Nick Giacomantonio - 2007, 2008, 2009, 2010
When thinking of the Heartland Tour, one of the first things that comes to mind is a spandex clad man at the front of crowd talking about “unity in community.” That man is Dr. Nick Giacomantonio, the director of Cardiac Rehabilitation at the QEII and founder of the Heartland Tour. But Giacomantonio, 44, is definitely not a talking head. He passionately believes he can make a positive change in the health of Nova Scotians. Born in Whitney Pier, Cape Breton, Giacomantonio feels a responsibility to understand and deal with the heart health issues in his home province.He’s changing the healthcare landscape in Nova Scotia by getting key members in every community involved with heart disease prevention: hospitals, universities, businesses, and politicians. “It’s a win/win/win situation,” says Giacomantonio. “Everyone gets recognition and the profile of events, like the Heartland Tour, is raised.”
Giacomantonio believes that people won’t cooperate if they’re being told what to do. Corporations won’t donate to the causes they’re told to support and patients won’t respond if they’re simply told what to do to get better. That’s why rehab programs, like Hearts in Motion, work. Giacomantonio says they’re working with the patient and creating an exercise and dietary regimen that is uniquely tailored to their lifestyle. It’s not just a flashy gimmick – attendance has doubled and more than 1000 people will have entered cardiac rehab in HRM in 2008.
“I don’t want to take over the world,” says Giacomantonio. “But I do want it to be able take care of itself.” |
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Gordon Young - 2007, 2008, 2009, 2010
When the bottom bracket fell off his bike on the road between Bridgewater and Halifax, Dr. Gordon Young, 59, borrowed a significantly smaller bike and rode it into town – even though he felt a bit like a Shriner. He laughs while telling the story, however, it illustrates one of Young’s exercise mantras: it’s gotta be fun. The Pictou family doctor would love to have a referral program where he could send patients to a physiotherapist who would design a fun and effective exercise program for them. Young says the Heartland Tour uses the best things about exercise (particularly a challenge and a support group) to promote healthy lifestyles – it’s something Young feels Nova Scotians need to hear. As someone who sees patients before they get sick, he understands the power of prevention. “For me the Heartland Tour is about change,” says Young. “But that change is going to be gradual. Thirty years ago I used to jog and everyone thought it was weird, especially in Pictou. Now, everyone is running.” |
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Marie-Claude Gregoire - 2007, 2008, 2009, 2010
Dr. Marie-Claude Grégoire, wants to get your kids off the couch. But the paediatrician knows that physical activity has to be fun in order for kids and adolescents to want to do them. They have to make you feel good about yourself, to be something that you like and chose yourself. She believes health care prevention begins with children and has often found the activities she suggests for kids turn into an intervention for the whole family. Marie-Claude moved to Halifax in 2004 from Montreal, Quebec, where she completed her medical degree and her residency in Paediatrics. She recently completed her fellowship (subspecialty) in chronic pain and palliative care, and she is a PhD candidate at Dalhousie in the Interdisciplinary Studies program. She has been cycling for 11 years and has completed multiple cycling trips up to 3 week long. Since moving to Halifax, she also enjoys running and swimming and has completed a few marathons and Olympic-distance triathlon. It has been a fantastic way of visiting Nova Scotia and making new friends!
Marie-Claude is one of the founding directors and the treasurer of the Cardiac Cycle Society of Nova Scotia. She can't wait to jump on her bike for the 2009 edition of the Heart Land Tour, and participates in the community events! |
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Ron Allen - 2007, 2008, 2009, 2010
When he was diagnosed with atrial fibrillation in 2004, Ron Allen’s doctor suggested he give up triathlons and start golfing instead. Ron replied, “I’m not old enough for golf ….yet!”
The diagnosis came shortly after Ron, 63, returned from Ironman Hawaii in 2003. Ron worked for Michelin for over 36 years and recently retired. In 2003 Ron had been competing in sprint triathlons for two years when a Hawaii Ironman lottery spot for Michelin employees came up within the company. Ron won a place, but became dehydrated and cramped during the race however he did finish that event. When he returned home to Bridgewater he was determined to go back and do better. In the spring and summer of 2004 after many visits to his Doctor and the Hospital he got the atrial fibrillation under control and during that time Ron remained determined to keep competing.
