~ 1988 ~

On February 29^th, 53-year-old Jim Keogh, a member of the Parkinson’s Society of Ottawa-Carleton, became the first Canadian to undergo an adrenal gland to brain implant. The transplant team included Neurologist Dr. J. David Grimes, Neurosurgeon Dr. Brien Benoit, and General Surgeons Drs. James Devitt and Jim Watters who removed Mr. Keogh’s left adrenal gland.

After moving into its new home in the Clinical Studies Building at the Ottawa Civic Hospital, the Society produced an exercise video titled “Home Exercise Program” to distribute free of charge to members.

The Parkinson’s Society partnered with Helpline soon afterwards. The Society could now offer the emergency system in the home. Helpline operated out of the Élisabeth Bruyère Hospital, and the Society subsidized the program to all members in need. In an emergency, subscribers to this service simply pushed their Help button. This sent a signal to the Helpline professional at the Élisabeth Bruyère Hospital through a special receiver attached to the phone.

Circulation of The Parkinson Paper rose to 1500 in the summer of 1988.

~ 1989 ~

The Parkinson’s Society of Ottawa-Carleton changed its logo from “Parkinson’s is still an unsolved puzzle” to “ The Parkinson’s Disease puzzle is being solved.”

Social events for the year included an Irish Fun Night with Dominic D’Arcy at McNabb Community Centre on March 22 and the Parkinson’s Annual Tulip Tea held Sunday May 14^th in the foyer of City Hall. Artists such as George Buckland, Dr. Maurice Haycock, Loreen McLean and Ruth McMillan made the special art show possible. St. Lawrence National Bank sponsored a Society golf tournament on July 12^th. 

An insert in the fall newsletter let all the members know about a book soon to be published by the Society, written by Dr. J. David Grimes. The book, One Step at a Time, sold for $10.95.

In December a new logo was introduced featuring a large green “P” surrounding a tulip. James Keogh’s son-in-law, Paul Edwards, designed the new Parkinson logo and was later hired by the Society as a Graphic Designer.

~ 1990 ~

Two neurology staff appointments at the Ottawa Civic Hospital were initiated and supported by the encouragement and interest of the Parkinson Society of Ottawa Carleton.

Dr. Renaud, an internationally renowned scientist, was appointed as Chief of the Division of Neurology. He was hired as an expert in the regulation of function of neurons and in the transmission of signals between cells.

Dr. Erich Mohr moved to Ottawa from the experimental therapeutics branch of the National Institute of Health in Washington D.C. His interest lay in memory problems associated with Parkinson’s.

The Society hired two students to organize social events for members during the months of July and August including: trips to the Museum of Civilization and the Museum of Science and Technology, the National Art Gallery, a Rideau River boat ride, an Ottawa River boat ride and a few movie matinees.

Mayor Jim Durrell proclaimed September 23^rd – 29^th Parkinson’s Awareness Week.

~ 1991 ~ 

The Parkinson’s Society of Ottawa-Carleton production “Learning to Live with Parkinson’s – Karen’s story” aired February 26^th, on Skyline Cablevision and MacLean-Hunter (Channel 22). The video profiled a recently diagnosed person with Parkinson’s and the physical and emotional elements of coping with Parkinson’s disease for Karen and her family. Skyline Cablevision and Eleanor Lillico, Educational Committee Chairperson, made the production of “Karen’s Story” possible.

The production was part of a larger program featuring a panel of distinguished individuals associated with Parkinson’s Disease including: Karen Watson, subject of the video, Dr. Tilak Mendis, Neurologist, and Margaret Pranschke, Executive Director of the Parkinson’s Society of Ottawa Carleton.

The year was full of fundraisers. The first annual Pedal for Parkinson’s was held on Sunday May 26^th. The event consisted of cyclers completing a 100-kilometre tour from Ottawa to Almonte and back. The Society also held a cooking class on May 27^th at Betty’s Kitchen in the Bleeker Mall that focused on encouraging people to become more adventurous with their barbecues.

The Society’s tug boat in the 1991 Flotilla earned first, second, third and fourth prizes in these respective categories: “best live music”, “best in the non-commercial”, “best over all” and “night-lighting.”

September was declared Parkinson’s Awareness Month, and staff and volunteers of the Parkinson’s Society of Ottawa-Carleton launched an aggressive awareness campaign. Two hundred and fifty volunteers handed out information, education materials and sold tulips, Hasty notes and raffle tickets at a dozen malls and various other locations across the city. The Society also arranged to have two billboards raised at the corners of Baseline and Merivale Roads and Baseline Road and Woodroffe Avenue.

~ 1992 ~

West Ottawa Rotary Club held its 5^th Annual Charity Golf Tournament on June 8^th, declaring Parkinson’s Society the beneficiary of all profits raised.

One Step at a Time, written by Dr. J. David Grimes, was translated into French, due to overwhelmingly positive sales of the English version and demand for a French equivalent.

The second annual Pedal for Parkinson’s was held on Sunday May 31^st, beginning and ending at Andrew Haydon Park. Sixty-one cyclists chose between courses of 25, 50, 75 and 100 kilometers in length, and raised almost $5000.00 in pledges.

~ 1993 ~

The Society celebrated its 15^th Anniversary!

Director Elsie Scott organized the Cut-A-Thon, held Sunday April 25^th, where local salons donated all of that day’s proceeds to Parkinson’s and raised $1485. The Society held its annual Golf Tournament at the Hylands on Sunday July 18^th.

