Let’s Light It Purple this November 20th — no matter where you live in Canada.💜
When our family faced pancreatic cancer, we quickly learned how hard it is to fight for answers — let alone access. What we didn’t expect was how isolating it would feel.
Pancreatic cancer is often invisible. It doesn’t get the headlines. It doesn’t get the funding. And if you live in a small town, a rural community, or anywhere far from major cancer centres, that invisibility cuts even deeper.
That’s exactly why proclamations — and lighting up public buildings — matter so much. They send a loud, visible message: “This matters here. Our families matter. This fight deserves attention.”
Right now, we’re working across Newfoundland and Labrador to secure proclamations and Light It Purple for World Pancreatic Cancer Day on November 20, 2025. But this isn’t just about our province. The same approach works anywhere in Canada.
This is something anyone can do. And it’s one of the most effective, accessible ways to push for awareness — and to make pancreatic cancer visible in your own community.
💡 Why Proclamations Actually Work
It’s not just a formality. Proclamations work because they turn something invisible into something public.
When a town issues a proclamation, it gets read into the public record. It sparks media attention. It gets posted online. It starts conversations — at council, in the community, and around kitchen tables.
A study from CAMH proved how impactful public awareness can be. After one mental health awareness campaign, more people stepped forward to get help. The conversation itself literally saved lives. This is what visibility does. This is what Light It Purple can do for pancreatic cancer.
🌍 This Is Global — But It’s Also Local, Wherever You Are.
Every year on World Pancreatic Cancer Day, buildings light up purple in cities around the world — from Toronto to London, from Dublin to Sydney.
Purple represents courage. It represents survival. And it represents the fight to be seen.
This year, your town can join that movement. This year, your city council can say out loud: “Pancreatic cancer deserves to be seen, heard, and fought — right here, in our community.”
✅ How to Do It — Step by Step
First, look up your town or city’s website. Search for the City Clerk’s Office, Protocol Office, or Mayor’s Office. If there’s no obvious section for proclamations, call the main number and ask a simple question:
“How do I submit a proclamation request?”
You’ll either be directed to a form or told to send an email. Some towns also offer building light-up requests alongside proclamations — ask about both in one message.
Here’s What to Write:
Subject: Proclamation and Light It Purple Request – World Pancreatic Cancer Day, November 20, 2025
Dear [City Clerk or Mayor’s Office],
I’m writing to respectfully request that [City/Town Name] consider issuing a proclamation and lighting municipal buildings purple in recognition of World Pancreatic Cancer Day on November 20, 2025.
This is part of the global Light It Purple campaign, which raises awareness about pancreatic cancer — a cancer with the lowest five-year survival rate of any major cancer. Families right here in [Your Town] are impacted by this, and this is an opportunity for our community to show visible support and raise awareness.
Could you advise how I can submit this request formally, or what steps I should follow to move it forward?
Thank you very much for your time and consideration. I look forward to hearing from you.
Sincerely,
[Your Name]
📄 Proclamation Template
World Pancreatic Cancer Day – November 20, 2025
[Insert Municipality Name]
WHEREAS pancreatic cancer is one of the deadliest forms of cancer, with a five-year survival rate of just 10 percent, and remains the third leading cause of cancer-related death in Canada; and
WHEREAS pancreatic cancer is often diagnosed at an advanced stage due to vague symptoms and a lack of early detection tools, limiting treatment options and clinical trial access for Canadians, including those here in [Insert Municipality Name]; and
WHEREAS World Pancreatic Cancer Day, held on November 20, 2025, unites organizations, advocates, families, and communities around the world in a shared mission to raise awareness, improve outcomes, and honour those impacted by pancreatic cancer; and
WHEREAS The Heather Cutler Foundation, a volunteer-led nonprofit organization based in Newfoundland and Labrador and a member of the World Pancreatic Cancer Coalition, works to advance awareness, improve access to clinical trials, and advocate for solutions for Canadians living with pancreatic cancer, including those in [Insert Municipality Name]; and
WHEREAS [Insert Municipality Name] joins The Heather Cutler Foundation alongside the World Pancreatic Cancer Coalition and communities worldwide in supporting the “Light It Purple” campaign—shining a light on pancreatic cancer and standing in solidarity with those impacted, their families, and the advocates working for change;
NOW THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED THAT the [Insert Municipality Name] does hereby proclaim November 20, 2025, as World Pancreatic Cancer Day, and encourages all residents, organizations, and businesses to “Light It Purple”—by wearing purple, lighting homes and landmarks, and sharing awareness to honour those affected and help drive progress toward earlier detection, better treatments, and improved survival for all Canadians impacted by pancreatic cancer.
🔧 How to Use This Template:
- Replace [Insert Municipality Name] with the name of your town, city, or community wherever it appears.
- Attach this proclamation text to your outreach email or submission form to your local government.
- Once you send it, most towns will reply with next steps. Some will have you fill out a short form. Others will accept the email as your official request.
It’s common for the proclamation to be read at a council meeting, posted on the town website, and shared on social media. That’s the power of visibility.
💡 Need a Hand?
If your town asks for a more info, or you’re not sure what to say, just email us at advocacy@heathercutler.ca. We’ve got templates, examples, and advice ready to send.
💜 This Is How Change Starts.
This is how we make pancreatic cancer visible. This is how small towns, big cities, and rural communities show up.
When a town lights up purple…
When a proclamation gets read at council…
When the words “World Pancreatic Cancer Day” become part of the public record…
It tells every family, every caregiver, and every person fighting this brutal cancer:
“You are not invisible. Not in our town. Not in this province. Not in this country.”
✍️ Send the email. Make the ask. This matters. You’ve got this. In two hours today we sent an email to request a proclamation to 20+ communities in Newfoundland and Labrador.
💜 Let’s Light It Purple. Let’s Light the Way. Together. Across Canada.
— The Heather Cutler Foundation