Ep 77 Treena Duncan & Mark Johson
May is Celiac Awareness Month and I am pleased to be collaborating with the Canadian Celiac Association to produce podcasts to support their theme of “Beyond the Gut”.
The CCA hosted a conference on The State of Celiac bringing together researchers, doctors, dietitians, food producers, influencers and others who had a stake in the future of celiac disease and the gluten free diet. I was fortunate to attend this event and was able to have short interviews with some of the speakers and attendees. During this last week of Celiac Awareness Month, the podcast will consist of five interviews each highlighting one of the speakers and topics that I found of interest.
I work with the CCA all year, but it was a special privilege to be invited to their events in Toronto. It was a busy weekend, with The State of Celiac Leadership Forum, the fundraiser for research, administrative meetings and my appearance at the Gluten Free Garage to meet with lots of other celiacs and those on a gluten free diet. It takes a great deal of effort to put on these events and it also takes a great deal of foresight to see how all this work will benefit the CCA in it’s planning for the future. On this final episode for Celiac Awareness Month, I speak with Mark Johnson, who was instrumental in planning the forum and fundraiser, as well as Treena Duncan, President of the CCA for her views on how these meetings will contribute to the CCA going forward.
For more information on celiac disease and the gluten free diet please check out the CCA website at www.celiac.ca.
Sue’s Websites and Social Media –
Podcast https://acanadianceliacpodcast.libsyn.com
Podcast Blog – https://www.acanadianceliacblog.com
Facebook – @acanadianceliacpodcast
Twitter – CeliacPodcastCA
Email – acdnceliacpodcast@gmail.com
Baking Website – https://www.suesglutenfreebaking.com
Instagram – @suesgfbaking
YouTube – https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLUVGfpD4eJwwSc_YjkGagza06yYe3ApzL
(search Sues Gluten Free Baking)
Email – sue@suesglutenfreebaking.com
Other Podcast – Gluten Free Weigh In – https://glutenfreeweighin.libsyn.com
My Thoughts –
What a week. I can only think of a gesture I often use – my hand close to my head, exploding open – it’s been mind-blowing. As a volunteer with a dynamic organization like the CCA, one wants to feel that we can be all things to all people who need our assistance; in reality, we know we can’t. We can however, equip ourselves with up-to-date knowledge, compassion, empathy and curiosity at what the future holds.
The State of Celiac Forum reinforced many of those ideals for me. Experts from different disciplines all working to make our lives better. These were smart individuals with open minds eager to learn from one another. Scientists, researchers, doctors, food producers, government officials, and dietitians all gaining a glimpse into the efforts that other professionals were making to ensure our quality of life with celiac disease only gets better. Each of these people would have made great keynote speakers on their own, but to have them all learning from and networking with, each other, was quite a sight to see and hear. The atmosphere was very positive and I left the forum on somewhat of a high.
The evening fundraiser for research, again something was new this year, was a great follow-up to the day’s event. Some of the panelists did double duty on the evening panels, but the audience was completely different. The questions to the experts were personal and there was a much more intimate feeling in the room. I was willing drafted into the position of running a microphone around the room, which gave me a better insight into some of the needs of those in attendance. I particularly remember one girl who started her question by saying: “I’m 13 and recently diagnosed”. I had spoken with her earlier in the evening, and she seemed shy in this large room of adults, but she had a voice and she used it.
These events demonstrated that we can always learn more about our condition, not only how to cope with it, but how to deal with and help others. We can also be part of the bigger voice. Celiac disease is a young shy voice in a crowded landscape of medical issues, but through the CCA together we have a voice – let’s use it.