about us

The Hamilton Chapter is run by Director Dr. Edward Kachur and Coordinated by Michelle Gregory-Brooks, an R.N. For further information, please contact Michelle by email as listed below.

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what we do

• The Hamilton Chapter, in collaboration with the City of Hamilton Public Health Services, delivers an interactive presentation called "Think First" to students in grades 6-8. This power point presentation is offered to 40 schools per year by public Health Nurses Julie Scheerer and Gail Shewfelt. Below, Julie and Gail show off their gelatin brain.
• Volunteers for ThinkFirst Hamilton deliver safety messages using the TD ThinkFirst for Kids Curriculum. They provide approximately 40 presentations per year in Hamilton.
• The Chapter has worked with Hamilton Safe Communities, local School Boards and community groups to promote helmet safety.
• The Chapter has worked with the City of Hamilton-Public Health Services and other community partners to provide helmet and safety gear vouchers.
• The Chapter has supported the development and printing of educational material about brain and spinal cord injury prevention.

success stories

• June, 2010 - ThinkFirst Hamilton will be donating helmets and teaching proper helmet fitting to New Hope Church Bike Co-op. This Co-op repairs bikes for free, refurbishes bikes for the community, and employs at risk youth.
• The South Stipeley Bike Safety Day took place in Hamilton on June 12th and ThinkFirst Hamilton was able to donate 40 helmets to the organizers. 20 helmets were fitted at the event while the other 20 were distributed at the neighborhood Canada Day Bike Parade.

Pictured above: Volunteer Nikki Cordiner and ThinkFirst Hamilton Coordinator, Michelle Gregory-Brooks at the Grimsby Safety Fair.

• On June 6th, 2010 ThinkFirst Hamilton partnered with Public Health Services and Head Injury Prevention Program of Hamilton Health Sciences to set up a community booth at Open Streets. Open Sreets is an event that closes off part of Hamilton's downtown core from motorists so that people can walk, blade, skateboard, and bike.
• Hamilton was at the Grimsby Safety Funfest on May 29th and 30th of 2010. Chapter lead Michelle Gregory Brooks reports that it was a great success and they even motivated parents to change their own helmet practices. ThinkFirst Hamilton was able to give away and fit approximately 20 helmets.
• On February 28, 2010 ThinkFirst Hamilton was at a community style booth at Glen Eden Ski Resort in the Halton Region. Those who stopped by had the opportunity to win one of five ski helmets being raffled off.

Pictured Above: Hamilton Coordinator Michelle Gregory-Brooks at Glen Eden Ski Resort on February 28, 2010

• On October 24th, 2009 at the Smithville Arena Hall, ThinkFirst Hamilton participatied in a Concussion Seminar hosted by the West Lincoln Minor Hockey Association. ThinkFirst Hamilton Director, Dr. Ed Kachur, gave a presentation on the seriousness of concussions and their long-term effects.
• In June 2009, ThinkFirst Hamilton made an alliance with a Skateboard School in Burlington and held a community style booth and helmet fitting clinic for the school's open house.
• In the 2006-2007 school year, 33 school presentations were done. A total of 4581 students were reached with these "Safety on the Go" presentations. All students received a booklet about the importance of using helmets and safety gear to help prevent brain and spinal cord injury.

fundraising initiatives

Help us spread the ThinkFirst message! Please donate to the Hamilton chapter by clicking here, be sure to note in the instructions that funds are to be directed to the Hamilton chapter. Alternatively, you can send a cheque care of the National Office at Suite 314-750 Dundas St. W, Toronto, ON, M6J 3S3. Please note on your cheque that the donation should be directed to the Hamilton Chapter.

advisory board

Dr. Edward Kachur, Chapter Director
Dr. Robert Hansebout, Past Chapter Director
Sue Connell, Public Health Nurse, City of Hamilton-Public Health Services