A room full of people who already understand.
Canada’s first and only nationwide peer support group for sickle cell. Monthly, online and free, for people living with sickle cell disease and the people who care for them.
Already a member? Sign in to the member portal
- 1st
- Nationwide peer support group for sickle cell in Canada
- 16+
- Warriors and caregivers, anywhere in Canada
- 24
- Subsidized therapy sessions available to each member
- 3
- CELLS.irl dinners so far, in Edmonton, Calgary and Toronto
Strength in shared experience
Every month, on the last Monday, from 6 to 7 PM ABT (Alberta Time). That’s 5 PM in BC, 7 PM in Manitoba, and 8 PM Eastern and 9 PM Atlantic (an hour earlier in winter). Cameras optional.
Community connection
Meet warriors and caregivers who share your journey, in meetings that feel more like a group chat than a waiting room.
Topics that matter
Each meeting has a theme, from love and relationships to treatments, doctors and crisis days. Some meetings bring in clinicians.
Support that continues
Members can access subsidized therapy, and Cells for Caregivers meetings are just for the people who care for a warrior.
What we talked about this year
Every month has a theme. Here’s what Cells covered in 2026, from love and relationships to treatments, doctors and crisis days.
- Feb 23
- Is Love Enough?
- Mar 30
- Clinical Conversations: OB-GYN
- Apr 13
- Cells for Caregivers: How Caregiving Changes Relationships
- Apr 27
- Is My Doctor Even Listening?
- May 25
- Is Therapy Working?
- Jun 29
- Mid-Year Round Table Check-In
- Jul 13
- Cells for Caregivers: Preparing for Crisis Days
- Jul 27
- Community Check-In and Gendered Perspectives
- Sep 28
- Treatments and Sickle Cell Disease
Next meetings
Cells Meeting
Our monthly online meeting for people living with sickle cell and their caregivers. Members find the link in the member portal.
Cells Meeting
The last Monday of November. New members are welcome; register first to get the link.
Peer support, around a dinner table.
In 2026, Cells went in person. CELLS.irl dinners are intimate evenings for registered Cells members, in cities across Canada. Dinner is on us.
February 6, 2026
Edmonton
The first CELLS.irl
May 8, 2026
Calgary
Our second dinner
July 10, 2026
Toronto
Our first in Ontario
CELLS.irl Calgary, May 2026
Who can join
Registration takes two minutes. Once it’s confirmed, you can sign in to the member portal for meeting links and free therapy.
- Living with sickle cell disease, or caring for someone who is
- 16 years or older
- Living in Canada
- Every gender, every background
Registration helps us keep meetings private and safe. We never share your details.
Thanks for registering.
We’ll email you once your registration is confirmed. Then you can sign in to the member portal for meeting links and free therapy. Welcome to Cells.
Good to know
Quick answers to the things people ask us most.
Still have a question? Contact us and we’ll get back to you.
No. Plenty of members listen for a while first. Cameras are optional.
Sign in to the member portal with the email you registered with. The link for the next meeting is on your portal home, with the time shown in your time zone.
Cells is for people living with sickle cell disease and the people who care for them. Cells for Caregivers meetings are just for caregivers.
No. Cells is free. Members can also access subsidized therapy through our partnership with Bethesda Therapy.
CELLS.irl dinners are for registered Cells members. Register, attend meetings, and you’ll hear about dinners in your region first.