Young Adult Cancer Canada > Organization > Blog

We’re hiring: Fund Development Coordinator

by Angie

Young Adult Cancer Canada (YACC) is Canada’s coolest cancer charity and we’re looking for another fun, organized, creative person to join or office crew. as we continue to move toward our ultimate goal: national domination (in other words: "To empower young adults diagnosed with cancer to live and love life").

If your fund development and/or event coordination experience, connection to our cause, and desire to make an impact align with our ultimate goal then we want to hear from you.

This position will focus on growing the Shave for the Brave in the Newfoundland market as well as other exciting fund development initiatives. You should be very organized, flexible, and comfortable with networking. Your sociable nature will be in action daily.

What we’re looking for:

Fundraising and/or event coordination experience (at least three years preferred);
Customer service oriented;
A natural networker with great social skills;
An organized individual who is able to multitask;
Strong oral and written communication skills;
An independent worker who is also a team player;
Flexibility and a willingness to learn;
Access to personal transportation;
Solid computer skills, with experience in social media; and,
Most of all, you need the desire to make an impact in the lives of young adults dealing with cancer.

YACC takes a holistic approach to compensation, which includes an authentic commitment to work-life balance nicely supported by flex-time, a competitive starting salary, fitness allowance, and group benefits plan.

There are over 7,000 young adults diagnosed with cancer every year in Canada. YACC’s mission is to build a community of young adults with cancer that provides information, support, skills, and opportunities.

We’ve had some great success in our 10 years of operation but we know our best is yet to come. It has to; the young adults we serve are counting on it. If you want to be a part of our success, please forward your resume and cover letter to lesley@youngadultcancer.ca by February 16, 2012.

Posted on Feb 01, 2012 - 05:45 AM

We’re hiring: Office Manager

by Angie

Young Adult Cancer Canada (YACC)--Canada’s leading support organization for young adults dealing with cancer--is looking for someone who is organized, focused, and adaptable to join our growing office crew.

The Office Manager position will be based in St. John’s, NL and will focus on managing the daily operations of YACC related to financial management, human resources, and successful delivery of our business plan while providing executive assistance to the Executive Director on a daily basis.

You should have the ability to multitask, be able to focus on details, think quickly in a fast paced environment, and be committed to personal growth as well as have an interest in supporting the growth of others.

What we’re looking for:

Financial management/bookkeeping experience with significant experience in Simply Accounting;
Experience in Human Resource administration;
Previous experience in an Executive Assistant role;
Strong oral and written communication skills;
A team player;
An independent worker;
Flexibility and a willingness to learn;
Solid computer skills; and,
Most of all, you need the desire to make an impact in the lives of young adults dealing with cancer.

We’ve had some great success in our 10 years of operation but we know our best is yet to come. Young adults dealing with cancer in Canada are counting on it. If you want to be a part of our success please forward your resume and cover letter to lesley@youngadultcancer.ca by February 16, 2012.

Posted on Feb 01, 2012 - 05:39 AM

Christian is the Genie Hero of the Year!

by Angie

Last fall we told you about Christian Legge, an 11-year-old Shaver who was nominated for the Newfoundland and Labrador Genie Hero of the Year award. We're happy to say your voting paid off and Christian was named the winner at the gala held on January 19, 2012.

He recieved approximately 42,000 votes out of the 220,000 that were cast. There were nine other nominees.

Joshua Dawson (AKA The Genie) said, "We want to inspire other people to be like Christian; Christian was the biggest genie of them all!"

Christian and his parents came into YACC HQ to chat with us about the results.

They didn't know he was going to win before they went to the ceremony and Christian said he "felt like he was about to faint" when they called his name.

"If you saw the news--or if you were there--you have seen that I probably almost did faint," he said.

"It was just a total surprise. Excitement, shock, anything you could ever imagine. It's something you dream of and it actually came true," said his step-mom, Joe-ann.

To which Christian responded, "Imagine how I felt!"

As the Hero of the Year, Christian was awarded a $10,000 prize which he plans to save most of for college after using some to make donations and to do something nice for his classmates.

