Arthritis is painful. It’s devastating. And it’s in the business of denying six million Canadians a normal life. Without bold and sustained action, the number of Canadians with arthritis will rise to nine million by 2045.
Tackling arthritis requires dedication and a coordinated, strategic effort.
OUR STRATEGY
Accelerating Impact, Arthritis Society Canada’s 2027 Strategic Plan, will guide our efforts. The Arthritis Society Canada will:
Create the nationwide Arthritis Action Plan
What success looks like:
- Arthritis Action Plan is launched
- Champions support and adopt the Plan
- 20 formal Discussion Groups conducted with diverse audiences
- 100 researchers/institutions engaged
- 1 million people reached to co-create the plan
- Minimum of 25 CEOs interviewed to inform the plan
Our Arthritis Action Plan efforts will focus on:
- Meaningful engagement with 1 Million People
- Ongoing relationship building with diverse communities
- Awareness and Advocacy: Raising the profile, elevating the urgency, setting a new standard for action
- Access to Care: All people, no barriers, no gaps to arthritis care
- Research and Innovation: Bold paths from prevention to cure, accelerating knowledge to action, increasing resources
Why it matters:
“The possibility of curing this disease in the next 20 years is there.” ~ Dr. David Robinson
Fund more research
What success looks like:
Research has a positive impact on health
- $30 million invested in research
- 95 new innovative research projects funded
- 380 new research careers launched
- Our research investments multiplied 5 times by other funders
Our innovative research efforts will focus on:
- Pain
- Osteoarthritis
- Inflammatory arthritis
- Childhood arthritis
- Work
Why it matters:
“Research presents me with hope for the future.” ~ David West, living with arthritis
Change the conversation
What success looks like:
People view arthritis as serious and have access to timely and effective care
- Arthritis elevated to a top 5 health concern
- 25,000 Canadians inspired to take action
- 300 policy makers engaged
- 90 public policies impacted
Our awareness and advocacy efforts will focus on:
- Mattering more to more people
- Enhancing access to care and treatment
- Supportive socio-economic policies
- Encouraging robust investment in and government funding for innovative research
Why it matters:
“Arthritis is serious and doesn't get the attention it deserves." ~ Gabe Koury, living with arthritis
Innovate to differentiate
What success looks like:
Innovation creates new ideas that change lives
- Create 150M innovation-related media impressions
- Activate at least 3 innovation programs
- Implement a social impact investment
- Engage 90% of employees to strongly agree we are innovative
Our innovation efforts will focus on:
- Support the identification, development, mentorship and networking of arthritis innovations and entrepreneurs to bring new arthritis solutions to people with arthritis
- Development of collaborative social impact partnerships with the power to make meaningful change for people with arthritis
- Launch of high-risk, high-reward research innovation grants
Why it matters:
“It is time to get innovative. Time to change the way we have been thinking and how we have been doing things.” ~ From Unleashing Innovation: Report of the Advisory Panel on Healthcare Innovation
Reach more people
What success looks like:
People affected by arthritis are empowered and more resilient
- 3 million Canadians reached each year with trusted information
- 500,000 Canadians connected with our information and support programs
- 90% of program users say they are empowered to better manage their arthritis
- 6,000 children and families helped to thrive with arthritis
Our efforts will focus on:
- Developing and disseminating online tools and resources
- Establishing Arthritis Talks series to reach Canadians coast to coast
- Evolving our Arthritis Line to a nationwide program
- Supporting children through camps and information resources
Why it matters:
“It’s so important that people have the right and most up-to-date information about this disease. Arthritis knows no age, race, religion or gender. It can affect anyone.”~ June Henderson, living with arthritis
Grow revenue
What success looks like:
Donors are inspired and motivated to give to fuel our mission
- Annual fundraising revenue increased by $5 million to $26 million
- Cost-per-dollar-raised decreased to 35 cents
Why it matters:
“I want arthritis to be something the next generation reads about in history books, because that’s where it belongs: in the past.” ~ Anna Marie Frediani, living with arthritis
Accelerating Impact is ambitious and bold, because that’s what’s needed to achieve meaningful change on this urgent issue. Arthritis Society Canada has a disease to crush and a constituency to elevate. We are all in to end arthritis, so people with arthritis can live their best life free from arthritis.
Download the Strategic Plan
Our vision
We will extinguish arthritis.
Our mission
To fight the fire of arthritis with research, advocacy, innovation, information and support.
Our values
Our values are critical. They become the bedrock from which our culture is created. They authentically define how we operate, how we act, and how we interact on a day-to-day basis.
- United: We are stronger together.
- Impactful: We will create a bold future.
- Transformative: We fearlessly work to achieve greatness.