Awards

Marilyn Finkelstein

Marilyn and her late husband, Albert, initiated the organization that is now Crohn’s and Colitis Canada, a charity that has raised over $122 million for research into Crohn’s disease and ulcerative colitis over the past four decades. 

It all started in the 70s when their sick child, David, was suffering from a painful and debilitating illness that seemed to defy diagnosis – it took three years to finally discover in 1974 that their son had Crohn’s disease. They had never heard of it before, and when they tried to find out more, they were appalled to discover how little was known about Crohn’s and how little research was done.

That motivated them to raise money for research. Marilyn started writing letters to parents whose children were also struggling with the disease, inviting them to attend a meeting in their home. Sixty-nine people showed up for the inaugural meeting, many of them agreeing to stay on. The group’s first event was a car raffle that raised $20,000. And so it began. Marilyn and Albert, a lawyer, set up an organizational structure and secured an office with a telephone. They worked hard to help open chapters across the country to raise funds and awareness. Ten years later another son, Gary, was diagnosed with inflammatory bowel disease. Although they were devastated to see him suffer, they were encouraged by the difference in his treatment. He was diagnosed immediately and was offered treatment options. Their efforts were already making a difference.

More than 40 years later, Marilyn continues to work tirelessly alongside Crohn’s and Colitis Canada, our volunteers and the community in the effort to find the cures. And she says, “she won’t stop until we end Crohn’s and colitis, once and for all.”

In recognition of her contributions, Marilyn received the Queen’s Diamond Jubilee Medal in 2012.  For these reasons and many more, we are honoured to recognize Marilyn with the 2019 Lifetime Achievement Award.

Don was raised in Montreal and received his business degree from Sir George Williams University in 1957. He was already working for Steinberg Foods as an Assistant Buyer and attained the position of Director of Non-Food Operations before leaving the company in 1962.

Don then moved to Ottawa, joined the IGA Wholesaler, M Loeb Corp. and spent three years in senior executive positions in their Ottawa and Sherbrooke, Quebec divisions. He was VP, General Manager of the Loeb subsidiary, GT Armstrong Co., the IGA wholesaler in the Quebec Eastern Townships when he left Loeb and returned to Montreal to start his own company, Promotivate International Inc.

While working in Ottawa, Don married a local girl and eventually had three children. His second child, his only son was afflicted with ulcerative colitis from birth, was sick all his life and sadly passed away in 2016.

In 1970, Don and his family moved to Toronto so his son could get treatment at Sick Kids Hospital. Four years later, he was invited to attend the first meeting of a group headed up by Marilyn and the late Al Finkelstein. This group evolved into Crohn’s and Colitis Canada.

Although Don enjoyed an excellent business career, his work with Crohn’s and Colitis Canada continues to be his greatest satisfaction. In 1980, he was elected President of the organization and has been deeply involved with fundraising programs, many of which he initiated. Over the years, he has worked closely with the executive directors and remains committed to finding the cures for inflammatory bowel disease.

We are honoured to recognize Don with the 2019 Lifetime Achievement Award for his numerous contributions in support of our mission to find the cures and improve quality of life for the many Canadians affected by Crohn’s or Colitis.

Following in his grandfather’s footsteps, Dr. Khursheed Jeejeebhoy received his medical degree in 1959 from Christian Medical College Hospital in Vellore, India. Dr. Jeejeebhoy is currently an Emeritus Professor of Medicine cross appointed with the Department of Nutritional Sciences at the University of Toronto. He was previously the past Division Director of Gastroenterology at the University of Toronto and the Toronto General Hospital where he established as well as directed a postgraduate training program for clinical and academic gastroenterologists. Today, Dr. Jeejeebhoy is also the Director of the Home Parenteral Nutrition program and a staff physician at St. Michael’s Hospital, a teaching and research hospital located in Toronto. He continues to mold patient care by acting as the Executive of the Canadian Malnutrition Task Force which focuses on developing standards for nutrition care in hospitals. Finally, he practices gastroenterology at the Polyclinic and established the CHANGE program for prevention of metabolic syndrome with Metabolic Syndrome Canada.

Dr. Jeejeebhoy is internationally recognized for research in the fields of gastroenterology and nutrition as he has published over 500 peer-reviewed articles, abstracts and book chapters. Dr. Jeejeebhoy’s passion for his field of work motivates him to expand the medical community’s knowledge of gastroenterology and nutrition by continuing to publish content which will shape the future of patient care. Furthermore, he received over 20 awards throughout his career from Canada, the United States and the United Kingdom. In particular he was elected as a member of the prestigious American Society of Clinical Investigation. His commitment to shaping the future of medical care is also shown through his appointment as a senior member of the Canadian Medical Association in 2011. The Canadian Medical Association is a national, voluntary association of physicians which advocates on behalf of its members as well as the public for access to high-quality health care.

