Congratulations to this year’s community award winners for driving food allergy impact across Canada. They are true #FoodAllergyChampions. Learn more about their accomplishments below!
Do you know someone who deserves to be recognized for their commitment to driving change in food allergy? Are you doing great things to create food allergy awareness or advocating to make life better for Canadians with food allergy? We would love to hear how you and/or others are being #FoodAllergyChampions in the community. Visit foodallergycanada.ca/awards to learn more.
Robyn Allen Leadership Award
This award recognizes an individual who has made a unique contribution to the lives of Canadians with food allergy through their efforts in education, advocacy, community building, leadership, or fundraising. The award is in memory of Robyn Allen.
Allison Kapp
Allison Kapp is a Registered Dietitian with the Saskatchewan Health Authority in Regina, founder of the first food allergy awareness and support group in Regina, and the mother of two sons with food allergy.
She has exhibited a longstanding commitment to educating newly diagnosed families, healthcare colleagues, and the general public about food allergy, along with successful influencing policy and processes to better protect hospital patients with food allergy, all of which make her a deserving recipient of this award.
Sabrina Shannon Memorial Award
This award recognizes two individuals in post-secondary school who have contributed significantly to the Canadian food allergy community. This award is made possible through an educational grant from TD Securities and is dedicated to the life of Sabrina Shannon.
Benjamin Cruickshank
Benjamin is a 17-year-old with multiple food allergies who will be entering his first year at Trent University in Ontario to pursue child and youth studies.
At a young age, he learned about the importance of raising awareness of food allergy, and has since taken many opportunities to advocate and educate others on the condition.
Christian Kennedy
Christian is a 21-year-old who is continuing post-secondary studies at the Ivey Business School at Western University in Ontario. He is allergic to peanuts, and has focused on helping others with food allergy navigate everyday situations safely while also spreading awareness of the condition.
Pryde Family Travel Grant
This award provides two grants for graduate students, medical students or healthcare professionals who have an interest in food allergy/anaphylaxis. The funds help to offset expenses for attending an academic program or event related to food allergy. This grant was established in honour of the Pryde family and friends, and the friends and family of Sean Delaney.
Lauren Wong
Lauren is a medical student at the University of Alberta. She has faced challenges with her own food allergies and wants to help others with allergies in the future through healthcare.
She will be using the grant to attend the American Academy of Allergy, Asthma and Immunology (AAAAI) annual meeting in February 2024 in Washington, D.C.
Kamila Lizee
Kamila is pursuing a master’s degree researching Canadian products with precautionary allergen labelling (”may contain” statements) and the risk for those with food allergy.
She is using the grant to cover her attendance at the AAAAI meeting in February 2023 in San Antonio, Texas, where she presented a poster with preliminary research results.
To find out how you can make an impact and become a #FoodAllergyChampion, visit foodallergycanada.ca/awards.
Tags: community award, food allergy champions