Canadian FAIT Research NetworkLearn together — online or in person.
Free info sessions, in-person school talks, and support for families navigating a diagnosis. Two ways to bring this to your family, your classroom, or your community.
Parent Information Sessions
A calm, plain-language hour for parents and caregivers of a child with food allergy. Learn what treatment options actually involve, hear what other families have asked, and get your questions answered live — no cost, no obligation, no sales pitch.
- What sublingual immunotherapy and oral immunotherapy involve, step by step
- What current research does and doesn't yet show
- Real questions other Canadian parents have asked
- How to bring this up with your child's allergist
- Live Q&A — every question gets an answer, on or off camera
What to expect
- Who it's for — parents and caregivers of a child with a diagnosed or suspected food allergy
- Format — live on Zoom, about 60 minutes, with a Q&A at the end
- Camera — optional. Ask on or off camera; you'll never be put on the spot
- Cost — free, with no obligation to pursue any treatment afterwards
How to prepare: bring the questions you'd like to ask your child's allergist. There's no such thing as a silly question here.
A new page turns every month.
Free information sessions and school talks run on an ongoing calendar — see what's coming up below, or request a session for your own family or classroom.
What's coming up
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Register for a session
Good to know before you join
Is this medical advice?
No. These sessions are general education. They help you understand your options and arrive at your allergist's office with better questions — they don't diagnose or treat anyone. For anything urgent, call 911 or use your child's epinephrine auto-injector.
Do I need a diagnosis to attend?
No. Parents and caregivers are welcome whether your child has a confirmed food allergy, is waiting for testing, or you just want to understand what's out there.
Will I have to speak or show my face?
Never required. You can keep your camera off, type your questions in the chat, or just listen.
Who leads the session?
Sessions are run by the Canadian FAIT Research Network team, connected to the FAIT Program at UBC.
Is there a cost or an obligation?
None. Sessions are free, and there is no obligation to pursue any treatment afterwards.
Can I bring my child or partner?
Yes — anyone involved in your child's care is welcome to join on the same screen or their own device.
Thriving Families Program
A pilot program at BC Children's Hospital Allergy Clinic offering supportive education and skills-building therapy to families managing allergies.
Families referred to the program meet with the program physician for an initial virtual intake appointment to help form a plan of support tailored to their family's needs. If further follow-up is needed, families can choose parent-only sessions, youth-only sessions, family sessions, or group sessions — all virtual currently.
Frequently asked questions
Will these sessions be in person or virtual?
Currently, sessions are only virtual, by Zoom.
Can I discuss my concerns privately, without my child present?
Yes — you can choose to have parent-only appointments.
How many sessions will I need to attend?
The number of sessions is determined by the program physician in consultation with your family, depending on the needs of the various family members.
What types of issues can I get help with?
Any issue involving food allergies and stress or anxiety related to managing them — from deciding whether to start immunotherapy, to anxiety around epinephrine auto-injector use, to managing life transitions like starting post-secondary.
How do I book an appointment?
Please call the BC Children's Hospital Allergy Clinic at 604-875-2118, extension 1.
Request a School Talk
We visit classrooms to teach kids about food allergies — label-reading, what to do in a reaction, and how to be a good friend to a classmate who carries an epi-pen.
Request a Talk →Community
Real stories from families further down the road than you, and ways to connect with others managing a food allergy.
Read Family Stories →