“In Hawaii they write your age on your calf,” says Ron of the Ironman competition. “I saw guys in their 60s, 70s, and one man in his 80s. I thought, ‘if these guys can do this then so can I.’”
Since then Ron has completed four more Ironman competitions with much better success and he will be competing in Penticton British Columbia again on August 30th this year.
He says the Heartland Tour is an opportunity for him to give back to the medical community that has helped him and his family so much.
Last year (2008) Ron became involved with the Tony Griffin Foundation (now named “Give to Live”) and did a bike relay ride from Halifax to Austiin Texas and that group raised over $250,000 for Cancer, another good cause to be involved with for the community “I’m happy to do these events and sometimes while doing them I feel like I’m 19-years-old.”
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Katherine Saulnier - 2007, 2008, 2009, 2010
“Don’t waste a day.” That’s Katherine Saulnier’s mantra. And after spending just a few minutes with her you’ll see she lives up to her maxim. Saulnier, 51, is Clinical Associate in the School of Nursing at St. Francis Xavier University. She’s competed in triathlons for 10 years (she’ll be doing the “Highland Challenge” at the end of July) and she spends three nights a week at the pool with the Masters swimming team.
Saulnier says she’s had cardiac rehab on her agenda “forever.” When Antigonish’s rehab program folded (due to lack of funding and volunteer burnout), Saulnier co-founded a cardiac support group and is now District Coordinator for CVHNS (CardioVascular Health Nova Scotia) in Pictou County. It’s a way for people affected by heart disease to meet once a month to socialize and learn about practical healthy lifestyle choices. In fact, the group pitched in and bought her uniform to show their support for her and the HeartLand Tour. Saulnier’s work with the cardiac support group has led to plans to re-open the rehabilitation program.
“I’ve seen so much illness in my profession,” Saulnier says. “So it’s important to celebrate good health.” |
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Lawrence Title - 2007, 2008, 2009
Lawrence Title is passionate about cycling and he wants to ride his bike more… Unfortunately, he spends too much time at the QE2 Hospital opening blocked coronary arteries with balloon angioplasty and stents. The sad thing is that the majority of heart attacks and heart disease are attributable to high cholesterol, smoking, high blood pressure, diabetes, obesity, poor diet (low in fruits and vegetables), psychosocial stress, low alcohol consumption, and lack of regular physical activity. It is really sad because these are potentially preventable and treatable factors. More importantly, these factors seem to be especially prevalent in Nova Scotians. It is especially upsetting to see the how obese and inactive many of our children have become, which will likely contribute to their future health problems. So, if Nova Scotia could make major lifestyle changes starting in childhood, perhaps Lawrence’s daytime job could eventually become obsolete, giving him more time for riding his bike and drinking coffee. That in essence is what the HeartLand Tour is all about and that is why he has been involved in this important project since 2007. Plus, it’s a great opportunity to ride !
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Vicki Giacomantonio - 2008, 2009, 2010
I am 46 years young. I am an avid runner and in the past year or two, biking has become a new love of mine. I am a Dental Hygienist in Halifax. I promote Heart Healthy life style to my patients as I believe it plays a role in dental health as well. Also, I believe this is a great example and stimulus for my three children. We dramatically need to change our communities action plan toward Heart Health so that we all will benefit; Young and old, today and tomorrow!
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Mike Saulnier - 2008, 2009, 2010
Married - 2 sons
Occupation - heavy equipment operator
Volunteer activities - medical first responder for EHS
Firefighter for Salmon River Fire Department
Reason for participating in Heartland Tour - At age 28 diagnosed with heart condition and was advised by physician to choose a healthier lifestyle.
Activities & hobbies - Cycling, jogging & walking. Enjoy going to hockey games.
