Ladies and gentlemen, members of the Standing Committee on Health, good morning. I'm pleased to be here today and to represent the Canadian Epilepsy Alliance, as well as everyone served by our 25 member associations in Canada.
Épilepsie Montréal Métropolitain is a founding member of the Canadian Epilepsy Alliance, which has changed a lot in the past 11 years. Our umbrella group is the result of an innovative project that has enabled us, in the past 11 years, to pool our best local achievements and stay in touch almost daily in order to carry out our mission, which is to improve the quality of life of people living with epilepsy. We have also shared our essential values, our governance principles and our many resources.
In the past 11 years, we have conducted two surveys, created two papers Question d'épilepsie and Parlons d'épilepsie, launched an annual awareness campaign, which takes place in March, created two websites—"Epilepsy Matters" and "Purple Day"—and a phone number 1-866-EPILEPSY, designed various brochures and a number of projects. Our material has been published from the very start in both official languages—English and French. Over the past few years, we have had a representative at the International Bureau for Epilepsy. We have also established several partnerships with, among others, the Canadian League Against Epilepsy and with Neurological Heath Charities Canada, to name but two.
It's already been five years since the first Epilepsy Day was held on March 26 thanks to the initiative of young Cassidy Morgan, with the support of her family, her school and her local epilepsy association in Nova Scotia. She also received the unfailing support of Deirdre Floyd, who I'd like to say hello to today. Since then, she has been responsible for the national Purple Day committee and the international Purple Day committee. Ms. Floyd would have been with us today, but she is awaiting surgery to change a neurostimulator implant. So I commend her today for the significant amount of work she has done in the past five years. This initiative snowballed and today exists in many countries and, as of this year, on five continents, including the scientific research stations in the Arctic and in Antarctica.
I invite you to take a look at the video on www.purpleday.ca, showing images of children, adolescents and adults from around the world proudly wearing purple clothing in their daycares, schools, and workplaces. Today Cassidy and her many friends can say that they are no longer alone. At little Cassidy's request, they have all—in very large numbers—become ambassadors for epilepsy. They can finally dare to talk about this neurological condition in public, and that's just the beginning.
This is undeniably the largest awareness campaign dealing with epilepsy. So you'll understand why Bill C-278 is so important for all people living with the effects of epilepsy in Canada.
The colour purple has been associated with epilepsy for a few years now. It traditionally evokes isolation and solitude, but for little Cassidy, who was 9 years old when she created Purple Day, all shades of this colour were the same. That's why we kept the name "Purple Day" in English, because it was Cassidy's choice, it was her creation. We did not change the name in English. We kept the colour "lavande" in French for all French speakers in Canada. Our materials are created not only for Quebec, but also for all French speakers in Ontario, Nova Scotia, New Brunswick and Manitoba. So they are very pleased to receive our materials.
Once again, thank you for your invitation and for your attention to our request.
Thank you very much.