PhotoSensitive’s Cancer Connections Photography Exhibition Launches a Two-Year Nationwide Tour in Partnership with the Canadian Cancer Society and Sponsored by Chase Canada
20 May 2008
TORONTO – Three-year old Alaya takes a break from her leukemia treatments by playing with her seven-year old brother and bone marrow donor Jayke. Twins Gladys and Lalie celebrate their 90th birthday and being cancer free since their diagnosis of breast cancer 17 years ago. Holding his father’s firefighter helmet close to his heart, Simon remembers his dad. Faced with cancer from the age of nine, Matthew proudly graduates from college this year.These are just a few of the hundreds of images and stories being unveiled today at the national launch and opening of Cancer Connections – a travelling photo exhibition of black and white images showcasing the broad range of how cancer affects the lives of countless Canadians.
The national launch, being held today, at Nathan Philips Square features speakers:
– Sharon Hampson from ‘Sharon, Lois & Bram’ will emcee the event. Sharon is a two-time cancer survivor, a ‘Cancer Connections’ photo subject and a member of the Order of Canada,
– His Worship Mayor David Miller,
– Andrew Stawicki, award-winning photographer and co-founder of PhotoSensitive,
– Peter Goodhand, CEO, Canadian Cancer Society, Ontario Division, and
– Rob Paterson, president, Chase Card Services Canada
Demonstrating how we are all connected and that “a picture tells a thousand words,” performance troupe Anti-Gravity will feature an original choreographed performance developed especially for Cancer Connections. This troupe incorporates acrobatic and dance skills from many physical disciplines, merging athletics and aesthetics into its own art form.
PhotoSensitive, a non-profit, national collective of photographers determined to explore how photography can contribute to dialogue and impact on important issues of the day, has partnered with the Canadian Cancer Society to bring the Cancer Connections exhibition to major centers in each province through to 2010, including Vancouver, Calgary, Regina, Winnipeg, Montreal, St. John, Halifax, Charlottetown, St. John’s, Toronto and Ottawa.
PhotoSensitive is a non-profit, national collective of photographers that harnesses the power of the camera to contribute to dialogue and impact on important issues of the day. For the past 18 years, the sum of these visions has provided compelling social comments on issues such as AIDS, child poverty, hospital care, health, racism, injustice, literacy among First Nations peoples, and the aftermath of the tsunami disaster, to name a few. Cancer Connections is its most ambitious project to date. Utilizing photographers across Canada to photograph issues that impact the well-being of Canadians, PhotoSensitive uses the camera to tell a story, spur viewers to action and change the world, one photo at a time.
Chase Canada
Since 1965, JPMorgan Chase has provided Corporate and Investment Banking products and services to the Canadian market under the JPMorgan brand. In 2005, the company expanded and became the credit card issuer of the Sears MasterCard and Sears Card in Canada. Now, the company also offers the Marriott Rewards Platinum Visa Card and the Chase Gold MasterCard under the Chase brand. JPMorgan Chase employs more than 1,600 Canadians in its offices in Surrey, B.C., Toronto and Ottawa, Ontario.
Chase Card Services, the event’s presenting sponsor, is the credit card division of JPMorgan Chase & Company. Chase Card Services is the second largest issuer of Visa and MasterCard globally.
The inaugural Cancer Connections exhibition in Toronto features 300 images by professional and amateur photographers and will grow to 1,000 images for its grand finale in the nation’s capital in 2010. The inaugural exhibition runs from May 20, 2008 through June 9, 2008 in Toronto. A virtual exhibition will run concurrently on the Cancer Connections website (www.photosensitive.com) and also will be permanently captured in a book and DVD.
Canadians are invited to submit their photos. Details are available on www.photosensitive.com.
“The vision of PhotoSensitive and the purpose of Cancer Connections is to invite Canadians to tell their story of living with cancer, in their own words, through the power of black and white photography,” says Andrew Stawicki, co-founder of PhotoSensitive. “This sharing will be a catalyst for engaging and connecting the nation in conversations about cancer.”
So many people in Canada, and the world for that matter, live every day with cancer whether as a patient, a survivor, a medical professional, a caregiver or a loving, supportive family member or friend.
“With two in five Canadians facing a diagnosis of cancer in their lifetimes, Cancer Connections’ powerful images will help connect Canadians and spark conversations,” says Dr. Barbara Whylie, CEO, Canadian Cancer Society. “This exhibit provides a unique, accessible way to bring people, communities and the nation together.”
“These photos reveal what’s at the heart of dealing with cancer – it’s very real and very personal. No two stories are the same. While many people may hear the words ‘you’ve got cancer’, each person’s life is affected differently by those same words,” says Peter Goodhand, CEO, Canadian Cancer Society, Ontario Division. “And that’s why the Canadian Cancer Society listens and then provides personalized information and support to help patients and their loved ones live with and beyond cancer.
Both Photosensitive and the Canadian Cancer Society hope that conversations about cancer – formal and informal – will take place in small communities and major centers from coast-to-coast as Cancer Connections travels across the country. Many will take place at the exhibition itself, around the DVD or coffee table book, and at events and activities organized by the Canadian Cancer Society.
PhotoSensitive is, with the permission of June Callwood’s family, dedicating Cancer Connections in her memory to honour her life and work.
The Canadian Cancer Society is a national community based organization of volunteers whose mission is the eradication of cancer and the enhancement of the quality of life of people living with cancer. When you want to know more about cancer visit our website at www.cancer.ca or call our toll-free, bilingual Cancer Information Service at 1 888 939-3333.
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For more information, please contact:
Jennifer Lynn
Media RSVP
LCI Associates Inc.
Phone: (416)759-9863