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Ruth Saulnier - 2008, 2009
Ruth Saulnier
Married Mike, 2 Sons Johnny and Daniel
Occupation: Scheduler/Continuing care assistant for Digby Clare Home Support- Sales rep. for Smet Monuments
Volunteer activies: Medical First Responder for EHS
- Fire Fighter for Salmon Reiver Fire Dept.
Reason for participating in HLT: In fall of 2008 was diagnois with heart condition and had a pacemaker surgically implanted in Jan. 2009
Hobbies: Cycling, Running and walking with my Husdand and friends also love travelling.
Exercising is part of my lifestyle but it helps that cycling is a passion of mine.
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Carmen Giacomantonio - 2008, 2009, 2010
Born, Nov. 20, 1958, Sydney N.S.
Married: Margo (27 years)
4 children, Katie (17), Michael (15), Nicholas (13) and Curtis (9)
Occupation: Surgical Oncologist / Scientist
Professional Title: C. A. Giacomantonio MD, MSc, FRCSC
Associate Professor, Departments of Surgery and Pathology,
Dalhousie University, Halifax, N.S.
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Chief, Breast and Adult Surgery, IWK Health Centre
Clinical Head, Surgical Oncology Nova Scotia, CCNS
Chair, Melanoma Site Team, CCNS
Undergraduate Degree: BSc. Dalhousie University 1987
Medical Degree: Memorial University of NF 1991
Residency in General Surgery, Dalhousie University, 1997,
Masters of Science, Dalhousie University, 1998
Residency in Surgical Oncology, U. of Calgary, 1999
Clinical interest: Breast Cancer, Melanoma, Gastric Cancer, Sarcoma and Metastatic adenocarcinoma.
Interests: Family
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Terry Haliburton - 2008, 2009, 2010
I am married with two teenage children, Luke 16 and Chelsea 15. My wife, Joan and I are both community pharmacists practicing in Antigonish and Guysborough for the past 20 years. We own two independent pharmacies, Haliburton PharmaChoice. I am an avid mountain and road cyclist. I have and continue to serve on a variety of community groups and have managed and coached Minor Hockey for the 8 years. I am an Advanced PADI scuba diver and just finished a five-year amateur and pro-motorcycle road racing career.... just your typical white coat pharmacist.
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Ian MacRae - 2007, 2008, 2009
- Age – 58
- Self employed – Spitfire Sign Shop Ltd.
- I know I am headed in the same direction as everyone else – ‘the deep six’ but I am trying to do it with a little style.
- A regime of running and biking lets me think I can enjoy my few vices – food and wine.
- I started ‘act 3’ of my life on June 30/09 by retiring from my regular job and hope that only good things can come from it.
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Lea Brydon - 2008, 2009, 2010
I have a passion for communication, leadership and healthy living and am blessed to work at Capital Health where I can honour all three every day. As a competitive swimmer at the age group, varsity and masters level I came to appreciate the physical, emotional and mental benefits to exercising my heart and that appreciation has carried into my middle years where running hills and trails, lifting weights, balancing on the ball and skiing keep me fit, happy and healthy. I'm married to a man with a big heart and together we have three kids - 14, 18 and 21 years old - who are all growing into wonderful human beings.
The 2008 tour was my first cycling adventure and it got me hooked. It was eight of the best days of 2008 for me. Now I have to get my own road bike and get on it and get ready for HLT 2009.Biking and the bike tour are all new to me and I'm equal parts terrified and excited about the prospect of biking all those miles and sharing my passion for living well. |
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Bob Coyle - 2008, 2009, 2010
I work in the healthcare field and have been an active runner and cyclist for many years, While training for a half marathon I began experiencing chest pain which required treatment.
I was given some good advice at that time. " Exercise is your early warning system for possible vascular events, so keep doing it. "
I'm excited to be part of the Heartland tour and share my experiences. Regular exercise can be a life saver.