"Once again, he's doing good for others," said Joe-ann.

Christian will also be participating in the 2012 Shave for the Brave and he's hoping his hair will be long enough to make a donation to go toward a wig. He has also inspired other people to think about signing up, including people who were at the gala, his grandmother, and his dad.

In his state of shock, his acceptance speech was about a sentence that said, "I just can't believe it," said his mom, Lori. "I think he was a little bit in shock. He was wobbly."

The family said The I Am Genie Foundation did a great job at organizing the gala. They unanimously agreed the best part were the tribute videos played about each nominee.

"It's so heart-filling and so touching just to know what other people are doing for everybody else," said Joe-ann.

Lori said, "We walked out and [Christian's grandmother] said, 'If they have this next year, I'm going.' Know somebody there or not, there's just so much good that they recognize. You sit down and listen to every tribute and you were crying, you were laughing. It's amazing."

Since he forgot to thank anyone, we offered to add the following ammendment to his speech:

"I'd like to thank the people who voted for me, and my parents. Geoff, and Josh and Ingrid [from the I Am Genie Foundation], and Liam for being a nutcase for me and helping me manage not to faint."

We're so proud of you, Christian, and we can't wait to see all the good you continue to do!

The I Am Genie Foundation works to grant wishes to everyday heroes. If you are interested in nominating your own hero, please visit iamgenie.org.

Posted on Jan 24, 2012 - 11:37 AM

“Hello” from Katy!

by Katy

As the newest member, I’ve been able to come in and experience the YACC team, the culture, and the organization itself with fresh eyes and a new perspective. All I can say is that I feel blessed and honoured to join this team.

I got to spend two weeks in St. John’s, which was an adventure in itself—I LOVE the Rock! But being welcomed so openly has made embarking on this new YACC adventure that much more exciting. How could I not want to work with this team? Each person brings unique abilities and talent to the table, which collectively create a powerhouse. And of course they are a hoot to boot.

Through my work and volunteering commitments I’ve realized that I love working with young adults, which makes YACC such a great fit. Maybe it is being a part of the demographic or just the fact that ours is a demographic which can sometimes be the hardest to understand. It’s probably a bit of both. Our needs, interests, and ways we communicate are unique. Rather than seeing this as a challenge, I see it as an opportunity to do things a little differently. YACC has both innovation and vision and I know the programs we offer make a huge difference because they have been developed specifically for young adult survivors.

My background is in communications and marketing and getting to be a part of the bigger picture and be a catalyst towards engaging people is why I love what I do. My work experience has taken me everywhere from the hospitality industry, to oil and gas, and real estate. But deep down I always knew I was meant to be in the nonprofit sector. I want my work to have a positive impact on the community/ies I’m a part of. This doesn’t mean just the Young Adult Cancer community, it also means being an integral part and contributor to Calgary, Alberta, and Canada.

Now back in Calgary I’m going to miss seeing the YACC family everyday. But I have a feeling I won’t be "lonely" for long. I get to connect with and build relationships with survivors and stakeholders throughout Western Canada! I can’t wait to start tooting the YACC horn, because it’s a great feeling knowing that what I do helps survivors move through and beyond their cancer experience in order to make the rest of their lives the best of their lives.

Posted on Jan 06, 2012 - 10:49 AM

Happy Holidays from YACC!

by Angie

Posted on Dec 23, 2011 - 04:59 PM

Meet Katy, our newest staff member

by Angie

We are pleased to introduce Katy Bond, our new Western Program Coordinator.

Katy's extensive background in PR, event planning, and communications is a great asset to YACC as we continue to establish our Calgary office. With Katy on board, we will be able to grow YACC's presence and provide more services for the young adult cancer survivors in the western region.

She has been hanging out with us at YACC HQ in St. John's, NL for the last couple of weeks and we are delighted to have her on the team. She is knowledgable, funny, energetic, and ready to take YACC to the next level.

You're going to enjoy getting to know her as much as we have. Stay tuned to the Organization Blog in the coming days to learn more about her in her own words!

Contact Katy at katy@youngadultcancer.ca.

