Starting with a fundraising effort for heart research in 1958 by the Heart and Stroke Foundation (HSF) of Canada with a Heart Month campaign, February became nationally recognized as Heart month. Over the years, the campaign has greatly expanded, leading national efforts to raise awareness about the importance of cardiovascular health, how to improve our heart health, and fundraise money for crucial heart health initiatives, organizations, and life-saving research. Organizations like the HSF take advantage of this time to teach individuals to recognize and respond to emergency signs, while providing support and resources for people affected by these conditions. Nowadays, the community-based fundraising campaign depends on more than 100,000 volunteers to spread the message and make an impact in their communities and at a larger scale. February is HSF’s key opportunity to reach millions of Canadians and alert them to the risks of heart disease while canvassing for donations to support research, motivated by the vision of life uninterrupted by heart disease. 

More about heart disease: 

Heart diseases are the second leading cause of death in Canada. In fact, nearly 1 in 5 deaths in Canada is caused by a heart condition,  which translates to one death every nine minutes. Research is crucial to improve the lives of Canadians affected by the disease. Nine out of ten Canadians over the age of 20 have at least one risk factor for heart disease, whether it be a controllable habit or an uncontrollable factor but the reality is that 80% of premature heart disease is preventable through healthy lifestyle choices. 

The HSF is a national organization, and a primary driver of Heart month initiatives, organizing events and campaigns across the country. They aim to close the gaps in health equity, fight for healthier generations, transform the heart disease system and care, and decrease risk factors and death of Canadians. Their values include practicing humility, embracing change, learning, growing, being heartfelt, and championing health, and they aim to bring people together to lead the fight against heart disease and other related conditions. 

Some improvements include the University of Ottawa Heart Institute for their creation of the Regional STEMI Program in Ottawa, a specialized program which has halved heart attack related deaths in the region and the Canadian Cardiovascular Society with its $5 million dollar donation for heart failure research. More broadly, the Heart Month initiatives have allowed for groundbreaking research, the creation of multiple research and treatment facilities across Canada, the fundraising of millions of dollars across the country, and most importantly reducing the number of preventable deaths. 

The people who participate include but are not limited to: volunteers, various health charities and hospitals, the government, community organizations, businesses like the University of Ottawa Heart Institute, and the Canadian Cardiovascular Society. Anybody can participate, and there is more than one way to do so. 

Community involvement plays a crucial role in advancing research, treatments, and cures. To help support the cause and the foundation, it is important to participate in initiatives. This can be done by supporting fundraising efforts, helping spread awareness, donating to organizations like the Heart and Stroke foundation, and much more. It is also encouraged to take part in initiatives launched organizations in your community, such as the “Wear Red Canada” campaign with the National Wear Red Day (Feb 13), the “Ride for Heart” in June, or sharing a story on social media with the hashtag #HeartMonth. It is also possible to start a personal fundraising effort to further spread acknowledgment and encourage donations in local communities. 

Event list: https://www.heartandstroke.ca/how-you-can-help/events 

Donation link: https://apphsfdonation.heartandstroke.ca/pagename=DMDonationForm&s_locale=en_CA&s_fT=cont&s_cscid=hsweb_donate_module&s_pres=hswebo&s_Ask=2&cscid=donate_module&scanline=no&CURL=hsweb&_ga=2.128350732.1096633295.1601300594-1331556318.1585684260 

Sources: 

Heart and Stroke Foundation of Canada. (2024). What Heart & Stroke is doing. https://www.heartandstroke.ca/-/media/FYW/heart_facts.pdf 

Staff, A. (2018, September 27). February is heart month; 60-year history of raising awareness and funds. Wellington Advertiser. https://www.wellingtonadvertiser.com/february-is-heart-month-60-year-history-of-raising-awareness-and-funds/ 

 Our strategy. (n.d.). Heart and Stroke Foundation of Canada. https://www.heartandstroke.ca/what-we-do/strategy Canadian Cardiovascular Society. (2025, May 4). About Us - Canadian Cardiovascular Society. https://ccs.ca/about/