Help make a difference this Food Allergy Awareness Month (FAAM)! Join our efforts in advocating for a better future so Canadians with food allergy have more options and support.
Invite your local Member of Parliament (MP) to attend our launch event for our National Food Allergy Action Plan.
Plus, scroll down to discover other ways you can get involved in FAAM.
Advocacy in action
Ask your MP to attend our advocacy day reception on May 28th!
Last week, we let you know that on May 28th, we, along with the Canadian Society of Allergy and Clinical Immunology (CSACI) will be presenting our National Food Allergy Action Plan at Parliament Hill as a part of our advocacy day with government.
The goal of our action plan is to set the framework to guide future actions for reducing the impact of food allergy and improving the quality of life for Canadians living with this medical condition. Specifically, our plan focuses on greater support in the areas of prevention, management, treatment, and broad-based community and food system support.
Help us make our advocacy day as successful as possible and get your MP to join us!
Please contact your MP and ask them to attend the Food Allergy Canada and CSACI reception on May 28th. Let them know how food allergy impacts you and how their support can improve the quality of life for all Canadians affected by food allergy.
By engaging your MP, you can help us work towards making food allergy a health priority in Canada.
All you need to do is:
- Locate your MP
- Call your MP and encourage them to come to our reception, OR
- Send an email to your MP, you can download an invitation that can be personalized (you can also use this information as talking points if you call them)
Stay tuned! We will be taking the National Food Allergy Action Plan to the next federal election. Please watch for our campaign tool kit in the coming weeks to become more involved.
Get involved
Learn how you can get involved in FAAM all month long!
Visit foodallergycanada.ca/FAAM for more details, plus, scroll down for a few ways you can spread food allergy awareness.
Participate in an event
Cheer on Alex Tagliani – THIS WEEKEND
Support Food Allergy Canada ambassador and race car star Alex Tagliani this weekend as he competes in his first race of the NASCAR Pinty’s series on Sunday, May 19 at the Canadian Tire Motorsport Park in Bowmanville, ON.
Alex’s car will be decked out in the allergen decals that students from Kimberley/Beaches Alternative School in Toronto coloured earlier this month! Watch the video.
Check out Alex’s racing schedule for the season and cheer him on at a race near you!
Webinars
May 30: Webinar on the emotional and social challenges experienced by families living with food allergy
Join us as we speak with Canadian psychologist Dr. Joanne Gillespie on the psychosocial impacts of food allergy. Dr. Gillespie specializes in health psychology, and has expertise working with preschoolers, school age children, adolescents, and families.
Throughout the month: Basics of food allergy and anaphylaxis webinars
Parents of children recently diagnosed with food allergy can learn how to confidently manage this medical condition on a daily basis. Plus, they will learn the signs and symptoms of a reaction and how to treat a severe allergic reaction.
Support group events
May 26: In Edmonton
Join Children with Food Allergies Alberta – Education and Support Group for their Food Allergy Fun Run to raise funds and show your support! Sign-up today!
May 27: In Toronto
Learn about allergy-friendly travelling with allergy travel specialist Rachel Stewart from Eat Well, Travel Happy at the Toronto Anaphylaxis Education Group’s (TAEG) support group meeting! Sign-up today!
Share: Videos on the importance of epinephrine
Epinephrine is the first line treatment for anaphylaxis, a severe allergic reaction that can be life-threatening. Watch paediatric allergist, and one of our Healthcare Advisory Board members Dr. Ben-Shoshan and Beatrice, from our team, talk about signs and symptoms, and how to treat a reaction.
Share this video, created by EpiPen® Canada, with others to create a community that is allergy aware! Stay tuned for more videos from EpiPen!
Have you seen our Give and Go videos?
They focus on the importance of giving epinephrine and calling 911 when having anaphylaxis.
The videos feature Hall of Fame football player Jerome Bettis as he walks us through a Give and Go!
Drive awareness
Support food allergy awareness and purchase our teal glow-in-the-dark Shine a light bracelets.
They are perfect for kids and adults alike and it’s a simple way to show your support, whether you have a food allergy or not.
Host an Allergy-Friendly Food Drive to build food allergy awareness and also help those in need. We have everything you need to get started – including how-to’s and printable necessities like posters and information sheets.
Lighting up in teal!
Take a photo of the many monuments across Canada that will be lit up in teal to support Food Allergy Awareness Month and share it with us on Twitter.
Here’s what will be lit up in teal next week:
Alberta
• High Level Bridge, Edmonton (May 17)
• Calgary Tower, Calgary (May 18)
• Telus Spark Science Centre, Calgary (May 18)
• Reconciliation Bridge, Calgary (May 18)
• Lethbridge City Hall, Lethbridge (May 18)
British Columbia
• BC Place, Vancouver (May 18)
• Dome at Science World at Telus World of Science, Vancouver (May 18)
• Canada Place Sails of Light, Vancouver (May 18)
Nova Scotia
• Halifax City Hall, Halifax (May 18)
Ontario
• Mississauga Civic Clock Tower, Mississauga (May 17)
• Riverwalk Commons and the Fred A. Lundy Bridge, Newmarket (May 17)
• City of Markham Gateway Sign, Markham (May 17-18)
• 3D Toronto Sign, Toronto (May 18)
• Brant Street Pier, Burlington (May 18)
• Oakville Town Hall, Oakville (May 18)
• Toronto City Hall Towers, Toronto (May 18)
• Niagara Falls (May 18)
• Peace Bridge, Niagara Falls (May 18)
• CN Tower, Toronto (May 20)
Quebec
• Montreal City Hall, Montreal (May 18)
Prince Edward Island
• Charlottetown City Hall, Charlottetown (May 18)
Supporting the cause
Donate to Food Allergy Canada!
Support our advocacy efforts and the launch of our National Food Allergy Action Plan. We rely on your donations to continue advocating and improving the quality of life for Canadians living with food allergy. Donate today.
Start your own fundraiser.
A few years ago, sisters Delaney and Danica promoted FAAM at their schools by making bracelets. It was a huge success in creating awareness in their school and their community. Read their story and get inspired to start your own fundraiser! Fundraise today.