President’s Award

This award is presented to an individual or organization who, in the opinion of the Board of Directors of the association, has made exceptional contributions to fostering the objectives of the Canadian Association of Psychosocial Oncology. This award is presented only on those rare and special occasions when an individual or organization is deemed to have made a significant contribution of great significance to the growth and development of psychosocial oncology in Canada.

Click here to view the President’s Award Terms of Reference.

2013 Recipient: Ivan X. de Souza

Ivan de Souza has over 30 years of investment banking experience. He was a Senior Vice President and major shareholder of McLeod Young Weir, now Scotia McLeod, one of Canada’s four largest investment banking firms. Subsequent to leaving McLeod, Ivan founded Investcan Securities and is the President & CEO of Investcan Inc. His Awards and recognitions include; Knight “Order of Constantine”, Knight “Order of St. Gregory”, Knight “Order of St. Basil”, Knight “Order of St. George” and Queen’s Diamond Jubilee Award.

Ivan de Souza and his partner Anna Maria, are acknowledged as some of Canada’s most admired philanthropists. Anna Maria, who died from cancer in 2007, founded the Brazilian Carnival Ball in 1966 in a church basement. From this modest beginning, this annual event grew into one of Canada’s most successful fund raising events, raising over $57 million dollars for a great number of deserving causes.

In 2012, Ivan invited CAPO to partner with the de Souza Institute Foundation to host, what would be the final Brazilian Carnival Ball. This partnership resulted in sizable donations to both organizations. Of greater significance for CAPO is the profile psychosocial oncology received during the fundraising process. Many organizations and decision makers, which CAPO would normally have limited access to, were made aware of CAPO and the importance of psychosocial support throughout the cancer care continuum. This demystification of psychosocial services has opened doors for future partnerships and fundraising opportunities.

Ivan’s work in creating the de Souza Institute is a significant contribution to advanced cancer care. In memory of the passing of Anna Maria, Ivan championed an initiative to create the de Souza Institute; an innovative center of learning dedicated to improving cancer care by supporting excellence in oncology nursing. The Institute provides ongoing educational support, professional development and career counseling to Ontario nurses caring for oncology patients in any setting and phase of the cancer care journey and is now expanding their programs to all professions providing cancer care. Since inception, the de Souza Institute has been an educator, partner, collaborator and funder of psychosocial oncology initiatives.

Ivan’s unwavering and endearing commitment to psychosocial oncology is evident, resulting in an improved quality of life of cancer patients across Canada.

Inaugural Recipient:

Honourable Steven Fletcher, PC, MP, Minister of State for Democratic Reform

Steven Fletcher is the Minister of State for Democratic Reform. In his role as Minister he is responsible for Senate reform legislation, House of Commons seat distribution, the creation of a Canadian agency to promote democracy abroad and many other initiatives surrounding voter turn-out and Canadian democracy. Steven is one of five Ministers who serve on the Treasury Board cabinet committee.

During his time as Minister, Fletcher has introduced democratic reform legislation that will strengthen Canada’s democratic process.

Fletcher was first elected to the House of Commons in 2004 in the west Winnipeg federal riding of Charleswood-St. James-Assiniboia. He was re-elected in 2006 and 2008 with increasing margins. In the 2008 election he won with 54% of the vote or over 13,000 vote plurality.

After being first elected in 2004, he was appointed the Official Opposition Critic for Health and was a member of the Standing Committee on Health. When Prime Minister Stephen Harper became Prime Minister in 2006 he appointed Steven to the position of Parliamentary Secretary to the Minister of Health.

During his time as health critic, Fletcher championed compensation for the “forgotten victims” of Hepatitis C. He also worked with other parties to dramatically reduce trans-fats from the Canadian Food Supply.

Fletcher brought forth and championed a motion in parliament expressing the need for the full implementation and funding of the National Cancer Control Strategy, and a National Approach for Mental Health and Heart Disease. Stevens’s efforts culminated when the Conservative government was elected in 2006, as the government committed to fully fund and implement the Canadian Strategy for Cancer Control. The Conservative government went

on to establish the National Mental Health Commission and the national framework for dealing with Cardio-vascular Disease.

For his efforts, Fletcher is a recipient of the National Cancer Leadership Forum’s (NCLF) inaugural Award for Outstanding Individual Leadership (2006) and the Canadian Cancer Society’s Courage and Leadership Award (2006). Fletcher is also a recipient of the Champions of Mental Health award (2006) for his work in raising awareness for Mental Health.

Fletcher has been inducted into the Terry Fox Hall of Fame (2005), received the King Clancy Award (2004), is the recipient of her Majesty’s Golden Jubilee Medal (2003) for his contributions to Canada and received the Christopher Reeve Award from the Canadian Paraplegic Association (2010).

Prior to his election, Mr. Fletcher worked as an engineer in the Mining Industry until an automobile collision with a moose, left him a quadriplegic, paralyzed from the neck down. He returned to University where he obtained a Master’s in Business Administration (MBA).

Mr. Fletcher has a Bachelor in Science degree in Engineering (B.Sc.GE) from the University of Manitoba. He is also the first permanently disabled Canadian to be elected to the House of Commons. He was born in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, in 1972, and he lives in Winnipeg.

A biography of Steven’s life was released in the fall of 2008 called “What do you do if you don’t Die” The Steven Fletcher Story. The biography is written by Linda McIntosh.