Purple Day presentations took place in Assiniboia at the Assiniboia Bakery and the 7th Avenue School on March 24. Purple Day is an international grassroots effort dedicated to increasing awareness about epilepsy worldwide. Melissa Danis, who is an ambassador for the Canadian Epilepsy Alliance, and her family were on hand at the bakery and visited the school to speak to students and the community about epilepsy. Danis was diagnosed with epilepsy at 16 years old, and her children, six-year-old Owen and seven-year-old Caileigh, have also been diagnosed with epilepsy. Danis鈥檚 presentation covered facts about epilepsy and what to do if someone is having a seizure. Paramedics from Hutch Ambulance also joined the presentation.
To mark the day, students and staff wore purple shirts. Prizes were given out to students in a 鈥渜uestion and answer鈥� session. Danis finished the session by showing a photo gallery from her family life including swimming and camping to show those living with epilepsy can lead a normal life. Danis encouraged parents, caregivers and the general public to engage in an open dialogue on epilepsy. International Purple Day is usually marked on March 26 but because the day falls on Sunday, community activities were moved to March 24. Individuals who live with epilepsy still encounter a lot of stigma in daily life.
