Mission Statement
Lupus Ontario’s mission is to provide vital support, education, awareness, advocacy and research through the fundraising efforts of our staff and volunteer community to help those with lupus live longer, healthier and better lives.
Our Vision
Life Without Lupus
Lupus Ontario is the largest provincial voluntary organization dedicated to improving the lives of people living with lupus.
We support the lupus community by living out our mission through these pillars:
• SUPPORT: We provide 8 interactive monthly support groups for lupus patients throughout Ontario. Facilitators guide the meetings based on specific themes or key discussion topics.
• EDUCATION: We provide education through our monthly newsletters, webinars, podcasts, and an annual Lupus Symposium.
• AWARENESS: We use our social media, website, and monthly newsletter to create awareness on lupus. In addition, we support Lupus Awareness Month in May, by reaching out to media with our Awareness Media Kit, and securing numerous Ontario landmarks to illuminate in purple on Lupus Awareness Day (May 10).
• ADVOCACY: Working with our Medical Advisory Board and other partners, we support several advocacy initiatives annually. Recent initiatives include advocating for the approval of new lupus biologic medications under OHIP, and vaccine coverage for immunocompromised individuals. Previous efforts resulted in the passing of Bill 112 providing official recognition of World Lupus Day on May 10th by the Province of Ontario.
• RESEARCH: We provide funding to the Geoff Carr Lupus Research Fellowship, The Honey Agar Fellowship for High-Risk Pregnancy in Rheumatic Diseases and 6 accredited lupus clinics in Ontario.
• EVENTS & CAMPAIGNS:
WALK for Lupus Ontario – This annual event takes place from May to September. We facilitate community members throughout the province to take part and organize walks across Ontario.
Research Campaign – We have an annual campaign from October to January in which we raise money to fund our research initiatives such as the Geoff Carr Lupus Research Fellowship and Clinic funding.
Lupus Ontario is thankful to all the donors and volunteers who support our mission.
Our History
Lupus Ontario arose from a need for support, education and awareness. This gap was filled in 1978 by a dedicated group of patients led by Honey Agar and Linda Ethier. Honey and Linda were both in hospital and were diagnosed with a disease that very little was known about and for which there was no support for patients and their families. From their determination to improve the situation, the Ontario Lupus Association (OLA) was established and incorporated provincially in 1998. The OLA amalgamated with the Hamilton Lupus Society in 2004, and the organization name was changed to Lupus Ontario. The first Lupus Conference was held in Toronto in 1983 to bring support, education and awareness.
Since 1983, Lupus Ontario has raised millions of dollars to support research and provide support and education to the Ontario Lupus Community. Our major fundraising events include the Annual WALK for Lupus Ontario, a gala and an annual Research Campaign. Some notable achievements over the years are:
- In 1987, Lupus Ontario partnered with the Toronto Western Hospital Lupus Clinic to raise the funds needed to establish the first Canadian Lupus Databank. Over the years, the Databank has provided the data required to conduct hundreds of research projects aimed at better management of the disease.
- The annual Lupus Ontario Geoff Carr Fellowship was established in 1990. This is a unique bursary given to a rheumatologist in training to learn the best practices for diagnosing and treating lupus and to complete a research project. Since inception for the Geoff Carr Fellowship, over 35 Fellows have been trained. The majority are still practicing in Ontario, and many have become leaders in lupus care and research.
- Lupus Ontario funded the start-up of the Lupus Biobank at the Hamilton Lupus Clinic at McMaster University.
To this day, Lupus Ontario continues to fund lupus clinics, education materials and symposiums, increase awareness through media and speaking engagements, research through the Lupus Ontario Geoff Carr Research Fellowship, and to pay for support staff and materials. We strive to support those living with lupus and continue our work towards a Life without Lupus.
For more details on the history of Lupus Ontario, click on the link below to read the report prepared for the 40th Anniversary of Lupus Ontario in 2018.