Week 8 - August 4th, 2003

"The First 10 Years"

In January of 1978 Dr. Lorne MacLachlan, Ruth F. McMillan, Evelyn Pepper and Jean MacGregor formed the The Parkinson’s Disease Society of Ottawa-Carleton

The creation of a Parkinson Society had long been the dream of Dr. Lorne MacLachlan (1895-1985), a retired dentist whose wife Billie passed away with complications due to Parkinson’s in 1975. The first public meeting was held on June 22 at the Queensway-Carleton Hospital. Guest speaker Dr. Garth Embree addressed the 100 people who attended. In 1978, 500 people were suspect of having Parkinson’s in the greater Ottawa area

~ 1979 ~

For awhile in 1979, the Society considered merging with the Parkinson Foundation of Canada. Mr. Fred Bradley, tax advisor to the Society, conducted investigations and research into the matter. Finally, the Society decided to stand alone. The decision was a landmark one, and incorporation of the Parkinson’s Disease Society of Ottawa-Carleton came in 1979, allowing them to henceforth issue receipts for any donations they received. An annual membership cost $2.00 at the time. And to keep costs low, newsletters were hand-delivered, or patients picked them up at their appointments when they came to see Dr. J. David Grimes, Dr. Garth Embree, Dr. E.A. Atack, Dr. A. Guzman or Dr. Eric W. Peterson.

Ruth F. McMillan hosted meetings of the Society in her home until 1980 when the Society moved to a room at the Ottawa-Carleton Lung Association. This year was also the first of three consecutive years where the Society organized exhibition hockey games between the Ottawa Old Pros and Montreal Canadiens Old-timers (1980, 1981) and the NHL Oldstars (1982) at the Civic Centre, with funds raised going to support the Parkinson’s Research Laboratory at the Civic Hospital.

Mayor Marion Dewar proclaimed January 25-31 Parkinson’s Week.

Mayor Marion Dewar proclaimed January 24-30 Parkinson’s Week. Ruth F. McMillan resigned from her position as President of the Board, encouraging new ideas from new members. 

~ 1983 ~

Mayor Marion Dewar proclaimed August 14-20 Parkinson’s Disease Week.

The Society achieved their goal, and surpassed it! They raised $260,000 locally to assist in establishing the Ottawa Parkinson’s Disease Research Laboratory. The Society held exhibition games between the Montreal Canadiens Old-timers and the Ottawa Old Pros in 1983 and 1984, with funds going to Parkinson’s research and the Parkinson’s Disease Research Laboratory. The Society also sold Lowney’s chocolate bars and held a concert featuring the Concordia Choir, with funds raised going to the Society.

Parkinson’s Disease Research Laboratory was set up by Dr. Mohammed Hassan, and opened at the Civic Hospital. Ken Lister, Parkinson’s Society President attended the official opening at Dow’s Lake. This year, the Society also moved out on their own! Leaving their hosts, the Ottawa-Carleton Lung Association, they moved to new residence at the Ottawa Civic Hospital. Mayor Marion Dewar urged the citizens of Ottawa to participate in events during Parkinson’s Week held September 22 through 29.

Volunteers sold more than 12,000 tulip bulbs in the Ottawa area, with proceeds going to the Ottawa Parkinson’s Disease Research Laboratory.

The Society held a Tulip Tea at City Hall to signal the official opening of the Festival of Spring (now Tulip Festival). The Society also participated in the Flotilla, on a tugboat donated by Drummond Gas, complete with a nine-piece band (courtesy of Glebe Collegiate Institute). Some Parkinson’s patients volunteered to ride aboard the brightly decorated, 44-foot-long Long Sault, complete with Christmas lights and four 11-foot tulips sculpted of metal and cloth (also donated by George Drummond of Drummond Fuels).

The Dutch firm Vanhof and Blokker awarded the Parkinson’s Society of Ottawa- Carleton exclusive Canadian distribution rights to sell the James Parkinson Tulip. 

Parkinson’s Awareness week was held from September 29 – October 4.

The Society celebrated its 10^th Anniversary with a commemorative issue of the newsletter. At this time, Margaret Pranschke was the Executive Director and the membership was 500 strong, including 24 life members.

The organizers of the Festival of Spring contacted the Society and, along with the City of Ottawa, they planted 1000 Parkinson tulips in beds outside City Hall. In addition, the National Capital Commission planted 4500 Parkinson tulip bulbs in a special bed at Dow’s Lake. The Long Sault rode again this year, as part of the Flotilla.