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May 25, 2010: The Second Annual Sheela Basrur Symposium - “Food, Fads, Facts and Fiction... how safe is our food?"
Current debates around eating locally, the benefits of eating organic foods, individual rights to sell unpasteurized milk and the recent outbreaks of foodborne illness are issues that have garnered the attention of media, politicians and public health professionals. Amidst all of the debates, what are the latest research findings and scientific knowledge in this area?
The Second Annual Sheela Basrur Symposium entitled, “Food, Fads, Facts and Fiction... How Safe Is Our Food?”, stimulated discussion and debate on the topic of food safety by exploring the current state of our food system from a variety of perspectives, including public health, political, environmental, economic and social. Food experts from a range of disciplines discussed the topics of food safety, the benefits and risks of eating organic versus conventional foods and the arguments behind the growing local food movement.
Click here to view pictures from the symposium.
To view the presentations click on the panels below:
- Session1: Food Safety
- Session 2: Systems Thinking
May 21, 2009: Inaugural Sheela Basrur Centre Symposium
The H1N1 Flu Outbreak presented a number of challenges and opportunities for public health officials, including coordination and communications within public health and with the public. The symposium provided an opportunity for dialogue and discussion with OAHPP scientific and medical experts, journalists and health educators.
To view the presentations click on the session below:
To view the webcasts click on the session below:
April 23, 2009: Celebrating the Opening of the Sheela Basrur Centre
On April 23, 2009 the Ontario Agency for Health Protection and Promotion (OAHPP) hosted the official opening of the Sheela Basrur Centre and its headquarters. Attending the celebration were the Honourable David Caplan, Minister of Health and Long-Term Care, the Honourable Margarett Best, Minister of Health Promotion and more than 100 family members, friends, colleagues, board members and staff.
“Like Sheela, this is a multi-tasking space,” said Dr. Vivek Goel in his welcoming remarks. “It can function as a presentation space, an educational space, a boardroom and an emergency command centre. It has been designed so that it will memorialize Sheela’s work and accomplishments but never sit still for long!”
He explained that the Centre is much more than physical space. The Centre will be the outreach arm of the OAHPP. With generous support from multiple organizations and sponsors, it will offer a range of educational events for health professionals and the public.
A highlight of the afternoon was the unveiling of Dr. Basrur’s portrait, painted by Gerda Neubacher and donated to the OAHPP by the International Women’s Forum. The portrait is displayed in the agency’s reception area, along with artifacts and awards that Dr. Basrur received in recognition of her life-long commitment to public health excellence.
- Click here to view the webcast of the event.
- Click here to view pictures from the portrait unveiling and centre dedication.
November 27, 2008: Sheela Basrur Centre Fundraising Event
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| Close to 300 friends, colleagues and sponsors gathered at The Carlu on November 27 for a reception and launch of the Sheela Basrur Centre Outreach Program – a program designed to invigorate the renewal of public health in Ontario.
Attending the event were Dr. Basrur’s family members including her daughter Simone and her parents Pari and Vasanth Basrur. Master of Ceremonies was CBC’s Queen’s Park reporter, John McGrath and musical entertainment was provided by Alex Goodman.
OAHPP President and CEO Vivek Goel welcomed guests and provided highlights of the Outreach Program, which will integrate learning and training opportunities for public health professionals, connecting participants with the broader health system and cutting-edge expertise. The program will disseminate practical tools to support public health workers in detecting and mitigating threats, promoting good health and preventing injury.
The Honourable George Smitherman, then the Ontario Minister of Health and Long-Term Care, brought greetings from the province and Carol Timmings, a member of the Sheela Basrur Centre Steering Committee and President of the Ontario Public Health Association, expressed her support for this important new initiative and the benefits it will bring to front-line public health professionals across the province.
Making the Sheela Basrur Centre Outreach Program possible means having sponsors, partners and donors to ensure that Dr. Basrur’s legacy lives on. |
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| Vivek Goel and the Founding Partners of the Sheela Basrur Centre Outreach Program: Left to right. Ronnie Miller, President and CEO of Hoffman-LaRoche; Vivek Goel, the Chair of the Centre's Steering Committee and President and CEO of the Ontario Agency for Health Protection and Promotion; Dr. Luis Barreto, Vice President of Public, Scientific and Medical Affairs, Sanofi Pasteur Ltd.; and, Virginia Cirocco, Executive Vice President of Shoppers Drug Mart. |
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Bringing greetings on behalf of the Outreach Program Founding Partners were:
- Ronnie Miller, President and CEO of Hoffman-La Roche
- Dr. Luis Barreto, Vice President, Public, Scientific and Medical Affairs, Sanofi Pasteur Ltd.
- Virginia Cirocco, Executive Vice President, Shoppers Drug Mart
Special thanks to our Celebration and Tribute sponsors as well as the many donors and ticket purchasers who made the evening a success, raising more than $400,000 in support of the Sheela Basrur Centre.
October 17, 2008: A Public Celebration in Honour of Dr. Basrur
On October 17, family members, friends, colleagues and members of the public participated in a public celebration of Dr. Sheela Basrur’s life. The celebration, which was at Convocation Hall at the University of Toronto, included tributes by the The Honourable Tony Clement, Federal Minister of Health; the Honourable Dalton McGuinty, Premier of Ontario; His Worship David Miller, Mayor of the City of Toronto; Brenda Canitz, a Basrur family representative; Dr. Vivek Goel, President, Ontario Agency for Health Protection and Promotion; Dr. Penny Sutcliffe, Medical Officer of Health as well as video tributes from friends and colleagues. Thank you to all who participated, making this a fitting tribute to Dr. Basrur’s legacy.
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