• Next webinar: The Patient Room
• What have we been up to?
• Get Involved!
• Useful Resources

Next webinar: The Patient Room

What have we been up to?

CAPA is making sure the voices of people living with arthritis are heard. We’ve shared patient perspectives about Health Canada biosimilar guidance, provided patient input submissions to L’Institut national d’excellence en santé et en services sociaux (INESSS) and Canada’s Drug Agency (CDA) for new medications for Giant cell arteritis and Lupus nephritis, and on vaccine access in New Brunswick. We also observed CDA’s Formulary Expert Management Committee meeting in support of a medication for Juvenile Idiopathic Arthritis. Earlier this summer, we contributed to Clinical Trials Ontario submission to Health Canada on the ICH Guidelines on inclusion of pregnant and breastfeeding individuals.

We’re thrilled to share that $820 was raised in September through Coffee for CAPA sales and direct donations!  Congratulations to Deb Barenec, winner of our $20 gift card draw — and a huge thank-you to Deb and all CAPA community members for your incredible support. We couldn’t have done it without you!

Explore what patient partners and trainees learned, how those lessons are shaping research and collaboration, and the path forward for patient-led innovation in arthritis care. Three of the authors, Julie McKenna, Dawn Richards, and Laurie Proulx, are proud CAPA members, sharing reflections from their experience as patient partners and patient engagement facilitators. Read more in this blog post!

Catch up on our webinar Building Patient Partner Skills in Pre-Clinical & Clinical Research — now available to watch online! Explore practical tips and insights from patient partners and researchers, plus a new infographic summarizing key takeaways. Visit our website to access all of the materials!

Get Involved

Do you live with polymyalgia rheumatica (PMR)? Together with the Vasculitis Foundation and Arthritis Society, we are putting together a drug policy submission for a new medication (sarilumab) to treat PMR. Please consider sharing your experiences by completing the survey. 

Join us on November 19th for a Lived Experience Webinar on getting a diagnosis of arthritis — featuring personal experiences, insights, and strategies for navigating care. Afterward, take a 15-minute movement break with Carole Reece, then stay for CAPA’s Annual General Meeting to hear what we did in 2025. Register now!

Arthritis Society Canada’s Community Action Grants are now open for 2026–2027 applications. These grants offer up to $5,000 for community-led projects that address local needs, reduce health disparities, and improve access to arthritis education and care. Apply now!

Share Your Feedback on JustOneMove.ca!  The new website JustOneMove.ca has officially launched — and the team is looking for feedback from Canadians living with rheumatoid arthritis (RA) to help make the site even better. They’re seeking 50–75 participants from diverse backgrounds to complete a short feedback survey. All participants will be fairly compensated for their time. 

If you’re living with RA and want to share your thoughts, click here to complete the survey (password is: universityofcalgary2025!) and get involved!

Interested in participating? Contact Laurie Proulx at: director@arthritispatient.ca

Useful Resources

The latest CIHR Institute of Musculoskeletal Health and Arthritis (IMHA) Impact Report is out, showcasing key advancements in arthritis research and policy. Our Managing Director was honored to be quoted in the report, emphasizing the importance of patient partnerships and the collaboration with IMHA. Read the impact report here!

Check out this insightful article from CAPA Board Member, Janet Gunderson as she shares how she contributes her expertise and lived experience to grant review process. She offers a unique perspective on how grant decisions are shaped — and how patient voices can be part of that process. Read it here!