Integrated Air Traffic Management Technology Solutions

Seven-year cumulative total now stands at $2 million

NAV CANADA employees have concluded another successful campaign that raised $350,000 to support ground-breaking cancer research at The Ottawa Hospital. Since the Company initiated this annual fundraiser seven years ago, employees – supported by matching dollars from the Company as well as supplier donations – have generated a cumulative total of $2 million.

The focus of the fundraising effort is the important research being conducted by Dr. John Bell and his team at the Ottawa Hospital Research Institute. The researchers have made big strides of late, in their development of oncolytic viruses as potent cancer fighting agents.

Oncolytic viruses attack tumours in multiple ways. They have very mild side effects compared to other treatments and they can be easily customized for different types of cancer.

The Company presented its $350,000 ceremonial cheque to Tim Kluke, President and CEO, The Ottawa Hospital Foundation and Dr. John Bell, Senior Scientist, Cancer Therapeutics, Ottawa Hospital Research Institute on August 9 at the NAV CANADA annual employee picnic.

Speaking at the event, John Crichton, NAV CANADA President and CEO said,  “Each year we take this opportunity to present the results of our annual campaign to raise funds for The Ottawa Hospital Foundation, and in particular for the work of Dr. John Bell and his team in their efforts to fight – and in time – cure cancer,. This is our seventh year of support for the Hospital and I think you will all be very proud and very impressed with the results.”

Campaign funds are raised through donations from employees in the National Capital Region and Cornwall, through special events like the NAV CANADA Golf Tournament which includes supplier participation and through a corporate match.

Rob Thurgur, Assistant Vice President Operational Support at NAV CANADA and the 2014 Campaign Chair, expressed his appreciation to all employee donors, team captains and canvassers, and to the Company’s suppliers, in supporting the campaign. He also thanked Ted Wagstaff, the Foundation’s Vice President Corporate Partnerships, and Development Officer, Jessica Pancoe, who were both in attendance, for their hard work and support.

“I’m very pleased to be here today – very proud to be here today with everyone to present to the Foundation the contributions we made this year. I want to thank everyone from the bottom of my heart for helping us to help Dr. Bell find a cure for cancer,” said Thurgur in his address to the crowd.

Dr. Bell told NAV CANADA employees and their families, “We’re really making progress in the fight against this disease. I think we’re going to see this disease treated in a completely different way over the next several years and people are going to have better outcomes. I’m really excited about what’s happening and there’s no question that NAV CANADA has played a huge role in this.”