22q at the Zoo - Toronto Event
The International 22q11.2 Foundations’ Annual 22q at the Zoo – Worldwide Awareness Day (22q at the Zoo) is an international initiative to raise awareness about chromosome 22q differences. The Toronto event is co-hosted by the 22q Deletion Syndrome Clinic at SickKids Hospital and the Dalglish Family 22q Clinic. The focus of the day is for individuals with 22q, their families and Clinic staff to socialize, network, and raise awareness of 22q in the community. Participants also have the chance to join in fun activities with their friends and families and enjoy a day at the Toronto Zoo.
Our next event will place at the Toronto Zoo on Saturday June 7th, 2025.
Deadline for registration: Monday June 2nd, 2025.
Please note that the 2025 Toronto event will happen on a Saturday, not a Sunday. Our event date is also different from that of the international event.
Get a pdf version of the poster.
Rare Disease Day 2025
A disease is said to be rare when it affects fewer than 1 in 2000 people. 22q11.2 deletion syndrome (22q11.2DS, or simply 22q) affects about 1 in 2148 people, so it is a rare disease.
Rare Disease Day 2025 will take place on February 28th. This annual event aims to raise awareness and generate change for the 300 million people worldwide living with a rare disease, their families, and their caregivers. Please check out rarediseaseday.org for more information.
As always, we encourage you to tell others about 22q. Feel free to use the information from our 22q11.2DS Quick Facts page. You can also show them our short animation video introducing 22q!
CN Tower lights up in red for 22q
The CN Tower will light up in red again to raise awareness for 22q on Friday, November 22nd, 2024! Lighting begins at sunset (4:46 pm on November 22nd) and will become fully visible when the sky darkens about 30 minutes later, at about 5:16 pm.
We chose November 22nd (“22/11”) as a play on the name of the conditions, 22q11.2 deletion syndrome (22q11.2DS or simply 22q) and 22q11.2 duplication syndrome (22q11.2DupS). The lighting of the CN Tower was part of the “Luces por el 22q/Lighting the 22q” international awareness movement that began in Spain in 2018. Buildings in Spain, Germany, Belgium, Finland, and the city of Philadelphia, United States, were lit up as part of the movement on the 22nd of November in previous years. In 2021, Toronto joined this international awareness movement. We continue to be a national leader in providing care for families through clinics at the Toronto General Hospital and at SickKids Hospital, and in internationally renowned research into adult outcomes and genetics.
We invite you and your city/town to join this international movement of lighting up buildings and monuments in red. Some buildings may already have an online system for submitting lighting requests. If you do not find an online form, you can use this letter (and technical tips) to request red lighting for Friday, November 22nd, 2024. Fill in the name of the building and the city or town, then email or mail the letter to the government or organization that manages the building.
Please click the Google Photo links below to see photos from previous years:
22q at the Zoo - Toronto Event
The International 22q11.2 Foundations’ Annual 22q at the Zoo – Worldwide Awareness Day (22q at the Zoo) is an international initiative to raise awareness about chromosome 22q differences. The Toronto event is co-hosted by the 22q Deletion Syndrome Clinic at SickKids Hospital and the Dalglish Family 22q Clinic. The focus of the day is for individuals with 22q, their families and Clinic staff to socialize, network, and raise awareness of 22q in the community. Participants also have the chance to join in fun activities with their friends and families and enjoy a day at the Toronto Zoo. This year, thanks to generous donations to the SickKids Foundation 22q Family Fund, the organizers are able to subsidize the cost of admission tickets. This means that, in spite of increasing admission ticket prices, we are able to offer tickets at a lower price than last year.
Our next event will take place at the Toronto Zoo on Sunday June 2nd, 2024! Please note that our date is different from that of the international event.
Note that this year our event will be held at a new location - the Simba East/West Picnic Site NOT the Africa Picnic Site as in previous years. There will be a map available at the Registration Desk.
Please register for the 22q at the Zoo – Toronto Event by Friday May 24th, 2024 on the event website: 22q at the Zoo - Toronto Event website
We look forward to seeing you!
Peer and Caregiver Support Group
When: Wednesday, April 17th, 2024 2 pm to 3 pm
Where: Online - This is a virtual group.
Two simultaneous groups:
- A group for parents or caregivers - an opportunity to talk to other parents and caregivers about concerns, challenges, and successes.
- A group for adult patients - a chance to meet each other, participate in some fun exercises and to discuss topical subjects supported by our staff.
All patients and caregivers must be registered with our Clinic to join in the group.
At this time, only residents of Ontario may participate in these groups, due to unfortunate limitations on allied health professions.
Please RSVP by Wednesday, April 10th, 2024 by calling 416-340-5145 or emailing 22q@uhn.ca.
We look forward to seeing you!!