Obesity Canada collaboratively engages with a wide array of strategic partners who are aligned with our core vision and mission to address the complexities of obesity. We are committed to fostering meaningful relationships with various stakeholders across the obesity landscape. Our partners include esteemed corporate sponsors, research institutions, business leaders, and public sector organizations.
We are proud to introduce the Fund for Obesity Collaboration and Unified Strategies (FOCUS). This initiative pools resources from Canadian trailblazers in research, business, and public service. Through FOCUS, we finance vital projects in research, education, and advocacy that are pivotal in the fight against obesity. Additionally, we are supported by generous individual and philanthropic contributions, which are crucial in advancing our work.
Together, with the support of our dedicated partners and the FOCUS initiative, Obesity Canada continues to lead transformative efforts to improve the health and well-being of Canadians affected by obesity.
Obesity Canada partners and collaborates with many organizations, associations, federations, health charities and businesses within Canada and Internationally. We proudly partner with the following organizations:
![Diabetes Canada logo with the word "DIABETES" partially crossed out by a blue line.](https://eqotu5k2cnz.exactdn.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/05/Diabetes-Canada-Logo-2-scaled.jpg?strip=all&lossy=1&ssl=1)
![Logo of Hypertension Canada featuring a stylized red maple leaf, a heart shape, and text reading "Hypertension Canada.](https://eqotu5k2cnz.exactdn.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/05/hypertension_logo.png?strip=all&lossy=1&ssl=1)
![Logo for CMDO, Cardiometabolic Health, Diabetes and Obesity Research Network, featuring a stylized heart and drop design in red and white.](https://eqotu5k2cnz.exactdn.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/05/logo-cmdo-en.png?strip=all&lossy=1&ssl=1)
![A logo featuring the text "MyRoad" in blue, with intertwined green lines resembling a road map to the left.](https://eqotu5k2cnz.exactdn.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/05/logo-english-150x150-1.png?strip=all&lossy=1&ssl=1&fit=150%2C52)
![Logo of The Canadian Association of Bariatric Physicians and Surgeons with both French and English text, and a red and white graphic of Canada.](https://eqotu5k2cnz.exactdn.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/05/CABPS-Logo-revised-2019-scaled.jpg?strip=all&lossy=1&ssl=1)
![The image shows the logo for "inspiredgo" with the word "inspired" in black and "go" in green, both written in a clean, sans-serif font.](https://eqotu5k2cnz.exactdn.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/05/Logo-black-and-green-3-1.png?strip=all&lossy=1&ssl=1)
![Logo of Immunize Canada featuring a red, yellow, and blue umbrella held by three stylized figures of different colors. The text reads "Immunize Immunisation Canada.](https://eqotu5k2cnz.exactdn.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/05/immunize-logo-326.png?strip=all&lossy=1&ssl=1)
![CSEP SCPE logo with text: "The Gold Standard in Exercise Science and Personal Training.](https://eqotu5k2cnz.exactdn.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/05/CSEP_logo_2x_tagline.png?strip=all&lossy=1&ssl=1)
![Logo for Lipedema Canada with the organization's name in English and French, featuring red legs with a white maple leaf in the background.](https://eqotu5k2cnz.exactdn.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/05/Lipedema-Canada.png?strip=all&lossy=1&ssl=1)
![Blue logo featuring the text "The Wall Street Journal" with a series of square and rectangular geometric shapes arranged horizontally.](https://eqotu5k2cnz.exactdn.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/05/SOGC_logo_e_footer.png?strip=all&lossy=1&ssl=1)
![Logo of the Canadian Lymphedema Framework (CLF) and Partenariat Canadien du Lymphoedème (PCL) with a grid of blue and orange dots.](https://eqotu5k2cnz.exactdn.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/05/CLF-COLOUR-LOGO.png?strip=all&lossy=1&ssl=1)
![Logo of the canadian association of cardiovascular prevention and rehabilitation (cacpr), featuring a heart and a maple leaf.](https://eqotu5k2cnz.exactdn.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/10/cacpr.jpg?strip=all&lossy=1&ssl=1)
![Logo of the canadian society of endocrinology and metabolism (csem/scém), featuring a stylized red maple leaf and text.](https://eqotu5k2cnz.exactdn.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/10/csem-1.png?strip=all&lossy=1&ssl=1)
