about us

The Ottawa Chapter is currently run by Chapter Director Dr. M. Vassilyadi and Coordinator Tassy Lyras. We are grateful to our wonderful volunteers and VIPs (Voices of Injury Prevention) who help us deliver the ThinkFirst message.

In the news

ThinkFirst Ottawa has been in the news! On Friday February 5, 2010 Ottawa Chapter Director, Dr. Michael Vassilyadi, was interviewed by The Ottawa Citizen and The Ottawa Sun to discuss recreational ice skating safety. To read the full article in the Ottawa Citizen click here.

Tune into French CBC on Friday February 13, 2010 at 11:30AM to hear a live interview on skating safely.

what we do

The Ottawa Chapter is very busy with a number of ThinkFirst endeavours including:

• Promoting the ThinkFirst For Kids Curriculum in schools
• Providing school presentations at the classroom or auditorium level
• Organizing Brain Day during Brain Awareness Week with the University of Ottawa medical students
• Providing educational and reference material to sport coaches and trainers
• Organizing helmet-fitting clinics for the public
• Disseminating head injury prevention information
• Distributing helmets and helmet vouchers to children in low-income families
• Conducting education research

success stories

2010:

• ThinkFirst Ottawa and CHEO physicians and scientists cycled 354 km in the Rideau Lakes Cycling Tour from Ottawa to Kingston and back on June 5th and 6th to raise awareness for head injury prevention. ThinkFirst Ottawa used this opportunity to raise funds to purchase helmets for children.
• On June 3rd, 2010 ThinkFirst Ottawa gave a presentation to 170 students at John Paul II elementary school on Head Injry. This presentation was part of an initiative developed by the Ontario Trials Lawyers' Association to get helmets on kids in need.
• Thanks to the leadership and involvement of Dr. Michael Vassilyadi and ThinkFirst Ottawa, the City of Ottawa has launched a new program to encourage helmet use. To read the release click here. Congratulations to ThinkFirst Ottawa, Ottawa Public Health, Parks and Recreation and Cultural Services, for thinking first.
• ThinkFirst Ottawa and CHEO volunteers headed an exhibit on injury prevention at a ski hill north of Ottawa during Brain Week 2010.

Pictured above: ThinkFirst Ottawa and volunteers from the Children's Hospital of Eastern Ontario (CHEO), along with the CHEO bear. Photo was taken on March 18, during Brain Week 2010.

• ThinkFirst Ottawa delivered an injury prevention presentation to the Ontario Association of Supervision for Physical Health and Education on January 29th, 2010.
• Winterlude 2010 was a huge success and ThinkFirst Ottawa was there handing out safe skating tips as well as sponge brains to all the kids wearing helmets.

2009: 525 kids have had their helmets properly fitted for sports including horseback riding and cycling.

• 3155 children across grades K-8 have taken part in first rate presentations on playing safe and injury prevention
• TF Ottawa has given countless presentations to teachers, parents, and coaches, here are just a few from this year: City of Ottawa Community and Protective Services Committee, Nepean 27th Scouts and Beavers, University of Ottawa Medical Students, Canadaian Pediatric Neurosurgery Study Group, and New and Veteran Patrollers.
• Distributed Hockey Helmets to the Robert Batemen School
• Co-hosted the Children's Hospital of Eastern Ontario Telethon
• Raised $5000 when team "ThinkFirst” composed of CHEO Physicians cycled between Ottawa and Kingston (and back) to help raise awareness for head injury prevention.
• Concluded the Navigator's research project, which was the evaluation of the TFFK injury prevention curriculum for grades 7 & 8. Results published in the November 2009 issue of the Canadian Journal of Neurological Sciences.
• Travelled to India to speak to 1000 students on head injury prevention
• Spoke at the 18th Annual Conference of Neurotrauma Society of India on "A Pilot Program evaluation of the ThinkFirst for Kids prevention education curriculum for grades 7 & 8.
• Guest lectured at the 18th Annual Conference of Neurotrauma Society of India on "the process of gaining access into schools for the promotion of head injury prevention initiatives."
• Presented the TFFK curriculum to the Ottawa Catholic School Board, including Superintendents, Principals, Coordinators and Managers. As a result, all of the schools in the board now have the TFFK binders.
• Commenced a new research project in partnership with Dr. Blaine Hoshizaki at the Neurotrauma Impact Science Laboratory at the University of Ottawa. This project will identify the optimal dynamic characteristics for head gear for toddlers participating in winter activities such as tobogganing.

2008: Presentation of the TFFK curriculum to the OCDSB principals

• Distribution of TFFK curriculums to all of the OCDSB schools
• Workshops given at OCDSB Vice-Principal Intern Program
• Navigators research project initiated in five schools
• Partnership with the Ottawa Public Health School Age and Injury Prevention nurses
• Partnerships with Safe Communities of Ottawa and Envirocentre
• Collaboration with the Ontario Neurotrauma Foundation
• Collaboration with former NHL hockey player- Doug Smith
• Video production of child head injury survivor
• First "Concussion in Sports" presentation with High School Head Coach and Ottawa Senators Neuropyschologist (April 15th)
• Presentation of the TFFK curriculum to the Ottawa Catholic School Board Physical Education and Health Department Heads and Curriculum Leaders (April 16th)

2007: Introduced ThinkFirst to the Canterbury Hockey Association

• First Brain Awareness week presentations (grades 4-6)
• Collaboration with Ottawa South Community Police
• First helmet-fitting clinic with TD

2006: Distribution of 160 hockey helmets to four schools

• Invited to speak about ThinkFirst at the National Canadian Athletic Therapists Association (CATA) meeting in Ottawa
• Drafted pilot research project to evaluate the Navigator Curriculum in Ottawa schools

2005: Introduced ThinkFirst to senior soccer coaches

• Partnership with Plan-It-Safe at CHEO
• Collaboration with Ottawa Public Health

fundraising initiatives

From June 6-7, 2009: Team "ThinkFirst” composed of CHEO Physicians cycled between Ottawa and Kingston (and back) to help raise awareness and to help raise an incredible $5000 dollars for head injury prevention.

Help us spread the ThinkFirst message! Please donate to the Ottawa chapter by clicking here, be sure to note in the instructions that funds are to be directed to the Ottawa 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 Ottawa Chapter.

advisory board

Michael Vassilyadi
Tassy Lyras
Todd McDowell
Amber Skillings-Nicholson
Mike Nicholson
Ann MacKenzie
Line Tzakis
Bill Sioulis

5000

$5000 raised this year to be used for helmet giveaways.

3155

3155 children took part in classroom presentations this year!