are located where they are most needed.
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Caring donors VOLUNTEERS BREATHE LIFE INTO OUR MISSION More than 130,000 volunteers across Canada provide the energy, passion and heart that drive our mission. By doing so, they continue to make a difference in the lives of Canadians through their generous contributions of time, skill and commitment. Working in partnership with Foundation staff at the local, regional, provincial and national levels, our volunteers take on varied and multiple roles. They engage in overall strategic management and stewardship of our mission. They work tirelessly to fundraise, educate and attend events in communities from coast to coast to coast. Without these remarkable people, the Heart and Stroke Foundation could not do its work in creating healthy, sustainable communities.
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“ There have been a lot of advancements made in heart treatment thanks to the Heart and Stroke Foundation. Both my grandson Atli and I have benefited from the efforts of doctors and researchers to refine procedures for heart surgery and develop medications and treatments that extend the lives of patients of all ages,� says HSF volunteer Ray Johnson.
Spreading the word
A volunteer with heart.
Two hearts, one family
Once considered unavoidable and untreatable, stroke can now be largely prevented if risk factors are identified early. In some cases, a stroke can be treated so effectively that patients can walk away almost as if their stroke had never happened. Lee Cayer from Saskatchewan is proof of the power of the strategy in action. Her first signs of stroke were recognized, thanks to a Foundation stroke awareness campaign, and she received immediate emergency medical care. Today she’s back riding her horses and living a full life with her family. She is also an active volunteer spokesperson for the Foundation, sharing the story of her experience and helping others understand the need to know and react quickly to the signs of stroke.
Georgina Barbour, one of our most dedicated volunteers, has her own story about why she decided to help. Her father suffered two severe strokes over a period of six weeks. After witnessing firsthand the debilitating effects of a stroke, Georgina has become one the Foundation’s biggest supporters, frequently attending events to raise funds and awareness – motivating people to contribute to the cause or to make healthy lifestyle changes. Most notably, Georgina shared these messages during countless visits to communities during her current reign as Miss Teen Newfoundland and Labrador. She even wrote her own song, Matters of the Heart to share the pain of her personal experience while letting people know there is always hope.
Heart disease impacts people of all ages and spans across generations. Nobody knows that better than Manitoban Ray Johnson and his three-year-old grandson Atli. Ray was just 42 when had a heart attack. With medication, a controlled diet and daily exercise, he was able to keep his heart trouble at bay. But 20 years later he had emergency triple bypass surgery – coincidently at the same time as his daughter was giving birth in the same hospital. Ray’s surgery was successful but his newborn grandson Atli was diagnosed with chaotic atrial tachycardia (irregular heart beat). After three weeks in the NICU, baby Atli was sent home with medication to control his heart rate. Today, Ray and Atli are a healthy, active pair and Ray is very grateful to be able to spend time with his grandson, playing ball or going fishing. Ray has been a long time volunteer for the Foundation’s annual Door-to-Door campaign during Heart Month each February.
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The power of the individual, harnessed into real change Behind every dollar raised, every message sent and every program delivered by the Heart and Stroke Foundation, there is a committed donor or volunteer who has put their heart into our cause. In my travels across the country I’ve been inspired by the Foundation’s 130,000 volunteers who are making a real difference to the lives of others. They are our personal connection, the way we impact the lives of Canadians.
Officers Chair: Irfhan Rawji (Toronto, Ontario)
Thanks to their commitment, along with our dedicated staff and high-calibre researchers, we are making incredible “ The Foundation’s cause touches so many people – its ability to have an impact on Canada and progress and have much to be proud of. With nine out of 10 Canadians at risk for heart disease and stroke – along Canadians is enormous. A real strength of the with challenges posed by the obesity crisis and our aging population – this support continues to be critical to our Foundation is the 130,000 volunteers who are work and the health of all Canadians. out there in the field – they are the people who As a Canadian of South Asian descent, I am inspired by our work with populations who are at increased risk of raise the money, $20 at a time, and inform their heart disease and stroke such as South Asian, Chinese, and Aboriginal Canadians. Our culturally adapted heart communities, families and friends of our work.” health resources are translated into languages such as Tamil, Urdu, Cantonese and Farsi to help all Canadians reduce their risks and live healthier, happier lives. I am especially proud of the work we are doing to ensure our future generations overcome challenges due to unhealthy lifestyles. Childhood obesity is a growing epidemic, putting our kids at risk of developing high blood pressure, heart disease and type 2 diabetes. The Foundation works in communities across Canada to support local programs and awareness to make a real difference to the health of our children – for today and tomorrow. Looking back over the bustle of activity and accomplishments over the past year, I cannot help but be excited about what the next year holds in store! This is an exciting time for the Foundation and we look forward to working on achieving a healthier future with you. Yours in good health,
Irfhan Rawji Chair 22
Past chair: Robert L. Brooks (Toronto, Ontario)
“ The Heart and Stroke Foundation is a very professional non-profit, with very focused staff and volunteers. I like working in a business-like way for the social good.”
