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April 2009
 From coast to coast, volunteers strengthen our communities. They serve on boards and
committees, mentor peers, organize cultural and recreational activities, support the elderly, provide
shelter, counsel youth, clean parks, coach teams, read to children, and so much more! Volunteers do the work
they do because they believe in causes, equal opportunities, clean, healthy and safe community spaces, active
living, and helping others. Volunteers simply aspire to make life better for others and we honour them for
doing so.
At Osteoporosis Canada, over 1200 volunteers dedicate many hours working
at our Chapters and Branches across the country. Our Board of Directors are all volunteers, as well as our
Scientific Advisory Council (SAC) and the Executive of the Canadian Osteoporosis Patient Network (COPN). Our
toll-free, bilingual information/counselling line is staffed by volunteers. Here are just
some of the ways in which volunteers contribute to our organization:
2008 Volunteer Milestones
• Chapter volunteers responded to over 300 speaking
engagement requests and spent over 6000 hours on educational programs and
activities, and even more on fundraising events, communications, and Chapter administration.
• Chapter volunteers educated the public at 185 health fairs
• Volunteers nation-wide increased awareness of our cause by participating in media opportunities during
Osteoporosis Month in November and at other times throughout the year
• Countless volunteer hours contributed to the success and release of Osteoporosis Canada’s first national
Report Card, Breaking Barriers, Not Bones
• Our dedicated 1-800 line volunteers logged 1472 hours, providing counselling to
approximately 650 people
• Volunteers from coast-to-coast held 24 Bone China Teas, some organized by Chapters, some
organized by individuals or external groups
• Members of the SAC have formed a Best Practices Working Group aimed at developing a new tool to support
physicians and allied health care professionals in caring for people with osteoporosis and those who suffer
fractures
• There are currently three medical papers in various stages of development being prepared by SAC members:
Vitamin D, Bone Turnover Markers, and Hip Protectors
• Osteoporosis Canada has a Rapid Response Team made up of four SAC members who are always on call. The team
quickly responds to media issues concerning osteoporosis (e.g. medications, side effects, etc.) to ensure
that media reporting does not unduly mislead the general public
• The volunteers of the COPN Executive spend approximately 50 hours per month working hard
for patients living with osteoporosis. Their work includes meetings, teleconferences and producing
COPING, a free educational newsletter. They are also tireless advocates and educators for the
osteoporosis cause.
 It is clear that without the contribution of our passionate and committed volunteers,
Osteoporosis Canada would virtually cease to exist as an organization. So, a heartfelt thank you to all of
our volunteers right across Canada, for giving so generously of your time and talents: you are truly
essential to the work that we do, and to ensuring that we are building better bones
TOGETHER!
It is generous donations such as this one that allow Osteoporosis Canada
to continue our work, thereby making a difference in the lives of people living with osteoporosis.
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