Fleming College

Peterborough, ON – (June 27, 2023) – Students with Fleming College’s Graphic Design – Visual Communication program have partnered with the Alzheimer Society of Peterborough, Kawartha Lakes, Northumberland and Haliburton on an anti-stigma campaign.

“Missing Piece,” created and designed by Fleming students, will be used throughout the Peterborough region to draw attention to the stigma and bias that can affect those with dementia.

Each year, fifth semester GDV students are tasked with assisting an organization with a design project. Organizations are often from the non-profit sector, and the project gives students a chance to experience working with a real-world client on a project from concept to completion.

After hearing from six student groups, the Alzheimer Society selected two groups as finalists for its campaign, with “Missing Piece” ultimately selected as the lead project.

The Alzheimer Society of Peterborough, Kawartha Lakes, Northumberland and Haliburton has decided to take their collaboration with Fleming students beyond the classroom and use the designs and concepts in a real-world campaign that will stretch across the Peterborough region.

“We were tremendously impressed with the quality of the work produced by the Fleming College students. Dementia in our region is rising exponentially, and unfortunately stigmatizing language is still commonly used around the disease,” said Jen Johnstone, Executive Director of the Alzheimer Society of Peterborough, Kawartha Lakes, Northumberland and Haliburton. “We are thrilled that our collaboration with Fleming will enable us to launch our anti-stigma campaign Be the Missing Piece in August of this year.”

“This is a fantastic example of the hands-on, experiential learning that takes place at Fleming College and comes to life in our community,” said Fleming President Maureen Adamson. “This project has led to a partnership that benefits not only our students, but the people that we love and support. We are honoured to be a part of this collaboration.”

One of the students from “Missing Piece,” Mark Dizon, has been hired by the Alzheimer Society of Peterborough, Kawartha Lakes, Northumberland and Haliburton in an internship capacity to help oversee the campaign.

About Fleming College
Fleming College respectfully acknowledges that we are situated on Michi Saagiig Anishinaabeg lands and territory. Located in the heart of Central Ontario, Fleming College has campus locations in Peterborough, Lindsay, Cobourg and Haliburton. Named for famous Canadian inventor and engineer Sir Sandford Fleming, the college features more than 100 full-time programs in Arts and Heritage, Business, Environmental and Natural Resource Sciences, General Arts and Sciences, Health and Wellness, Justice and Community Development, Skilled Trades and Technology, and Continuing Education. Fleming College has more than 6,800 full-time and 10,000 part-time students, and 80,000 alumni.

About the Alzheimer Society of Peterboorugh, Kawartha Lakes, Northumberland and Haliburton:
The Alzheimer Society of Peterborough, Kawartha Lakes, Northumberland and Haliburton provides service throughout all four counties including the communities of Peterborough, Kawartha Lakes, Lindsay, Haliburton, Minden, Cobourg, Port Hope, Campbellford, Havelock and Millbrook. It is estimated that more than 7,500 people in our catchment area have Alzheimer’s disease or some other form of dementia. This number is expected to grow to more than 15,500 by the year 2036. The Alzheimer Society of Peterborough, Kawartha Lakes, Northumberland and Haliburton provides supportive services at no charge to families and individuals affected by Alzheimer’s disease and other dementias.

For media enquiries, please contact:
Sarah Deeth
Communications Officer
sarah.deeth@flemingcollege.ca
705-749-5530 ext. 1161

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