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Media Release, 15 February 2006
Ontario Prevention Clearinghouse celebrates 20 years of breaking new ground in health promotion

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Toronto, ON. (Feb 15, 2006)

On February 21, Jim Watson, Minister of Health Promotion, will give the opening address at a reception to celebrate the Ontario Prevention Clearinghouse's (OPC) 20th anniversary and launch OPC's bilingual conference, "Moving Upstream Together: Partnering for Ontario's Future Health and Well Being".

Keynote speaker, Charles E. Pascal, Executive Director of the Atkinson Charitable Foundation, will help chart the way forward as he promotes the new Canadian Index of Well Being. The Index was developed to "account for changes in our human, social, economic and natural wealth to best capture the full range of factors that determine wellbeing in Canada."

WHO:

400 health and community leaders, professionals, and volunteers
Health Promotion Minister Jim Watson (7:00-7:15 pm)
Atkinson Charitable Foundation Executive Director Charles Pascal (7:15-8:00 pm)

WHAT:

OPC's 20th Anniversary reception and conference launch

WHEN:

Tuesday, Feb. 21, 2006, 7:00 pm to 9:30 pm.

WHERE:

Colony Ballroom, Second Floor, 89 Chestnut, University of Toronto
(south of Dundas on the east side of Chestnut)

OPC began 20 years ago when a small group of committed people working in child and family mental health services made a radical decision. They decided to stop treating problems and work to prevent them instead! In 1985, this dynamic group started the Ontario Prevention Clearinghouse, an innovative social organization that focuses on 'moving upstream' to stop social and health problems before they start.

Today, as Ontario's leading bilingual health promotion organization, OPC continues to work with organizations, communities and policy-makers to transform good ideas into action. "OPC has a solid reputation as a bridge builder in the health and social sectors," says Connie Clement, OPC's Executive Director, "We look forward to welcoming 400 community partners to celebrate two decades of achievement in health promotion."

For more information: Sonia Worotynec, Ontario Prevention Clearinghouse at 416-408-2249 ext. 345 or by email at soniaw@opc.on.ca