Newsletter – September 2025
09-16-2025
In this month’s newsletter:
Fuel Your Day, Support CAPA!
This Arthritis Awareness Month, doing good is as easy as drinking your morning coffee. We’ve teamed up (again!) with Sparkplug Coffee to bring you delicious specialty blends and dangerously snackable chocolate-covered coffee beans.
The best part? 20% of every purchase goes straight to CAPA—helping us keep patient voices loud and clear in research, advocacy, and education. Not a coffee drinker? That’s okay—we won’t hold it against you. You can still chip in with a direct donation and help us keep the momentum brewing.
Check out Sparkplug’s coffee lineup here and in the image below. Buy your coffee now – the campaign ends on September 30th!
Your voice at the policy table
Speaking up for Patients in Drug Policy
CAPA worked with Arthritis Society Canada, Canadian Spondyloarthritis Association, Cassie & Friends, and Psoriasis Canada, on a patient submission to Canada’s Drug Agency (CDA-AMC) on tofacitinib for Juvenile Idiopathic Arthritis. We also shared patient concerns on Canada’s Drug Agency consultation on bulk purchasing of medications and contributed to Best Medicines Coalition feedback on an essential medicines list. Read the submissions here.
With sadness, we share the news that Dr. Frank Beier, a leading Canadian researcher in cartilage development and osteoarthritis, passed away in July 2025. He was deeply respected across the arthritis community—by patients, colleagues, and trainees alike—and was known for his generosity in mentoring the next generation of researchers. Many of his students have already gone on to impressive careers thanks to his guidance. You can read more about his career and a new award in his honour at Western University.
Human Rights Tribunal Affirms Immunocompromised Worker’s Right to Seek Work Accommodations:
CAPA Managing Director, Laurie Proulx, was quoted in the Press Progress story about a British Columbia Human Rights Tribunal decision about the rights of immunocompromised people to seek workplace accommodations. Read more in the article!
Upcoming Webinars for Patient Partners
Join us on September 16 at 12:00 pm EDT for Building Patient Partner Skills, where patient partner Marie-Maxime Bergeron and Drs. Manoj Lalu and Glen Hazlewood will share how patients can engage meaningfully from pre-clinical research to clinical practice guidelines. Then, on October 15 at 12:00 pm EDT, The Patient Room offers an informal lunchtime chat with Linda Wilhelm and Therese Lane, who will reflect on their lived experiences in research and policy and invite your questions in a relaxed Q&A. Don’t miss these opportunities to strengthen your role and connect with other patient partners – register today!
Mini-sondage pour choisir le sujet d’un webinaire en français
Nous prévoyons organiser notre premier webinaire en français à l’automne 2025. Pour nous aider à choisir un sujet, nous invitons les membres de l’ACA à nous faire part de ce qui leur tient le plus à cœur en tant que personnes vivant avec ou affectées par l’arthrite. Complèter le sondage ici!
Share Your Experience with Virtual Rheumatology Care
Nous Virtual visits (by phone or video) are now a bigger part of rheumatoid arthritis (RA) care in Canada. We want to know what works for you. If you’re an adult living with RA, please share your experiences in this short survey—your input will help shape the future of RA care. Take the survey here.
Exploring Patient Experiences with Medical Cannabis
Many people with arthritis turn to medical cannabis to help manage pain and fatigue, but often face barriers like limited guidance and information. We’re conducting confidential interviews to learn about real-world experiences, with the goal of creating evidence-based resources for patients and providers.
Interested in participating? Contact Laurie Proulx at: director@arthritispatient.ca
Life Hacks from People Living with Arthritis
Earlier this year, CAPA partnered with two occupational therapy students from McMaster University to hear directly from individuals living with arthritis. Together, they explored the clever ways people manage daily tasks and stay active, and the results have been brought to life in a new infographic. The images showcase participants’ own “life hacks”—simple, smart solutions that highlight their voices, stories, and strengths in finding ways to live well. A heartfelt thank-you to everyone who took part in this project!
Back to School with Chronic Illness
Parenting is tough enough—add a chronic illness, and it’s a whole new challenge. In our Back to School Drop-in, Mariah Z. Leach, founder of Mamas Facing Forward, shared practical tips and strategies to help parents living with arthritis and other chronic illnesses navigate the school year with confidence. Listen to the webinar here!
Resources for Students with Arthritis
Starting or managing with a chronic illness can be tough, but you don’t have to figure it out alone. CAPA’s Youth Committee developed these resources to help you and your family navigate school accommodations and manage the challenges of school while living with arthritis or other chronic conditions. Explore the resources here.
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