Media Advisory - Canadian Nurses Association's National Biennial Convention - Monday, June 16 - Wednesday, June 18, 2014

OTTAWA, June 12, 2014 /CNW/ - The largest group of health-care professionals is convening in Winnipeg next week at the Canadian Nurses Association's (CNA) national biennial convention. Immediately before the convention, CNA will also conduct official annual meeting business.  

The three-day event, which brings together more than 600 registered nurses from across Canada, will be kicked off by the CBC's Rick Mercer, host of the award-winning Rick Mercer Report. Convention attendees will explore the pressing health-care issues facing our nation, reflect on the opportunities for our nursing profession and the health-care system, design realistic, goal-driven practices and policy solutions, and act for meaningful change — in keeping with the 2014 theme: Explore. Reflect. Design. Act. A Showcase of Nursing Answers. Convention sessions will cover a wide range of topics including aboriginal health, dementia management, electronic medical records, addictions and mental health.

When the convention draws to close, outgoing president Barb Mildon, vice-president of professional practice and research and chief nurse executive at the Ontario Shores Centre for Mental Health Sciences, will pass the chain of office to Karima Velji, a health-care executive with more than 25 years of progressive leadership experience. CNA's presidents are elected by the membership and spend two years as president-elect prior to their two-year term as president.

CNA is pleased to welcome distinguished guests and convention speakers: the Honourable Erin Selby, minister of health for Manitoba, Dr. Gina Browne of McMaster University, Dr. David Butler-Jones, Canada's first and current chief public health officer, and Evan Solomon, host of CBC's Power & Politics and The House.

What:	CNA annual general meeting and biennial convention
When:	Monday, June 16 – Wednesday, June 18, 2014 Highlights include: (all times are central daylight time)
	Monday, June 16
	8:45 a.m.	Annual meeting report from president Barb Mildon and CEO Anne Sutherland Boal (live webcast available)
	4:30 p.m.	Election of 2016-18 president
	6:30 p.m.	"A Nation Worth Ranting About" with Rick Mercer (reception and book-signing to follow)
	Tuesday, June 17
	8:30 a.m.	Opening ceremonies, including blessing from a local elder, drummers and a hoop dancer (live webcast available)
	8:45 a.m.	Remarks from the Honourable Erin Selby, minister of health for Manitoba (live webcast available)
	9:30 a.m.	Opening keynote speaker: Dr. David Butler-Jones — "Reflections on 10 Years of Protecting and Promoting the Health and Safety of Canadians" (live webcast available)
	6:00 p.m.	Awards gala celebrating nursing leaders with the Jeanne Mance Award (CNA's highest honour), Orders of Merit and employer recognition awards. Recipients include:
		Lori Lamont, Winnipeg	Lucille Auffrey, New Brunswick
		Debbie Fraser, Winnipeg	Princess Margaret Hospital, Toronto
		Bonnie Stevens, Toronto	Leisureworld Senior Care Corporation,
		Peetha Krishnan, Winnipeg	Ontario and British Columbia
	Wednesday, June 18
	10:30 a.m.	Experts debate on ramping up RNs in primary care, moderated by Evan Solomon (live webcast available)
	1:00 p.m.	Featured speaker: Evan Solomon — "Inside Ottawa: Leadership in a Time of Change and How it Really Works" (live webcast available)
	2:00 p.m.	Transfer of the presidential chain of office (live webcast available)
	3:00 p.m.	Closing keynote speaker: Dr. Gina Browne — "A Tribute to What We've Always Known: Nursing Solutions Work" (live webcast available)
	4:00 p.m.	President's reception
Where:	RBC Convention Centre 375 York Ave., Winnipeg, Man.
Media attendance & interviews:	Members of the media are welcome to attend annual meeting and convention components. Any interview requests for members of CNA's leadership, speakers or convention attendees must be made through Kate Headley.
	Components of the annual meeting and the convention are available through live webcast at http://www.cna-aiic.ca.
	Twitter: #CNAagm (Monday only) and #CNAconv (ongoing)

CNA is the national professional voice of registered nurses in Canada. A federation of 11 provincial and territorial nursing associations and colleges representing 151,404 registered nurses, CNA advances the practice and profession of nursing to improve health outcomes and strengthen Canada's publicly funded, not-for-profit health system.

SOURCE: Canadian Nurses Association

For further information: For more information or interview requests, please contact: Kate Headley, External Communications Coordinator, Canadian Nurses Association, Telephone: [phone], ext. 561, Cell: 613-697-7507, E-mail: [e-mail]