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A Landmark Event – Now Open to the Public

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Our 2025 Annual Scientific Meeting

May 1 – 4, 2025
Victoria College, University of Toronto Campus

Individuals interested in pain from around the world, come together to share knowledge and expertise on the latest advancements in pain mechanisms, evaluation, and management.

*Registration Closes Midnight ET on April 24th, 2025

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Toronto Awaits 

Plan your Stay and Save

Our 2025 Annual Scientific Meeting

May 1 — 4, 2025 at Victoria College in Toronto.

Individuals interested in pain from around the world, come together to share knowledge and expertise on the latest advancements in pain mechanisms, evaluation, and management.

Members receive priority access and special discounts for 2024 registration.

 

Public access opens soon.

FILTER EVENTS AND DATES

May 1, 2025

Annual Scientific Meeting

Registration Closes Midnight ET on April 24th, 2025.

FILTER ARTICLES BY EDITION

May 2, 2025

A Landmark Gathering for Change — Open to the Public!

Take part in a powerful day of insight, and action.

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0730h

Registration and Check In

At Convocation Hall
0900h

Opening Remarks

Dr. Hance Clarke and Dr. Tania Di Renna
0910h

From Pain to Power: Healing in a System That Wasn’t Built for Me

Ms. Vina Mohabir
0935h

Health, Human Rights, and the Lived Experience of Pain

Ms. Kate Nicholson
1000h

It’s Not Just in Her Head: The Hidden Crisis of Women’s Health in Canada

Dr. Tania Di Renna
1025h

Prioritizing pain in kids: A necessary path to improve health for all people

Dr. Kate Birnie
1050h

Canada: a nation that can beat chronic pain: Lessons from science and a
call to action.

Dr. Yves De Konnick
1115h

Evolution of Research for Veteran Health and Well-Being in Canada:

Lessons for the Pain Community

General Walter Natynczyk
1145h

Break/Networking Time

Take this time to network and explore local eateries within the area. Visit our restaurant guide for inspiration!
1205h

Updates in Headache and Migraine Management

Speakers and Learning Objectives for lunch session forthcoming.
1345h

Welcome Back

At Convocation Hall for our afternoon sessions.
1350h

Healing Relations: Chronic Pain and Indigenous Peoples

Dr. Lisa Richardson
1415h

Psychedelics and Pain: Have we found the Answer

Dr. Karim Ladha
1440h

After the War on Drugs

Ethan Nadelmann
1505h

Entraining pain relief in the central nervous system: speed, scope and scale

Professor Beth Darnall
1530h

Cracking the Code of Pain: How Science is Transforming Treatment and Empowering Patients

Dr. Sean Mackey
1555h

Transformative Pain Care: Building an Integrated Ecosystem for Better Outcomes

Dr. Rachel Bosma
1620h

Treating Pain in Canada – The Next Steps

Dr. Hance Clarke and Mr. Graham Lord (PWLE)
1645h

Closing remarks

Day One Concludes
1700h

Canadian Pain Parade

Join us after the conference day for a powerful Chronic Pain Awareness Parade! Help us raise visibility and show support for those living with chronic pain.🕺🎶🚶‍♀️🚶🏻🚶
1700h

Canadian Pain Family BBQ

End our parade at the Victoria College Quad for with for a fun-filled Family BBQ! Enjoy great food, connect with others, and celebrate our community in a relaxed and welcoming atmosphere. 
*Please see footnote in our 'Beyond the Sessions' Section.

A Landmark Gathering for Change — Open to the Public!

A Ticket to all of Friday's Sessions

Full access to all Friday sessions! Industry leaders, policy-makers and people with lived experience offering their perspectives, practical solutions, and inspiring ideas to drive meaningful change.

Limited-Edition Event T-Shirt

More than just a shirt—this exclusive design brings the community together for our Canadian Pain Parade​.

Canadian Pain Society Community Parade

The first-ever Canadian Parade for Pain, marching from Convocation Hall to Victoria College through downtown Toronto. We invite anyone to join us!

Canadian Pain Society Family BBQ

​The parade will lead us to the Victoria College Quad, where we gather for a community celebration and family BBQ that includes food, music, entertainment and activities for kids.

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Thursday, May 1st
Welcome Reception

The Registration Desk is your first stop! Pick up your badge and event materials before kicking off the conference with good company, great conversation, and a chance to mingle with fellow attendees.

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Friday, May 2nd
Canadian Pain Society Community Parade

The first-ever Canadian Parade for Pain, marching from Convocation Hall to Victoria College through downtown Toronto. We invite anyone to join us in this historic march.

