Parent Education Day

Learn About Epilepsy and Seizures

In conjunction with the Division of Neurology at BC Children's Hospital, the BC Epilepsy Society is hosting a day of educational workshops about the medical and lifestyle issues affecting children and teens living with epilepsy. Parent Education Day will bring families and health professionals together to increase understanding about the medical aspects of epilepsy and to provide parents with information on community supports and advocacy strategies.

This event is on Saturday, May 23rd from 9:00am-5:00pm at the Chan Auditorium in the Child and Family Research Institute at the Children's and Women's Health Centre of BC, 4480 Oak Street, Vancouver, BC.

Speakers include neurologists, nurses, psychologists, social workers, school personnel, as well as individuals and parents affected by epilepsy.

Registration is $20 per individual or $30 per couple and includes lunch and refreshments. Pre-registration and advance payment are required for this event. The deadline for registration is May 15, 2009.

Click here for the Parent Education Day registration form and information package.

Workshops and speakers include:

Epilepsy and Seizures 101
Dr. Linda Huh, Pediatric Neurologist

Optimal Treatments for Epilepsy
Dr. Mary Connolly, Pediatric Neurologist

Developing Brains: from Learning to Life Choices
Dr. Bill Hamilton, Neuropsychologist

Concurrent Panel Sessions
Session #1: School and Parent Partnerships
Session #2: Transition to Adult Services

Genetics and Epilepsy
Dr. Michelle Demos, Pediatric Neurologist

The Impacts of Epilepsy on the Family
Dr. Kevin Farrell, Pediatric Neurologist

For more information, contact the BC Epilepsy Society at 604-875-6704 or the Division of Neurology at Children's Hospital at 604-875-2345 local 6018.

Medical Partnerships

Increasing Understanding of Epilepsy
The BC Epilepsy Society is working with the University of British Columbia (UBC) Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences Departments to give their students a broader picture of how epilepsy affects an individual and their families.

We’ve taken the initiative to plan and orchestrate a workshop for UBC Health Sciences students as part of the UBC Community Education program. Students in family medicine, nursing, and pharmaceutical sciences attended a three hour workshop put on by the BC Epilepsy Society. Volunteer speakers, as "community teachers", spoke about the impact of epilepsy on their lives as adults, partners, and parents dealing with seizures. The professors and students were impressed and appreciative, and left with a greater understanding of the scope of epilepsy.

Many of us struggle to communicate our experiences to our healthcare providers. By providing our future doctors, nurses, and other healthcare professionals with a greater understanding of living with a chronic medical condition, we can help educate one another.

For more information about this initiative, contact Kathryn Sykes, Community Development Coordinator of the BC Epilepsy Society, at 604-875-6704 or at info@bcepilepsy.com

Stay Informed

Upcoming Events and Important Dates
March 23rd: BC Epilepsy Society Annual General Meeting and Research Update
Held at 6:30 pm in the Chan Auditorium at BC Children's Hospital. After a brief business portion of the meeting that includes election of Board members, acceptance of the audit, appointment of auditors, and a motion regarding a new set of Society bylaws, we will have presentations from our two currently funded researchers, Dr. Jun Liu and Mr. Kirk Mulatz, with updates on their work to date.

April 6th: Easter Seals Camp Applications Available
Registration for the Easter Seals Camps are taken on a first-come, first-served basis. Apply early as many camp locations and dates fill up by the end of April. For camp schedules and application information, go to: www.eastersealscamps.ca

April 30th: BC Epilepsy Society Scholarship Application Deadline
$1000 grants will be awarded to individuals living with epilepsy who are entering or continuing a post-secondary education program. In order to be eligible, all documentation and supporting letters must be received by April 30th.

May 23rd: Parent Education Day
A day of educational workshops about epilepsy and seizures held in conjunction with the Neurology Division of BC Children's Hospital. Click here for a program schedule and registration form.

May 31st: Cindy's Fundraiser Walk for Epilepsy
A five kilometer walk though the historic, residential streets of Shaughnessy and Kerrisdale in Vancouver. This event is held in conjunction with the Shaughnessy 8K Road Race, which is part of the Vancouver Sun Run series. Stay tuned for more information!

June 1st: Zajac Ranch Application Deadline
Contact the BC Epilepsy Society to apply for a subsidy to this camp that provides a week for kids with epilepsy in a medically supervised, accessible setting.

August 17th: 50th anniversary of the BC Epilepsy Society
2009 marks the 50th anniversary of the BC Epilepsy Society. Since the incorporation of the Society in August of 1959, we have grown to provide a diverse and extensive range of programs and services, in meeting our mandate to empower, educate, and support British Columbians living with epilepsy.