Touching your hearts and minds

More than 50 years ago, a visionary group of Canadians, including physicians and researchers, founded the National Heart Foundation of Canada with big hopes for the future.

They had a dream: to put heart health on the public agenda, to empower researchers to turn the tide on heart disease, and to raise funds needed to educate Canadians about their hearts. With the emergence of Ontario's Foundation in 1952 and British Columbia's three years later, a network soon began to develop across the country. In 1956, the Quebec and Saskatchewan Foundations were established. In 1961, the Foundation was renamed the Canadian Heart Foundation.

Today, in an effort to more accurately reflect who we are and what we do, we are known as the Heart and Stroke Foundation of Canada. From coast to coast, we are comprised of:

  • 140,000 volunteers
  • 13 million donors
  • 1 national foundation
  • 10 independent provincial/territorial foundations
  • 85 regional offices
  • 500 staff
Through the years and guided by visionary Canadian men and women, doctors and researchers, staff and volunteers from the Foundations, the corporate community and the community at-large, the Heart and Stroke Foundation of Canada has played a leadership role in the study, prevention and reduction of disability and death from heart disease and stroke in Canada.

A Few Facts...
  • Heart disease and stroke remain the leading cause of death and disability in Canada. Canadian baby boomers are now all moving into their middle years, which is expected to cause a large increase in death and disability due to heart disease and stroke.
  • Each provincial foundation raises funds through its annual February door-to-door campaign, the Planned Giving and In Memoriam donation programs, special events and health promotion programs such as Jump Rope for Heart, and direct marketing campaigns.
  • The Foundation receives no core funding from government sources.

Since 1956, the Foundation has raised and invested more than $1 billion in leading-edge heart and stroke research. More than 80% of donations directly support research and education programs in the province where the funds are raised. These impressive results have been made possible by the ongoing and valuable efforts of volunteers and donors across this country.

As heart and stroke-related diseases continue to touch so many lives, your financial support also continues to grow and reach new milestones in supporting research, health promotion and advocacy.