![Logo of "exercise is medicine" featuring stylized text with the letter "r" formed by an ampersand in green and blue colors.](https://eqotu5k2cnz.exactdn.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/10/eim.jpg?strip=all&lossy=1&ssl=1)
![Logo of the yukon medical association featuring a stylized white "y" intertwined with a black serpent on a black text background.](https://eqotu5k2cnz.exactdn.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/10/yukon.png?strip=all&lossy=1&ssl=1)
![Logo of the canadian network for canchange, featuring a green leaf and a red canadian maple leaf, with text emphasizing health behavior change and promotion.](https://eqotu5k2cnz.exactdn.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/10/can-change.png?strip=all&lossy=1&ssl=1)
![Logo of the canadian psychological association featuring a stylized red maple leaf and bilingual text in red and black.](https://eqotu5k2cnz.exactdn.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/10/cpa-logo-horizontal.png?strip=all&lossy=1&ssl=1)
![A graphic with a gray upper section reading "My Weight" and a teal lower section reading "What To Know.](https://eqotu5k2cnz.exactdn.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/05/MWWTK.jpg?strip=all&lossy=1&ssl=1)
![Logo consisting of the word "CanNASH" with red letters "Can" and black letters "NASH," surrounded by segments of a red maple leaf.](https://eqotu5k2cnz.exactdn.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/05/ll.webp?strip=all&lossy=1&ssl=1&fit=182%2C184)
![Logo of the canadian liver foundation, featuring a stylized red liver icon next to the text "liver.ca" and the bilingual name of the organization below.](https://eqotu5k2cnz.exactdn.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/09/CLF_Logo_Eng_CMYK-square.jpg?strip=all&lossy=1&ssl=1)
![Logo of the University of Ottawa Heart Institute with red stylized heart shape above the bilingual text "University of Ottawa Heart Institute" and "Institut de Cardiologie de l'Université d'Ottawa.](https://eqotu5k2cnz.exactdn.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/06/OHI.png?strip=all&lossy=1&ssl=1)
![A logo featuring the letters "CAHN" where the "C" is red, and the "A" includes a red hat above it. The rest of the letters are in black.](https://eqotu5k2cnz.exactdn.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/06/CAHN.png?strip=all&lossy=1&ssl=1)
![Logo of "World Obesity," featuring text with a blue and red diagonal line cutting through the letter 'O' against a teal background.](https://eqotu5k2cnz.exactdn.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/05/WOF.jpg?strip=all&lossy=1&ssl=1&fit=173%2C163)
![Logo of the european association for the study of obesity (easo), featuring bold black letters and a blue circle.](https://eqotu5k2cnz.exactdn.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/03/EASO-logo.jpg?strip=all&lossy=1&ssl=1)
![Logo of the obesity society featuring a stylized purple circle with the text "obesity society" and the motto "research. education. action." in gray and purple.](https://eqotu5k2cnz.exactdn.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/06/TOS_logo.jpg?strip=all&lossy=1&ssl=1)
![Logo of the alliance against obesity, featuring a stylized group of people in a circle, with the organization’s name around the edge in blue and orange colors.](https://eqotu5k2cnz.exactdn.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/09/logo-paxisarkias_F_EN.jpg?strip=all&lossy=1&ssl=1)
![Logo of the obesity medicine association featuring stylized hexagonal shapes in various colors next to the association's name in orange and gray text.](https://eqotu5k2cnz.exactdn.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/06/OMA_WEB_Square.jpg?strip=all&lossy=1&ssl=1)
![Logo of the obesity action coalition, featuring the acronym 'oac' in blue letters with a green swoosh above it.](https://eqotu5k2cnz.exactdn.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/07/OAC-logo-rgb-600-1.jpg?strip=all&lossy=1&ssl=1)
![Logo of the association for the study of obesity on the island of ireland (asoi), featuring green and red text with a white map silhouette of ireland.](https://eqotu5k2cnz.exactdn.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/09/asoi-logo-standard.png?strip=all&lossy=1&ssl=1)
![Logo of the sociedad chilena de cirugía bariátrica y metabólica (sccbm), featuring a stylized spiral design in blue and brown on a peach background.](https://eqotu5k2cnz.exactdn.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/08/logo-SCCBM_colores.png?strip=all&lossy=1&ssl=1)