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Doug Hayami - 2008, 2009
Being active has always been part of my life. Starting with Saturday morning judo classes when my parents noticed I could walk, hockey throughout elementary and high school, varsity cross country running and track and field, to racing for Canada at Duathlon World’s. Despite increasing demands from school, and a busy internal medicine residency there’s always time for that Sunday run or post-call ride around the Sambro loop. Being active is like brushing your teeth or that coffee first thing in the morning. It clears the mind and burns through stress. It’s a habit and part of my life. An active lifestyle is starting point to help prevent much of what I see in the hospital especially with respect to cardiovascular disease. Being part of the Heartland Tour is a wonderful opportunity to raise awareness throughout Nova Scotia and help others become more active. |
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Chris Milburn - 2008, 2009, 2010
Chris is an ER physician born and raised in Sydney, Nova Scotia. He moved back home to work after spending almost 17 years in various parts of Canada.
He has been involved with environmental and health issues for over a decade. His dual interests of environmental responsibility and health promotion have led him to his current main interest of promoting active transportation (and thereby decreased use of motor vehicles and fossil fuel) through community design. Chris is currently an executive member of Velo Cape Breton after being president for several years. He is a founding member of ADAPT (the Association of Doctors for the Advancement of Physically-active Transportation) – a group of over 40 physicians in Nova Scotia. He organizes a master’s swim team in Sydney, and is active in triathlon and running races. He has been a past candidate fro the Green Party, and was recently selected to attend a training session with Al Gore on issues surrounding climate change and environmental sustainability. |
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Chris d'Entremont - 2009, 2010
The Honourable Chris d’Entremont is Nova Scotia’s Minister of Community Services and Minister of Acadian Affaires. He is also the Minister responsible for the Disable Persons Commission and the Youth Secretariat. Chris d'Entremont was first elected to the Legislative Assembly in August, 2003, and re-elected in June 2006. His Cabinet duties have included:
- Minister of Health
- Minister of Agriculture and Fisheries;
- Minister of Acadian Affairs; and
- Chair of the Senior Citizens' Secretariat.
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His political career started in 1999 as Executive Assistant to the Minister of Finance, the Honourable Neil LeBlanc. Mr. d'Entremont has served in many volunteer organizations, such as le Festival Acadien de Sainte Anne-du-Ruisseau, and the Rotary Club of Yarmouth. Mr. d'Entremont still serves as a volunteer with the Eel Brook and District Fire Department and the Ste-Anne’s Catholic Church. Mr. d’Entremont was recently decorated to the grade of commander in the prestigious French Parliamentary Association’s “Ordre de la Plaeide” for his work supporting the Acadian and Francophone communities in Nova Scotia. Mr. d'Entremont is married to Anne Muise and has two sons, André and Alec. |
Shane Hawkins - 2009
Shane Hawkins is a second year medical student at Dalhousie University and is very excited to be joining the 2009 Heartland Tour. Shane started riding a road bike about 5 years ago, got heavily involved in the sport of Triathlon last year, and thinks 800 km can only do good things for his bike split. Born and raised on the Eastern Shore of Nova Scotia, Shane did a business degree before finding his way to medicine. Shane plans to be a family doctor and strongly believes the most effective way to improve cardiovascular health in our communities is to promote healthy and active lifestyles.
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Don Cook - 2009
, 2010
After a lifetime of being involved in hockey on and off the ice, Don Cook (born in 1956) was taken by surprise when an EKG exam detected he had an irregular heartbeat and he had failed a stress test. Don, a proud family man, was not about to sit back and let his health deteriorate to the point where he would not be able to live life to its fullest. As the current CEO of Cook's Dairy Farm Ltd., a member of the Board of Directors of the Atlantic Dairy Council, as well as the CBDC Yarmouth, Don decided to take the bull by the horns and do something to improve his health. To incorporate a healthier lifestyle into his already busy schedule, Don started biking on a regular basis and also changed his diet. Initially, Don picked up mountain biking and, while on a bike tour of Prince Edward Island during the summer of 2007, some friends recommended he start using a road bike. Since that time, Don has become passionate about cycling and, over time, has also become a bit competitive; in the fall of 2008 he entered the biking portion of two duathalon races. Don loves cycling, can't get enough of it and wishes he had started cycling 20 years ago.