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Friday, May 2nd
Canadian Pain Society Family BBQ

​The parade will lead us to the Victoria College Quad, where we gather for a community celebration and family BBQ that includes food, music, entertainment and activities for kids.

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Sunday, May 4th
Person with Lived Experience Lunch

University of Toronto Centre for the Study of Pain (UTCSP) is hosting a lunch at Hart House for people with lived experience to come together with trainees and share perspectives on what the future of pain care could look like.

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Sunday, May 4th
Trainee Workshop

Following the People with Lived Experience Lunch, join this workshop to learn directly from those with firsthand experience.

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Scheduled Sessions
Poster Presentations

Engage with researchers as they present their work and explore the latest advancements in pain research and care in Victoria College's Alumni Hall.

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Always On
Exhibitor Hall

Stop by the Exhibitor Hall to connect with industry leaders, explore new products, and discover innovative solutions in pain management.  Get to know our exhibitors here.

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Always On
Take 5 Rooms

Step away from the conference buzz and head to dedicated Take 5 Rooms—your go-to spot for a quick reboost, relaxation, and moments of peace before your next session.

FOR THE BBQ All participants must have CPS identification and must be preregistered to attend.  Soft drinks are included.  Guest and family tickets are available and encouraged and can be purchased in advance from our website.  No tickets are available onsite. A cash bar will be available.

Beyond the Sessions

Networking opportunities, community events, and wellness initiatives, helping you connect in meaningful ways.  More details to come.

Thursday, May 2nd
Critical Approaches to Scholarship in Pain Research (CASPR)

Equity, social justice, and structural determinants of health as they pertain to (chronic) pain

Hosting a daylong conference in Emmanuel College, during the Canadian Pain Society’s Annual Scientific Meeting. Members of CASPRwill be sharing their work on issues related to equity, social justice, and structural determinants of health as they pertain to (chronic) pain. All disciplines are welcome! Learn More about the event and Register Here. For any questions please contact Laura Connoy, PEPR Research Manager.

May 2nd and 3rd
Canadian Interventional Pain Course (CIPC)

Ultrasound-guided and fluoroscopy-guided procedures

This comprehensive 2-day course features expert-led didactic sessions and a hands-on workshop that covers ultrasound-guided and fluoroscopy-guided procedures. Topics include spine interventions, nerve blocks, musculoskeletal injections, neuromodulation, radiofrequency ablation, and regenerative medicine. Please explore our Agenda and then contact Danielle Alvares for all registration information.

May 3rd 
Canadian Pain Society – Canadian Chronic Pain Network (CPS-CPN) joint meeting

Improving Design and Conduct of Clinical Trials in Chronic Pain 

Despite advances in our understanding and treatment of pain, quality and strength of research evidence in the field of chronic pain continues to be low. This is particularly evident in some areas and treatments. Improving the standards of research in pain management requires us to appreciate certain unique challenges and methodological considerations and adapting better designs and approach. In this session, we will discuss challenges in conducting trials in interventional pain management and areas of improvement and opportunities; (talk 1); methodological considerations and future improvements in the identification of chronic postsurgical pain for clinical trials of pain prevention (talk 2); and lastly explore well-designed observational studies and pragmatic trials, and opportunities to leverage with Canadian Chronic Pain Network (CPN) in our efforts to improve research quality (talk 3) *Attendance for this event is by invitation only.

 

View Full Agenda

Additional Educational Opportunities

A wave of educational events and pre-conference workshops alongside our annual meeting. 

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Professor Anna Hood

Professor

She is Anishinaabe (Mishi-Baawitigong First Nation, Treaty 5 Territory) and lives, works and plays on the unceded territory of the Coast Salish peoples – the səl̓ílwətaʔɬ (Tsleil-Waututh), Sḵwx̱wú7mesh (Squamish), and xʷməθkʷəy̓əm (Musqueam) Nations. She completed her medical degree and psychiatry specialty training at McMaster University. Canada's first female Indigenous psychiatrist, Dr. Wieman has more than 20 years and clinical experience, working with Indigenous people in both rural/reserve and urban settings. Dr. Wieman served as the President of the Indigenous Physicians Association of Canada (IPAC) from 2016 - 2022.