Posted on Dec 14, 2011 - 04:53 PM

St. John’s sure loves soup!

by Angie

Earlier this month we told you about a fundraiser Red House Soups organized on behalf of YACC. They made cod chowder, a recipe outside of their regular offering, and invited people to bid on the bottles instead of setting a price.

The auction of the 24 jars raised $908.50 with the average price being $37.85. The bids ranged from $15 to $120! Buyers were issued a tax receipt for donations over $35.

Thank you to Carolyn Norberg and Red House Soups for finding an opportunity to give to YACC and the young adults across Canada who are dealing with cancer.

Posted on Nov 23, 2011 - 06:44 AM

In St. John’s? Do you like soup?

by Angie

The team here at YACC HQ has been ordering soup from a great local business, Red House Soups. They make delicious, healthy soups and deliver them to your home or office once a week.

Their menu changes each week and they post the options on Mondays. They regularly sell out within the day, and are establishing a great name with interesting recipes.

Red House Soups is auctioning a special edition YACC soup and 100 per cent of the profits from each bottle will be donated to our organization.

The minimum bid for each soup is $15. Any money pledged over that will come to YACC and any donations over $35 will be eligible for a tax receipt. Bidding will close at noon on Thursday with the soups being delivered on Friday of the next week. Bidders must be in their delivery area (the east end of St. John's, the university area, downtown, Kenmount Road, Flatrock) or be able to arrange pick-up.

So don't forget to check their website each Monday this month and support a growing local business, and all the young adult cancer survivors in Canada!

Thank you for ordering!

Posted on Nov 07, 2011 - 04:11 PM

Meet Shali, YACC’s new Eastern Program Coordinator

by Shali

Hello!

Thanks for warm welcome, YACC! Ever since I was diagnosed with cancer 12 years ago, I have dreamed of finding a job that would allow me to help other young adults on a similar journey. I'm thrilled that I've found a home with YACC—an organization made up of individuals who are passionate, talented, hardworking, and incredibly supportive of one another. I've been brushing up on my "Newfinnese" over the past couple of weeks, and have found a phrase that captures how I feel about my new colleagues: they are "best kind."

From my past experience attending YACC retreats and conferences, I can also say with confidence that YACC survivors and supporters are best kind, too. I'm very much looking forward to the upcoming Survivor Conference in Ottawa and all of the other exciting 2012 programs and events.

As YACC continues to grow by leaps and bounds, we will be doing our best to create new opportunities for our members while holding onto that strong sense of family that has defined us from the beginning. Whether you are already a part of the YACC clan, or just about to be adopted in, please know that your voices are what guide us. So please speak up; let us know what you need, and we'll do our best to help. As the new Eastern Program Coordinator, I'm looking forward to doing whatever I can to support you through your cancer journeys—whether that's helping to connect you with resources in the community or sitting down for a heart-to-heart. Please feel free to email me at shali@youngadultcancer.ca. I look forward to hearing from you!

- Shal

Posted on Oct 25, 2011 - 06:04 PM

Help Shaver Christian Legge win $10,000!

by Angie

Experience Genie is a "wish granting organization focused on granting wishes to everyday heroes around the world." They came to St. John's, NL on October 20 and surprised 10 heroes with a nomination and "dream day." One of the nominees was five-year Shaver, Christian Legge.

In addition to the $1,000 each of the 10 nominees was awarded, they were treated to some magic by the Genie, a massage and overnight stay at the Spa at the Monastery and Suites, 3D helicopter tour, backstage tour of NTV and OZFM, and a catered dinner.

The winner will be chosen based on who has the most votes by January 19, so we're hoping you'll get on board and vote for Christian! You can submit up to 10 entries per day.

Why you should vote for him

Christian started Shaving for the Brave in 2007 after seeing yellow toques all over the place at a Fog Devils hockey game. Since then, he has raised over $10,000 for YACC with the help of his parents and grandmother. He was nominated for all the work he puts into fundraising, from a silent auction to recycling to door-to-door canvassing.

You can learn more about his Shaver story here and see his Experience Genie profile here.

He's a smart, funny, compassionate kid and we wish him the best of luck!