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Andrew Dacanay - 2009
A native of the United Kingdom, Andrew is an avid cyclist and claims to “have done everything you can imagine” on a bicycle including tandem racing and a highly dangerous summer as a bike courier in London. Growing up in crowded cities in the UK he found that cycling, not driving was often the best way to commute, visit friends or just buy groceries, a philosophy he carried over the pond over ten years ago. Following doctors orders he didn’t race last year but has come back with a new-found zest not necessarily for racing, but just for running and riding for the sheer enjoyment of it and regularly encourages fellow racers to take the bike computer off and just go for a pleasant ride in the sun, smell the roses and have a chat with their friends.
When he is not being president of Triathlon Nova Scotia or a triathlon official, he is an assistant professor at the Agricultural College in Truro.
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Arpuyn Bajwa - 2009
I grew up in Dalhousie, a small town in northern New Brunswick. Spent some
time in Quebec then went to Ontario for my BSc. at the University of Waterloo.
I just finished my second year of medical school at Dalhousie. About two years ago, I
bought my first road bike and have been hooked ever since. Probably
one of the
best sports out there! (well maybe second to running…hehe). Biking is such a
great sport to stay fit, active and happy. There’s nothing else like it! I’m
so thrilled to be a part of this years Heartland Tour! |
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Ross Haynes - 2007, 2008, 2009
Ross Haynes brings to cycling the same determination he applies to his successful legal practice and his many community activities. For him, the HeartLand Tour is the perfect vehicle – a chance to pedal around the province and encourage others to get moving.
Never timid about sharing his opinions, Ross is well known to CBC audiences for his three-year stint on the weekly TV news panel, Canada Now: Politics Now, and his regular radio commentaries. In his view, Nova Scotia can’t afford to have an inactive population. “We all know it’s important to exercise,” he says. “What the HeartLand Tour does is inspire people to move from knowledge to action.”
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Bill Booth - 2007, 2008
Dr. Bill Booth sees the consequences of cardiovascular disease everyday in his clinic. Booth, 50, is a general practitioner based in Antigonish. He says part of the problem in Nova Scotia is genetics, but more often than not, it’s neglected diet and exercise. Booth, like many people was always aware of how to maintain a healthy lifestyle, but didn’t really take it to heart until he entered medical school at Dalhousie University. The Heartland Tour is something Booth really wanted to be a part of. He is an avid cyclist (mixing it up between mountain and road biking) and there is a history of heart disease in his family. As the only physician from North-Eastern Nova Scotia, Booth hopes he will raise awareness in his community. “My patients will see what I’ve done,” he says. “Hopefully I will set an example and motivate people to continue to exercise.” |
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Rick Sparkman - 2007, 2008
As a business professor at Acadia University, Rick Sparkman tends to look at “the cost of things.” Not only do 700 people a year die in this province prematurely because of inactivity, treating preventable illnesses like diabetes and stroke costs tax payers $400 a person a year. It’s draining money from the healthcare system and from our own pockets. Sparkman, 62, says, “the most cost effective medical facility is a walking trail. It’s cheap and it will keep people out of the hospitals.”
But he’s not all about the money.
Sparkman gives lectures on the benefits of active transportation and also writes for the Sierra Club. He used to be an avid cyclist in the 70s and was going to the gym and swimming until last fall when he caught the Norwalk virus. While he was recuperating in the winter, Sparkman tried to get back to his old activities. He was discouraged when he realized he couldn’t. That’s when he saw an article about the Heartland Tour in the Chronicle Herald. Sparkman gave himself three months to get back in shape and ready for the 20km/hr pace. Needless to say, he’s having a great time. |
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Jean-François Légaré - 2007, 2008
Very few people would be happy if they were out of a job. Dr. Jean-François Légaré isn’t one of them. The cardiac surgeon sees people at the critical stage of heart disease every day. “Many people believe that surgery is a cure,” Légaré says. “But I am usually just prolonging the end. When you see it every day it starts to eat you up a little.”
