Fetal Alcohol Spectrum Disorder (FASD) Awareness Month is a wonderful opportunity to bring people together, spark conversations, and raise awareness in your community. This year’s theme is Everyone Plays a Part: It Takes a Community. Across Canada, communities are finding creative ways to get involved – some by hosting their own events, others by weaving awareness into existing community spaces.
If you’re thinking about organizing something this year, now’s the perfect time to start planning. Getting an early start will give you the time and flexibility to make your event the best it can be.
Whether you’re planning something big or starting small, this step-by-step guide – featuring insights from the Community Success Stories from FASD Month webinar – will help you make an impact.
Step 1: Set up your planning team
Successful campaigns start with a strong team. In the webinar, Debbie Deak shared that the South Alberta FASD Network organizes its campaign through a dedicated committee that brings together a range of perspectives and skills. Their approach includes:
- Starting early – kick off planning in May
- Meeting regularly through June and July
- Being ready to launch by mid-August
- Bringing together a diverse group, including leadership, staff, and community voices
It’s important to include people with lived and living experience in your planning. Their voices should guide the tone and direction of your event, ensuring it is meaningful and respectful.
Step 2: Choose your approach
There’s no one “right” way to participate in FASD Awareness Month. The key is choosing an approach that fits your capacity and goals.
Option A – Host your own event
Hosting your own event creates a dedicated space for connection and awareness – especially within the FASD community.
Here are some ideas to get you started:
- Awareness walks: Gather your community, wear red, and walk together – starting or ending at a meaningful location like city hall
- Art exhibitions: Showcase local talent through red shoes-themed artwork or artwork created by those with FASD displayed in a public space
- Mocktail competitions: Invite local businesses or community members to create the best alcohol-free drink
- Treasure hunts or games: Turn awareness into a fun, interactive experience for families
- Community BBQs or lunches: Bring people together over food while sharing information and resources
Option B – Tap into existing events
If hosting an event feels daunting, consider participating in already established events. This approach also allows you to reach a broader audience outside those who already engaged with the FASD community:
- Community fairs, sports games, or local festivals: Set up a booth, table, or activity space. A great example of this is the Manitoba FASD Coalition hosting a table at a hockey game in Selkirk which you can hear all about in our webinar recording!
- Lean on local businesses: Ask coffee shops to place awareness stickers on takeaway coffee cups, restaurants to use FASD-themed placemats, or bars to display posters and coasters.
- Partner with organizations hosting popular events: Collaborate to incorporate awareness materials or brief presentations during their programming. For example, last year the South Alberta FASD Network had a table at a local book festival.
Debbie shares an innovative example of thinking beyond traditional outreach: “We partner with local postsecondary institutions to increase the importance of preventing prenatal alcohol exposure. This could be through attending their September events, and/or supplying them with condoms for their Student Health Centres. We have the condoms donated from Recovery Alberta (the provincial Health Ministry) and we add decorative covers onto them. We receive repeat request for the condoms throughout the year. I believe we initially deliver about 1,000 – 1,200 condoms to our two local institutions prior to school start-up!”
Integrating into existing events can attract people who may not already know about FASD, helping to spread awareness to new audiences.
Step 3: Connect to the bigger picture
Linking your efforts to national campaigns helps strengthen your message and increase recognition.
You can do this by:
- Using the national theme: “Everyone Plays a Part: It Takes a Community”
- Incorporating the Red Shoes Rock Global Awareness Campaign
- Encouraging a local landmark or building to light up red on September 9 (look at these special photos from last year!)
These shared elements create a sense of unity while still allowing your community’s unique voice to shine.
Step 4: Spread the word
Even the best event needs visibility to succeed. Start promoting early and use multiple channels to reach people.
Try:
- Sending outreach emails to businesses and community organizations
- Sharing downloadable graphics and resources with consistent messaging
- Posting posters, lawn signs, or billboards in high-traffic areas
- Using social media and local media to spread awareness
Want a little extra support? Subscribe to CanFASD’s mailing list to be the first to know when the 2026 toolkit is available – it’s packed with helpful resources for media outreach and social media planning to make your promotion even easier.
Step 5: Focus on community and inclusion
At the heart of every successful FASD Awareness Month event is community.
- Centre lived experience voices in your planning and events
- Ensure your event is accessible, inclusive, and welcoming
- Follow local guidelines and regulations for public events
When people feel seen, heard, and included, your message resonates more deeply.
Happy planning!
No matter how you choose to participate – whether hosting your own event or joining forces with existing ones – you are helping build awareness, spark conversations, and create change.
If you’re organizing an event, CanFASD can help amplify your efforts. Share your event details – what, when, and where – and we can promote it through our national network. FASD Awareness Month is always a highlight for us, and we can’t wait to see the many creative and meaningful ways communities across the country come together to get involved!