Events / Archives
VHC Conference Series Event Archives
Explore the impact of Vision Health Canada’s past conferences.
Whether revisiting an event or exploring for the first time, these event archives highlight key moments from past VHC Conference Series events and show how our events bring communities together and advance our mission.
The Diabetes and Diabetic Retinal Disease Conference
November 4, 2026
North York Central Library, North York, Ontario
Held in Toronto and virtually, the conference brought together clinical perspectives and lived experience for a day of learning and discussion about Diabetes and Diabetic Retinal Disease.
Theme
Diabetes and the Eye, Seeing the Signs, Saving the Sight
Keynote Speaker:
Dr. S. Robert Levine, Founder and CEO of the Mary Tyler Moore Vision Initiative (MTM Vision), leads a discussion on diabetes and diabetic retinopathy (DR), as well as MTM Vision’s work toward a world without vision loss caused by diabetes.
Dr. Shane Green, Senior Vice-President of Mission at Diabetes Canada, discusses diabetes and its impact on Canadians.
Dr. David Wong, Ophthalmologist-in-Chief at St. Michael’s Hospital (Unity Health Toronto), discusses the current research landscape of diabetic retinal disease in Canada, including therapies and modalities currently under development for treatment and early diagnosis of DR.
Brit Hancock, a Program Assistant with Diabetes Action Canada’s Research-to-Action Fellowship and an experienced advocate in patient partnership.
Patient Panel and Dr. S. Robert Levine Interview and Q&A Session — Moderated by Dr. Keith Gordon, Vice-President of Research at Vision Health Canada.
Josie McGee, Vice-President of Health Care Innovation at VLRC, discusses the use of screening tools for early diagnosis of DR.
COLLABORATIVE PARTNERS
Content Highlights
World Sight Day Conference 2026
October 8, 2026
Toronto Public Reference Library, Bram & Bluma Appel Salon, Toronto, Ontario
Held in Toronto and virtually, the conference brought together clinical perspectives and lived experience for a day of learning and discussion about eye health, early detection, and access to care.
Theme
Stargardt Disease and the Growing Myopia Epidemic in Children
Conference Highlights
Dr. Heba Al-Qattan provided a clinical perspective on Stargardt disease.
Seeing Stars executive producer Martha Steele and star Ellen Gould offered a behind-the-scenes look at the film and its portrayal of women living with vision loss from Stargardt disease. Gould also joined an interview and audience Q&A led by Dr. Keith Gordon and Michael Baillargeon.
Dr. Deborah Jones discussed the epidemic of childhood myopia, the importance of early intervention, and the relationship between vision and educational performance. Dr. Tracy Weng and Saskia Kiefte shared a clinical perspective on addressing myopia.
Suzanne Decary-van den Broek discussed how early detection of eye disease and access to the right supports can shape a child’s life.
Winnie Yu examined the impact of delisting public funding for routine eye examinations in Ontario. Dr. Keith Gordon presented a proposal to reintroduce publicly funded comprehensive eye examinations beginning at age 50.
Michelle Owen of Health Canada discussed the National Strategy for Eye Care and the next steps in moving it forward.
Content Highlights
Watch the conference recap and recorded presentations:
Age-Related Macular Degeneration (AMD) Awareness Month Conference
February 11, 2026
Toronto Public Reference Library, Bram & Bluma Appel Salon, Toronto, Ontario
The conference brought together 332 attendees in person and virtually to explore clinical advances, lived experiences, advocacy, and access to vision care and rehabilitation services.
Theme
Clinical Updates on Age-Related Macular Degeneration (AMD) and Geographic Atrophy (GA), and Findings from Vision Loss Rehabilitation Canada (VLRC)’s Survey Report
Conference Highlights
Dr. Brendan Tao explored the relationship between AMD and GA, and Dr. Marko Popovic discussed GA from diagnosis to daily living.
Marilyn Broughton, Robert Maksymec, and Gustavo Pérez Criollo shared their experiences of living with GA, including a patient panel moderated by Dr. Marko Popovic and Dr. Keith Gordon.
Dr. Norman Chan discussed Canada’s drug approval process, and Dr. Marko Popovic provided an update on the Ontario Population-Based Eye Disease Prevalence Study.
Suzanne Decary discussed CNIB’s advocacy initiative with Ontario’s Minister of Health, and Michael Baillargeon provided an update on the National Strategy for Eye Care.
Jennifer Urosevic, Dr. Keith Gordon, Ashley Shaw, and Shannon Foster presented findings and perspectives from VLRC’s 2025 survey report, Living with Vision Loss in Canada: Exploring Experiences, Access, and Pathways to Service.
Content Highlights
Watch the conference recap and recorded presentations:
Vision Health Canada
Vision Health Canada (VHC) is committed to advocating for a future without vision barriers. This will be achieved through ongoing collaborative leadership in policy reform, research, advocating for improved treatments, technological innovation, and community empowerment, all while working to position Canada as a global leader in achieving vision health equity. VHC is dedicated to supporting those with lived experience — our families, our friends, our neighbours, and our co-workers who are blind, DeafBlind, or partially sighted — to ensure a quality of life equivalent to that of our fellow Canadians and to transform vision health across Canada.
During our 2026 conference series, VHC has moved beyond just discussion to deliver practical strategies based on the latest data and driven by a shared commitment with our community to a future where no Canadian faces preventable blindness. Together, we will continue to spark the translation of research into practice and policy into action.