As part of our work to transform the cancer experience for families with free specialized childcare, meals and support we have created 3 resources to help families understand the free support programs we offer and guide them on how to discuss cancer and answer questions from kids about their parent’s cancer diagnosis.
Cancer Conversations – Nankind developed Cancer Conversations with your Kids so parents with cancer can speak with their children about their diagnosis in language children can understand. It is designed as
a guide to help you have this delicate conversation with the goal of reducing your child’s fear and anxieties.
Family Manual – This booklet gives you a detailed breakdown on how we match families with our specially trained Volunteer Angels, the free support programs we provide and how to apply for our programs.
Family Brochure – This brochure gives you a summarised view of the programs we offer, the screening we carry out for our Volunteer Angels and how to contact us.
Sign up to download our family package by clicking the button below.
Order hard copies below.
Additional Resources
Cancer Support Programs in Ontario
- Nankind: Provides free specialized childcare, meals, and support for families affected by cancer.
- African Cancer Support Group: Provides emotional support groups and information to anyone within the Black Community in Canada, with cancer and other chronic diseases.
- Bladder Cancer Canada: Provides support groups and resources to bladder cancer patients and their caregivers.
- Canadian Cancer Survivor Network (CCSN): Provides individuals with cancer, cancer survivors, and their caregivers, with access to related counselling, information, or support group programs.
- Cancer Care: Free counselling, support groups, and assistance for parents, children, and adolescents affected by cancer.
- Cancer Care Ontario: Coordinates and makes province-wide cancer services accessible to all Ontarians.
- Camp Otter: A camp that supports children on their parent’s cancer journey.
- Gilda’s Club Greater Toronto: Inclusive virtual programming offering cancer support, education, and social interaction for everyone—adults, children, teens, and their extended family and friends.
- Hearth Place: Provides individual counselling, emotional support groups, and grief support for children and adults experiencing cancer in Durham and their caregivers.
- Look Good Feel Better: Classes to improve the appearance, confidence, and self-esteem of people undergoing cancer treatment.
- Ovarian Cancer Canada: Offers one-on-one support and advice to ovarian cancer patients, peer support groups, and educational resources.
- Pink Pearl Canada: Cancer support programs, including counselling and peer support for self-identifying young women.
- PYNK- Sunnybrook: For women aged 40 and younger newly diagnosed with breast cancer receiving care at Sunnybrook.
- PYNK – Juravinski
- PYNK – Mount Sinai Hospital
- Queering Cancer: Conducts research and provides resources and support for patients, families, caregivers, and healthcare professionals.
- Rethink Breast Cancer: Provides social support and advocates for people affected by breast cancer.
- Wellspring: Network of community-based charities offering free, referral-free programs and services to anyone with any cancer at any stage.
- Young Adult Cancer Canada: Peer support for people with cancer at every stage.
Financial Concerns
- Canadian Cancer Society Transportation: For free transportation to and from treatment.
- Breast Cancer Support Fund: Provides free meals to low-income breast cancer patients.
- Drug Coverage Programs: Learn more about the Ontario Drug Benefit program and your eligibility.
- Hope Air: Provides free flights and accommodations for Canadians with serious health challenges.
- Money Matters – Wellspring: This free program assists those with cancer-related financial worries by addressing questions about the financial support available by the government and assistance for managing out-of-pocket expenses.
- Shine through Rain: Financially supports families through life-threatening illnesses.
- Pink Fund: Financial support for those affected by breast cancer.
- Trillium Program and high-cost drugs: Coverage for Ontarians who have high prescription drug costs compared to their household income.
Cancer Support Resources
- 211 Ontario: Connects people to the support services needed in their local community.
- Asbestos.com: Shares information about Pleural Mesothelioma, a rare form of cancer and treatment resources.
- Canadian Cancer Society- Finding Supports: Community and resources to find support that best suits you and your family.
- Cancer.Net: Comprehensive information for people affected by cancer, their families and caregivers.
- Caring for a Parent with Cancer: Information for older children on caring for a parent with cancer.
- Greta’s Flair Lingerie: Store in Hamilton that offers post-mastectomy undergarments.
- Kids Help Phone: Connects people with physical or virtual well-being supports available near their community and across Canada.
- Supporting a Spouse with Cancer: Information and resources to support spouses whose partner has cancer.
- Maggies- Talking to Children: Ways to tell your child(ren) about cancer and tips on how to talk to your child(ren) about cancer.
- Mesothelioma Hope: Provides free mesothelioma resources about treatments, specialists, financial assistance and more.
- The Dot Method: An interactive workbook that teaches kids about cancer.
- Wonderwise: A group of Mental Health Clinicians and resources to help children build their mental health and healthy relationships.
- Waves Child Life: Empowers children and families through challenges with an individualized approach. Providing developmentally appropriate preparation and explanations, coping strategies, medical play, and legacy building through a family-centered care approach.
Grief and Bereavement Support Programs in Ontario
- Nankind: Provides one year of free grief and bereavement support with a Child Life Specialist after the death of a parent from cancer.
- Bethell Hospice: Provides group and individual grief and bereavement support to children and adults.
- Bereaved Families of Ontario: Provides province-wide bereavement support through peer support and mutual aid.
- BFO-Toronto: Individual and group support for people who have lost a loved one.
- Camp Erin: A free camp for youth ages 6-17 who are grieving the death of a significant person in their lives.
- Camp Skein: A camp which offers grief-centred activities for children and teens grieving the death of a special person.
- Camp Keaton: Empowers and supports grieving children and teenagers through outdoor play and activities.
- Centre for Grief & Healing: Empowers grieving individuals and families by providing inclusive mutual support programs.
- Hospice Toronto: Offers bereavement support in individual sessions and peer-based groups.
- Circle of Care: Offers individual and group counselling sessions to adults who have experienced the death of a loved one within the first year of their loss.
- Gilda’s Club Greater Toronto: Offers support groups for adults and children who have had a person in their life die from cancer.
- Hummingbird Centre for Hope: Provides young widowed parents with continuing support in all areas of their grief.
- The Coping Centre: Offers grief and bereavement group support programs to children, teens, young adults, and Adults.
- Nightingale Centre: Grief and bereavement support for children and families experiencing or anticipating the death of a significant person in their life.
- St. Joseph’s Lifecare Centre: Offers in-home care to individuals who are terminally ill and grief support groups to adults who have a loved one who has died.
Grief and Bereavement Resources
- Bereavement Ontario Network: Connects people with bereavement support organizations.
- CAMH: Provides resources on mental health, including dealing with grief.
- CMHA: Provides resources on coping with grief and other mental health-related topics.
- Children and Youth Grief Network: Resources for people supporting children grieving the death of a loved one.
- My Grief: A confidential and free resource that helps people understand and move through grief.