Heart and Stroke Foundation of Canada

The Heart and Stroke Foundation of Canada is a national Canadian charity devoted to reducing illness and death associated with heart disease and stroke. Its work combines public education, health advocacy, research funding, collaboration with medical and public-health institutions, and fundraising programs that support prevention and scientific research. The organization works with physicians, hospitals, provincial health ministries, hospital associations, and other health-care bodies. One area of institutional collaboration has been the Stroke System Coalition, developed with the Canadian Stroke Society and Health Canada's Laboratory Centre for Disease Control. Such partnerships reflect the organization's role as a convener and health-policy advocate as well as a fundraiser. Research and communications address cardiovascular disease and stroke across the Canadian population, including differences in how women and other demographic groups experience symptoms and outcomes. In February 2018, the organization published the Ms Understood report, which examined how early warning signs of heart attack in women can be overlooked or misunderstood. Its dietary guidance emphasizes reducing saturated fat, replacing it where appropriate with monounsaturated and polyunsaturated fats, and choosing foods such as fruit, legumes, vegetables, whole grains, lower-fat dairy products or alternatives, fish, and poultry. It also advises limiting processed foods, processed meats, and sugar-sweetened beverages. Fundraising and public engagement are delivered through activities including Big Bike, a group event in which riders collectively power a large bicycle; Jump Rope for Heart, an elementary-school program combining physical activity with fundraising; Ride for Heart, an annual Toronto-area cycling, running, and walking event held on temporarily closed sections of major expressways; and an annual lottery whose proceeds support research grants at Ontario teaching hospitals and universities. These programs connect donation campaigns with physical activity and public awareness. In November 2016, the organization introduced the Heart & Stroke name and a new logo. The rebrand was intended to make its communications feel more personal and to broaden appeal among younger people and immigrants. The organization remains active in Canada under the Heart & Stroke identity, while its legal and historical name continues to be Heart and Stroke Foundation of Canada.

The Heart and Stroke Foundation of Canada developed as a Canadian charitable organization addressing two closely connected public-health challenges: cardiovascular disease and stroke. Its activities have centered on research, prevention education, advocacy, and fundraising rather than on the sale of commercial products. The organization works across the health system with physicians, hospitals, provincial ministries, hospital associations, and research institutions. A significant part of its institutional role has been collaboration. With the Canadian Stroke Society and Health Canada's Laboratory Centre for Disease Control, it participated in creating the Stroke System Coalition. This type of work places the foundation between public education and health-system improvement: it supports research and disseminates information to the public while also engaging organizations responsible for clinical practice and public policy. The foundation's research and education programs have increasingly addressed differences in cardiovascular risk, symptoms, diagnosis, and outcomes among population groups. Women have been a particular focus. In early 2018, the organization issued Ms Understood, a report describing how early signs of heart attack in women are often missed. The report formed part of a broader effort to improve public and professional recognition of cardiovascular symptoms that may not match commonly understood expectations. Public fundraising has historically been linked to participation and physical activity. Big Bike brings groups together to raise funds while collectively riding a large stationary or mobile bicycle. Jump Rope for Heart uses elementary-school activities centered on skipping to combine exercise, health learning, and donations. By 2017, Jump Rope for Heart had reached its 35th anniversary and was reported to involve close to 4,000 schools. Ride for Heart became another prominent public event in the Toronto area, using closed sections of the Gardiner Expressway and Don Valley Parkway for cycling, running, and walking. Its 30th anniversary in 2017 was associated with approximately 15,000 riders and 5,000 runners and walkers. The event's traffic effects also generated public discussion; in 2018, Toronto councillor Stephen Holyday suggested moving it to city streets. The organization also operates an annual lottery, with proceeds supporting research grants at teaching hospitals and universities in Ontario. Its public-health advice encourages lower consumption of saturated fat and greater use of unsaturated fats, along with diets based on vegetables, fruit, legumes, whole grains, lower-fat dairy products or alternatives, fish, and poultry. It recommends limiting processed foods, processed meats, and sweetened beverages. In November 2016, the foundation adopted the Heart & Stroke public identity and introduced a new logo. The change was presented as a more personal approach to communication, with an emphasis on younger audiences and immigrants. The rebrand did not change the organization's core charitable mission: reducing the burden of heart disease and stroke in Canada through research, education, advocacy, partnerships, and fundraising.

