2026 Symposium | Long COVID Web

Long Covid Web and the University of British Columbia are pleased to announce the 2026 Canadian Symposium on Long COVID.

The Symposium will bring together people with lived experience of Long COVID, clinicians, trainees, allied health, researchers and others to discuss the latest innovations and scientific developments in Long COVID.

The 4th Canadian Symposium on Long COVID will be held on October 15–16, 2026, at The Nest, University of British Columbia, in Vancouver, BC.

Registration is not yet open, but details will be shared soon. We look forward to welcoming you in Vancouver!

Symposium Local Organizing Committee

Symposium Co-Chairs: Drs. Naveed Janjua, Viet Vu, Hiten Naik

Scientific Committee: Drs. Hind Sbihi, Scott Tebbutt, Theone Paterson

Family Physicians: Drs. Lucia Ma and Todd Davenport

Indigenous Lead: TBD

Patient/Community Partners: Michelle Roy, Candace Latham

Trainees: Estefania Espin, Himani Boury

LCW Operations Team: Dr. Caren Cao, Yalda Mehran, Vishaka Kumar, Nicholas Cagna, Farwa Naqvi, Claire Wilson, Asuka Sugiyama

Virtual registration remains available until Friday, October 31st, to access most session recordings.

*Note on Community Materials
We welcome Long COVID advocacy and support group resources at the Symposium. Since the event is accredited, all brochures, pamphlets, and other printed materials must be submitted in advance for review. Approved items will be placed on a designated table for attendees to browse.

Submit your materials here: Submission Form

Masking for Attendees
In line with our commitment to the health and safety of all participants, we highly recommend that all attendees wear masks during the Symposium. Masks will be provided at registration for those who need them. While masking is not currently mandated by provincial law for public events in Newfoundland & Labrador, this policy is part of our event safety measures. We also ask that anyone experiencing symptoms of COVID-19 or other respiratory illness consider staying home if unwell. Thank you for helping us maintain a safe environment for all.

Jae Ryu, Keynote Speaker

3rd Canadian Symposium on Long COVID

Drs. Iram Anees and Mike Hall, Co-Chairs

3rd Canadian Symposium on Long COVID

Trainee Session

3rd Canadian Symposium on Long COVID

Jae Ryu, Keynote Speaker

3rd Canadian Symposium on Long COVID

1/20

Abstracts and Long COVID Art Gallery

Abstract submissions and Long COVID Art Gallery submissions are now open for the 4th Canadian Symposium on Long COVID. Artists are invited to share creative works reflecting lived experiences of Long COVID; explore past gallery submissions here: https://www.longcovidweb.ca/events/long-covid-art-gallery. The deadline for Abstract Submissions is April 30, 2026, and the deadline for Art Submissions is July 15, 2026.

Abstracts

Art Gallery

Dr. Michelle Lavoie (she/her) is a professional artist and curator, researcher, educator, and program developer. Her artmaking, curatorial practice, and arts-based, narrative, and community-based research is driven by her commitment to engage communities in creative, compelling and accessible ways to create dialogue and foster public understanding of complex issues. Her award-winning community art programs aim to support emerging artists and build resources and community resilience. She holds a Bachelor of Fine Arts (Queen’s) and Master of Fine Arts (Alberta), and Ph.D. in Educational Policy Studies (Alberta). Michelle is a professional artist with 35+ years of international, national and regional exhibitions. Between 2015 and 2024, Michelle has curated several important public arts exhibitions to hold open safe, accessible, and engaging public spaces for previously silent stories to be seen and heard. A few significant exhibitions include: the Edmonton Queer History Project , Art Gallery of Alberta 2015: TREX Re-Imaging Normal for Alberta Foundation for the Arts that travelled to 22 venues (2018-20), viewership recorded at 51K; The 2SLGBTQ+ Intergenerational Art Project (2023-24), viewership estimated at 90K; Seeking Care: Imagining Alongside Youth Mental Health Stories (2024) viewership estimated at 60K. Michelle’s innovative work as a curator ties visual and narrative ways of thinking and knowing to mobilize community and research knowledge to support communities and educate publics.

Michelle Lavoie

Currator

James Sessford

This is my representation of how I see that the media, medical profession, and politicians/government have actively chosen to ignore COVID.

Living with LC- Episode 2: Coping with Anxiety, Fear, Loss, and Isolation

The experience of living with LC (and other chronic illnesses and disabilities) puts strains on one’s mental and emotional health as people navigate coping with anxiety (around health status, fear (of the unknown), loss (of self, occupation, identity, meaningful activity, purpose), and isolation (from previous relationships and community connections).

Brought to you by St. John's Rehab at Sunnybrook.

Living with LC- Episode 3: Navigating the (In)visibility of long COVID

LC has been conceptualized as an invisible disability due to its invisible symptoms and impairments (commonly, severe fatigue and brain fog) not visible to the eye. Like other invisible disabilities (e.g., anxiety, depression, chronic pain or fatigue, learning disabilities, etc.), people living with an invisible disability commonly experience perceived stigma that leads to discriminatory attitudes and practices across health and social care systems.

Brought to you by St. John's Rehab at Sunnybrook.

Living with LC- Episode 4: The Caregiving Experience

It is not just the person living with LC that experiences disruptions to their activities of daily living, occupational roles, leisure activities, social relationships, mental and emotional health, but also informal family caregivers who are often put into positions to support and care for their loved ones.

Brought to you by St. John's Rehab at Sunnybrook.

Living with LC- Episode 5: Finding Hope for the Future

People with LC and caregivers are in need of nurturing supportive healing spaces and practices as they navigate the unknowns and complexities of their LC care provisions. We hope this docuseries can inspire hope for a future that better acknowledges, supports, and cares for the LC community broadly.

Brought to you by St. John's Rehab at Sunnybrook.

3rd Canadian Symposium on Long COVID Art Gallery

2024 Art Gallery

Available Travel Discounts

Westjet

5N8H5CH
Valid for travel between October 8-23, 2026

Porter

CSLC26

Via Rail

Valid for travel between October 7-25, 2026
In the 'Add a discount code' field, select Conference Fares and enter the code 16015.

Hotel Accommodation – 4th Canadian Symposium on Long COVID

We are pleased to offer a discounted group rate for symposium participants at UBC Suites at UBC.

Booking Link

Reserve your stay online using our dedicated group booking link.

By Phone or Email

Call the Reservations Office at (604)-822-1000, Ext. 3 or toll-free at 1-888-822-1030
Email: reservations@housing.ubc.ca
Reference the 4th Canadian Symposium on Long COVID or provide the Group Code: G261014A to access the discounted rate.

Extended Stay Options

The group rate is available from October 11–20, 2026 (three days before and after the official dates: October 14–17, 2026). Please note that these additional nights are subject to availability and must be selected manually when booking.

Ventilation and Air Quality:

The building has outdoor air ventilation serving both the common areas and the suites. Filters (MERV-8 or higher) are changed regularly, and the ventilation ducts are cleaned annually.

1er Symposium canadien sur la COVID LONGUE

The 4th Canadian Symposium on Long COVID has not yet been confirmed. Please check back for updates and additional details.

3rd Canadian Symposium on Long COVID Art Gallery