Offering services in-person in Calgary and Edmonton, and virtually across Alberta

Events

Eating Disorder Awareness Week 2025

What is Eating Disorders Awareness Week (EDAW)

and Why is it Celebrated?

Eating Disorders Awareness Week (EDAW) is an annual event observed in Canada from February 1–7 to raise awareness about eating disorders, promote understanding, and advocate for improved support and care. The week serves as a call to action, encouraging public education, reducing stigma, and fostering inclusive conversations about these serious mental health conditions.

EDAW is celebrated to:

  1. Raise Awareness: Eating disorders affect individuals of all genders, ages, races, abilities, and socioeconomic backgrounds. EDAW aims to shed light on the realities of living with an eating disorder and the importance of early intervention and support.
  2. Educate the Public: Misconceptions about eating disorders can hinder recognition and treatment. EDAW provides an opportunity to share accurate information and dispel myths.
  3. Advocate for Change: By highlighting the need for equitable, accessible, and inclusive care, EDAW works to address systemic barriers in the healthcare system and improve support for those affected.
  4. Build Community: EDAW fosters connection and solidarity among individuals, families, healthcare providers, and advocacy organizations dedicated to eating disorder recovery and prevention.

Through campaigns, events, and initiatives, EDAW empowers communities across Canada to take action and envision a world where eating disorder care is accessible, stigma-free, and compassionate.

National Eating Disorder Information Center (NEDIC) 

The National Eating Disorder Information Center (NEDIC) has scheduled some amazing events during this year’s Eating Disorder Awareness Week, February 1 to 7, 2025.  Please visit their website for more information about their offerings which include support groups, webinars and training opportunitieshttps://nedic.ca/edaw/

Eating Disorder Awareness Week: Free Events and Videos 2025

Emotion Focused Skills Workshop for Parents/Caregivers of Loved ones with Eating Disorders

Emotion Focused Skills Training (EFST) for Parents is an innovative, ultra-simple and quickly effective parent support program.

EFST supports parents by empowering them as active, primary agents in guiding loved ones (of any age, little, adolescent or adult,) through the behavioural, emotional and relational challenges of everyday living and relating, as well as through the challenges their loved ones face when struggling with a mental health issue, a physical health issue, or any other special challenge. This is an emotion-processing, skills-based approach that gives parents simple, practical tools that they can implement immediately in their family.

Monday, February 3, 2025 from 5:30 – 7:00pm 

Cost: Free.  Please contact [email protected] more information.

Zoom Link: 

https://us02web.zoom.us/j/88427725437?pwd=nMjj5HrSqX3V7CHPPJGJYo7AXbAHXd.1

Meeting ID: 884 2772 5437
Passcode: 147490

AWCED "SEES" JOY IN MOVEMENT: Exercise and Eating Disorder Recovery

Date: Tuesday, February 4th, 2025 from 7:00 to 9:00pm

Location: Action Potential Fitness, 17210 106 A Ave. Edmonton or Virtual attendance is an option.

Learn how to integrate safe, structured exercise into eating disorder recovery with the Safe Exercise at Every Stage (SEES) framework. This workshop covers risk assessment, tailored interventions, and intuitive movement, equipping participants to support recovery through a holistic, evidence-based approach that prioritizes safety, empowerment, and interdisciplinary collaboration.

Cost: Free.  

Zoom Link for online attendees: https://us06web.zoom.us/j/84500955010

Myths about Eating Disorders

Monica Arnold, Registered Psychologist

Debunking common myths about the populations that eating disorders impact.

Tamara Stuart, Registered Psychologist

Debunking myths about the numbers on the scale.  

Tracey Urquhart, Occupational Therapist

Debunking  common myths about eating and feeding disorders

Darien Zwicker, Registered Provisional Psychologist

Debunking myths related to ARFID. 

Jenna Donovan, Registered Provisional Psychologist

Debunking  common myths about what eating disorders “look like” and the seriousness of eating disorders.  

Eating Disorder Awareness Week Videos 2024

Drs. Stillar and Emmerling spread awareness about Eating Disorders on Global News!

Eating Disorder Awareness Week

Parent, Caregiver, Spouse/Partner, and Family Involvement in Eating Disorder Treatment

Role of Dietitians at AWCED

Please join Erin Nelson and Piper Menini as they answer some frequently asked questions about the role of dietitians at the Alberta Wellness Center for Eating Disorders.

ADHD and Eating Disorders

Tamara Stuart, Registered Psychologist, discusses the relationship between ADHD and Eating Disorders.

Skills Training: EFST-Y Model

Join Savannah Beckman -Howatt, Registered Provisional Psychologist, as she takes us through her water bottle metaphor

DBT Skills for those with Eating Disorders and their Loved Ones.

Chantelle Jensen, Registered Nurse, shares some skills to regulate emotions using Dialectical Behavioral Therapy.

Myths of Diet Culture

Kassie Magyar, Registered Provisional Psychologist, provides some interesting thoughts to consider about diet culture in this video, Myths of Diet Culture.

Eating Disorder Awareness Week Videos 2023

Eating Disorders & Social Media

Join Darien in a discussion about body image and how social media might influence our perception of ourselves and our bodies. In this talk, Darien will also offer some tips on how we can mitigate the harmful effects that social media can have on our body image, and share some ideas about how we can manage bad body image days.

Redefining Fitness

Jenna talks about how to redefine what exercise means to you, how to safely incorporate movement back into your life, and how to engage in weight-neutral fitness practices.

Video release Feb 4th

ARFID 101

Join Natalie as she discusses the eating disorder diagnosis, ARFID. She will provide a general overview of the diagnosis, prevalence, clinical presentations, treatment and outcomes of ARFID with a main focus on adolescents and adults.

The Caregivers' Experience

Join Sue as she talks about research demonstrating the positive impact on eating disorder outcomes when parents are trained, the new recommendations for the Canadian Strategy on Eating Disorders related to caregivers, and how AWCED is shifting its practice to be more intentionally inclusive of caregivers. This panel discussion also includes a mother who talks about her lived experience and a clinician who talks about working with parents and why that has always been central to her treatment of eating disorders. It is a well-rounded discussion with questions from the participants following the presentations.