Changing the Conversation: Lived Experience at the Heart of the Canadian Pain Society ASM

My First CPS Experience: A Journey of Empowerment: Alvine Floride

As a newcomer to the pain advocacy space, attending the 2025 Canadian Pain Society Annual Scientific Meeting was a transformative experience for me. Thanks to the support of the Chronic Pain Network, I was able to immerse myself in four days of learning, connection, and inspiration.

From engaging workshops to powerful personal stories, every moment was meaningful. The highlight for me was the final session on Meaningfully Engaging Equity-Deserving People in Research. Vina Mohabir’s words deeply resonated with me. As an Indo-Caribbean speaker, her experiences mirrored many of my own as a Black African immigrant living with pain. Her message gave me the confidence to embrace my identity and value as an “expert by experience”.

While I was inspired by the progress being made, I also hoped to see more integration of patient voices in healthcare education and systemic approaches to chronic pain. Health is a national responsibility, and those of us with lived experience must be included—not as tokens, but as equal partners.

I left the conference feeling empowered. I may not have a background in science or research, but I have a voice—and I intend to use it.

From Parade to Partnership: Advocating for Inclusion in Pain Research: Delane Linkiewich

I had the privilege of attending the Canadian Pain Society’s 2025 Annual Scientific Meeting in Toronto as a Patient Partner with the Chronic Pain Network. Over four enriching days, I connected with fellow attendees, many of whom also live with chronic pain, making the experience deeply meaningful.

A standout moment was the landmark chronic pain awareness parade—an inspiring step forward in advocacy. The conference featured a wealth of thought-provoking sessions, but my favorite was “Embracing Diversity in Partnership”, chaired by Dr. Rebecca Pillai Riddell. Speakers Vina Mohabir, Dr. Anna Hood, and Dr. Jaris Swidrovich shared powerful insights on ethically engaging marginalized communities in pain research.

Two quotes especially resonated with me:

“Honour every single part of someone’s identity.” – Dr. Jaris Swidrovich

“If you can’t ‘find’ the people you are looking to engage, then you are not in the communities that you need to be.” – Vina Mohabir

These words reminded us that true partnership means meeting people where they are, with respect and authenticity.

I’m grateful for the experience and look forward to continuing this important work at the 2026 meeting!