Starting Out

2006-2007: Advocacy for the United Nations Resolution and Inception of the Resolution Torch – Halifax, Nova Scotia, Canada

My name is Sue Boutilier. I am a person that has been living with Type I diabetes for almost thirty years. Chronic illness is, and always will be, an important part of my life. I am an active member of the Canadian Diabetes Association (CDA) and a member of the International Diabetes Federation (IDF). When I first read about the movement to create a United Nations Resolution on Diabetes I knew this was something I wanted to work to support, to do what I could to help make the Resolution a reality. I have always held the work of the United Nations in high esteem. A UN Resolution represents an important way to attract attention to diabetes and for continuing diabetes advocacy against a global epidemic. I find it scary when I see the statistics relating to the growing epidemic of diabetes. Perhaps the reason I find it scary is because I know what it is like to live with the disease. I know that not everyone knows that reality, but it is my hope that a Resolution on diabetes might help to stop this epidemic, and ensure not everyone has to discover the reality of living with diabetes.

In order to do what I can to make the United Nations Resolution on Diabetes a reality, I became directly involved in the grass roots advocacy for this Resolution. I worked on gathering letters of support for the Resolution from my municipal, provincial and federal government representatives. I sent letters requesting support for the Resolution to the following government representatives: twenty-three (23) municipal level government officials including the Mayor of the Halifax Regional Municipality (HRM) - Peter Kelly, my own municipal councilor, and the other HRM councilors, eighteen (18) provincial level government officials including the Premier of the province of Nova Scotia, my own Member of the Legislative Assembly (MLA), and Department Ministers, and twenty-seven (27) federal level government officials including the Prime Minister of Canada, Department Ministers, and my own Member of Parliament.

In November of 2006, I successfully completed my second marathon for the CDA TEAM Diabetes Program - the New York City Marathon. Never wanting to lose an opportunity to advocate for this cause, I encouraged Team Diabetes members to get involved in the Unite for Diabetes Campaign. I took action to make arrangements so that during my time in New York City I could meet with the Permanent Representative of Canada to the United Nations, Ambassador Henri-Paul Normandin and advocate for Canada’s support of the Resolution. My meeting with the Ambassador took place at the Mission Office at One Dag Hammarskjöld Plaza. Myself, my husband and our two year old daughter met with the Ambassador for approximately one half hour to discuss the importance of the Resolution, and to present him with information, as well as copies of letters supporting the resolution that I had collected. This meeting led to follow up correspondence with the Ambassador, to continue advocacy, and find out more about the Resolution process.

I was elated when the landmark United Nations Resolution on Diabetes was passed in December 2006.