Madeleine Bird
A year ago, Breast Cancer Action Montreal teamed up with the McGill Centre for Research and Teaching on Women to write a grant proposal to the Minister of Education of Quebec (MEQ). We proposed to develop plain language popular education materials to teach about the environment and breast cancer, with the help of various community organizations in Montreal.
This project was one of three grant proposals submitted by McGill to the MEQ in 2004, and the only one funded! We are glad to say that the project has been underway since September.
Because BCAM's mandate is to educate about the causes and prevention of breast cancer, this project is an initiative to increase awareness about our environment and the rising incidence of the disease. BCAM will close the gap between grassroots organizations and McGill University researchers to offer updated, reliable information on breast cancer and our environment in the form of four accessible, informational pamphlets and stimulating, educational workshops. The two-year project will climax with a symposium highlighting the issues raised throughout the two years. Topics to explore are the existence and effects of hormonal disruptors, pesticides, and pollution; the risks of chemoprevention; the effects of cause marketing on public awareness of breast cancer; and risk factors and minority groups. By critically examining current approaches to breast cancer and demystifying current research, the educational materials produced during this project will provide a strong and informed voice about breast cancer prevention.
We are currently working with eight community organizations: the South Asian Women's Community Centre, Lesbian Mothers' Association of Quebec, PINAY (an organization for Filipina women), Quebec Native Women Inc., Women on the Rise, Relais-Femmes, and Head and Hands. Women from these organizations — as well as one community member, Nadia Stevens from Holistic Accupressure, are helping develop the topic and content of the pamphlets and workshops to ensure they are accessible and readable.
Check out the Health and Environment Awareness Project's website. If you have any questions about the project, please email Madeleine Bird at madeleine.bird@mcgill.ca.