Expanding Our Circle of Care in Ottawa

Mar 07, 2025

Our Ottawa in-hospital team is off to a busy start this year. In January, we marked a new chapter in our partnership with the Children’s Hospital of Eastern Ontario (CHEO).

In addition to providing play-based programs to kids coming in for treatments or follow-ups at the medical day unit (MDU), we are now serving kids and families admitted to four inpatient units: oncology/haematology, rehabilitation, general paediatrics, and surgery.

“Through our partnership with CHEO, we agreed that when we expand our services, we do so in a meaningful and equitable way,” says Jenny Edmonds, Director of In-Hospital & Community Programs at Campfire Circle. “We are excited to open our play-based programs to more kids with cancer or serious illness and to include families who also need joy and laughter while they navigate their medical journey.”

camper making art in the hospital

On two evenings a week and two weekends a month, play spaces are turned into cabins where Campfire Circle staff do what they do best—providing intentional programming that helps kids build resiliency, social connections, and self-confidence.

“The more we can engage kids with tactile play, the better,” says Chelsea Dixon, Associate Manager, In-Hospital and Community Programs (Eastern Ontario). “Kids are often waiting around in the hospital and many families don’t know what their path forward looks like yet. Our presence in the evenings provides them with consistency, normalcy, and fun.”

camper making art at the hospital

For kids in isolation or who aren’t up for group interactions, arts and crafts kits are available for them to work on in their room.

So far, the feedback has been incredibly positive. The small but mighty Ottawa team has provided 41 in-person camp experiences and built more than 40 arts and crafts kits in the first week.

“We’re hearing from our in-hospital partners that our work is filling a big gap,” says Edmonds. “We’re facilitating connections. Caregivers are meeting other caregivers and kids are coming out of their rooms to meet other kids. That’s really valuable.”