That’s why Légaré, 38, joined the Heartland Tour. He believes people need to overhaul their lifestyle in order to truly reverse the damage of heart disease. Popping into the hospital for a quick fix every six months is not the answer and Légaré hopes that over time events like the Heartland Tour will get more people to take their health seriously. While Légaré knows he won’t see the end of preventable cardiovascular disease in his lifetime, he hopes there will be a day when people think of it as blight on the historical landscape. |
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Sarah Lea - 2008
I'm a second year medical student at Dalhousie University and am excited to be a part of this year's Heartland Tour. I have always enjoyed spending time outdoors and grew up sailing all summer and skiing all winter. About three years ago, I purchased my first road bike, got into triathlons and have loved every minute of it!
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Tom Baxter - 2008
Tom Baxter is a medical student at Dalhousie University. Before medical school he completed his undergraduate work at King’s College doing a combined honors degree in Classics and Biology. Upon graduating, he traveled and taught English in Japan for two years, before returning to Halifax to work at Nubody’s as a personal trainer. In 2006 he cycled 3000 kilometers in Southern Africa with tour d’Afrique and raised money for the Juvenile Diabetes Research Foundation and awareness for type I diabetes. Cycling is a passion for him and last summer he undertook another cycling adventure, traveling down the Western Coast from Portland Oregon to La Paz Mexico with two fellow classmates Ryan and Dave (also on the heartland tour). He is excited to see Nova Scotia by bicycle and to help make a difference in promoting awareness of cardiovascular disease and living a healthy lifestyle.
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Ryan Fisher - 2008
I grew up in Shinimicas, Nova Scotia, a small farming community outside Amherst, NS. After completing an undergraduate degree in Physiology at McGill University I spent time in Korea teaching English and traveled within Asia and Europe. I'm currently in my second year of medical school at Dalhousie University. I've been cycling for two to three years; the highlight was cycling down the West Coast from Portland-San Francisco and along the Baja of Mexico. |
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David Russell - 2008
I am a second year medical student at Dalhousie University. I've been biking for about 5 years, but have been involved in amateur sports my entire life - primarily in sprint canoeing. I've also enjoyed coaching basketball teams in the city. This summer's bike trip with the Heartland tour will be significantly shorter and cooler than my last summer's trip, where Tom Baxter, Ryan Fisher and I biked from Oregon south into California and through the majority of the Baja peninsula in Mexico. This will be my first HeartLand tour.
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Howard Wightman - 2007
Dr. Howard Wightman, 52, has been cycling for ten years, but his physical pursuits go way back. Like the time he moved to Hawaii after finishing the first year of his undergrad to surf, sell shell necklaces, and serenade tourists with his acoustic guitar. Inspired by doctors he met on his travels, Wightman decided to go to med school. He ended up at Dalhousie University and he’s been working at the Valley Regional Hospital for 15 years. Wightman began a cardiac rehabilitation program shortly after he arrived at Valley Regional called Extended Warranty II. It is one of the first rehab programs in the province that has been able to sustain itself. Extended Warranty II combines low-level exercise with a nutritional and cooking program. Patients learn how to select and prepare healthy, low-fat food that tastes really great. Support for Wightman’s program has been phenomenal throughout the Valley area. Most of the funding comes from the community in an annual fundraiser called “Hearts on Ice” – a skating party held at Acadia University every Valentines Day. |
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Michael O’Reilly - 2007
The average life expectancy for a physician in Canada is 67, and cardiologist Dr. Michael O’Reilly has a pretty good idea why. Twelve years ago he was overweight, logging 10 and 12-hour days at Valley Regional Hospital, and subsisting on a constant flow of coffee. Growing up, O’Reilly, 52, played pretty much any and every sport he could. If there was a tiddlywinks team, he would have been on it. But as the demands of his job increased, he had zero time for sports, let alone time to be with his family.
