Parkinson Society Canada Welcomes 3,000 International Participants to the 3rd World Parkinson Congress Bringing Hope …

TORONTO, ONTARIO--(Marketwired - Sep 26, 2013) - More than 3,000 people from around the world will gather in Montreal, Canada October 1-4 for the 3rd World Parkinson Congress (WPC), a first for Canada. This forum brings together the global Parkinson's community and leading neuroscientists who will share the latest discoveries, treatments and programs for and with people living with Parkinson's disease.

"World Parkinson Congress puts people with Parkinson's at the forefront. Individuals come together to exchange research and ideas with a shared goal to improve the quality of life for people with Parkinson's. Parkinson Society Canada is proud to welcome the global Parkinson's community and to contribute to the conversations," says Joyce Gordon, President and CEO, Parkinson Society Canada.

What makes the WPC triennial event unique is people with Parkinson's, care partners, health professionals, policy makers, scientists and organizations like Parkinson Society Canada are all represented in the interactive sessions taking place over four days. Not only will participants learn about a broad range of topics including risk factors, exercise and tips and programs for care partners, but also people with Parkinson's will learn from each other.

That's why the new Parkinson Buddies Program, a contemporary pen-pal program which partners Canadians with Parkinson's to an international 'buddy' attending congress, is so important. This initiative encourages buddies to communicate before, during and after WPC to share their tips and experiences. WPC and Parkinson Society Canada are hopeful that the buddies program will create an additional layer of ongoing support for the participants.

"We are the hosts and can help reduce some of the anxiety about travelling to a new place. We can help with local insights, making their travel plans more comfortable. As soon as they arrive in Montreal, they know they have a support person who understands Parkinson's," says Laurine Fillo of Calgary, buddy to Sharon Daborn from Victoria, Australia.

Parkinson Society Canada is kicking off the week with the inaugural WPC Policy Forum, which takes place immediately prior to WPC 2013 - an exclusive event bringing together over 50 international policy makers with nongovernment organization leaders and Parkinson's ambassadors. The expected outcome of these discussions is to elevate Parkinson's and other neurodegenerative diseases as a worldwide health issue, by examining the social and economic impact of these conditions on a global scale.

PSC rounds off the conference by celebrating our 10th Donald Calne lecture, an award granted by Parkinson Society Canada to a distinguished neuroscientist of international reputation whose work is primarily in the area of Parkinson's disease. Dr. Virginia M.-Y. Lee, Professor at the University of Pennsylvania School of Medicine, is this year's presenter. Dr. Lee will speak about "New insights into the mechanisms of Parkinson's disease progression." The event is co-sponsored by AbbVie Canada and Teva Canada Innovation.

Registration is open to members of the public and media onsite at the Palais des Congrs, Montreal, beginning October 1.

About World Parkinson Congress

The World Parkinson Coalition Inc. is a New York-based charitable organization dedicated to providing an international forum for the latest scientific discoveries, medical practices and caregiver initiatives related to Parkinson's disease. By bringing physicians, scientists, allied health professionals, caregivers and people with Parkinson's together, WPC Inc. hopes to create a worldwide dialogue to expedite the discovery of a cure and best treatment practices for this devastating disease. For more information: http://www.worldpdcongress.org.

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Parkinson Society Canada Welcomes 3,000 International Participants to the 3rd World Parkinson Congress Bringing Hope ...