Acadia University is taking a step beyond awareness to support women’s health by offering something tangible: free access to expert information and health screenings that could provide early warning signs for the leading cause of death among Canadian women.

Wear Red Canada is a national initiative led by the Canadian Women’s Heart Health Alliance (CWHHA), which works to improve how heart disease is prevented, diagnosed, and treated among women. On Friday, February 13, Acadia will mark Wear Red Canada with a community event that removes barriers that often prevent women — especially caregivers — from prioritizing their own heart health.

Caring for the caregivers’ hearts

The centrepiece of Acadia’s Wear Red Canada programming is a free Friday evening session tailored specifically for women who provide care (paid or unpaid) to individuals experiencing disabilities.

Event details:

Caring for the Caregivers’ Heart:
A Women’s Heart and Vascular Health Information Session
When: Friday, February 13, 6pm - 8pm
Where: Acadia’s School of Kinesiology: Gym 491 (550 Main Street, Wolfville)

The evening will feature a keynote presentation by Dr. Karen Bouchard, Associate Scientist at the University of Ottawa Heart Institute and Director of the Social Connections Lab. Dr. Bouchard’s research program involves understanding social factors that drive heart health by engaging with patients, families, clinicians, and community.

Acadia’s Faculty of Nursing will support the event by offering free cardiovascular risk factor measurements such as heart rate and blood pressure readings. Light refreshments will also be provided.

A defining feature of the event is on-site caregiving support provided by S.M.I.L.E., allowing women and their support networks to attend without needing to arrange alternative care.

“A health care system that relies on caregivers cannot thrive by ignoring the people who keep it standing,” says Dr. Bouchard. “It’s time to prioritize caregiver health.”

Registration is strongly encouraged, but not required. The event is open to all women who provide care to individuals experiencing disability, as well as their support networks.

How Acadia connects research with real life

Acadia’s local programming is organized by Dr. Emily Bremer, Canada Research Chair in Healthy Inclusive Communities, Associate Professor in the School of Kinesiology, and Research Director of the S.M.I.L.E. program at Acadia University and Dr. Carley O'Neill, Assistant Professor in the School of Kinesiology, Director of Acadia’s Cardiac Maintenance program, and a member of the CWHHA.

“In Canada, a woman suffers a heart attack every 20 minutes, yet it’s women who are under-aware, under-diagnosed, and under-treated.” says Dr. O’Neill. “To make an impact, we need to create opportunities that remove known barriers and allow women to show up for their own health.”

The free on-site care offered by S.M.I.L.E. during the event is a direct acknowledgement — and solution — of the hurdles faced by many in our community.

“Many caregivers regularly skip in-person events and even medical appointments because the logistics to arrange care are too complex,” says Dr. Bremer. “By partnering with S.M.I.L.E., we’re removing one of the biggest barriers to in-person attendance and clearly saying to caregivers: your health matters, too.”

Lighting the community red

To mark Wear Red Canada, a banner generously funded by donations to Acadia’s Cardiac Maintenance program is on display on Main Street and two notable campus landmarks will glow red: the University Hall clock tower and the Wu Welcome Centre. Twelve Wolfville businesses will also light their storefronts red in solidarity, and everyone is invited to wear red clothing as a sign of support.

The day has been formally proclaimed Wear Red Canada Day in Kings County, with additional provincial recognition and events taking place across Canada, all united in the message that #HerHeartMatters.

Key Messages

Provided by the Canadian Women’s Heart Health Alliance.