CROWNING US
A national project focused on underserved communities to address gaps in heart disease research and improve access to care, including women, intersex, gender-diverse people, and those from diverse racial and ethnic backgrounds.
This initiative is co-led by the Canadian Women’s Heart Health Alliance (CWHHA), Council of Agencies Serving South Asians (CASSA), Sickle Cell Awareness Group of Ontario (SCAGO), and the University of Toronto.
In Canada, not everyone has the same opportunity for good heart and brain health.
Some communities are more likely to develop heart disease and stroke, wait longer to be diagnosed and treated, and face challenges getting the care and information they need.
These differences are influenced by factors like sex and gender, race and ethnicity, where someone lives (rural/remote areas), income, and access to care.
These differences highlight gaps in how research and health care systems have been designed and delivered.
CROWNING US is changing how research is done.
Instead of doing research on people, we are doing research with people.
This approach is called Patient-Oriented Research.
By working with the communities directly affected by these gaps, this helps:
- Identify the questions that matter most
- Shape research priorities
- Guide solutions that reflect real needs
How To Get Involved
Your experience and perspective matter. We welcome individuals, community groups, researchers, clinicians, people with lived and living experience and organizations representing underserved populations across Canada to connect with us.
You do not need a research or healthcare background to get involved.
Here’s how you can take part:
Women Driving Change for Heart and Brain Health
These workshops will bring together community members, researchers, clinicians and people with lived and living experience (PWLLE) all with a shared goal: to improve future care for groups that are often overlooked or underserved.
Who Should Attend:
- Anyone interested in improving heart and brain health.
- People who identify as women or intersex, and those from diverse gender, racial, and ethnic backgrounds (including Black, South Asian, East Asian, and 2SLGBTQI+ communities).
- Space is limited, and priority will be given to individuals from underserved communities, including those listed above.
Cost: Free
Burnaby, British Columbia
Date: Sunday, May 17, 2026
Time: 10:00 AM–1:00 PM PST
Location: Masjid al Salaam and Education Centre, 5060 Canada Way, Burnaby, Multipurpose Hall (Floor 1)
Hosted in collaboration with the BC Muslim Association Burnaby Women, and members of the Canadian Women’s Heart Health Alliance (CWHHA).
Waterloo, Ontario
Date: Saturday, May 23, 2026
Time: TBD
Location: TBD, Toronto, Ontario
Hosted in collaboration with the Sickle Cell Awareness Group of Ontario (SCAGO) and NIROW Peer Support / NIROW Nigerians.
Registration coming soon.
Toronto, Ontario
Date: Wednesday, June 3, 2026
Time: TBD
Location: Centennial College Event Centre, Toronto, Ontario
Hosted by Council for Agencies Serving South Asians (CASSA).
Registration coming soon.
National Workshop (Virtual/Online)
Date: Monday, June 22, 2026
Time: 11:00 AM – 2:00 PM
Location: Zoom
Hosted in collaboration with Rainbow Allyship and members of the Canadian Women’s Heart Health Alliance (CWHHA).
Registration coming soon.
Surrey, British Columbia
Date: June, 2026
Time: TBD
Location: TBD
Hosted by members of the Canadian Women’s Heart Health Alliance (CWHHA).
Registration coming soon.
Educational Webinars
We have launched a growing series of evidence-based webinars designed to:
- Increase awareness of heart and brain health
- Highlight sex- and gender-specific risk factors
- Address knowledge gaps across diverse communities
- Provide practical, easy-to-understand information
Women Driving Change for Heart, Brain & Vascular Health
Exploring pregnancy, menopause, and the everyday practices that keep women’s hearts strong.
Dementia risk in South Asian women
South Asian women face a higher risk of dementia, yet this risk is often not widely discussed.
Pregnancy’s hidden impact on heart health
Learn how certain pregnancy-related conditions can affect heart health later in life.
CROWNING US is funded by the Canadian Institutes of Health Research. This funding supports a national effort to advance more inclusive and equitable cardiovascular research in Canada.