Lanny Thomas’ positivity and drive shine through within minutes of meeting him — it’s no surprise he was the top fundraiser taking part in Pedaling for Parkinson’s in 2020. We caught up with Lanny recently as he continues to train for this year’s 40-kilometre fundraising ride in beautiful Prince Edward County. Lanny was diagnosed in … Read more
Exercise plays a key role in managing Parkinson’s, and there is growing evidence that cycling plays a specific role in better health outcomes. Randy Brotman, a credentialed PWR!Moves instructor and the owner of PERC Training, has been a certified Parkinson’s Cycling Coach through the American Council on Exercise and approved and recognized by CanFitPro since … Read more
By Krista Lamb As the director of the Pacific Parkinson’s Research Centre at the University of British Columbia, Dr. Martin McKeown is investigating new treatments and interventions to help people with Parkinson’s and related disorders. With a background in engineering, much of his work looks at how to use technologies in this research, including through … Read more
Online Art Exhibit – Save the Date! As part of our Summer of Living Well initiative, we are excited to announce the Parkinson Canada Online Art Exhibit, featuring art by people living with Parkinson’s and their caregivers. Visual art is a wonderful way to connect with your creativity and is proven to contribute to wellness … Read more
Leah Paukstaitis and Claire Dreidger have a lot in common. They’ve been friends for many years, are both first year college students, and enjoy an active lifestyle. In 2018, after years of enjoying each other’s company, they found new common ground. Leah’s father was diagnosed with Parkinson’s that year, while Claire’s father has been living … Read more
Blake Bell was diagnosed with Parkinson’s at the age of 49. He recalls that his neurologist took three minutes to examine him and delivered the words that rocked his world: “I’m sorry to say, you have Parkinson’s.” “After the shock of the diagnosis, I went into denial,” Blake says. “I hid from the disease, trying … Read more
Sadia Bacchus and her husband Manzil have been married for 43 years, meeting shortly after his migration from Guyana to Canada. On that 43-year journey, they have raised a growing family together and have celebrated many joys while overcoming challenges. Adjusting to Manzil’s 2008 diagnosis of Parkinson’s was one such challenge. This past fall, preparing … Read more
More than 20 years after the discovery of the parkin gene, linked to young onset Parkinson’s disease, researchers at the Ottawa Hospital and the University of Ottawa may have figured out how the gene protects the brain. The study was led by the Schlossmacher team at the Ottawa Hospital Research Institute. Dr. Michael Schlossmacher, neurologist, … Read more