![Logo of partnership overgewicht nederland (pon), featuring a large green circle with the acronym 'pon' in white and green letters, alongside the full name in green text.](https://eqotu5k2cnz.exactdn.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/07/Logo-PON_groot_WEB.png?strip=all&lossy=1&ssl=1)
![Logo of the mexican society of nutrition and endocrinology featuring a blue circular seal with abstract figures and text.](https://eqotu5k2cnz.exactdn.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/07/LogoSmne.jpg?strip=all&lossy=1&ssl=1)
![Logo of SEEDO featuring a series of green circles decreasing in size from left to right, symbolizing weight loss, with text "SEEDO Sociedad Española de Obesidad" below.](https://eqotu5k2cnz.exactdn.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/05/Logo-Seedo_NUEVO.jpg?strip=all&lossy=1&ssl=1)
Obesity Canada is honored to collaborate with a distinguished group of partners who share our dedication to advancing research, education, and advocacy in the field of obesity. Our Focus Partners, represented by the logos below are instrumental in our ongoing efforts to improve the health and well-being of Canadians affected by and living with obesity.
We extend our deepest gratitude to each of our Focus Partners for their unwavering support and commitment. Their contributions are vital in helping us advance our mission to enhance the understanding of obesity and transform the lives of those affected. Together, we are making significant strides towards a healthier future for all Canadians.
Ready to collaborate? Contact us!
Policy Number | OC #1 (CON # 2) |
Date of issue | April 2008 |
Updated | June 2010, November 2012, June 2013; July 2018, Nov 2019 |
Issuing Authority | OC Partnership Committee |
Enquiries | Executive Director |
Approved Electronic Vote |
Background
Obesity Canada was established through the Networks of Centres of Excellence Program in 2005. Since 2018, Obesity Canada has functioned as a registered charity with the mission to improve the lives of Canadians through obesity research, education, and advocacy.
Our vision is a day when people affected by the disease of obesity are understood, respected, and living healthy lives.
Our core values are:
- Respect: We believe that everyone deserves to be treated with respect and dignity. To this end, Obesity Canada works toward reducing weight bias and stigma through research, education and advocacy.
- Evidence-Based: Obesity Canada aims to facilitate knowledge exchange regarding obesity prevention, treatment and policy.
Obesity Canada has three strategic objectives:
- Research
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- Support, build, and nurture our research network and ecosystem.
- Identify and communicate gaps in knowledge.
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- Education
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- Facilitate and amplify knowledge exchange and engage in knowledge translation.
- Work towards eliminating obesity stigma through education, research, and advocacy.
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- Advocacy
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- Create a movement by building our membership.
- Shape and inform public policy.
- Legally, medically, and socially establish obesity as a disease.
Specifically, Obesity Canada advocates for:
- designation of obesity as a chronic disease in healthcare, social and public policies;
- equal treatment as other chronic diseases;
- elimination of weight bias and stigma;
- increased research for obesity prevention and treatment
Obesity Canada recognizes that we cannot achieve our mission alone. This is why we connect organizations across sectors to reduce duplication and increase impact through coherent efforts. We also recognize that OC has multiple accountabilities and believe that transparency is essential.
Purpose
Partnerships are at the core of OC’s strategies. The purpose of this policy is to provide guidance to OC relations with financial partners. This policy will be reviewed every two years or earlier if necessary.
Why we need partnerships
Over 60% of Canadians are currently affected by overweight and obesity, and solutions to prevent and treat obesity are not coordinated. Comprehensive public, private and non-governmental initiatives on obesity prevention and treatment are urgently needed in order to reverse this epidemic. Obesity is a complex issue that requires broad stakeholder engagement. To address the obesity in Canada, OC recognizes that building partnerships between stakeholders such as researchers, government, civil society, the private sector, professional networks, the media and international organizations is essential to addressing the obesity epidemic.
