In my everyday life I admit that I scroll between LinkedIn and Instagram throughout the day. At night, sometimes I even find myself doom scrolling (something I am working to reverse). I do have Snapchat downloaded but only for the sake of stalking Andie and Jamie and their locations.
As a young driver, I look to see that Jamie has arrived safely at practice and also when she has left school on her spare to get a coffee or visit a friend’s house. I can tell when Andie is leaving the “plex” after her morning practices at Bishops and heading to class or back to her apartment. Seeing their bitmojis on the move, or safely at home, gives me a sense of calm. I didn’t realize how much those little icons meant to me, until this weekend when the three of us went for a walk and I opened the app to see all three of us in one location. It made me realize how rare it is to have us all together now, a bittersweet sentiment to remind me to enjoy the moments.
I hope many of you had the opportunity to spend time with your loved ones over the Thanksgiving weekend. We had a feast at my mom’s, walked it off while inhaling the fall colors, shopped for a prom dress, watched playoff baseball, along with world events unfolding, and caught up on some much needed sleep.
Prior to the long weekend I had an opportunity to speak at the DisruptHR event at the Rogers Centre. The DisruptHR Employer Summit is a dynamic gathering of leaders, innovators, and changemakers exploring the future of work. I wasn’t an actual speaker but rather had the opportunity to thank this unique event for raising funds for the Heart Institute as JUMP IN™ for Women’s Heart Health wrapped up. As I was leaving, I was overwhelmed by how many attendees had also been patients of the Institute and I am always taken aback by their stories of survival and gratitude. I will be honest; it turned out to be a great place to collect story ideas for future articles and campaigns.
Photo credit: Mark Holloran for OBJ.
Speaking of JUMP IN™…
We have finalized the numbers, counted the minutes and officially wrapped this year’s edition of JUMP IN™ for Women’s Heart Health. This community truly understood the assignment, creating a social movement online and in our communities around heart disease. Thanks to you, we raised $324,400 for the Canadian Women’s Heart Health Centre. Thank you to our participants, sponsors, partners, and donors for making this a very special year. Whether you moved, donated, or cheered from the sidelines —thank you for being part of this life-changing journey. Thanks to your incredible support, the campaign raised thousands of dollars for the University of Ottawa Heart Institute Foundation, directly funding research, education, and advocacy for women’s heart health.
A special shout-out goes to our top fundraisers who inspired us all. We are in awe of our top teams: Team JK, Olga’s Rockstars, and CityBuildHers, and our top individuals: Jennifer Khurana, Billie Mendel, and Catherine Mensour. Your leadership made a tremendous difference! Please continue to follow the journey of Billie and Zac, whose inspiring fundraising initiative, From Heart to Finish, will continue to raise funds and awareness long after the JUMP IN™ season has passed.
We look forward to a full recap of every event that has happened, but please check out the website for all the upcoming opportunities associated with JUMP IN™. There are still plenty more perks and prizing to go this month with the wrap up party slated for September 30th at Altea Ottawa.
Every now and then, when walking through the halls of the Institute you get a sense that something big is going on-there is a buzz that differs from other days. Last month we hosted the 7th North American Aortic Valve Repair Symposium Masterclass, bringing together leading cardiovascular surgeons, cardiologists, anesthesiologists, and fellows from across the continent. This immersive two-day summit, supported by the Foundation, fostered collaboration, innovation, and education—reinforcing the Heart Institute’s role as a global leader in cardiac care and surgical excellence.
What’s coming up next? Currently out in the marketplace is our latest campaign around our Adult Congenital Heart Disease. The letter was meant to arrive in your mailboxes last week, but the postal strike put an end to that- Instead we have moved the campaign online and I wanted to share it here instead. Click here to learn more.
Members of the Adult Congenital Heart Disease team.
We are now heading into “gala season”, and Costco Christmas season. I refuse to give into the pumpkin spice flavoured coffees, candles and décor, but only because it’s not my favourite flavour- I do still embrace the season.
At the Foundation, we’re especially thankful for you—our supporters, volunteers, and partners—who continue to make our mission possible. Your generosity and spirit fuel everything we do, and we’re deeply grateful for the impact we’ve made together.
With Love,
Lianne
Picture Your Legacy
We’re proud to partner with Will Power once again, to shine a light on the incredible impact of legacy giving.
This year, they’re putting a playful spin on their national campaign: get your very own oil portrait – free, just for fun. PICTURE YOUR LEGACY.
Because here’s the thing, it’s not just the rich and famous who get to make their mark on this world. Anyone can. It’s not about the size of the gift. It’s about the magnitude of the impact every gift makes.
That’s what the Will Power campaign is all about – a national movement helping Canadians use their Wills for good.