Until three years ago. A group of doctors organized a bike tour of Italy and it was the bike, O’Reilly says, that saved him. He wanted to go, but knew he’d have to get into shape first. He started to leave the hospital at 5 p.m. (an hour and a half earlier than usual) three times a week and biked a 38 k.m. route around Kentville. Since he returned from Italy he’s made his health a priority. Through exercise, a better diet and regulating his hours at work, O’Reilly lost 60 pounds. He says events like the Heartland Tour are important because it shows patients that they’re not alone, their doctors take their health seriously too. |
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Colin VanZoost - 2007
Colin VanZoost admits to hiding from some of the doctors from the various communities on the Heartland Tour. As a medical student, VanZoost, 25, is ripe for recruitment and medical professionals are only too happy to show him the perks of working in their hospital. But VanZoost already has a pretty good idea of what he wants to do: Family medicine in the rural Maritimes. Originally from Falmouth, Nova Scotia, VanZoost wants to promote the philosophy of healthy living at a grassroots level. He received his undergraduate degree in kinesiology from STFX. There he learned the importance of holistic health – incorporating exercise, diet, and lifestyle into healthcare. VanZoost has been driving the van 50 per cent of the time. He says there is an incredible difference between riding and driving. When he drives the van, VanZoost looks after the riders, gets food and water, loads and unloads supplies, acts as a relay between the core team, the community, and Nick – and, as if that weren’t enough, he is also the official bike tuner for the Heartland Tour.
VanZoost hopes that the tour will inspire at least one person in each community to be more active. “I want to at least plant a seed in their mind,” says VanZoost. “Personally, I’m inspired by the other doctors on the tour and how committed they are. Some of them are 30 years older than me and just as active. I want to be able to do what they’re doing when I’m their age.” |
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Greg Campbell - 2007
When Andrew Giorno and Nick Giacomantonio were organizing the Heartland Tour earlier this year, they asked Greg Campbell, a 3rd year med student, to join in. Campbell, 33, was an obvious choice. He has been seriously road biking for 13 years and used to compete in races around the province. He’s also a part of the “bike group.” The four medical students on the tour try to cycle together a couple of times a week. Ideally they’d like to get together more often, but such is the plight of a student.
Campbell was born in Victoria, BC, and moved to Halifax to do physiotherapy. He did that for five years before entering Dalhousie’s medical school. As a father of two daughters (ages 2 and 4), he knows that preventing heart disease starts right out of the cradle.
“Kids are naturally active,” says Campbell. “They’ll do well if you leave them to their own devices.”
Campbell’s daughters are constantly running around and his four-year-old is in dance lessons and soccer. But he also sees kids around who are clinically obese at six-years-old. He feels part of the problem is the slew of demands placed on families today. Both parents are usually working and it’s difficult to spend time together. Campbell says the easiest thing for a tired parent to do is put their child in front of a TV. And with the average Canadian watching three hours of TV a day, replacing even one of those hours with activity is a step in the right direction. |
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Andrew Giorno - 2007
Last year, Dalhousie medical student Andrew Giorno, 26, took a cardiology elective with Dr. Nick Giacomantonio. Nick shared his passion for the heart muscle, and its ally – the bicycle. Soon Giorno was planning the route for the Heartland Tour. He ended up mapping most of it. “The idea was to hit all the major towns,” says Giorno. “Giving the tour the most visibility and the riders the most safety.”
Like the other medical students, the Cape Breton native takes his turn behind the wheel. Giorno finds driving the van just as exciting as biking with the group – especially when he sees other bikers join in as they enter town. Plus, when he’s driving the van, he doesn’t feel like Nick’s student. Giorno sees himself as more of a babysitter. Giorno didn’t do a lot of training for the tour. In fact, when it started he hadn’t been on a bicycle in two months. No, he’s not lazy, Giorno actually had a knee injury and thankfully it hasn’t given him much trouble over the 1 000 kms.
