It gives us great pleasure to invite you to the 37th World Congress of the International Society of Hematology, to be hosted by the Canadian Hematology Society in Vancouver, British Columbia on Canada’s magnificent west coast, from September 13 to 16, 2018.

​Since the first ISH World Congress, held in Buffalo, New York in 1948 (attended by representatives of 21 countries), the ISH World Congress has earned a reputation among practitioners, researchers and academics as a very highly-regarded forum for new information, treatment guidelines, interactions and exchange of ideas between leading researchers and practitioners in the field of hematology around the globe.

Aside from plenary sessions and topic symposia, a hallmark of the ISH World Congress is the interactive sessions that include presentations on cutting-edge development in basic research and the latest advances in clinical management by world-renowned scientists and practitioners from all parts of the world.

As the Canadian Hematology Society (CHS) welcomes our international colleagues to Canada for this important congress, we hope to follow in the successful footsteps of the most recent congresses held in Glasgow, Scotland, in 2016 and in Beijing, China in 2014. In the year 2000, the CHS hosted the very successful 28th ISH World Congress in Toronto; and we are delighted to have been granted the opportunity, once again, to hold the 37th World Congress in 2018 in Vancouver.

Craftworks purpose is to support adults living with physical disabilities and/or mental illness, by developing a vibrant community through skills development and socialization; serving as a catalyst to decrease isolation, to empower and to engage individuals; and facilitating access to earnings opportunities. Craftworks supports participants who are unable to maintain traditional employment by providing flexible training opportunities and indefinite employment in a stigma-free environment - paying fair wages for pieces completed. Craftworks offers a hybrid program that marries developmental opportunities with employment supports that engenders feelings of belonging and satisfaction of contributing to household income.

411 Seniors Centre Society provides senior-led programs and services that mobilizes seniors’ diverse strengths, talents, interests and expertise to the benefit of fellow seniors and the community at large, and in collaboration with like-minded organizations.

The 411 Seniors Centre is a multicultural & proactive resource centre in Vancouver where the community addresses senior issues and concerns.

The 411 Seniors Centre Society offers two major services for seniors in our community:

Information and Referral and Outreach Services
- Senior benefits (CPP, OAS, GIS, etc)
- Income Tax Preparation
- Government Services Referrals

Programs and Activities
- Yoga
- Computer classes (beginners, intermediate, advanced)
- Many more!

A Better City is Vancouver’s newest political movement, committed to building a coalition that represents all of Vancouver in our civic politics. Our Mission is to build a better city for everyone, together. Our Vision is a vibrant, resilient, growing city.

We support our city’s most marginalized folks in their journey towards upward mobility. Starting with food security, we have strived to make a direct and meaningful difference by providing delicious meals, meaningful employment, training, education, and taking climate change actions since 2013.

ACT- Autism Community Training is a leading provider of evidence-based training and information resources relevant to the autism community in Canada and internationally. ACT develops a wide-range of positive and practical information on everything from sleep problems and diet, to core issues such as diagnosis and aspects of intervention, including information on setting up intervention programs.

The mission of ACT is to provide excellent information and training, in accordance with international best practices. Our goal is to enable parents, professionals and para-professionals to support children and adults with Autism Spectrum Disorder to live productive, satisfying lives within their families and communities.

AIDS Vancouver exists to alleviate individual and collective vulnerability to HIV and AIDS through support, public education and community based research.

<div>AIDS Vancouver plays a special role in providing quality health care to people affected by HIV/AIDS living in the Lower Mainland. It is clearly more than just a community health care organization.</div>
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<div>It is an organization whose presence and continued strength is essential to the quality for life of this community and of each individual and family who draws on its services. Our Agency is a vital community asset which everyone affected by HIV/AIDS can share, and in which we all have a stake.</div>

BC’s first AIDS WALK was held in Vancouver in 1986 at a time when people were dying from the disease. Thirty-one years later, deaths from AIDS in BC have nearly been eradicated thanks to advances in pharmaceutical treatments and ongoing community support.

But that doesn’t mean life with HIV is always easy. The challenges are real: stigma, isolation, limited income, and the side effects of powerful medications depended on to stay alive. For too many PLHIV, living with HIV means hiding from discrimination.

The Scotiabank AIDS WALK to tHrIVe and Music Fest, shows PLHIV that they are not alone in their struggle.

WALK with us on September 16th, for strength, for health, and to THRIVE.

<p style="font-weight: 300"><span style="font-weight: 300" data-contrast="auto"><span style="font-style: inherit;font-weight: 300">ALS Canada </span><span style="font-style: inherit;font-weight: 300">Buck-A-Puck for ALS</span> <span style="font-style: inherit;font-weight: 300">is </span><span style="font-style: inherit;font-weight: 300">a grassroots fundraising initiative that </span><span style="font-style: inherit;font-weight: 300">brings together </span><span style="font-style: inherit;font-weight: 300">a passion for hockey with </span><span style="font-style: inherit;font-weight: 300">an</span><span style="font-style: inherit;font-weight: 300"> unwavering commitment to support</span><span style="font-style: inherit;font-weight: 300">ing</span><span style="font-style: inherit;font-weight: 300"> the</span><span style="font-style: inherit;font-weight: 300"> ALS</span> <span style="font-style: inherit;font-weight: 300">Society of </span><span style="font-style: inherit;font-weight: 300">Canada</span><span style="font-style: inherit;font-weight: 300">’s</span><span style="font-style: inherit;font-weight: 300"> (ALS Canada)</span> <span style="font-style: inherit;font-weight: 300">research</span> <span style="font-style: inherit;font-weight: 300">program</span><span style="font-style: inherit;font-weight: 300"> across the country</span><span style="font-style: inherit;font-weight: 300">. </span><span style="font-style: inherit;font-weight: 300">We</span><span style="font-style: inherit;font-weight: 300"> aim to create a lasting impact by raising awareness and vital funds to fight </span><span style="font-style: inherit;font-weight: 300">a</span><span style="font-style: inherit;font-weight: 300">myotrophic </span><span style="font-style: inherit;font-weight: 300">l</span><span style="font-style: inherit;font-weight: 300">ateral </span><span style="font-style: inherit;font-weight: 300">s</span><span style="font-style: inherit;font-weight: 300">clerosis (ALS), commonly known as Lou Gehrig’s disease.</span></span><span style="font-weight: 300"> </span></p>
<p style="font-weight: 300"><span style="font-style: inherit;font-weight: 300" data-contrast="auto">The concept is simple yet powerful: For every dollar raised, players will take a shot on net – whether in a game, on their own time at home, or playing with friends. Ten dollars equals ten shots, $100 equals 100 shots – you get the idea! Whether you’re cheering from the stands or following the game from the comfort of your home, you can participate in this fun-loving initiative by making a simple donation. </span></p>

APPLAUSE! Musicals Society, a registered non-profit charity, has been sharing the excitement and passion of great show tunes through a series of entertaining, historical and educational concerts & revues since 1997. Our year round programming includes a series of rare, shelved & forgotten musicals in concert, two revue series: musicals 101 & show tunes year by year, cabarets and the presentation of an annual awards celebration called the OVATION Awards (January). An incorporated, non-profit, charitable society, APPLAUSE! is run by volunteers and presently operates solely on donations & ticket revenue.