Canadian Advocacy Initiatives Advocacy Committee 4 Keys to effective advocacy in Canada 1 - Engaging politicians Other partnerships Canadian neuroscience research success The holds official consultations CAN has developed important relationships with scientific stories yearly on the budget. CAN has submitted briefs to these associations, such as the Canadian Society for Molecular consultations, and invited its members to participate in CAN regularly developed and published public-friendly CAN has participated in events on Parliament Hill in Biosciences, who share a common goal of promoting open mic sessions that occur across Canada. Canadian stories of research to highlight the work of our , many of which featured presentations by increased science funding in Canada. members and its relevance to all Canadians. neuroscientists. These meetings are opportunities to speak CAN also has links with Universities and Research Centers – Advocacy Chair: Chris Anderson There are also directly to Members of Parliament (MPs), and build as many of our members are actively engaged with their U of Manitoba opportunities to engage Since 2016 CAN has developed over 30 stories, some of Melanie Woodin important relations with elected officials and groups that institution, in leadership positions. with the Ministers of which were collected in book format and distributed to U Toronto also advocate for increased science funding. Health, of Science and of elected officials in Ottawa during our visits, and at CAN Finances on social 3 - Sharing a message public events. A delegation of Canadian media, and Canadian neuroscientists in the Canadian Many stories were also developed for presentations at our Parliament building for the neuroscientists use these The Government of Canada commissioned a report on the Neuroscience in Canada event annual meeting and disseminated through EurekAlert! (the opportunities to state of governmental funding of fundamental research in in February 2017. congratulate our elected AAAS Global Source for Science News). These stories and Left to right: Jaideep Bains, VP- Canada, which was released in April 2017: Canada’s other association news can be found in the CAN news elect, Katalin Toth, Chair of officials for their support Fundamental Science Review (available at Advocacy, Charles Bourque, of science. section of our website: https://can-acn.org/category/can- Speaker, Freda Miller, President, http://www.sciencereview.ca ). news Lisa Saksida Liisa Galea Bev Orser, Speaker, Jason Tetro, Advocacy Officer. Universities, research centre and associations of scientists Western U U of Advocacy training 2 - Building Partnerships across Canada rallied behind this report, which lead to the #SupportTheReport social media movement in advance of CAN offered an advocacy training workshop to meeting attendees on May 31st 2017 titled “All You Need Is CAN encourages its members to invite their local MPs in budget 2018. SfN Love…And A Little Help From Your Friends.” A Science their laboratory. These visits are a great way to humanize The very important financial support provided by the Communication and Advocacy Workshop, Jason A. Tetro, research, and show the reality and relevance of the Through coordinated messaging, including use of the Society for Neuroscience has allowed CAN to develop a Advocacy Officer, CAN neuroscience research being done in Canada. website supportthereport.ca, which was developed by CAN, diversified advocacy program, specifically tailored to the scientific community and its supporters were able to https://can-acn.org/science-communication-and-advocacy- Canada’s political reality. workshop Four MPs participated in the CAN annual meeting in bring about a historic reinvestment in fundamental Vancouver in May 2018: (Liberal), Matt research in Canada in the latest budget. Jeneroux (Conservative), Elizabeth May (Green) and Fin Doug Munoz, Past President Promoting Advocacy & Outreach initiatives Karun Singh Kurt Haas, Donnelly (New Democrat). The participation of members of of CAN, Julie Poupart, 4 - Reaching out CAN has been awarding prizes for Outreach & Advocacy all political parties in a discussion about health research Advocacy Officer and Katalin since 2016, at our annual meeting. These prizes serve to McMaster U U of British Columbia Toth, CAN VP in Washington support by the government shows this is an issue that DC for Hill Day 2018 highlight the great work done by Canadian neuroadvocates crosses party lines and is important for all Canadians. All Public lectures across the country, and help publicize their initiatives, MPs highlighted the important role of researcher advocates which raise awareness of the importance of neuroscience CAN’s participation in SfN’s Hill Day in 2018 was an CAN organizes yearly to keep research funding at the forefront of the research for everyone. extremely valuable experience, as we were able to see first- public lectures. The 2018 government’s priorities. hand the professional approach SfN takes to advocacy, with public lectures featured 2018 award winners: The Neurohistory Team. Top (left Left to right: Melanie pre-meeting training, and on-the-ground accompaniment two leading to right): Armin Mortazavi Woodin (incoming chair of the scientists as they met with elected officials and their neuroscientists who (cartoon),Jordan Shimell, of the CAN advocacy staff. spoke on the very timely Luis Bolanos, Brett committee), Joyce Hathaway, Eli York, and Murray, liberal MP, Matt topic of addiction: David Cheng Bottom (left to Jeneroux, Conservative Catharine Winstanley and Research Canada right): Susan Lin, Asma MP, Lynn Raymond, CAN Luke Clark. They are Bashir, Samantha Baglot, Charles Bourque, Nafisa Jadavji President, Fin Donnelly, Through our membership in Research Canada (https://rc- Amy Smith, and Anne Liu pictured here at a science McGill U Carleton U rc.ca/), CAN has visited the Canadian Parliament and Missing from the photo: MP, Elizabeth May, museum in Vancouver showcased neuroscience and neuroscientists to elected Aarthi Gobinath, Jill Dosso, (Liaison to CSMB) MP, Katalin with Tim O’Connor, Katelyn Hudak, Ellen Koch, Toth, Chair of the CAN officials on multiple occasions. Samantha Feldman, Naila Advocacy Committee, Shernaz Bamji and Liisa Kuhlmann, Blair Jovellar, Jaideep Bains, CAN Vice- Galea. and Matt Sacheli President.

CAN President: Jaideep Bains 4 Challenges & Opportunities for increased impact U Calgary More on our website: 1 - Balancing gratefulness 2 - Building a team of 3 - Competing with other 4 - Framing our message can-acn.org/advocacy and need neuroadvocates government priorities Insider knowledge is needed to frame our message in a way that will resonate with Follow us Supported by The government of Canada announced Neuroscience research has the potential to The government of Canada has identified members of Parliament, Ministers and their historical investment in fundamental improve the lives of all Canadians. its priorities as helping the middle class staff. facebook.com/can.acn CAN gratefully acknowledges research in the 2018 budget, with a 25% How to convince non-scientists to advocate thrive, and boosting the economy. What is the best way to present .com/can_acn increase. Yet Canada remains second to for research with us? How can we make health research part of SfN’s important support of our neuroscience research to touch the minds www.flickr.com/photos/can-acn/sets/ last in science funding in the G7. these priorities? and the hearts of elected officials? initiatives. This partnership has How to be thankful for the increased strengthened our advocacy funding yet still ask for more? efforts.