Partnerships can provide additional financial resources for capacity building, knowledge exchange, and networking, but their importance goes far beyond funding. By working with partners, OC can build support for obesity research and action and minimize redundant work.
Policy Objectives
The objectives of this policy are to:
- Manage risk and protect the integrity and reputation of OC
- Manage duality of interest/conflict of interest;
- Ensure due diligence and proper disclosure; and
- Increase transparency and accountability.
References
- Obesity Canada By-Laws
- Charities Registration (Security Information) Act (S.C. 2001, c. 41, s. 113) https://laws-lois.justice.gc.ca/eng/acts/C-27.55/index.html
- Government of Canada: Operating a registered charity – Sponsorships https://www.canada.ca/en/revenue-agency/services/charities-giving/charities/operating-a-registered-charity/receiving-gifts/sponsorship.html
- Treasury Board of Canada Secretariat, Policy on Transfer Payments https://www.tbs-sct.gc.ca/pubs_pol/dcgpubs/tbm_142/ptp1_e.asp
- Networks of Centres of Excellence Program Guide: https://www.nce.gc.ca/comp/programguide_e.htm
- Networks of Centres of Excellence Conflict of Interest Policy Framework: https://www.nce.gc.ca/pubs/fundingagree/annexC-fundagree_e.htm
- Canadian Institutes of Health Research” Ethics Policy on CIHR Partnerships with the For-Profit Private Sector – March 19-2007, Ottawa https://www.cihr.ca/e/34723.html
Partnership Goals
OC will enter into agreements with public and private organizations in order to:
- Enhance the impact of OC’s activities (including sponsorships for conferences, workshops, preceptorships, student meetings and research boot camps, public outreach, CONDUIT publications, travel awards, knowledge translation programs, networking opportunities, communications and marketing strategies, public engagement and advocacy efforts, etc);
- Increase opportunities for fostering innovations and investments toward cost-effective solutions to prevent, control and treat obesity;
- Increase the accessibility, relevance and use of obesity research;
- Increase national and international recognition of OC as a major partner in developing obesity research, practice and policy strategies; and,
- Diversify the revenue streams of OC.
Principles to Guide Relationships
When partnering or seeking sponsorship from a public or private organizations, OC will abide by the following principles:
- The relationship shall support OC’s Vision, Mission and Strategic goals.
- The relationship shall not contravene OC’s by-laws or Federal Acts and Regulations.
- OC will not endorse a commercial product or service.
- No relationship shall interfere with the right of OC to enter into any other. OC will remain open to all new partnership opportunities that contribute to effective and innovative obesity strategies and solutions, or funding to support these activities.
It is further stipulated that,
- OC will maintain content control and/or approve the content of all information and health promotion resources resulting from corporate relationships including the use of the OC brand, trademarks and website. OC will use disclaimers on all such information and health promotion resources.
- The partner will have no authority to direct or influence the scientific aspects of OC research, education, and advocacy. OC activities are project based, scientifically sound and not partner specific. In some situations the partner may direct funding to specific OC activities that are consistent with our Vision, Mission and Strategic goals (e.g. Canadian Obesity Summit). A partner will not set any conditions that:
- prevents OC or its members from making inferences from their research, education, and advocacy activities;
- interferes with the views of OC and its members to be presented at OC events or other communication mechanisms;
- restricts the dissemination of research results from OC members;
- entails any obligation to support in any way the goals of the partner, except those goals that have been agreed upon in partnership agreements with respect to specific joint activities;
- could result in, through other kinds of coercion, restrictions to OC’s research, education, and advocacy mandate.
- Every relationship will be assessed for potential risks, managed ethically, and with transparency to ensure common understanding and expectations between OC and its multiple accountabilities.
- A partnership agreement will be signed by all partners (Appendix A);
- Partners will receive recognition for funding efforts to address obesity and for the specific initiatives they support;
- OC will use the funds in ways that are appropriate and free from bias;
- No OC policy or initiative will be influenced by our partnerships at any time.
- Every relationship will be operated with managerial transparency, fiscal and public accountability.
- OC will make these partnership policies clear to all partners before accepting funding;
- OC will disclose all sources of recent (five years) and current funding on our website and/or event materials.
- As a general rule, OC’s financial contribution should not exceed that of the private-sector partner.
