That's My Time, Canadian Comedy Writer and Comedian Irwin Barker Chronicles Journey with Cancer

A reminder to our blog visitors to catch the special "That's My Time" featuring Irwin Barker on CTV, Saturday, September 27 at 7:00 p.m.

Below an excerpt from the post at CTV.ca

"You have just been diagnosed with terminal cancer and given one year to live - what do you do? If you are Canadian comic icon Irwin Barker, you set out on a courageous and inspirational cross-country comedy fundraiser tour for cancer research. Shot by award-winning Halifax filmmaker Adamm Liley, "That's My Time" chronicles the past year of Barker's journey with cancer, revealing a man's determination to find hope and humour in the gravest of human situations. "
(read more here)

If you would like to inquire at CTV about a tape of the programme information here.



See Toronto Star article here.

I hope you had an opportunity to see "That's My Time" last night. I found it inspiring to learn how Irwin Barker has used creativity and humour as a hopeful way to live with cancer. Comedians from coast to coast came together to support the man who has been a mentor to many of Canada's best up-and-coming comics. Barker has used the story of his illness as material for his cross country tour and raised 50,000 for cancer research. CM

Smoking and Health Promotion, Creative Methodologies Lead to Deeper Understandings

The creative arts can be used effectively in research and in awareness raising in health promotion work. The University of British Columbia, School of Nursing, shares with us today news about "Creative Methodologies in Tobacco and Health Behaviour Research: Using Photography and Theatre to Foster Deeper Understandings"


A message below from Ariadna Fernandez, MA Research Manager, NEXUS, University of British Columbia, School of Nursing:

Creative methodologies - such as participant photography (photovoice) and participatory theatre (forum theatre) - allow researchers to be more inclusive of participant "voices" to explore and translate knowledge about certain health behaviours.

Hear what researchers and participants have to say about these methodologies. View the images created by participants about their smoking experiences and participate in a mini-forum theatre production.

Tobacco use is a particularly sensitive and personal topic which requires creative approaches to foster deeper understandings. This panel discussion, photo exhibit & forum theatre production will explore the challenges and benefits of using photovoice and forum theatre in three research projects: "Smoke, In My Eyes," "Families Controlling & Eliminating Tobacco" (FACET 2), and "Cultivating Awareness of the Context of Tobacco Use" (CACTUS).

Date: Wednesday, March 12th

Time: 5:00 to 7:00 PM

Location: UBC Robson Square

800 Robson Street Vancouver, B.C.

RSVP by March 8th: nexus@nursing.ubc.ca For directions: http://www.robsonsquare.ubc.ca/

Cancer Film Festival Call for True Stories About Cancer

Reel Lives The Cancer Chronicles Film Festival

Call for entries. Deadline: May 1, 2008.

The festival is an opportunity for people who have been touched by cancer to tell their story through the medium of film and to have their voices heard. It seeks to shatter the taboos and myths surrounding cancer, educate and enlighten, bridge cultural divides, and help unite the global cancer community.

Reel Lives: The Cancer Chronicles Film Festival will be held on 28-30 August 2008,during the World Cancer Congress in Geneva , Switzerland , culminating in an awards ceremony. The awards will celebrate films that are thought-provoking, educational and inspirational.

Winners will also be acknowledged at the closing ceremony of the congress on 31 August 2008.

Who can take part?

The competition is open to cancer non-profit associations; patient groups and advocacy organizations; cancer, research and medical centres; amateur and professional filmmakers; and film school students.

Deadline for entries: 1 May 2008

For more information visit http://www.reellives.org