April marks Canadian Fertility Awareness Month.
This year, April 23-29, 2023 is Canadian Fertility Awareness Week.
Canadian Fertility Awareness Week is a period of time to have specifically have conversations around infertility—when you’re not able to get pregnant after at least one year of trying. It’s a time meant to raise awareness about a devastating issue that 1 in 6 Canadians struggle with, and that many may not realize they’ll struggle with until they’re actually struggling.
This year’s Canadian Fertility Awareness theme is Redefining (In)Fertility.
From Family Matters:
“The modern family is built in many ways. We continue to elevate the conversations about fertility and reproductive health in order to drive awareness about the number of Canadians who struggle to build their families or who need access to fertility care in order to achieve their family-building goals.
That’s why, in 2023, we now celebrate Canadian Fertility Awareness Week (CFAW) – to place a more positive spin on an often heavy conversation and to be more inclusive of all of those whose fertility stories are worthy of being told.”
Infertility is a topic I’ve been open about, due to my own struggles, for quite some time. My partner Mike and I first started talking about our infertility—Unexplained Infertility—in 2018, four year after we first started trying to have a baby. And though we somehow were able to conceive after nearly a decade of trying (our Miracle Baby boy Benjimin was born in March 2023), infertility awareness and normalizing conversations around its struggles, removing stigma and changing perceptions on pregnancy, are still topics I’m passionate about sharing.
In Edmonton, there are a few events happening to mark Canadian Fertility Awareness.
I thought I’d round up a few you may be interested in attending:
Canadian Fertility Awareness Week 2023 – Edmonton Events
Note: if you’re coming across this listing in a different year, many of these groups will likely still be offering some kind of event to mark the week, just double check dates/times on their website/social!
Edmonton Events
- Mon, April 17, 2023 – An Integrative Approach to Fertility
- Wed, April 26, 2023 – @IVFGotYou Instagram Live Chat
- Wed, April 26, 2023 – Light the Night Meet-up
- Sun, April 30, 2023 – Redefining (in)Fertility with Whole Person Integrated Fertility Care
National Events
Monday, April 17, 2023 – An Integrative Approach to Fertility
An Integrative Aproach to Fertility presented by Park Integrative Health
- Monday, April 17, 2023
- 7:00 p.m. – 8:30 p.m. MT
- Format: Webinar
- Cost: $25/person
- Register online
“Join two members of Park Integrative Health’s Allied Health Team, Jennifer Benson (Registered Provisional Psychologist) and Jennifer Kowerchuk (Registered Acupuncturist) to explore the many ways integrative medicine can support an individual’s journey through fertility. From supporting those experiencing challenges with conceiving, to individuals who may have difficult menstrual cycles, PCOS, and more, integrative health care is a truly beneficial approach to supporting and very often solving fertility concerns. You will leave this workshop with tools and paths to take an integrative approach to your own fertility.
If for some reason you are not able to attend, a recording will be made available approx. 3-5 days following the event for those who are registered. This workshop is part of Park Integrative Health’s 2023 workshop series called The Integrative Approach.”
Wednesday, April 26, 2023 – @IVFGotYou Instagram Live
An Instagram Live Infertility Chat With Me (@lindork) and @IVFGotYou
- Wednesday, April 26, 2023
- 10 a.m. – 11 a.m. MT
- Format: Instagram Live
- Tune in for Free on Instagram!
Devonee of @IVFGotYou has invited me to chat about my infertility journey via Instagram Live for Canadian Infertility Awareness Week. Devonee herself has been trying to conceive for six+ years and her Instagram account focuses on sharing about that journey.
Wednesday, April 26, 2023 – Light the Night Meet-up
Light the Night Meet-up presented by Whole Family Health & Alberta Reproductive Centre
- Wednesday, April 26, 2023
- 7:30 p.m. MT
- Format: In-Person
- Meet at Kinsmen Park Football Field
- Attend for Free!
- Email Whole Family Health to register
“Join Whole Family Health and Alberta Reproductive Centre and Canadians across the country as monuments light up GREEN on Wednesday, April 26th in support of you and your fertility story! Come and gather with us and other Edmonton fertility community members under the High Level Bridge – which will be lit green, along with other monuments across Canada, to symbolize health, growth, life and fertility. The intention of the colour green is to also bring feelings of refreshment, peace, rest and JOY! Participants are invited to wear green to raise awareness, show support and start important conversations about fertility, pregnancy, infant loss and family-building. You’re encouraged to wear green. Light refreshments will be served!”
Sunday, April 30, 2023 – Redefining (in)Fertility with Whole Person Integrated Fertility Care
Redefining (in)Fertility with Whole Person Integrated Fertility Care hybrid (in-person/virtual) event presented by Whole Family Health & Alberta Reproductive Centre
- Sunday, April 30, 2023
- 1 p.m. MT
- Format: In-Person OR Virtual
- In-Person at Parkallen Community Hall 6510 – 111 St NW
- Attend for Free!
- Email Whole Family Health to register
“Join Whole Family Health Whole Fertility Care Specialists & Reproductive Endocrinologist, Dr. Ariadne Daniel from Alberta Reproductive Centre for this empowering session that will provide tools, resources, and information on the breadth of fertility and whole person integrated fertility care.
Topics will include an overview of what is (in)fertility, assisted reproductive technologies, fertility stress, accessible lifestyle tips on how you can naturally support your body, mind and heart to be fertile.
Canadian Fertility Awareness Week (April 23-29) is an opportunity to join and amplify the conversation to redefine (in)Fertility, making it more positive and inclusive. It’s a chance to acknowledge and empower those who require whole person fertility care to build their dream of becoming parents. In recognition of the diversity of modern families and the many ways that one can build a family, fertility specialists from Whole Family Health & Alberta Reproductive Centre are raising awareness about the often stigmatized fertility struggles that #1in6 Canadians experience trying to realize their dreams of parenthood.”
Fertility Matters Virtual Events
Fertility Matters, the national organization that acts as Canada’s voice on fertility, and the lead for Canadian Fertility Awareness Week events, has a listing of activities happening throughout the week April 23-29, 2023, and a list of ways you can participate.
Linda
- Follow @lindork on Twitter
- Follow @lindork on Instagram
- Like Lindork – Linda Hoang on Facebook
- Follow @lindork on TikTok
- Subscribe to my YouTube Channel
If you live or work in the Edmonton, Alberta area, or care about Edmonton content, sign up for my hyperlocal newsletter to get weekly recommendations on things to do, eat, and know this week (in the Edmonton area), plus more exclusive content. You can sign up for a free or paid subscription.
SIGN UP FOR MY EMAIL NEWSLETTER
(You’ll get the option to select free or paid after you enter your email).