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Professor Tor Wager

Department of Psychological and Brain Sciences, Dartmouth College

The Diana L. Taylor Distinguished Professor in Neuroscience at Dartmouth College, and the Director of Dartmouth’s Cognitive and Affective Neuroscience laboratory, the Dartmouth Brain Imaging Center, and the Dartmouth Center for Cognitive Neuroscience. Professor Wager’s research centers on the neurophysiology of affective processes—pain, emotion, stress, and empathy—and how they are shaped by cognitive and social influences. One focus area is the impact of thoughts and beliefs on learning, brain function, and brain-body communication. Another focus is the development of brain biomarkers that track and predict affective experience, including pain and other clinical symptoms. A third focus is on statistical, machine learning, and computational techniques that provide a foundation for new models of the affective brain. Professor Wager’s laboratory conducts basic research in these focus areas and applies the resulting techniques and models to collaborative, translational research on clinical disorders and interventions. In support of these goals, Professor Wager and his group have developed several publicly available software toolboxes (see http://canlab.github.io). He also teaches courses and workshops on fMRI analysis and has co-authored a book, Principles of fMRI. More information about Dr. Wager and his lab’s activities, publications, and software can be found at http://canlab.science.

Distinguished Plenary
Speakers

Experience Toronto –Exclusive Discounts on Travel and Accommodation

A Quick Note!  We realize an unforeseen conference events and time frames may change without notice and impact your travel plans. Although we will endeavour to avoid these changes, please note the Canadian Pain Society will not be responsible for any incurred costs due to these changes.

Getting Here

Via Rail

From April 28 to May 07, 2025 receive 10% off the best available fare in Economy, Economy Plus, Business, Business Plus, Sleeper class* from all stations throughout the VIA system to Toronto and return.

Use Code 15743 with ViaRail

 

* Discount does not apply in any Escape fares and Prestige Class and applies to a maximum of two passengers per booking.

Check schedules and buy passes for the Union Train Station.

Check schedules and buy tickets for the Toronto Train Station.

GO Transit

Until May 04, 2025 receive 15% off the best available fare. Tickets are only valid for 7 days from the time of purchase.

Use Code CPS25 with Go Transit

UP Express

Until May 04, 2025 receive 25% off the best available fare. UP Express tickets can be purchased in advance and are good to be activated for a year from when they’re purchased.

Use Code CPS25 with UP Express

Our 2025 Annual Meeting is within the University of Toronto, St. George Campus.  Please use this interactive map and available filters to locate parking locations and their rates throughout the St. George campus.

Bookings are to be made to Toronto, ON (YYZ) which is 30 KM from Victoria College.  Discounted Travel period begins Thursday, April 24, 2025 and ends Sunday, May 11, 2025.

WestJet

5% off Econo and 10% off EconoFlex and Premium fares for travel within Canada.*

2% off Econo, 5% off EconoFlex and 10% off Premium base fares for guests travelling Trans-border.*

Use Code 7N3Z7VE with Westjet Booking

* No discount will apply to Basic or Business class bookings.

Air Canada

Travel within North America applies a 5% discount on standard fares and 10% on flex fares & higher.

International Travel applies a 10% discount on standard fares & higher.

http://aircanada.com/

Use Code RDNF4TW1 with Air Canada

For more information about getting too and from the airport please visit Destination Toronto.

Experience All Toronto Has to Offer

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The Chelsea Hotel Toronto

SELLING OUT FAST

✓ Budget-Friendly     ⭑ Newly Renovated

Conveniently located on the subway line, this hotel features newly updated accommodations for a comfortable stay — rooms are limited, please book by April 11.

You may also call the hotel call the hotel directly, toll-free at 1-800-CHELSEA (243-5732) or 416-595-1975 using the identifier PAI042925 or email reservations at cstor.reservation@chelseatoronto.com

$229 / night*

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The Yorkville Royal Sonesta Hotel Toronto

SOLD OUT

⚑  Conveniently Located

This boutique hotel is a 7-minute walk from our main event spaces — rooms are limited, please book by April 7th at 5pm ET.

$339 / nighT*

Stay in Comfort — Exclusive Hotel Deals for Attendees

Plus applicable taxes and fees.  Individual cancellations must be made 72 hours prior to the date of arrival.

The University of Toronto campus is committed to sustainability and is a plastic-free environment, including single use water bottles.  The Campus is also entirely smoke free, ensuring a clean and healthy environment for all attendees.

Guidelines set by the historic Convocation Hall require that all attendees have an access pass upon entry, which will provided in your check in package.  Attendees should also plan accordingly as there is no food or drink allowed in the auditorium.

Become an Exhibitor

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We are going to Toronto and we want you to join us. On May 1-4, 2025, we will be holding our Annual Scientific Meeting at Victoria College at the University of Toronto and will include national, provincial, and territorial stakeholders.

Your commitment and support of our Annual Scientific Meeting provides an opportunity for our attendees to learn more about your products and services, and how it can benefit the people they serve.

Frequently Asked Questions

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