May 13-15, 2027 | Dalhousie University – Studley Campus | Halifax, Nova Scotia
CLFA2027: Canada Connects is a three-day Assembly taking place May 13–15 at Dalhousie University in Halifax.
Day 1 is Lymphedema LEAD Day: Learn, Explore, Ask, Discover, offering registered participants a day of learning and connection. Within Lymphedema LEAD Day, the Lymphedema Learning & Resource Hub will be open to the public as a free, drop-in experience.
Days 2 and 3 bring registered participants together for an Open Space Forum, where they will create the agenda, explore the issues that matter most and identify priorities to carry forward after Halifax.
Registration will open October 1, 2026.
One Assembly. Two connected experiences. One shared purpose.
Why This Assembly Matters
In 2009, an Open Space Forum brought together patients, clinicians, researchers and advocates from across Canada to imagine a better future for lymphedema care. The conversations that unfolded became more than ideas—they laid the foundation for the Canadian Lymphedema Framework and helped shape the national collaboration that followed. Much has changed since then. Research has advanced, awareness has grown, and clinical expertise has expanded. Yet one fundamental challenge remains: ensuring that every person in Canada has timely access to knowledgeable, compassionate lymphedema care and support.
The last time our community gathered in this way, it marked the beginning of a new era of national collaboration to advance lymphedema care in Canada. Canada Connects is an opportunity to return to that same collaborative spirit—bringing our community together once again to build new connections, identify shared priorities and help shape the next chapter of lymphedema care in Canada.
Why Participate? Your Perspective Matters
Who Should Join the Assembly?
Improving lymphedema care takes all of us. Whether your expertise comes from lived experience, professional practice, research, education, policy, innovation or storytelling, you’ll find a place in the conversation.
- People living with lymphedema and related disorders, and their caregivers
- Therapists, nurses, physicians, and other clinicians
- Researchers and educators
- Compression garment fitters and suppliers
- Industry partners developing products, technologies, and solutions
- Policy Makers, funders, insurers, and health-system leaders
- Professionals in intersecting areas: oncology, skin and wound care, vascular disease, obesity medicine, dermatology, palliative care, and more
- Community advocates, volunteers, and emerging leaders
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