HSFC DIRECTORS AND OFFICERS
HSFC board of directors: (From left) Greg Hierlihy, Rod McKay, Dr. A. Elizabeth Ready, Irfhan Rawji, Sidney Kaushansky, Dr. Andrew Demchuk, Dr. Linda Waverley, Michael LeClair, Helen Flynn, Ronald Martineau, Dr. Michael P. Love, Dr. Roger S. McLeod, Dr. Nazeem Muhajarine, Dr. Doug Clement, Robert L. Brooks
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Directors Daniel Breen (St. John’s, Newfoundland)
Noreen Johns (Zelma, Saskatchewan)
Rod McKay (Calgary, Alberta)
“ We need to tackle the root causes and lifestyle factors that are associated with heart disease. We can help people avoid problems early by helping them change their lifestyle.”
“ Until you get involved with the Foundation, it’s hard to understand just how much work it does – in education, policy and research support.”
“ The passion of people with a common purpose who are interested in working to a solution is what I enjoy about working with the Foundation. I have visited major research institutes and seen the amazing work the Foundation supports. We live for the future.”
Replaced by Steve Tessier (St. John’s, Newfoundland) effective Oct. 2010 Dr. Doug Clement (Vancouver, British Columbia)
“ At age 65 I had a stroke and was lucky enough to recover fully. I bring a different perspective to the Foundation as a stroke survivor and sports medicine specialist. I have gone from helping individuals through my medical practice to helping change policies and behaviours on a bigger scale.”
Sidney Kaushansky (Montreal, Quebec)
“ The Heart and Stroke Foundation board gets out into the community to meet people and understand what make them tick, so we can meet the needs of all Canadians.” Michael LeClair (Toronto, Ontario)
Dr. Roger S. McLeod (Halifax, Nova Scotia)
“ One of my uncles died of heart disease at 41 – that is why I decided to focus my research on heart disease. Being an HSF researcher is my job but I volunteer because it’s the best organization I know.”
“ Our population is changing and we are starting to understand that heart disease and stroke affect Dr. Nazeem Muhajarine (Saskatoon, Saskatchewan) different groups differently. This is an important area of research for the Foundation – especially how “ The Heart and Stroke Foundation gave me my first Dr. Andrew Demchuk (Calgary, Alberta) to put that knowledge into practice.” major grant after I got my PhD. I’m glad to have a “ Volunteering with the Heart and Stroke Foundation chance to give back to the organization.” Dr. Michael P. Love (Halifax, Nova Scotia) was a natural choice for me. Stroke is a brutal Dr. A. Elizabeth Ready (Winnipeg, Manitoba) disease – the caregiver burden is enormous for “ Working with the Heart and Stroke Foundation families. There are few conditions where the burden gives me the potential to influence the health of “ A lot of women don’t see heart disease as their is so great.” Canadians. We need people to volunteer to achieve disease – and their access to care and treatment the Foundation’s mission. One person can make a is not always equitable. I have worked in women’s Helen Flynn (Charlottetown, Prince Edward Island) difference.” health for many years and I want to help make sure “ I have personally revived three people with CPR. their heart health needs are addressed.” Ronald Martineau (Laval, Quebec) I came to the Foundation to help advance the Dr. Linda Waverley (West Vancouver, British Columbia) training and use of CPR. It seemed to me that people “ The Heart and Stroke Foundation is in business to did not have to die outside of hospitals.” get results and accomplish a mission. We always “ I really like that members of the public are remember that we are working with people and for involved in our peer research reviews. They Greg Hierlihy (Quispamsis, New Brunswick) people. Two of my good friends had heart attacks give us a different perspective on research. “ Part of why I stay involved with the Foundation is and it made me realize how your life can change in Working with the Foundation enriches your life, because my father died suddenly of heart disease a an instant.” professionally and personally – I’m so honoured few years ago. I want to help other families learn to be part of this family.” how to prevent it.”
