President’s Message
February 2024
Now that everyone is back into the swing of things, I am sure that you are having similar thoughts like me! Where did January go??? The Christmas holidays now seem like a distant memory, and we are in the middle of the winter counting down to the days where we can garden, enjoy a patio, and participate in outdoor activities! I wish I could enjoy this season, but my days of skiing, snowshoeing, and skating are long over due to my ever-growing intolerance of the cold!!!
February is the shortest month of the year with only 28 days and 29 days in a leap year. During my internet research on the month of February, I discovered that February is the only month where it is possible not to experience a full moon or a new moon. The last time there was no full moon was in 2018 and the next time this will occur is in 2037! In addition, the last time we did not have a new moon was in 2015 and the next time this will happen will be in 2026.
February is Black History Month. The origin of this important observance has its roots in Kent, Ohio when Black educators and students from Kent State University proposed Black History Month in February 1969. It was from January 2 to February 28, 1970, at Kent State University that Black History Month was first celebrated. By 1976, Black History Month received recognition by President Gerald Ford and observed across the United States. In Canada, Black History
Month received formal recognition in 1995. In the United States, the association, ASALH (Association for the Study of African American Life and History)
(Founders of Black History Month) picks a theme for each year. The theme for 2025 is African Americans and Labor. This theme focuses on the various and profound ways that work and working of all kinds – free and unfree, skilled, and unskilled, vocational, and voluntary – intersect with the collective experiences of Black people.1
February 28 is the kick-off of the charity campaign, Capes for Kids. This is an annual charity campaign for Holland Bloorview Kids Rehabilitation Centre. Holland Bloorview is the OIAA’s charity for 2024-2025. Alex Winter, a Client Ambassador representing Holland Bloorview blessed the OIAA with a heart-warming witty speech at the 2024 OIAA Holiday Party and Past President’s Night. This charming and energic 10-yearold left an impression on all of us who were present on that night. The Capes for Kids campaign started in 2017 and my first time fundraising for Capes of Kids was in 2018. It has raised over $6M since its start. I will be participating again in 2025 and would love to get your support.
The link to my page is:
https://fundraise.capesforkids.ca/capes2025/myhq/group/82673
Even my cats, Mia, Stella, and Simon participate in the fundraising as you can see from these photos of them from 2024. Last year, I received the most donations on “Caturday” when I posted these photos of these feline caped crusaders! You can guarantee that I will be getting them involved again in the fundraising efforts for the 2025 campaign. Look out for my LinkedIn during Capes for Kids week (February 28th to March 7th), when I will be wearing my cape but more importantly where I will be posting more pictures of the feline caped crusaders.
Our next event is the 2025 Claims Conference taking place on Wednesday, April 2, 2025, at the Metro Convention Centre. Booth and sponsorships sales are now available at www.oiaa.com. Please feel free to reach out to me with any questions. General registration will open in early February. For more information on this event and future events, please follow the OIAA’s
LinkedIn page at:
https://www.linkedin.com/in/ontario-insuranceadjusters-association-oiaa-provincial-190291b2
I welcome your comments and feedback. Please feel free to reach out to me at sgillen@facilityassociation.com.
Yours truly,
SHAWNA GILLEN, CIP
President
(437) 962-5820
1 cite asalh.org
