Prime Minister & Governor General's 60th annual Daffodil photos for Canadian Cancer Society

Cutline: The daffodil is a symbol of hope against cancer. Prime Minister Justin Trudeau, joined by Health Minister Jane Philpott welcome cancer survivor Japji Bullar, 17 and Canadian Cancer Society President and CEO Lynne Hudson as the national health charity launches Daffodil Month. Visit cancer.ca/daffodil to learn more.

Cutline: Canadian Cancer Society President and CEO Lynne Hudson launches Daffodil Month with Their Excellencies the Right Honourable David Johnston, Governor General of Canada, and Mrs.

Sharon Johnston. Japji Bhullar, 17, a leukemia survivor, presented the daffodil bouquet. Visit cancer.ca/daffodil for more information.

Cutline: Cancer survivor Japji Bhullar, 17, presents Prime Minister Justin Trudeau and Health Minister Jane Philpott with daffodil bouquets to launch the Canadian Cancer Society’s Daffodil Month. Learn more at cancer.ca/daffodil

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Did you know…?

Daffodil history at the Canadian Cancer Society.

· *** In the 1950s, the daffodil became the symbol for the Canadian Cancer Society almost by accident. In Toronto, afternoon TREND teas were held to raise money for cancer (TREND stood for treatment, research, education, needs of patients, and diagnosis). One April a group of tea volunteers decorated the tables with daffodils, which created a cheery, hopeful atmosphere. After this, these gatherings became known as Daffodil Teas.

· In 1954, Lady Eaton hosted a Daffodil Tea at the Eaton’s store in Toronto, which was attended by 700 hundred women.

· It was in 1957 that daffodils were first sold as an official fundraiser in support of the Canadian Cancer Society. An anonymous donor paid for 5,000 blooms to be flown in from BC where the growing season starts earlier than in Ontario. Daffodil sales raised more than $1,200 in the first year.

· Daffodil sales quickly spread across the country and the daffodil was adopted as a symbol by other cancer organizations, including the American Cancer Society, Cancer Council Australia and the Irish Cancer Society.

· In Toronto, a large Daffodil Parade ran for 26 years, featuring floats, bands, clowns and celebrities. Similar parades where conducted in Montreal and Quebec City.

· Some years, as many as 5 million daffodils were transported from BC on transport trucks to over 65 drop-off sites across Ontario. The flowers were kept in cold storage before being sold.

· Transporting large numbers of fresh flowers from one end of the country to the other has led to some unpleasant surprises over the years:

o In 1969, volunteers in Montreal discovered that the daffodils, stored in the garages of the Molson Brewery, had been ruined by carbon monoxide fumes and cold air drafts.

o In 1972, the truck transporting daffodils from Victoria to Calgary went up in flames, taking its load with it! In 1985, daffodils destined for Toronto froze along the way.

o In 1989, Quebec’s Daffodil Month launch had to be postponed until the end of April after a hailstorm destroyed the daffodil crop in Victoria.

In · 1961, the Canadian Cancer Society in Quebec embarked on daffodil sales. Since 1965, Canadian Pacific has shipped millions of blooms free of charge from BC to Montreal. Today, Quebec sells more fresh daffodils in the fight against cancer than any other province. Two million daffodils are sold each spring by 10,000 volunteers at more than 1,500 points of sale across the province.

In · 1994, the first Daffodil Ball was held in Montreal. To date, this gala has raised $30 million dollars.

· · In 2000, the Daffodil became the official symbol and logo of the Canadian Cancer Society.

· In 2010, daffodil lapel pins were introduced in BC and were adopted nationwide in 2011.

· In 2014, the Canadian Cancer Society in Ontario started a live daffodil sales partnership with Loblaw Companies Limited. In 2016, this partnership was extended into Atlantic Canada. This year (2017) the partnership has been expanded to include BC, the Yukon, Alberta, the Northwest Territories and Saskatchewan. Since 2016, almost $500,000 has been raised through this collaboration.

· Buying a daffodil pin or flowers means you are supporting a long history of helping people with cancer and funding life-saving research, information and support services. Since the 1950s, the overall cancer survival rate has increased from 35% to over 60% today, thanks in part to research funded by flower sales.

About the Canadian Cancer Society 75 years, the Canadian Cancer Society has

The Canadian Cancer Society is a national, community-based organization of volunteers whose mission is to eradicate cancer and enhance the quality of life of people living with cancer. Thanks to our donors and volunteers, the Society has the most impact, against the most cancers, in the most communities in Canada. Make your gift today at www.cancer.ca