Sickle Cell Awareness Month:...
Sep 10, 2025
During Sickle Cell Awareness Month in September, we recognize the many campers we serve living with sickle cell disease – a condition that affects red blood cells and often leads to painful episodes, fatigue, and serious health complications. For kids, these challenges can feel especially isolating. “Camp is so important for kids, in particular with […]...Learn More
Finding Joy and Belonging:...
Sep 09, 2025
Every September, we shine a light on Childhood Cancer Awareness Month and recognize the thousands of kids and families we serve across our programs. While cancer brings long hospital stays and arduous treatments, Campfire Circle provides opportunities for kids to take back their childhood, build self-confidence, and create long-lasting friendships. “At Campfire Circle, if you […]...Learn More
Leaving a Legacy of...
Sep 05, 2025
When Michael Beerden reflects on his life, it’s filled with stories of resilience, compassion, and quiet heroism – qualities that have shaped his decision to leave a legacy gift to Campfire Circle in his will. A retired nurse with a long career in trauma and neurosurgery, Michael knows firsthand the impact illness has on families. […]...Learn More
From Camper Parent to...
Aug 22, 2025
When Traci first arrived at Campfire Circle (then Camp Trillium) with her family in 2012, she didn’t know how much they needed it. Now, more than a decade later, she returns not as a camper parent, but as a volunteer – eager to give back to the community that gave her family comfort during their […]...Learn More
Stu and Kim Lang...
Aug 14, 2025
Philanthropists Stu and Kim Lang have made a landmark $15 million donation to Campfire Circle, a charity that delivers year-round, play-based programs to children with serious illness. This transformative gift – the largest individual donation in the organization’s history – will help fund the expansion of in-hospital programs across Ontario and the creation of a […]...Learn More
Bringing Camp to Dialysis
Aug 05, 2025
For most kids, sitting still for more than a few minutes can feel impossible. For kids on dialysis – whose kidneys aren’t working and who need to spend hours connected to machines several times a week – it’s even more difficult. That’s where Campfire Circle comes in. We provide hands-on programming that helps transform long, […]...Learn More
Finding Freedom, Friendship &...
Jul 31, 2025
As we gear up for R4//Campfire Circle, we’re thrilled to shine a spotlight on some of the incredible riders who make this journey so special. Meet Elise – a long-time rider, leadership committee member, and team captain of KindHuman. Since joining the R4//Campfire Circle community in 2022 Elise has been a passionate force on and […]...Learn More
Emerson Gets to Experience...
Jul 14, 2025
At 10 years old, Emerson knows what it means to live a different kind of normal. But this August, he’s doing something wonderfully ordinary: heading to overnight camp, just like any other kid. Emerson was born prematurely with his identical twin brother, Winston, at just 29 weeks. From the start, he faced serious medical challenges. […]...Learn More
Creating a More Inclusive...
Jun 17, 2025
At Campfire Circle, we believe every camper deserves to feel seen and celebrated for who they are. Before every summer, we host our Campfire Conference where volunteers, staff, and community members gather for a full day of professional development sessions, connection, and fun. From deepening our understanding of our Indigenous history to learning strategies to […]...Learn More
From Day Camper to...
Jun 16, 2025
For Adrian, Campfire Circle has been a part of his life for as long as he can remember. He first attended Campfire Circle in 2010 at our day camp hosted at Camp Robin Hood. Although his first session started with a few tears, Adrian quickly adjusted and found a home at overnight camp. Every summer, […]...Learn More
Breaking Barriers for Kids...
May 27, 2025
When Rosie was two and a half, she was diagnosed with pilocytic astrocytoma (PA), a non-malignant brain tumor, that her mom Katy describes as “persistent and life-altering.” Rosie’s condition means she has limited mobility and low vision. For Rosie, Campfire Circle is a place where she can participate fully and safely. “There’s nowhere else we’d […]...Learn More
A Partnership Grounded in...
May 27, 2025
At Campfire Circle, we offer unique opportunities to kids with life-limiting illnesses, all thanks to the generosity of our long-term partners, like Kinross Gold Corporation. Thanks to their 16 years of support, we’ve been able to provide camp programs to thousands of children and families across Ontario, helping them build friendships, resilience, and unforgettable memories. […]...Learn More
Celebrating Our Nurses –...
May 16, 2025
For Ridwaanah, providing care goes beyond medicine—it’s about presence, creativity, and fun. “You’ll use your clinical skills, yes, but you’ll also choreograph dances and cheer at talent shows. It’s rewarding in every way,” she says. Inspired to become a nurse after volunteering at SickKids in high school, now Ridwaanah is a part of the Cardiac […]...Learn More
Celebrating Our Nurses –...
May 16, 2025
Rachel’s journey into nursing began when she was just 12 years old, visiting a friend at SickKids. “I was in awe,” she recalls. “So many people working together to care for kids who needed it most.” That same friend introduced her to Campfire Circle, and at 19, Rachel joined as a camp counsellor and then […]...Learn More
Celebrating Our Nurses –...
May 16, 2025
For Ava, returning to Campfire Circle each summer is more than a job—it’s a homecoming. Now a nurse in an adult hospice centre in Ottawa, she first came to Campfire Circle as a camper when it was Camp Trillium. Years later, inspired by her mother’s work in community care and her own camp memories, she […]...Learn More
Honouring Nurses and the...
