29 Oct FAST Heroes Make a Global Impact: Canada Joins the World in Recognizing World Stroke Day 2025
Every minute counts when someone has a stroke—and this World Stroke Day, on October 29, 2025, Canadian elementary school classrooms are joining a global movement to help save lives through the FAST Heroes program.
FAST Heroes is an international health education initiative designed to teach children aged 5 to 9, by their teacher over five weekly lessons, how to recognize the signs of stroke and take swift action. Through fun, animated learning modules and superhero storytelling, children become heroes in their own homes—equipped to identify Face drooping, Arm weakness, Speech difficulty, and the importance of Time to call emergency services.
The program is a collaboration between the Angels Initiative, the World Stroke Organization, and partners in more than 30 countries. Since its launch, a million children and families worldwide have participated, spreading vital health messages across classrooms, homes, and communities. And with 15 life-saving stories across the world, the program has proven it value and impact.
In Canada, schools, families, and community partners are helping to expand the reach of FAST Heroes. There is one stroke every five minutes in our nation. The program supports Canada’s commitment to stroke awaren
ess and prevention empowering young learners to become ambassadors of life-saving knowledge. As children share what they’ve learned, parents and grandparents become more aware of stroke symptoms and the need for immediate emergency action.
“Teaching stroke awareness to our youngest citizens has an incredible ripple effect,” says Canadian country coordinator, Keli Cristofaro “When children bring the message home, they often become the first responders in recognizing a stroke in grandparents or older relatives. That’s how education truly saves lives.”
World Stroke Day 2025 carries the global theme of “Every Minute Counts.” It’s a reminder that prevention, quick recognition, and action are collective efforts—and every person, regardless of age, can be part of the solution.
FAST Heroes Canada invites schools and educators to join the movement by registering their classroom to take part for the free at canadaheroes@fastheroes.org and visit www.fastheroes.com.
Let’s make every minute count—and celebrate the powerful role young Canadian heroes play in saving the world, one grandparent at a time.