Definitions
Partnerships
OC may enter into one-time agreements or multi-year agreements with partners. Partnerships seek to provide corporate, not-for-profit and institutional partners the opportunity to add their voice, insights and energies to a coherent effort to address obesity. Partners may choose to support OC through the Partnership Program, a multi-level sustainability program that supports the efforts of the network. All funding received through this program will be used to support OC’s operational costs aimed at advancing the network’s mission, vision and strategic goals. This type of support is different from specific sponsorships.
For the purpose of the Partnership Program, “a partnership is a formalized working relationship between two or more organizations with separate identities and independent accountabilities and is based on mutual benefit and a clear understanding or agreement that sets out the shared goal and objectives and the terms of the arrangement”.
- Recognize and acknowledge each other’s values and needs;
- Have a relationship of trust and respect built on effective communications;
- Have a commitment to the partnership;
- Work together closely in the planning and implementation of strategies to achieve the goal and objectives;
- Contribute resources (financial and/or in-kind);
- Agree to a fair allocation of risk-taking; and
- Work together to review, evaluate and report on joint activities.
All partnerships are formalized through Partnership Agreements (Appendix A). A written agreement will be created for each public/private relationship made. Each agreement will indicate the length and description of the relationship.
Collaborations
“A collaboration is an interaction between two or more parties guided, as in a partnership, by shared interests. However, unlike a partnership, the parties may not all contribute resources or share equally in the benefits or risk taking. They do, however, agree to share information openly and act cooperatively”. This would include activities such as meetings with health associations, health regions, professional associations, research institutions, etc. to share information on activities and identify common issues and interests.
Sponsorships
Sponsorship occurs when a business makes a donation toward the cost of a charity’s activity or event and, in return, the charity advertises or promotes the business’s brand, products or services. If a business receives the same level of recognition as all other donors, with no special treatment, and the recognition is minimal (for example, a simple acknowledgment), the charity can issue the business a receipt for the full amount of the donation. If a business receives special recognition for its donation, or if it receives more than minimal recognition (for example, banners or advertising of products), this is considered sponsorship. Sponsorship is an advantage and its fair market value is generally deducted from the amount of the donation for receipting purposes. It is difficult, if not impossible, to calculate the value for sponsorship. When the value cannot be calculated, the charity cannot issue the business an official donation receipt. However, the business may be able to include the sponsorship costs in its advertising expenses, but only if this sponsorship is considered reasonable and was given with the intent of generating income.
All corporate sponsorship above $35,000 per year will be approved by the OC Board of Directors.
Types of Partners
To achieve its mandate and strategic goals, OC will partner with variety of stakeholders including the public, health charities, professional associations, governments, universities, health organizations, other research agencies, industry and international organizations.
Industry Partnerships
OC bridges the gap between researchers and the private sector in order to strengthen research training capacity, support the development of obesity innovations, and contribute to a healthy economy and society. OC will enter into dialogue with all potential private sector partners in a variety of sectors related to the OC mission (food and nutrition, physical activity, pharmaceutical, insurance, surgery and equipment, etc).
International Partnerships
Obesity is increasing rapidly around the globe and at a considerably faster rate in developing countries due to globalization factors such economic and nutritional transitions. Many countries are developing national policies, inter-sectoral collaborative platforms, regulations and/or legislations, guidelines, and information initiatives to counteract the obesity epidemic. International bodies, such as the WHO are also developing obesity prevention strategies. The WHO obesity strategy, as an example, calls upon all stakeholders to take action at global, regional and local levels, recognizing that many of the key factors/determinants of obesity cross country borders and have implications for national policies.
Obesity Canada is increasingly recognized as a leading research, education and advocacy organization globally. Obesity Canada will also support international research and networking opportunities. The objectives of Obesity Canada’s international partnership activities are:
- To increase international recognition of Canadian obesity research, education, and advocacy efforts;
- To facilitate effective international research, education, and advocacy cooperation ;
- To share innovative technological information needed to maintain Canada’s obesity research community’s competitive edge; and
- To provide opportunities for Canadian obesity researchers and students to gain international knowledge and intercultural skills necessary to address the global obesity challenge.