The Society staff doubled in size! Carol Ferguson was hired on July 5^th as Office Coordinator making her the second paid staff. (Margaret Pranschke was the Executive Director.)

Two University of Ottawa Occupational Therapy students, employed through a grant, worked with 2 clients of the Society to discover the reality of a dysfunctional problem and the accompanying frustrations.

Bonnie Merovitz began a weekly physiotherapy program at the Queensway-Carleton Hospital for people with Parkinson’s.

~ 1994 ~

Tai Chi classes were introduced by the Society for people with Parkinson’s. They were held on a weekly basis at the Hintonburg Community Centre. Pam Maser began Speech Therapy classes once a month at the Ottawa Civic Hospital. Support groups for people with Parkinson’s and their caregivers began to meet once a month.

Saint-Vincent Hospital launched an In-Patient Parkinson’s Program. At its inception, the program aimed to fill the gap when a nursing home or care at home is no longer manageable due to the increasing severity of symptoms experienced by an individual with Parkinson’s.

The Society, in conjunction with Helen Zipes, produced an exercise video entitled “Your Body is Made for Movement,” for sale at $12.00 a copy.

~ 1995 ~

The Society published the 2^nd edition of Dr. J. David Grimes’ book One Step at a Time.

Margaret Pranschke retired from the position of Executive Director which she held for ten years. As the first paid Executive Director, Margaret contributed to and was the working force behind the success of several challenges that faced the Parkinson’s Society of Ottawa-Carleton. She organized symposia and seminars for the Society, organized the first few annual Awareness campaigns, worked with other societies to establish the Neurological Update (which became a triennial event) and was the driving force behind patient services such as Tai Chi, physiotherapy at two local hospitals and the in-service presentations to staff of nursing homes and hospitals. These are just a few things that showed Margaret Pranschke’s tireless efforts on behalf of the Parkinson’s Society of Ottawa Carleton.

Margaret continued to facilitate a support group after her retirement.

Susan Ziebarth was hired as the new Executive Director. Susan came to the Society from The Lung Association where she was Director of Health Education and Program Services. Before that she was Director of Education for the Canadian Hospital Association.

The Society held “Afternoon at the Races” a fundraiser at the Rideau-Carleton Raceway on October 15^th.

~ 1996 ~

James Keogh, a long time friend of the Parkinson’s Society of Ottawa Carleton and a pioneer in the fight against Parkinson’s, passed away on August 21^st. He was one of the first people in the world to undergo experimental surgery to have transplant tissue from his adrenal gland into his brain (intended to allow cells to regenerate). This practice was later discontinued because it only provided short-term relief. However, James Keogh’s willingness to participate in this treatment allowed researchers to gain invaluable knowledge about the treatment of Parkinson’s.

Ken Gorman was hired as Director of Fund Development.

“Dressing-down Fridays” were becoming the rage across the city, for employees at Richardson Greenshields, it came with a price: employees could come to work in jeans or other casual clothing on Fridays if they paid a fee, which the company donated to the Parkinson’s Society of Ottawa-Carleton. They even sported flashy pins that said as much!

This was also the first year donors could specify through the United Way that they wanted their donation to go to the Parkinson’s Society of Ottawa-Carleton under the “donor choice policy.” 1996 was also the first year for SuperWalk in the Ottawa area. Peggy McLean, Board President and Peter Van Dusen, Honourary Chair, led the walk, which raised over $7000 in the Ottawa area. This contributed to a national total of $250,000.

For the first time, the AGM was combined with the annual summer social gathering. An instant hit, combining the two events became standard practice.

~ 1997 ~

Patient services continued to grow as Physiotherapy, Tai Chi, art therapy and a greater selection of support groups became available at the office to people with Parkinson’s and their families.

On the fundraising scene, the first Wing Eating Challenge was held on February 25^th at Local Heroes Bar and Grill and the 3^rd Annual Night at the Races was held on June 7^th. The Beaver Lumber Golf Classic held on August 15^th raised close to $5000 for the Society.

Volunteers sold tulips on Tulip Tuesday May 13^th, and tickets for A Whale of a Time Raffle throughout the summer.

April 11, 1997 marked the first annual World Parkinson’s Day. The Parkinson’s Society of the United Kingdom prepared a charter in honour of the established day. The Parkinson’s Society of Ottawa- Carleton celebrated by offering an Education Workshop on April 12^th that focused on hearing functions and driver competency assessments.

Dr. J. David Grimes, a long time supporter and medical advisor to the Parkinson’s Society of Ottawa-Carleton, retired from his position as Executive Director at the Loeb Research Institute.

~ 1998 ~

The Society said good-bye to a second founding member in May of 1998, when Evelyn Pepper passed away. Her interest in the Society stemmed from personal relationships she had had with Dr. Lorne Maclachlan’s wife Billie, and Dorothy Dent, a nurse and colleague. A nurse by trade, Evelyn received numerous military and civilian awards for her nursing dedication and outstanding service, culminating with the Order of Canada in 1996. Evelyn served on the Board of Directors from 1978-1982 as member at large and Chair of the Social committee.

Fundraiser’s for 1998 included a Day at the Races on June 19^th, and the 2^nd Annual SuperWalk at Andrew Haydon Park.

Constantly looking for new ways to grow, the Society added a new support group, to focus on people who were diagnosed with Parkinson’s before the age of 50. They called it the Young Onset Group.

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