Growing up, and until the age of 30, it was just my younger brother Russell and me. Then, in the summer of 2005, our family dynamic expanded when Jack entered our lives, married our mom and introduced us to the concept of a “stepfamily”.
This weekend, 19 of us celebrated Jack’s 80th birthday at Mont Tremblant. It was the first time all the “kids” and “grandkids” were in one place, together, from the eldest grandchild at 22 to the youngest at 3.
Since both Tony and I had lost our dads in the year leading up to our wedding, Jack “aka” Zaddy has been the only grandfather figure in our children’s lives. It was so special to be able to celebrate him this weekend and for him to understand the impact he has had on all our lives.
Working at the Foundation has really opened my eyes to what matters most. When you spend your days focused on health and quality of life, you start to see how much people aren’t just chasing milestone birthdays – they’re chasing more time. More time to feel good, to stay connected, and to be with the people who make life feel full.
This weekend, that hit me in a real way. I was reminded that the “quality of life” we talk about isn’t some big abstract idea. It’s the everyday moments of feeling healthy, present, and surrounded by love. It’s the hope that we all get more of those moments, for ourselves and for the people we care about.
Speaking of milestones, we are now officially into the 50th anniversary of the Ottawa Heart Institute. Established in 1976, the Institute celebrates five decades of groundbreaking innovation, compassionate care, and transformative leadership in advancing cardiac health for our community and beyond. Events will be ongoing throughout the year and we will keep you up to date.
We have added the 50th anniversary to our “February Is Heart Month” logos. The commercials are ready as are the billboards and posters. The requests are going out for our “Light the Capital Red” initiative. It is a whirlwind of activity behind the scenes here at the office. We are getting updates on new events, fundraisers and opportunities. Joel Haslam will continue to bring you some inspiring patient stories – focused on prevention and screening. Please over the next few weeks take some time to look through the website and get involved.
As part of Heart Month, join us for the Red Light Run hosted by the Ottawa City Run Club, Ottawa Free Fitness and Hull Sunday Run Day at Beyond the Pale. The 5km run takes place on Tuesday, February 3 at 7:30 pm. Registered participants will receive a complimentary to go can of beer and be entered into a draw to win Kahtoola Spikes or a Heart Month sweater. Please bring your red lights.
While we navigate the planning around Heart Month, we are also juggling sponsorships and registration for both our Pickleball tournament and our Golf Tournament. As I have mentioned in previous communications, we are doubling the size of our pickleball event at the EY Center. If you are interested in getting involved as either a participant or sponsor, please contact: specialevents@ottawaheart.ca
While the Institute was slightly quieter between Christmas and New Year’s, I was still able to catch some great news pieces up on our screens. I wanted to share a few of them with you here.
Last week, we were excited to welcome Grain Farmers of Ontario – District 13. It was great to connect with members from Prince Edward, Lennox, Addington, Frontenac, Lanark, Leeds, Grenville, Renfrew, and Ottawa. We’re so thankful for their incredible support and commitment to advancing heart health not only in our community but also in surrounding areas.
My goal this year is to get back to daily meditation and less scrolling on my phone. It’s a silent killer. Wishing everyone a wonderful start to 2026, with new goals and a healthy mindset.
Much love,
Lianne
Lianne
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