The city clerk's office has changed its mind on a request for a Childhood Cancer Awareness month.
Mayor Keith Hobbs took issue with the office of the city’s clerk’s decision not to proclaim September as Childhood Cancer Awareness month. In a release issued Wednesday night, said he’s received several phone calls from disappointed parents whose families have been affected by the disease.
“The mayor and council were not aware that the request to proclaim September as the Childhood Cancer Awareness month had been submitted and consequently declined by the office of the city clerk,” Hobbs said in the release.
“It is extremely disheartening to receive the kinds of messages I got today, as I have always been a huge supporter of the Canadian Cancer Society, Camp Quality, Prostate Cancer, and Cops for Cancer to name a few. This is something I will be looking into.”
City clerk John Hannam said the decision has been reversed.
"The policy speaks to proclaiming matters that are 'in the public interest '. Clearly there is a public interest in this," Hannam said in an email.
The online storm began when Julie Wright posted to Hobbs' Facebook page.
"This is quite a shock. Many mayors across Northwestern Ontario have already agreed and many mayors across Southern Ontario already do like Toronto and London. They have agreed to wear ribbons at city council meetings and have asked for some."
Wright went on to write that there are many families in Thunder Bay that have been affected by childhood cancer.
"Several children are in treatment right now. Many families are dealing with the fallout of cancer in their children. Some are in mourning. Others have children that are permanently disabled by the treatment. I have done enough research to know the possibilities of finding treatments that don't kill or maim are great. We just need more research," she said.
It starts with awareness, which would lead to more research, she believes.
"Look at what awareness has done for breast cancer and AIDS. No, they are not cured yet, but both have dramatically increased survival rates. AIDS went from fatal to treatable in months all because of the public demand," Wright said.
"Our children deserve better. We cannot be satisfied with the status quo. We must go (for the) gold.
Hobbs said he first learned of the decision through social media, and he wishes those concerned had turned to council first, saying there's no way the elected body would turn a blind eye to the group's appeal.
"I am pissed. I have done so much work with cancer groups over the years, am a member of the Prostate Cancer Support Group, etc. etc. I am working to reverse this bonehead decision. In the meantime I'm catching it from people across Canada that have children suffering from cancer. Talk about take down a mayor in one easy step," Hobbs responded.
The mayor said he’ll be asking council to review customer service standards and make changes to allow the city to approve similar proclamations.
