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MIGRAINE MODE

About Us

Our Work

Our Impact

Annual Reports

Board and Leadership

Medical Contributors

Supporters and Partners

Migraine Canadaâ„¢ is a national registered charity focused on improving the lives of all Canadians living with migraine and other headache disorders.

We Have a Mission

To improve the lives of Canadians with migraine and other headache disorders through advocacy, awareness, education, research and support.

We Have a Vision

Canadians living with migraine and headache disorders are diagnosed, treated and supported so their quality of life is optimized.

We Have a Plan

Our Strategic Plan guides what we do and how we do it. It keeps us focused on the things that matter most: migraine advocacy, awareness, education, research, and support in Canada. Download the summary here

Our Work

Migraine Canada transforms the lives of people affected by migraine and headache conditions through:

Awareness Campaigns

Our media and outreach campaigns have reached countless Canadians and made critical inroads with healthcare professionals, employers, educators and beyond.

Education and Support Programs

We improve the lives of people living with migraine in Canada by creating credub=and easy-to-navigate resources, events, tools, and more – we even have a migraine-tracking mobile app!

Advocacy

We amplify the voices of Canadians living with migraine and keep it on the agenda of policymakers, employers, insurers, and other decision-makers, working tirelessly to create a better future for people living with migraine in Canada.

Research

We support and collaborate with medical researchers from coast to coast, providing expertise and support so they can collect data, identify gaps, and help us better understand and treat migraine in Canada.

Our Impact

To learn more about our impact, download our Annual Reports

Who We Are

Migraine Canada is led by a volunteer Board of Directors, including leading healthcare professionals,  nonprofit executives, and communications professionals, among other qualified individuals and experts. In collaboration with our Staff Management Team, the Board of Directors sets our strategic direction, responds to our stakeholder needs, and ensures we take meaningful action towards our mission and vision.

Our History

Dr. Leroux - Bio Image

Migraine Canada was founded by Dr. Elizabeth Leroux in 2018.

Dr. Elizabeth Leroux is a neurologist and headache specialist. She currently practices at the Brunswick Medical Center Glen Neuro. She is a Faculty Lecturer for McGill’s Neurology Department. Dr. Leroux did her neurology training at University of Montreal and her Headache Fellowship in Paris, France. She directed the headache clinic of Centre Hospitalier de l’Université de Montréal (2010-2016), then the CHAMP multidisciplinary program of the University of Calgary (2017-2019).

Board & Leadership

Board of Directors

Evan Lawlor
Interim Chair

Louis Zhang
Treasurer

Jillian Reardon
Secretary

Dr. Werner Becker
Director

Dr. Elizabeth Leroux
Founder, ex-officio board member

Meredith Maxwell
Director

Lindsay Neeley 
Director

Boris Nevlev
Director

T.J. Shin
Director

Staff

Wendy Gerhart
Executive Director

Kaley Hamilton
Partnerships and Programs Manager

Malak Noury
Commmunications Lead

Migraine Canada extend our deepest gratitude for the time, expertise, and care our medical contributors have generously donated to our programs. The unwavering commitment to our cause is truly invaluable, and the support is helping us make a meaningful difference in the lives of those who need it most.

We are fortunate to have the individuals listed below as partners in our important mission.

Scientific Committee Members

Migraine Canada is dedicated to improving the lives of those we serve, and we recognize that having the right expertise is key to achieving our goals. That’s where our Medical Advisors come in. Our Medical Advisors are highly skilled professionals who bring their clinical expertise, knowledge, and insights to guide our work and shape our programs. They play a critical role in ensuring that the initiatives we develop and the services we provide are based on the latest medical evidence and best practices.

From advising on research and treatment protocols to offering guidance on health education campaigns, our Medical Advisors help us make informed, ethical decisions that directly impact the well-being of the individuals and communities we support. Their expertise helps us navigate complex medical issues, stay aligned with the highest standards of care, and continually adapt to emerging trends in healthcare.

