Meet Our Challengers:

Blair Sigurdson

After his 2011 diagnosis, Blair was inspired by another person living with Parkinson’s to challenge himself, both physically and mentally. Not letting Parkinson’s limit his goals, Blair has hiked some of the highest mountains in North America.

Steve Van Vlaenderen & Darlene Hildebrand

Seven years after his diagnosis, Steve Van Vlaenderen and Darlene Hildebrand completed a 900 mile sail of Lakes Superior & Huron. In 2019 they will sail another 1000 miles on Lakes Erie & Ontario to reinforce Steve’s belief that a diagnosis of PD doesn’t mean you have to give up on your dreams.

Janice Horn

Art has always been a part of Janice’s life. After her diagnosis, she quickly realized the therapeutic value of art. This realization led to her start an art program for people with Parkinson’s – the first of its kind in Canada. Called SHAKE it up! Creative Arts Group, it currently runs 4 times per month.

Meet Our Experts

Allison Baird, MA CCC-SLP: "Communication Strategies"

Allison has been a therapist, manager, educator and researcher for four decades. Since entering full-time private practice, she has focused her efforts on adults with communication, memory and swallowing difficulties related to neurological change. As a therapist she draws on research, daily work, and personal experience to provide a comprehensive program with an emphasis on life participation. She has extensive experience with Telehealth as well as software and iPad apps in Speech-Language Pathology. Her clinical work has been supported over the years with grants designed to investigate the effectiveness of various treatments for communication impairments. For fifteen years she lived and cared for a partner with Parkinson’s Disease and dementia and she knows about the impact of illness on family members affected by communication and cognitive disorders.

Karen Doell, BMR PT: "Mobility/Pain Management with Physio"

Karen is a physiotherapist and co-owner of Pembina Valley Physiotherapy & Sports Injury Clinics. She was diagnosed with Young Onset Parkinson’s disease 14 years ago at the age of 38. A former softball Olympian, Karen understands the importance of exercise for long-term health, continuing to work and expand her thriving physiotherapy business while remaining active. This commitment to health and wellness served her well while waiting for Deep Brain Stimulation surgery, which she had this past fall. Her knowledge of physical fitness, her personal Parkinson’s journey and her professional expertise as a physiotherapist culminates in a depth of understanding about the disease and how to live well, longer, with Parkinson’s.

Dr. Sean Udow, M.D., F.R.C.P. (c): "Impulse Control Challenges"

Dr. Sean Udow returned to his hometown of Winnipeg, and joined the Movement Disorder Clinic in September 2017 as a movement disorder neurologist. Dr. Udow spent two years in a fellowship at Toronto’s Sunnybrook Research Institute and at Toronto Western Hospital, and volunteers on Parkinson Canada’s Medical Advisory Council. His 1-year research project was titled Diagnosing and Treating Cognitive Deficits with Parkinson’s Disease. Dr. Udow is Co-director of the Undergraduate Medical Education Neurosciences course at the University of Manitoba, and is the Program Director of the Neurology Residency Program. This interest in education has inspired him to also work towards improving communication about Parkinson’s with people with Parkinson disease and their caregivers, and he is currently working on a visual tool to help discuss Parkinson disease; a project supported by Parkinson Canada.

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