Beginnings
The idea to establish the Canadian Alopecia Areata Foundation (CANAAF) was born at a support group picnic in Toronto, in the summer of 2008. Two parents of children with alopecia areata decided they wanted to establish a Canadian alopecia-oriented support organization. The first meeting of the CANAAF Board of Directors took place less than a year later, in March of 2009. The Canadian Alopecia Areata Foundation was registered as a Canadian charitable organization in May 2010.
“We founded CANAAF on a bucket full of tears, a huge heart, and an incredible, unstoppable desire to assist and protect our children. This incredible rollercoaster ride literally started as a grass roots endeavor at a picnic gathering.”
– Jim Makris, Co-Founder of CANAAF
Growth
In 2012, CANAAF expanded its Board of Directors to include the first members from outside of the Greater Toronto Area. British Columbia, Alberta, and Northern Ontario joined CANAAF in representing the Canadian community. A support group leader from Nova Scotia stepped forward in 2013.
CANAAF has been hosting an annual, national, three day summer conference since 2012. The conference allows adults, teens, children and their families to gather, learn about alopecia, share experiences and make new friends.
In May 2020, CANAAF shifted its support, awareness and educational events to an online platform due the COVID-19 pandemic.
As of 2021, CANAAF aims to establish support groups in each Canadian province and territory in the next three years.