Our key priorities

Anything that can damage the heart can damage its function. Today, close to 800,000 people in Canada are living with heart failure, with about 100,000 diagnosed every year. They face a complicated, deadly disease that diminishes their quality of life. Heart & Stroke brought together cardiac experts and organizations to launch a national action plan. This plan tackles heart failure on all fronts: advancing research, preventing heart damage, creating new treatments, and improving diagnosis and access to care and medications. 

In an instant, stroke can devastate families. It’s a leading cause of death, and 60% of people who survive are left with some disability. We are the stroke authority in Canada, fighting to raise awareness of the signs of stroke (FAST), fueling medical discoveries, and providing evidence-based healthcare guidelines to deliver world-class stroke care. 

The odds of surviving an out-of-hospital cardiac arrest are just 10%. Taking immediate action by bystanders is critical for survival. Heart & Stroke is working to improve survival rates by training Canadians in CPR and AED use through a vast instructor network, and through CardiacCrash^TM, a team-based, gamified learning program. As tireless advocates, we ensured AED placement in public places (like skating rinks and office buildings) across Canada.

Some communities in Canada bear a disproportionate burden of disease and risk for heart and brain conditions, including women, Indigenous people, and Black communities. By forging partnerships and working within equity-deserving groups, Heart & Stroke is leading the charge to beat health inequity with targeted research programs, building awareness and enabling the healthcare system. Our work for women is just one example.

Congenital heart disease is a lifelong battle. About 1 in every 100 babies are born with congenital heart disease (CHD). Today, more than 2/3 of people living with CHD are adults. But gaps in research, diagnosis, care and support put them at risk for heart failure and stroke. Heart & Stroke brought together leading CHD experts and people living with CHD to build an action plan that will advance research, raise awareness and improve access to specialized care and support across the lifespan. 

Heart & Stroke fought hard for smoke-free spaces, the removal of heart-clogging trans fats in foods, and an updated Canada’s Food Guide. Today, we’re influencing government legislation and regulations to create a vape-free generation, improve nutrition labelling, enable access to affordable medication, and stop the onslaught of harmful marketing to children.