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Why
was the Back to School kit first developed?
School provides today's youth with the knowledge to prepare for the world's
future obstacles. It is the heart of some of the most important learning
that a person will ever be exposed to. For a child diagnosed with cancer,
however, the challenges transform into hurdles.
What is the Back
to School kit?
The Childhood Cancer Foundation ~ Candlelighters Canada developed the
Back to School kit to help children with cancer ease their way back into
the school environment. The Royal Bank and Imperial Oil Charitable
Foundations sponsored the kit, which is available locally. It aims to provide education,
sensitization, comfort and guidance to the child or teen with cancer, and
aid their classmates, teacher, siblings and parents to understand the
experiences of the returning child.
In addition, all
resources found in the kits can be purchased online through the Resource
Catalogue and Store, click here to
enter the store.
How does the
program work?
To appropriately address the maturity and education of the cancer patient
and his or her classmates, the Back to School kit contains four age
groupings; 5-7, 8-10, 11-13 and 14+. Classrooms are entitled to keep the
Back to school case for one month. Each portable carrying case comes
equipped with books, videos and interactive games that explain childhood
cancer, its affects and how others can help the patient.
Where are the
kits?
The kits are being housed at local distribution points across Canada
where oncology nurses, social workers and/or community liaisons will
distribute the supplies to schools within their area. In addition, many
of these representatives will speak to the class and teachers to
introduce the resources and help facilitate discussion within the
classroom.
How can I order a
Back to School kit?
These are the local distributors we have available at present. We are negotiating with contacts
in other areas to come on board and will add them to this list as they
become available. Please
find the contact information for your local distributor listed below:
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Calgary,
Alberta
Kids
Cancer Care Alberta
Jill Gerke
(403) 216-9210 ext 3
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Manitoba
Children's
Medical Classroom
Children's
Hospital
Joyce Wright
(204) 787-2799
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Fredericton,
New Brunswick
(and surrounding areas)
Child
Life Department ~ Dr. Everett Chalmers Regional Hospital
Steven Fletcher
(506) 452-5370
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Newfoundland
Pediatric Hematology & Oncology
Janeway
Child Health Centre
Gale Roberts
(709) 777-4668
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Halifax,
Nova Scotia
Oncology & Hematology ~ IWK Health Centre
Lyn Frankton
(902) 470-7784
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Northwest
Territories
Early Childhood & School Services
Elaine Stewart
(867) 873-7676
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Kingston,
Ontario
(covering
Brockville to Cobourg)
Pediatric
Oncology Services
Kingston
General Hospital
Patty Jansen
(613) 549-6666 ext 3832
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Mississauga,
Ontario
Peel District School Board
Social
Work Department
Dana Riddell
(905) 890-1010 ext 2316
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Simcoe
County, Ontario
Candlelighters' Ontario Provincial Director
Barbara Johnson
(705) 737-4296
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All
other areas of Ontario
Ontario School Counsellors' Association
Rosalind Mielke
(705) 292-6723
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Saskatchewan
Stewart
Resources Centre
Saskatchewan
Teacher's Federation
Joan Elliott
(306)-373-1660
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British
Columbia, PEI and Quebec
Under
negotiation
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What if there is
no distributor in my area (or I have more questions)?
For more information on the Back to School kits and/or to get involved as
a distributor, please contact the national office at (416)-489-6440 or toll-free:
1-800-363-1062
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