Once again, it was an amazing experience for the 3 AOCDF volunteers to attend the 2018 International Obsessive Compulsive Disorder Foundation (IOCDF) Conference! We encourage anyone living with the illness to attend the conference if funds permit to do so. It is an great feeling to be validated, to network, to meet others and to learn more about the illness in a safe space with others who suffer. Some highlights were:
Joe Modeste from Obsessive Compulsive Anonymous (OCA) chaired a Canadian meeting at the International OCD Foundation in efforts to connect, brainstorm and work together across the provinces to raise awareness for OCD in Canada đ¨đŚ. It was exciting to hear Dr.Peggy Richter from Sunnybrook Health Sciences Centre share the new programs initiated in Ontario including the Residential Program offered to clients from across Canada. The AOCDF volunteers met Stuart Ralph, the founder of The OCD Stories. Stuart creates inspirational OCD podcasts that offers hope for OCD sufferers. Stuart was granted the âHero Awardâ at the 2018 International OCD Foundation conference. It was a rare opportunity and a pleasure to hear him speak in person. Jennifer from AOCDF met with the Producer, Chris Baier and Director, Kelly Anderson of UNSTUCK:An OCD Kids Movie. They created an amazing educational film that is bringing international awareness to OCD. The movie was screened in Alberta, Canada back in October 2017. It was the first and only screening in Canada. The film can now be streamed online for the public on their website here.
Next year, we hope to encourage AOCDF members, family and friends to attend the IOCDF conference which will be held in Austin, Texas from July 19-21, 2019!
If you have any questions regarding the conference, please do not hesitate to e mail us at ocdalberta@gmail.com.