Before the creation of the Canadian Arthritis Network (CAN) in 1999 and its Consumer Advisory Council just months later, people living with arthritis had little say in directing research or health policies. Today, they are equal partners in the truest sense, as board members, advisors, peer reviewers and even research collaborators. They succeeded in making fatigue a research priority and in having modern drugs, called biologics, covered under provincial health plans. CAN’s Consumer Advisory Council was also instrumental in developing a landmark plan, launched November 2012, which advocates for better outcomes for those living with arthritis.