Giorno wants to specialize in cardiology because you can focus on lifestyle and prevention. “And hopefully it will pay well,” he says. “So I can buy a better bike.” |
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Alison James - 2007
Her water bottle may read “Princess Alison,” but she can definitely hold her own with guys. Alison James, 30, is one of the most (if not the most) experienced cyclists in the group. The Cardio Research Manager competed at the Canada Games in 1997, cycled extensively through Europe, and still competes in time trials today. She rides her bike 7 km to the QEII everyday for work and James and her husband cycle together every weekend with a group of friends. Alison wasn’t always so active. It wasn’t until the first year of her undergrad at Queen’s that Alison became interested in sports. She had a friend who was a triathlete and Alison was inspired to try out for the varsity running team – of course, she made it. She laughs at how little she knew about sports back then. “I thought ‘carb-loading’ meant you had to eat pasta all day before a race – even for breakfast,” she says.
Today Alison instinctively knows the limits of her body, when to eat and drink, and how pace herself. She says the distance they’re travelling in the Heartland Tour is extreme for most people, but the message behind the 1000 km ride is simply to get active. “It’s about climbing the stairs instead of using the elevator,” she says. “It’s about taking the bike to work. Anyone can hop on a bike, it’s the easiest thing to do.”
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John Haverstock - 2007
There’s more to the Heartland Tour than spokes and spandex. Someone has to make sure the cyclists are safe, hydrated, and… going in the right direction. That’s where John Haverstock and the cube van come in. Haverstock, 27, is one of four Medical students in their third year of study at Dalhousie University. He alternates between cycling with the group and accompanying them in the Heartland Tour van. Haverstock doesn’t prefer one over the other. He likes finding roads and picking up groceries, but he also loves cycling with the group and chatting with the other riders. “The energy lasts all day,” he says. “You’re so focused on getting to your destination and once you get there the reception and excitement from the community just feeds it more.”
Haverstock hopes the tour has a domino effect across the province. While their message may only reach a handful of people this time around, those people will tell their friends and family and the chain will just keep growing. While he isn’t quite sure what he wants to specialize in, Haverstock knows he wants to focus on prevention. It’s something he feels the medical community needs to focus on too.
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Doug Laffin - 2007
One day Doug Laffin’s wife was looking through the paper and saw a picture of a man who used to live in their neighbourhood. It was Dr. Nick Giacomantonio promoting the upcoming Heartland Tour. His wife suggested he participate, but Laffin was sceptical as to whether or not he could keep up. Especially after he went on a ride with Nick and Howard Wightman. The other riders had to wait for him as he struggled up the hills. Part of the reason was that Laffin was packing 20 lbs of supplies on his bike. When he unloaded the gear and discovered he could go faster, Laffin decided that no one would wait for him on a hill again. He trained for six weeks before the tour. In addition cycling, Laffin ran Citadel hill on his lunch hour at CIBC where he works as a credit specialist.
While Laffin, who will only say that he’s in the 50+ age bracket, is getting in incredible shape because of the Heartland Tour, his primary reason for biking across the province is in memory of his father who passed away of a stroke in 2004 at age 85. Laffin’s father had a double bypass twenty years before. Afterwards he started working out five times a week and going ice-skating – he was so active that Laffin couldn’t keep up. He knew this is something his father would have enjoyed and, for the record, no one on the Heartland Tour has waited for Laffin on a hill.
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Pat MacDonnell - 2007
Soon after his doctor mentioned the Heartland Tour, Pat MacDonnell, 54, logged onto the internet, found the website, and signed up. Turns out his doctor (Gordon Young) did the same thing. MacDonnell is the Disability Resource Facilitator at the NSCC campus in Stellarton. He also sits on the community health board. They look at what the people want from their health care providers and then develop programs for the health authority. MacDonnell says he loves being a part of something that is making a positive change. That’s why he’s involved with healthcare in his community and the Heartland Tour. MacDonnell tries to exercise as much as possible; he goes out at least five times a week for activities like swimming, spinning, and canoeing. He hopes the Heartland Tour will grow to include canoeing tours, walking tours, or hiking tours. MacDonnell even has plans to organize a smaller version for the Pictou area. In addition to preventing cardiovascular disease, MacDonnell believes people should exercise if only because it gives you a happier, more fulfilling day-to-day life.
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