Stroke represents a significant burden for patients, their families and the health care system. It is a leading cause of disability and the third most common cause of death in Canada. Stroke occurs when blood supply to the brain is disrupted, causing a sudden loss in brain function. Recently, Canada has seen improvement in some reported measures of stroke care. For example, the total number of deaths from stroke is declining, due in part to a reduction in associated risk factors (such as tobacco consumption) and concerted efforts to improve the processes of care. However, other measures show that there is room for improvement in stroke care, particularly in comparison with other countries. For example, Canadian in-hospital mortality rates remain higher than the average rates of countries in the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD).