Dear Kids Brain Health Champions,
What an incredible few days in Calgary! From October 18 to 21, Kids Brain Health + (KBH+) brought together researchers, clinicians, policymakers, families, people with lived experience and community partners for the KBH+ Conference 2026. Under the theme From Evidence to Everywhere: Scaling and Sustaining Innovations for Kids, we explored how to bring evidence-informed approaches to more children, youth and families who need them.
Read on for highlights from an inspiring week — the connections, innovations and milestones moving our shared mission forward.
Here are some highlights from the week!
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We opened the KBH+ Conference by asking how good ideas travel across regions, sectors and cultures, then explored this concept across dozens of sessions, from Indigenous approaches to healing to digital innovation.
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Day two tackled a critical question: if proven solutions exist, what’s stopping them from reaching every child and family who needs them?
The KBH+ Pitch Competition also brought 10 finalists to the stage, competing for $50,000 across three prizes. Congratulations to our winners:
🏆 Emerging Innovations Stream: Power of Play
🏆 Scaling Innovation Stream: Ora Medical
🏆 People’s Choice Award: Moro Technologies
That evening, the Kids Brain Health Foundation’s Harvest of Hope Gala marked 10 years of impact and raised more than $52,000 for Canadian families.
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We opened the final day on the “missing middle,” the gap between promising solutions and real scale. The closing sessions then turned back to the children, youth and families at the heart of this work.
The conversation doesn’t end here. Watch our socials for more recaps and testimonial videos from attendees.
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Kids Brain Health+ releases 2025–2026 Impact Report
Kids Brain Health+ (KBH+) is proud to launch our 2025–2026 Impact Report, “From Research to Real-World Impact: Building Pathways for Kids, Youth, and Families.” In our first year as one national platform, KBH+ went further than planned, bringing together government funding, philanthropy, and impact investing to move research forward and get proven solutions to the families who need them most. We funded new projects, including our first funding stream led by and for Indigenous Peoples. We also built new partnerships across the sector, worked with provincial governments to expand proven programs, and saw made-in-Canada innovations reach families around the world. Read the full report.
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KBH+ Connects with the Global Infant Mental Health Community at WAIMH 2026
KBH+ sponsored and exhibited at the 19th World Congress of the World Association for Infant Mental Health (WAIMH), held October 2–6 in Toronto. At our exhibitor booth, we connected with attendees and showcased initiatives that improve outcomes for children and families. Project team members from CAMH and FER joined us on site to exchange knowledge, strengthen partnerships and meet professionals from around the world working to advance infant and early childhood mental health.
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KBH+ returns as a sponsor at the 21st Annual Bloorview Research Institute (BRI) Symposium
KBH+ is proud to be the Data and AI Keynote sponsor at the 21st Annual BRI Symposium, taking place November 5–6, 2026. Under the theme From Ideas to Action: Advancing Transformational Care and Support in Childhood-Onset Disability, the symposium will bring together researchers, clinicians, families and partners to explore new knowledge and innovations that can improve outcomes for children and youth with disabilities. If you are attending, don’t forget to stop by our exhibitor booth to meet our team and pick up some swag. Learn more.
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KBH+ at the Canadian Disability Tech Summit: Access to Success
KBH+ CEO Geoff Pradella will speak at the Canadian Disability Tech Summit: Access to Success on November 18, 2026, in Toronto. Geoff will join fellow leaders and innovators for Research to Reality: How Healthcare Leaders Are Commercializing Innovation, a session exploring how research and innovation can translate into real-world solutions. Learn more.
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Kids Brain Health Network, situated at Simon Fraser University (SFU) Burnaby, respectfully acknowledges the unceded traditional territories of the Coast Salish peoples, including the səl̓ilw̓ətaʔɬ (Tsleil-Waututh), kʷikʷəƛ̓əm (Kwikwetlem), Sḵwx̱wú7mesh Úxwumixw (Squamish) and xʷməθkʷəy̓əm (Musqueam) Nations.
Le Réseau pour la santé du cerveau des enfants, situé au sein de l’Université Simon Fraser (SFU) de Burnaby, reconnaît respectueusement les territoires traditionnels non cédés des peuples Salish de la Côte, notamment les nations səl̓ilw̓ ətaʔɬ (Tsleil-Waututh), kʷikʷəƛ̓ əm (Kwikwetlem), Sḵwx̱ wú7mesh Úxwumixw (Squamish) et xʷməθkʷəy̓ əm (Musqueam).
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