  • Dr. Werner Becker, MD, FRCPC – Neuroscience Professor, Calgary, AB
  • Dr. James Kim, MD – Calgary, AB
  • Dr. Alexander N. Melinyshyn, BSc, MD, FRCPC (Neurology) – London, ON
  • Jillian Reardon, BSc(Pharm), ACPR, PharmD, RPh – Vancouver, BC
  • Christie Tait, NP – Toronto, ON
  • Dr. Zoya Zaeem, MBBS, MEd in HSE 

Medical Contributors

  • Dr. Rebecca Barmherzig, Neurologist, Toronto, ON
  • Dr. Werner Becker, MD, FRCPC Neuroscience Professor (Retired), Calgary, AB
  • Heba Bani Hani, RPh, MBA Healthcare and Life Sciences, Victoria, BC
  • Dr. Mike Butterfield, MSc, MD, FRCPC (Psychiatry and Pain Medicine), BC
  • Sarah Burns, MScPT (Physiotherapy), AB
  • Susan Cape, Registered Social Worker, MA, RSSW, OAMHP, Hamilton, ON
  • Dr. Lindsay Craddock, Neurologist, Calgary, AB
  • Dr. Alexandra Faber, Neurologist, Vancouver, BC
  • Dr. Rose Giammarco, Neurologist, Hamilton, ON
  • Dr. Jonathan Gladstone, Neurologist, Toronto, ON
  • Kelly Hayes Crook, (Brain Retraining), Prince Edward County, ON
  • Dr. Mohammed Wasif Hussain, MD/FRCPC (Neurology), Calgary, AB
  • Dr. Scott Jarvis, MD, PhD, FRCPC (Neurology), Calgary, AB
  • Dr. Alan Kaplan, MD CCFP(EM) FCFP CPC(HC), Toronto, ON
  • Dr. James Kim, MD, Calgary, AB
  • Dr. William Kingston, Headache Neurologist, Toronto, ON
  • Dr. Marissa Lagman, MD, FRCPC, FAHS (Neurologist), Toronto, ON
  • Dr. Cheryl Lavell, Neurologist, Hamilton, ON
  • Dr. Christine Lay, MD, FAHS (Neurologist), Toronto, ON
  • Dr. Elizabeth Leroux, MD, FRCPC (Neurologist), Montreal, QC
  • Dr. Suvendrini Lena, Neurologist, Toronto, ON
  • Dr. Alexander N. Melinyshyn, BSc, MD, FRCPC (Neurology), London, ON
  • Dr. Serena L. Orr, Neurologist, Calgary, AB
  • Dr. Sharon Pham, Ph.D., Calgary, AB
  • Dr. Thilinie Rajapakse, Neurologist, Edmonton, AB
  • Jillian Reardon, BSc(Pharm), ACPR, PharmD, RPh, Vancouver, BC
  • Dr. Lawrence Richer, Neurologist, Edmonton, AB
  • Dr. Claire Sandoe, MD, MSC, FRCPC (Neurology), Toronto, ON
  • Dr. Fairuz Siraj, PharmD, RPh, Victoria, BC
  • Margaret Slavin, PhD, RDN, Maryland, US
  • Christie Tait, NP, Toronto, ON
  • Dr. Candice Todd, MD, MSC, FRCPC (Neurology), Toronto, ON
  • Lauren Wootton, BHSc., MSc.PT (Physiotherapy), Toronto, ON

Supporters and Partners

 

 

Our generous supporters and partners have enabled us to achieve so much for Canadians living with migraine since we were founded in 2018. Together, we are raising awareness, empowering Canadians, and ending stigma. We hope our supporters and partners are inspired by the achievements they have helped to make possible and are excited about the future we can build together.

All gifts, sponsorship and in-kind support received go directly to making Migraine Canada’s initiatives, programs, and resources a reality. 

Migraine Canada is independently operated as a charity in Canada and does not advocate for specific treatment options or advertise on behalf of any partners or companies.

Supporters

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Partners