• 2018

  Publication of Ms Understood

  [1]Heart and Stroke Foundation of Canadaen.wikipedia.org

  Heart and Stroke released a report on the way women's early heart-attack warning signs may be overlooked.

• 2017

  Jump Rope for Heart reaches 35th anniversary

  [1]Heart and Stroke Foundation of Canadaen.wikipedia.org

  The school fundraising program reached its 35th anniversary and was reported to involve nearly 4,000 schools across Canada.

• 2017

  Ride for Heart reaches 30th anniversary

  [1]Heart and Stroke Foundation of Canadaen.wikipedia.org

  The Toronto event marked 30 years, with reported participation of about 15,000 riders and 5,000 runners and walkers.

• 2016

  Heart & Stroke rebrand

  [1]Heart and Stroke Foundation of Canadaen.wikipedia.org

  The organization introduced the Heart & Stroke name and a new logo, seeking a more personal public voice and broader reach among younger people and immigrants.

National Canadian health charity combining cardiovascular and stroke research funding, public education, advocacy, institutional collaboration, and community fundraising.

• Public health education

  Health education and dietary guidance

  Educational information addressing cardiovascular disease, stroke prevention, warning signs, and healthy eating. Dietary guidance includes reducing saturated fat, choosing more unsaturated fats, eating vegetables, fruit, legumes, whole grains, lower-fat dairy products or alternatives, fish, and poultry, and limiting processed foods, processed meats, and sugary beverages.

• Charitable research support

  Research funding

  Funding and participation in research concerning heart disease and stroke, including work examining how cardiovascular incidents affect women and other demographic groups differently. Lottery proceeds support grants at teaching hospitals and universities in Ontario.

• Fundraising event

  Big Bike

  A group fundraising activity in which approximately 29 participants ride together on one large red bicycle for a set period. The event links team participation, physical activity, and donations for cardiovascular and stroke programs.

• School fundraising program

  Jump Rope for Heart

  An elementary-school initiative built around skipping and other physical activities. It combines health promotion with fundraising and had reached its 35th anniversary by 2017, with close to 4,000 schools reported as participating across Canada.

• Community fundraising event

  Ride for Heart

  An annual Toronto-area event involving cycling, running, and walking. Parts of the Gardiner Expressway and Don Valley Parkway have been closed for the event, allowing participants to use major roadways while raising funds for the organization.

• Fundraising lottery

  Heart & Stroke annual lottery

  An annual lottery whose proceeds support cardiovascular and stroke research, including grants at teaching hospitals and universities in Ontario.

• Health publication · 2018

  Ms Understood

  A report released in February 2018 examining the tendency for women's early heart-attack warning signs to be missed or misunderstood.

• 1987Ride for Heart

  Toronto, Canada

  An annual cycling, running, and walking fundraiser held on temporarily closed sections of Toronto's Gardiner Expressway and Don Valley Parkway.

  Outcome. The event marked its 30th anniversary in 2017, with reported participation of 15,000 riders and 5,000 runners and walkers.

  Source
• 1982Jump Rope for Heart

  Canada

  A school-centered campaign combining skipping activities, cardiovascular-health education, and fundraising. The program celebrated its 35th anniversary in 2017.

  Outcome. Close to 4,000 schools were reported to be participating in 2017.

  Source
• Big Bike

  Canada

  A team-based fundraising event using a large group bicycle and timed physical activity to raise money and awareness.

  Source
• Heart & Stroke annual lottery

  Ontario · Canada

  A recurring fundraising lottery supporting research grants at Ontario teaching hospitals and universities.

  Source

• 2016

  Adoption of the Heart & Stroke public identityStrategy

  Background

  The foundation sought to make its communications more personal and to broaden engagement with younger demographics and immigrants.

  Action taken

  It introduced the Heart & Stroke name and a new logo in November 2016.

  Aftermath

  The organization continued its Canadian charity activities under the Heart & Stroke identity while retaining its historical legal name.

  Source

1. 1Heart and Stroke Foundation of Canadaen.wikipedia.org
2. 2Heart & Stroke official websiteheartandstroke.ca