SCAGO · GTA REGION
Welcome to the Greater Toronto Area
Supporting individuals and families affected by sickle cell disease across Toronto and surrounding municipalities.
Community Events
Christmas Party
Blood Drive
Hope Gala
ABOUT THE REGION
Ontario’s hub for sickle cell care
Toronto and Central Ontario are home to more sickle cell disease comprehensive care centres than any other region in Ontario, including the Hospital for Sick Children, Toronto General Hospital, Brampton Civic Hospital, Credit Valley Hospital, and McMaster Children’s Hospital, along with numerous community hospitals. The majority of families affected by sickle cell disease reside in the Greater Toronto Area, making ongoing volunteer engagement and program delivery especially important in this region.
Support, collaboration or general inquiries: gta@sicklecellanemia.ca
What we host in the GTA
Alongside province-wide Learning for Life and Lunch and Learn programs, the Toronto Region hosts key initiatives each year:
Sickle Cell Disease Summit
Toronto Marathon Fundraiser
World Sickle Cell Awareness Day
Annual Hope Gala
This region serves communities West to Oakville, East to Trenton, North to Huntsville, and South to Lake Ontario.
Community Engagement and Awareness
In the Greater Toronto Area, we lead community engagement and awareness initiatives that bring people together while increasing understanding of sickle cell disease. Our work focuses on creating welcoming, inclusive spaces where individuals, families, and partners can learn, connect, and support one another.
Our community engagement activities include blood donation drives delivered in collaboration with Canadian Blood Services, holiday-focused community events, and year-round awareness initiatives. Signature activities include the Annual GTA Christmas Party, World Sickle Cell Awareness Day programming, and community blood drives that directly support patients living with sickle cell disease.
We also engage with local communities by hosting educational and interactive information booths alongside community and healthcare partners. These spaces create opportunities for meaningful conversations around sickle cell disease, the importance of blood donation, and the role of community support in improving patient outcomes.
Interested in volunteering with us to support awareness activities in the GTA area, please complete the volunteer application form here. To download or read some of our awareness information materials, please visit here.
Advocacy
Advocacy is a core part of our work across Ontario, ensuring individuals and families living with sickle cell disease receive timely, appropriate, and compassionate support. Through direct advocacy and systems-level collaboration, we work to reduce barriers to care and improve patient experiences across healthcare, education, and community settings.
In the Greater Toronto Area, advocacy and psychosocial support are led by a Patient Wellbeing Coordinator (PWC). The GTA Patient Wellbeing Coordinator can be reached at gta@sicklecellanemia.ca to provide advocacy and psychosocial support to patients and families.
Across Ontario, each SCAGO region carries out advocacy efforts within its local communities, working directly with schools, hospitals, and workplaces on behalf of the families they support. These efforts are tailored to the needs of each locality while aligning with SCAGO’s broader commitment to equitable, patient-centred care.
We also work closely with healthcare providers, community organizations, and system partners across the region to strengthen referral pathways, improve coordination of care, and promote greater awareness of the unique needs of individuals living with sickle cell disease. Through these partnerships, we aim to create more responsive systems of care and stronger community-based supports for patients and families.
At the provincial level, SCAGO has also engaged in advocacy efforts to improve access to hydroxyurea for individuals living with sickle cell disease. Hydroxyurea is an evidence-based medication that can significantly reduce pain crises, hospitalizations, and other complications associated with the disease. Through collaboration with healthcare professionals, policymakers, and system partners, SCAGO continues to advocate for improved access, awareness, and equitable availability of this important treatment for patients across Ontario.
SCAGO also promotes awareness about the need for more diverse blood donors, as individuals living with sickle cell disease often require closely matched blood transfusions. In collaboration with partners such as Canadian Blood Services and community organizations, we support blood drives and community education initiatives that encourage blood donation within diverse communities. These advocacy efforts have also been highlighted in media coverage, including a CityNews Toronto feature on community efforts to raise awareness about sickle cell disease and the importance of increasing donor diversity.
View Media & Advocacy Link(s):
Education and Support
Education is central to improving care and outcomes for people affected by sickle cell disease. We provide education for patients, caregivers, healthcare professionals, and the broader community, with a focus on increasing knowledge, reducing stigma, and supporting informed decision-making.
Our education initiatives include:
Learning for Life educational sessions
Lunch and Learn clinician education series
Educational blood drive events focused on donor awareness
Workshops and webinars for patients and caregivers
Through these initiatives, we create accessible learning opportunities that support patients and families, strengthen clinical knowledge, and promote greater understanding of sickle cell disease across communities and healthcare settings.
Research
Research plays an important role in advancing care, treatment options, and long term outcomes for individuals living with sickle cell disease. SCAGO supports research initiatives that aim to improve understanding of the disease, strengthen clinical care, and enhance the quality of life for patients and families.
Through collaboration with healthcare providers, academic institutions, and research partners, SCAGO helps promote awareness of ongoing research, supports knowledge sharing, and encourages community participation in studies that aim to improve patient care and health systems. These efforts contribute to the development of best practice guidelines, health promotion strategies, and improved models of care for individuals living with sickle cell disease.
SCAGO also helps connect the community to research opportunities and clinical studies, including partnerships with researchers and institutions conducting studies related to sickle cell disease. Community members can learn about and participate in clinical research through opportunities shared by SCAGO and partner organizations.
In addition, SCAGO supports youth engagement in research and innovation through initiatives such as the Young Researchers Award Program (YRAP), which encourages youth and emerging leaders to explore research, advocacy, and community driven solutions that improve outcomes for people living with sickle cell disease.
Youth and Family Programs
We support youth and families through programs designed to build confidence, leadership, and community connection. Our youth and family programs create opportunities for learning, peer connection, and personal growth while fostering a strong sense of belonging within the sickle cell community.
Our programs include:
Youth Empowerment Program (delivered within and outside Ontario, across all regions)
Peer support sessions
Family-focused engagement and support activities
These programs create safe and supportive spaces where youth and families can share experiences, build skills, and develop long-term support networks that strengthen both individual wellbeing and community resilience.
View Youth and Family Programs Link(s):
Youth Empowerment Program Application
Awareness
We love to talk about sickle cell disease! If you live in this region and have an interest in raising community awareness, reach out via email to gta@sicklecellanemia.ca
Support Group
We offer a safe and non-judgmental space for people affected by sickle cell disease. Are you interested in joining our support network? E-mail: gta@sicklecellanemia.ca
