Day one of the event focused on skill‑building. Early‑career researchers delivered short, lay‑level presentations about their work and received constructive feedback to help them communicate their research more clearly. Feedback was not only about making presentations easier to understand, but it also explored how to anchor research in real-world experiences and relevance.
Through additional workshops and mentorship discussions, participants strengthened their communication skills, built new relationships, and learned from more experienced researchers. Experts in the room included ALS researchers from around the country, and we were also pleased to welcome Dr. Nick Cole, Head of Research at the MND Association in the United Kingdom.
Day two centred on connection. By welcoming people living with and affected by ALS into the room, conversations were grounded in lived experience, reminding everyone why research matters. By sharing refined versions of their talks with the community, ECRs not only spoke about their work but also built meaningful connections with those most affected by ALS.
One of the most valuable parts of the day was a panel featuring people affected by ALS, who shared their voices, stories, and lived experiences navigating research. The panel was moderated by Kelsie Snow, Project Manager of the Alberta ALS Research Network and an ALS Canada Community Ambassador, who lost her husband Chris to ALS in 2023. We are grateful to fellow Community Ambassadors (each of whom living with ALS or PLS), Shawn Penno (British Columbia), Angie Leroux (Ontario), and Jason Ritchie (Ontario) — who also serves as an ALS Canada Board member — for generously sharing their voices and lived experiences during the panel.
Attendees also heard from a panel of leading Canadian ALS experts, who reflected on research advancements, opportunities to improve clinical trials, and the moments that stay with them, like meeting people affected by ALS who fundamentally shaped their understanding of the disease.
