Blog

Save Your Skin is thrilled to introduce its new Quebec team to you! The Quebec office will be responsible for assisting skin cancer patients in the region, developing the network of partners and taking the lead on the local actions. Learn more about the new French team with this  interview of Felix-Antoine Léveillé, head of the Save Your Skin’s office in Quebec.

– Who are you and what is your main mission for Save Your Skin in Quebec?
My name is Félix-Antoine Léveillé and I’m the new regional manager of the Save Your Skin Foundation in Québec; Sauve ta peau. I’m also an anthropologist and in the process of finishing my studies in political sciences. My main mission is to support people affected by skin cancer (patients, survivors, natural caregivers and health professionals), to coordinate communication (public relations, medias relations, multimedia platforms in Québec) and to facilitate fundraising and advocacy campaigns.
 
– Can you speak briefly about important projects (related to cancer) that you have lead before? 
My mission has always been to implement cancer prevention programs in Quebec by working closely with the Coalition Priorité Cancer au Québec on different projects. I also participate in fundraising activities and projects with La société de recherche sur le cancer du Québec and Le Réseau entre-aidants.
 
– How will your involvement with the Save Your Skin Foundation help our move into the Quebec region? 
I have great experience in strategic development, philanthropy and advocacy. Furthermore, as an anthropologist, I have the aptitude to relate to and reach our community on a resonating level. The fact that I work with an excellent and experienced team is also very beneficial to the introduction of Save Your Skin in Quebec.
 
– What are your main objectives for 2014?  
My main objective is to coordinate the implementation of the Save Your Skin Foundation in Québec while coordinating the social advocacy efforts of the Foundation.
 

– What are the upcoming events for Save Your Skin in Quebec? 
Next on the docket is the organization of critical symposiums! We’ve got two coming up this summer in Montreal and Quebec (plus many more across Canada)! If you want to know more about the symposiums in Quebec – email me at fleveille@saveyourskin.ca Think-tanks are also coming soon.

On Feb 22nd, a team of Save Your Skin Volunteers headed up to the lodge at Cypress Mountain to help spread the word about the importance of protecting your skin during the winter months. With record snowfall that day, the lodge was packed! We spent our time handing out information, Save Your Skin tattoos and the crowd favourite, Save Your Skin stickers! With kids’ camps in full swing, we had tons of children stopping by and putting stickers on their helmets – we think this is a great place for a reminder to wear sunscreen year-round (for both parents and kids).

We’d like to thank Cypress Mountain for their hospitality – and we’d also like to send a big shout out to Earls Restaurants for helping us sweeten the deal with a $50 gift certificate! Entrants to the Earls GC contest were asked to apply sunscreen to exposed skin, and while the UV index was moderately low that day (as stated by ourfavourite free UV app) the response was overwhelming. One applicant (a kids camp ski instructor) stated to his devoted pupils while he slathered on sunscreen, that he ‘wears sunscreen all day every day no matter what the weather – even if it’s a snowstorm out’! Going on to say that it’s a habit made easier by the plethora of great beauty products and lotions that have SPF 15 or more. Now that’s a habit Save Your Skin can get behind!…and based on the adoring stares of the children in his camp, this was a message that stuck like the snow to the trees outside and the stickers to their helmets!

Our biggest thank you however, goes out to the people and families that stopped by and shared their stories. With over 6,000 Canadians diagnosed with melanoma a year, the chances are high that you, or someone you know has been touched deeply by the disease.

Help us spread the message that if caught early, skin cancer is one of the more curable forms of cancer – but the best treatment for the disease is prevention. Winter enthusiasts, children, parents – no one is immune to harmful effects of the sun – learn more here.

Make sure you visit our Facebook page for pictures of the event and to see what people said about the event on twitter (@saveyourskinfdn), search our official #saferayssnowdays hashtag!

Article Source: Government of Canada

February 26, 2014 For immediate release

Ottawa – Today, the federal government finalized new regulations mandating stronger health warning label requirements for tanning beds and equipment.

Health Canada has strengthened the labelling requirements for tanning beds to better inform consumers about the health risks associated with the use of these devices.

Once the regulations come into force on May 7, 2014, all tanning equipment sold, leased or imported into Canada must display a warning label with the following message: “Not recommended for use by those under 18 years of age.” The label also features a black bar warning stating: “Tanning equipment can cause cancer” and a bulleted list of other health risks associated with tanning including risk factors such as skin type, photosensitivity and history of skin cancer.

While Health Canada regulates the sale, lease and import of tanning beds under the Radiation Emitting Devices Act, regulation of tanning bed use in commercial establishments, including age restrictions, is being undertaken by provinces and territories. Most provinces/territories in the country currently either regulate, or have expressed an intention to regulate, access to tanning equipment by minors.

Quick Facts

• According to the World Health Organization, the risk of developing skin melanoma increases by 75% when use of tanning beds starts before the age of 35.
• Skin cancer is the most common type of cancer in Canada, and melanoma is its deadliest form.
• While mortality rates have remained stable, killing one in five diagnosed, incidence of melanoma has increased threefold between 1972 and 2006.
• In 2013, approximately 6,000 Canadians were diagnosed with melanoma skin cancer and 1050 died from it.
• Exposure to ultraviolet A and B radiation from tanning can cause sunburn, damage to your eyes, and other health effects, including an increased risk of skin cancer.
• In 2011, James Bezan, Member of Parliament for Selkirk-Interlake in Manitoba, tabled a Private Members Bill in the House of Commons to raise awareness about the harms associated with artificial tanning.

Read more 

Since 1989, the Canadian Dermatology Association’s annual, nationwide Sun Awareness Week has helped educate Canadians about dangers of excessive sun exposure — and reduce the incidence of skin cancer in the country. The Save Your Skin Foundation is happy to support this initiative to build important awareness around skin health.

Sun Awareness Week will take place Monday, June 2 to Sunday, June 8, 2014 and Island Health, the Canadian Cancer Society and Save Your Skin Foundation are joining forces this summer to help prevent skin cancer. The Sun Smart campaign is intended to educate Vancouver Island residents about sun safety and the importance of skin protection while enjoying outdoor activities.

Sun Awareness Week from June 2nd to 8th marks the debut of the campaign. The three organizations will share displays at community events from June through August to provide sun safety information and interactive games that shed light on some of the most common myths about tanning and sun safety. Find out more here: Sun Awareness Week: New partnership to promote sun safety this summer

The CDA will also be holding a number of other events and activities, including:

• Free skin screenings across Canada
• School visits by dermatologists, and other activities for children
• A video competition for teens