As we look back on the past year, we want to thank you for being part of our community. This fall marked an incredible end to 2023 for our organization. Thanks to the efforts of hundreds of individuals and organizations, our National Pain Awareness Week social media campaign had the furthest reach since its inception. More than 2.2 million people saw our campaign posts a collective total of 7.6 million times, raising awareness of the impact of chronic pain and helping to reduce stigma. We’re immensely grateful to all those who participated and engaged.

Through our Pain Canada action network, we also launched a new digital tool that monitors the progress towards the implementation of the 150+ recommendations laid out in Health Canada’s Action Plan for Pain in Canada. The tracker will continue to be updated quarterly throughout 2024 and beyond, to highlight how far Canada has come in its approach to addressing pain, and how much further it still has to go.

More than 850 people attended this year’s Putting the Pieces Together conference, our virtual conference by and for people living with pain, which was an incredible success thanks to the conference’s steering committee of people living with pain, our many partners through our Pain Canada action network, and to the tireless work of our staff and volunteers. Videos of the conference session are now available online.

None of this work would possible without the generosity of the funders and donors who support our work, which includes many people who live with pain themselves.

We look forward to continuing to work with each of you in 2024 towards our shared vision of a future where no one is alone with pain.

The Pain Support Line and Pain Support and Wellness Groups are on break from December 22, 2023 until January 2, 2024. If you are in crisis, we recommend reaching out to any of the following crisis lines:

We look forward to connecting with you in 2024!

Take a Pain Check is offering two scholarships worth $2,500 for full-time Canadian students living with rheumatic conditions. Preference is given to STEM students, but all Canadian students diagnosed with a rheumatic condition who are passionate about making a difference in their communities are welcome to apply. Submit your application by January 30, 2024 at 11:59 PM EST to scholarships@takeapaincheck.com for a chance to win!

Power Over Pain Portal is offering a free webinar on January 11, 2024 at 8:00AM PST on the nervous system and pain, including how it changes and adapts to our experiences. Recordings of the webinar will be available for those who cannot attend the live session. To check out other upcoming webinars from Power Over Pain Portal, visit: portal.poweroverpain.ca/events

Designed by Pain BC and offered by the the Pacific Northwest Division of Family Practice, Making Sense of Pain is an opportunity for people who live with persistent pain to meet weekly to build a community of support while learning about pain, pain management and coping strategies. This 10-week program will be offered via Zoom once a week for two hours starting in January 2024.

To register or find out more information, please call: 1-250-917-8928

The Power Over Pain Portal for Youth is an online tool designed to help young people manage their pain. Researchers are seeking participants aged 12-18 who have been experiencing pain for three months or longer. Participation will involve answering online questionnaires, using the Power Over Pain Portal for eight weeks, and optionally completing a feedback interview. All participants will receive volunteer hours and a gift card.

If you live with pain, does it change throughout the day? The CircaPain research team is studying how time of day impacts pain and wants to hear about your experience. This study is open to all adults who have had persistent pain for more than three months. Learn more and take the survey on CircaPain's website: circapain.ca.