Annual General Meeting > Notice of Hydrocephalus Canada Annual General Meeting 2026
Notice of Hydrocephalus Canada Annual General Meeting 2026
Notice is hereby given that the Annual General Meeting (AGM) of Hydrocephalus Canada will be held:
Date: Saturday, September 19, 2026
Time: 10:00 am – 1:00 PM EST
The meeting will take place via a virtual Zoom meeting for the following purposes:
- Presenting the annual report, financial statements and auditor’s report for the year ended February 28, 2026
- Appointing the auditors.
- Electing the directors in accordance with Hydrocephalus Canada By-laws.
- Approving any amendments and/or additions to the By-laws of Hydrocephalus Canada.
- Transacting any other business as may properly come before the meeting.
Dated at Toronto, ON this 2026 by the order of the Board of Directors of Hydrocephalus Canada.
If you would like to nominate someone for the Board of Directors of Hydrocephalus Canada, download, fill in and return the completed Nomination Form to HC at [email protected] by September 7, 2026.
If you cannot attend the meeting, you can have your say by downloading, completing and emailing the Proxy Form to HC at [email protected] by September 18, 2026.
Dr. Mark G Hamilton, MDCM, FRCSC
The Next Era of Adult Hydrocephalus Diagnosis and Care
Dr. Mark Hamilton graduated from McGill University Medical School in 1983. He completed his neurosurgery residency at the University of Calgary and a fellowship at the Barrow Neurological Institute in Phoenix, Arizona. He is a Professor of Neurosurgery in the Department of Clinical Neurosciences at the University of Calgary’s Cumming School of Medicine and established an Adult Hydrocephalus Clinic in 2008. He served as Division Chief of Pediatric Neurosurgery from 2002 to 2011. He was President of the Canadian Neurosurgical Society (2004-2006), the Canadian Neurological Sciences Foundation (2004-2007), and the Hydrocephalus Society (2019-2021). He is the founder and current President of the Adult Hydrocephalus, Chiari & ICP Society (AHCIS). He organized the Hydrocephalus 2015 World Congress in Banff, Alberta, and served as Congress President.
Dr. Hamilton chairs the Adult Hydrocephalus Clinical Research Network (AHCRN), which comprises seventeen clinical sites across three countries; is a past president of the Hydrocephalus Society; chairs the Medical Advisory Board (MAB) of the Hydrocephalus Association (HA); is a member of the Board of Directors of Hydrocephalus Canada (HC); and is a member of the HC MAB. He is a co-Editor-in-Chief of Fluids and Barriers of the CNS and has served as a past co-chair of the Journal of Neurosurgery Editorial Board. His primary clinical and research interests focus on diagnosing and managing adult hydrocephalus. He is a co-Principal Investigator for the NIH-funded PENS trial and co-Leader of the International iNPH Guidelines update project.
Speaker: Claire Buchanan
CBC Host, Researcher & Para Athlete
Presentation Title: Sharing her Lived Experience with SB&H
Claire Buchanan brings a unique perspective as a person with lived experience of Spina Bifida and Hydrocephalus. As a CBC host, researcher, and para athlete, Claire uses her platform to share stories, promote inclusion, and advocate for greater understanding of the experiences of individuals living with disabilities.
Through her presentation, Claire will share her personal journey with Spina Bifida and Hydrocephalus, highlighting the importance of lived experience, representation, and the impact of community support.
Speakers: Tony Gazzellone & Sofia Girotti-Switzer
Innovation – How an Ultrasound Can Help Detect Shunt Failure
TONHI (Tony’s Hydrocephalus Initiative)
We are pleased to welcome Tony Gazzellone and Sofia Girotti-Switzer as presenters at our Annual General Meeting.
Tony Gazzellone is a lifelong member of the hydrocephalus community and the inspiration behind TONHI (Tony’s Hydrocephalus Initiative). Born in 1960 with congenital hydrocephalus, Tony was diagnosed at age seven during a time when medical understanding and treatment options for hydrocephalus were limited. After facing challenges accessing care in Italy, Tony and his family moved to Canada, where he received his first shunt. Over the years, Tony has undergone nine shunt replacement surgeries while continuing to lead a fulfilling life, build a career as a computer technician with the Canada Border Services Agency, and care for his family.
Inspired by her cousin Tony’s journey, Sofia Girotti-Switzer founded TONHI with the goal of raising awareness and helping improve the quality of life for individuals and families impacted by hydrocephalus. Sofia is a 17-year-old student at Governor Simcoe Secondary School in St. Catharines and is passionate about advocacy, healthcare, and creating positive change.
In addition to her advocacy work, Sofia is a dedicated athlete, playing goalkeeper for Hamilton United and proudly representing Ontario on the U17 Provincial Soccer Team. She will continue her academic and athletic journey at the Florida Institute of Technology in 2027 as she pursues her interest in the medical field.
Together, Tony and Sofia will share the story behind TONHI, their personal connection to hydrocephalus, and their shared commitment to raising awareness and supporting the hydrocephalus community.
Speaker: Hawa Fadiga
Growing Up with Hydrocephalus: The Long-Term Patient Experience
Hawa Fadiga, a recent healthcare communications graduate, was born at 1lb 8oz and developed hydrocephalus as a result of a brain bleed at birth. Against all odds, she survived, successfully managed a lifelong VP shunt, and recently earned her Master’s degree in Healthcare Communications with the explicit goal of raising awareness for hydrocephalus. Today, Hawa builds a career, a platform, and a life that proves a diagnosis is never a ceiling. Through her powerful story of resilience, she inspires audiences to redefine what is possible and advocates fiercely for greater awareness and funding for hydrocephalus research.