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Heart and Stroke Foundation of Canada - Combined Operations Unaudited Schedule of Combined Operations For the year ended August 31, 2010 (in thousands of dollars) Revenues Fundraising Campaign Bequests In memoriam Fundraising revenue Lottery
Government sponsored projects and grants Health CheckTM Other Investment income Total revenues Expenditures Direct Costs Fundraising Lottery Net revenues before operating and mission expenditures Operating expenditures General Fundraising Administration Net revenues before mission expenditures Mission expenditures Research Health promotion and community programs
Excess of expenditures over revenues for the year
2010 $
2009 $
82,712 25,519 8,678 116,909 44,762 161,671
82,607 25,064 9,346 117,017 46,215 163,232
8,387
10,481
3,685 7,708 5,497 186,948
3,567 6,411 5,352 189,043
25,214 31,907 57,121 129,827
23,509 35,823 59,332 129,711
24,178 8,634 32,812 97,015
23,368 7,986 31,354 98,357
59,942 46,247 106,189
66,096 53,766 119,862
(9,174)
(21,505)
Financial Highlights
The economic climate in 2010 began to stabilize after a very challenging 2009 for the Canadian and world economies. During this time, Canadians continued to show strong support and belief in the Heart and Stroke Foundation of Canada’s mission and direction, indicating that we have chosen the right course. Despite the continued uncertain economic climate, revenues held up well, falling by only 1.1% or $2.1 million below the prior year. In the previous two fiscal years, the Heart and Stroke Foundation of Canada and its provincial affiliates had supported mission expenditures at record levels by drawing on resources accumulated in previous years. The economic environment and the reduction in those accumulated resources resulted in adjustments in expenditures for 2010. The Heart and Stroke Foundation of Canada and its provincial affiliates continue to carefully manage their resources and, notwithstanding these issues, were able to invest over $106 million in research and health promotion and community programs.
The amounts reflected on this schedule have been extracted from the audited financial statements of the Heart and Stroke Foundation of Canada and the 10 provincial Heart and Stroke Foundations. The accompanying notes are an integral part of this schedule. HEART AND STROKE FOUNDATION OF CANADA
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Notes to Unaudited Schedule of Combined Operations For the year ended August 31, 2010
1 Organization and mission
2 Significant accounting policies
The Heart and Stroke Foundation of Canada (the “Foundation”), a registered charity exempt from income taxes, is incorporated without share capital under Part II of the Canada Corporations Act. The Heart and Stroke Foundation of Canada is part of a federation of the following 10 provincial Heart and Stroke Foundations (the “Provincial Foundations”):
Basis of presentation
Heart and Stroke Foundation of Alberta, NWT and Nunavut Heart and Stroke Foundation of B.C. & Yukon Heart and Stroke Foundation of Manitoba Inc. Heart and Stroke Foundation of New Brunswick Heart and Stroke Foundation of Newfoundland and Labrador Heart and Stroke Foundation of Nova Scotia Heart and Stroke Foundation of Ontario Heart and Stroke Foundation of Prince Edward Island Inc. Heart and Stroke Foundation of Quebec Heart and Stroke Foundation of Saskatchewan Inc.
Basis of combination
The Foundation and each of the Provincial Foundations are separate legal entities with their own management and board of directors, as set out in a federation agreement.
The schedule of combined operations has been prepared in accordance with the significant accounting policies set out below. The schedule has not been and was not intended to be prepared in accordance with Canadian Generally Accepted Accounting Principles.
The schedule of combined operations includes revenues and expenditures of the Foundation and the Provincial Foundations, as extracted from their audited financial statements for the year ended August 31, 2010. Revenues and expenditures between the Foundation and Provincial Foundations have been eliminated. Certain amounts contained in the Provincial Foundations’ statements of operations have been reclassified to conform to the presentation in this schedule of combined operations. As well, certain comparative figures have been reclassified to conform with the financial statement presentation adopted in the current year. Audited financial statements for the Foundation and Provincial Foundations are available upon request.
The mission of the Foundation, a volunteer-based health charity, is to lead in eliminating heart disease and stroke and reduce their impact through the advancement of research and its application, the promotion of healthy living and advocacy.
The Heart and Stroke Foundation of Canada is a member of Imagine Canada. The Imagine Canada code sets the standards for charitable organizations in managing and reporting their financial affairs. As a member, the Heart and Stroke Foundation of Canada must follow Imagine Canada’s ethical and environmentally responsible guidelines as outlined at heartandstroke.ca.
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Who we are The Heart and Stroke Foundation of Canada is a federation of 10 provincial Foundations with a Federation office in Ottawa, led and supported by more than 130,000 volunteers. In 2010 the Foundation invested over $106 million in research, health promotion and community programs.
™ The Heart and Stroke Foundation Logo; Health Check name, logo and design and The Heart Truth, the Red Dress design, pin, name and Share the Truth tagline are trademarks of the Heart and Stroke Foundation of Canada. All other sponsor logos are used with their permission to acknowledge their generous support. This is not an endorsement.
Heart and Stroke Foundation of Canada 222 Queen St., Suite 1402, Ottawa, ON K1P 5V9 Tel: 613.569.4361 | Fax: 613.569.3278 For the local Heart and Stroke Foundation office serving your community, visit www.heartandstroke.ca
Volunteer The gift of time can be the most precious gift of all. Join the Foundation in helping your family, friends and neighbours live longer, better lives. To find out how you can get involved, call your local community office or visit heartandstroke.ca/volunteer
Our mission is for life The Heart and Stroke Foundation, a volunteer-based health charity, leads in eliminating heart disease and stroke and reducing their impact through the advancement of research and its application, the promotion of healthy living and advocacy.
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