Through all of his accomplishments, it is clear Dr. Jeejeebhoy is committed to the field of medicine. His passion for his field of work enabled him to not only make a positive impact on quality of life for countless Canadians, but also for people all over the world.

Lifelong Winnipegger Grant Mitchell practiced law with Taylor McCaffrey LLP for 38 years, until his retirement in 2016. Taylor McCaffrey is the Diamond Sponsor of the 2018 Gutsy and Glamorous Gala.   

Grant is renowned for his expertise in labour, employment and human rights law, and taught at the University of Manitoba’s Faculty of Law for 22 years. An active champion of his profession, Grant was President of the Law Society of Manitoba in 2008 and President of the Canadian Association of University Solicitors in 2003. He has delivered more than 400 seminars on labour relations across Canada since 1988, on behalf of the Centre for Labour Management Development (Canada) Inc., a Platinum Sponsor of the Gala. Grant received the Bar Association’s Pro Bono Award in 2005, and is a lifetime member of the Manitoba Bar Council.  
Grant was also an honourary solicitor for the United Way, the Society of Manitobans with Disabilities, and the Rady Centre. He was President of Mitchell Fabrics for 30 years, and has been President of Athletics Manitoba since 2014. He has consistently served on a myriad of community volunteer boards, mostly related to disability issues, beginning prior to completing law school. Grant married his law school classmate more than 40 years ago, Cal Lambeth, and they were blessed with three daughters—Samantha, Eli, and Ainsley. A few months ago, Grant and Cal happily became grandparents, welcoming granddaughter Isla to the growing family.    

Not only is Grant well respected as a lawyer and a dedicated family man, he is also known for his love of competitive running and his passion for living a healthy life! What is not as well known is Grant was diagnosed with ulcerative colitis in 1994 and had pelvic pouch surgery in 2000. While Grant faced significant uphill challenges as the disease progressed, the disease never took away Grant's spirit, sense of humour or passion for life. Grant still continues with his 50-year running career and has completed another five marathons since the surgery.   

As with all that Grant does, he walks the talk. Wanting to make a difference, Grant began volunteering with the local Winnipeg Crohn’s and Colitis Canada chapter and has just started his second three-year term on the National Board. He was one of the first Gutsy Peer Mentors, and serves on the Gutsy Walk Committee. He is also chair of the Governance Committee for Crohn’s and Colitis Canada.

Grant is a tremendous role model and inspiration for so many people living with inflammatory bowel disease, and we are very pleased to recognize him as our Guest of Honour at the 2018 Gutsy and Glamorous Gala. 

Zane Cohen is presently Professor in the Department of Surgery at the University of Toronto and the Director of the Zane Cohen Centre for Digestive Diseases at Mount Sinai Hospital, since 2010. The Centre consists of a multidisciplinary group of gastroenterologists and surgeons doing translational research in inflammatory bowel disease and hereditary cancer syndromes such as Lynch Syndrome, Familial Polyposis, and familial gastric cancer.

Zane has been committed to academic surgery in the fields of inflammatory bowel disease and hereditary cancer since he initiated his practice at the Toronto General Hospital. He subsequently became the Surgeon-in-Chief at Mount Sinai Hospital from 1990 to 2006, and Chairman of the General Surgical Division at the University of Toronto from 1999 to 2009.

Zane has brought specific surgical techniques such as the double stapling technique and the kock pouch to the University of Toronto, and has been the front runner in the development of pelvic pouch surgery in Canada. He has been involved in over 350 research publications mainly in the areas of IBD and hereditary cancer. He has presented to worldwide audiences. He is an editor of The International Journal of Colon and Rectal Diseases and has been a reviewer for many surgical and medical journals related to gastrointestinal diseases and more specifically, inflammatory bowel disease.  He is internationally known in the fields of colo-rectal surgery and in particular inflammatory bowel disease.  

In addition, Zane initiated the Colo-Rectal Fellowship Training Program at the University of Toronto. Over 80 national and international fellows have been trained in this fellowship program from around the world. He is the co-founder of the Canadian Society of Colon and Rectal Surgery and he has been honoured by many organizations including a lectureship in his name at the University of Toronto. 

Dr. Zane Cohen is honoured to attend this year’s gala and accept the inaugural Lifetime Achievement Award.