Public Education

In the past 27 years Heart Niagara Inc. (HNI) has accumulated a wealth of experience and knowledge related to cardiovascular disease and its risk factors in the Niagara Region. Sharing this knowledge is important to help create a focus for the public and health professionals in the Niagara Region to improve the Region's cardiovascular health status. The Institute of Clinical Evaluative Sciences published the Cardiovascular Health and Services in Ontario Atlas in 1999. In the Atlas the Niagara Region is shown to have higher than the Ontario average rate of CVD and its risk factors. The Atlas also shows that Niagara residents have a difficult time accessing the more intensive procedures for CVD such as angiogram, angioplasty and bypass surgery.

Reducing and managing cardiovascular disease and it's risk factors improves the quality and quantity of an individuals life. Preventative cardiovascular health services have a positive direct benefit on an individuals cardiovascular system but the larger impact is the indirect benefit of reducing the burden of the multitude of diseases and disorders related to the same risk factors that cause CVD (Overweight, High Cholesterol, Diabetes, Physical Inactivity, Tobacco Smoke, High Blood Pressure).

The forums that HNI offers are designed to create a focus on preventing CVD. The core messages communicated in the forums are:

Why prevent or reduce the risk for heart disease: and
How to prevent or reduce the risk for heart disease

Public Forums

Heart Niagara Inc. (HNI) accepts speaking engagements providing information and leadership in Cardiovascular Health by providing direction and organization in a number of workshops developed and facilitated by health professionals.

Engagements included lectures, workshops and/or discussion periods presented at:

Community Service Clubs
Community Television
Brock University
Workshops
Symposiums and Forums
Niagara District Health Council
Regional Niagara Public Health Department
Wellness Symposiums
TV and Radio talk Shows
Special Interest Groups
Faith Community Groups

Public Lectures and Workshops

Some of the specific lectures/workshops that HNI is able to provide (with at least a one month notice) include:

Adolescent Heart Health
The lecture/workshop is designed to educate individuals and families about …….
Cholesterol Management:
HNI offers a cholesterol awareness lecture/workshop called "Making the Connection" in partnership with the Canadian Lipid Nurse Network. The lecture/workshop is multi-faceted and designed to educate individuals and families about the role of high cholesterol in heart disease.
Blood Pressure Management
The lecture/workshop is designed to provide information about risk factors of high blood pressure and blood pressure management with medications, lifestyle and dietary modifications.
Smoking and Alcohol
The lecture/workshop is designed to educate individuals and families about the relationship of smoking and alcohol to cardiovascular disease, and introduces smoking cessation strategies.
Changing Health Behaviors
The lecture/workshop is designed to provide individuals and families information about how health behaviors change.
Tobacco Policy and Anti-Smoking Bilaw Implemention
The lecture/workshop is designed to help individuals, families and businesses understand the new Niagara Smoke-free Public Places & Workplaces Bylaw.
Shopping Heart Smart
The lecture/workshop is designed to provide individuals and families information about how
Family Health History Councelling and Family CPR
The lecture/workshop is designed to educate individuals and families about the importance of knowing their family heart health histories and the benefits of family CPR training.
Coping with Heart Disease
The lecture/workshop is designed to provide individuals and families with strategies on how to cope with newly diagnosed or pre-existing cardiovascular disease.
Modifiable and Non Modificable Risk Factors and Risk Reduction
The lecture/workshop is designed to educate individuals and families about the relationship of the cardiovascular disease risk factors to the onset and progression of heart disease.
Heart Niagara Inc.
Current Events, Programs, Partnerships, Community Development and Primary Health Care
The lecture/workshop is designed to provide individuals, families and groups with information on Heart Niagara's activities to improve the Niagara Region's cardiovascular health status.

Health Professional CMEs

Acute Coronary Syndrome Update
Case-Based Discussions In Arthritis - Case Study 1
Clinical Scenarios In Diabetes
Heart Study
Obesity - Current Strategies For Nurse Practitioners
Obesity - Current Strategies For Primary Care Physicians
Hypertension: Treat To Target
Your Patients…Can We Prevent Brain Insults? New Evidence On Stroke And Dementia
Smoke Cessation Algorithim Developed
- A New Approach to Smoke Cessation
- Desktop Reference

Event Honorarium

Fees for lectures, workshops and CMEs are negotiated at the time of booking the event. Fees may be waived or reduced under certain circumstances for community groups and nonprofit organizations.

Readers should note that Heart Niagara Inc. (HNI) and the Heart and Stroke Foundation of Ontario (HSFO) are different, separate and independent organizations.

Heart Niagara Inc. is a registered not-for-profit charitable corporation. All donated dollars go directly toward providing health services that help the residents of the Niagara Region prevent or reduce their risk of heart disease. Donations to the HSFO are directed to cardiovascular disease research and public education throughout Ontario and Canada.

Heart Niagara Inc. operates solely in the Niagara Region with "hands on" programs such as Cardiac Rehabilitation of heart attack victims, teaching Cardiopulmonary Resuscitation (CPR) and implementing Public Access Defibrillation (PAD). Heart Niagara Inc. also directs the Niagara Schools' Healthy Heart Program in co-operation with the Regional Niagara Public Health Department and the school boards.

Heart Niagara Inc. is able to deliver Niagara Regional preventative cardiovascular services through donations, memoriums & fundraising. For more information contact Heart Niagara Inc. at 905-358-5552 or visit our Donations page.

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