May 15, 2025
As we celebrate National Nursing Week, we’re shining a light on the partnerships and people who make healing through happiness possible. We are especially grateful to McKesson Canada and its INVIVA team for their unique and multi-faceted partnership. Not only do they provide our camp with compassionate, skilled nurse volunteers, they’re also doubling the impact […]...Learn More
Why Alain Rides: A...
May 14, 2025
Meet Alain Paquette Every rider in Tour d’Epicure has a reason for showing up. For Alain Paquette, a proud six-time participant, it’s about giving kids with cancer or serious illness the chance to just be kids. “Camp provides a safe and joyful environment where they can connect with others who understand their journey while receiving […]...Learn More
From Diagnosis to Tradition
May 05, 2025
When Nori was just six years old, she started having unusual back pain. What was first written off as growing pains persisted and led to a visit to SickKids where she was diagnosed with neuroblastoma in January 2021. The first few weeks were challenging and Nori wasn’t willing to interact with anyone. But as the […]...Learn More
Sophie’s Strength
May 05, 2025
Sophie has been battling cancer since the age of three. Diagnosed with stage 4 neuroblastoma, doctors found 21 tumours in her body. On the first day of her vigorous treatment plan, Sophie and her family were introduced to Campfire Circle. Enduring 50 chemotherapy and radiation sessions, 21 rounds of immunotherapy, and an 11-hour surgery, Campfire […]...Learn More
Sporting Life 10K Road...
May 01, 2025
On Sunday, May 11, we celebrate 25 years of The Sporting Life 10K! Campfire Circle invites our community to cheer for over 23,000 Sporting Life 10K participants as they run, walk, stroll or roll, to support kids with cancer or serious illness and their families. Together, we are raising $2.5 million to bring healing through […]...Learn More
From IV Needles to...
May 01, 2025
Two years ago, Jasper’s life — and his family’s — was turned upside down. Days after his eight birthday, Jasper was diagnosed with leukemia. What followed was an arduous cycle of hospital visits, treatments, and uncertainty. During this challenging time, Campfire Circle entered their lives. Camp brought joy and light to Jasper’s days at the […]...Learn More
Running Toward Hope
Apr 28, 2025
Dominic’s family vacation came to a halt when his cold and flu symptoms turned out to be more serious. After doing bloodwork, six-year-old Dominic was diagnosed with Acute Lymphoblastic Leukemia (ALL). “Our family spiraled,” says Dominic’s dad, André. “Everything else in our lives came second. It truly felt like the carpet was being pulled from […]...Learn More
Kids First. Not Cancer...
Apr 24, 2025
At eight years old, Jasper was diagnosed with leukemia. Overnight, his world became a cycle of hospital stays, endless treatments, and days filled with fear and exhaustion. It wasn’t just Jasper’s world that changed. His dad, Zack, had to leave his job to care for him, while also managing how to be a husband and […]...Learn More
Finding Joy Beyond A...
Apr 11, 2025
In March 2022, Jelena and Jesse’s lives took a sudden turn when their son Oliver began limping. What seemed like a minor issue quickly escalated. After multiple tests, the diagnosis arrived in April: Langerhans Cell Histiocytosis (LCH), a rare disease often classified as and treated like cancer. To make matters even more challenging, the family […]...Learn More
Team Captain Profile: Brock...
Mar 24, 2025
It was on an errand to the Sporting Life store for a new pair of running shoes that Brock Mercer learned about the 10K and decided to participate. “At the time, my brother got sick. He was living in the U.S. and was isolated from us,” says Brock. “I saw the ad about supporting Campfire […]...Learn More
Cait’s Hot Cocoa Recipe
Mar 18, 2025
There’s nothing quite like a warm cup of hot cocoa on a chilly day—especially when it’s made with Chef Cait. When you’re cozying up at home and reminiscing about the best days at camp, this rich, chocolatey, over-the-top treat will transport you right back to the warmth and joy of your time at Campfire Circle. […]...Learn More
Delivering Happiness One Pizza...
Mar 18, 2025
Campfire Circle is delighted to partner with Domino’s Pizza to bring joy and support to kids with cancer or serious illness and their families. On March 26, when customers purchase a specially priced $4.99 medium 1-topping pizza at select Domino’s Pizza locations in Ontario, $1 dollar from each sale will go directly to Campfire Circle’s […]...Learn More
Partners in Joy, Healing,...
Mar 18, 2025
March is Child Life Month, and we’re taking this opportunity to shine a spotlight on the incredible Child Life Specialists we collaborate with year-round across four paediatric hospitals. These dedicated professionals play a vital role in supporting children and families facing serious illness, offering emotional support, therapeutic play, and a sense of normalcy in the […]...Learn More
A Dream Come True
Mar 14, 2025
Looking back at her family’s weekend at camp (WAC) experience, Nidra says it was the opportunity of a lifetime. “We loved every minute of it. Everything was accessible. It was amazing that I could take my son with his wheelchair on the high ropes,” says Nidra. “This makes me very emotional, but I could never […]...Learn More
Expanding Our Circle of...
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 […]...Learn More
