Gilda's Toronto

Gilda's Toronto Gilda’s Toronto helps people live while living with cancer.

Gilda’s Toronto is named after famed Saturday Night Live comedian Gilda Radner, who believed “no one should have to face cancer alone”.

05/22/2026

“No one in that group told me to ‘stay positive’. They talked plainly about how scared they were, too.”
— David, Gilda’s Toronto Member

When David was diagnosed with colorectal cancer, the emotional impact quickly became overwhelming. He stopped sleeping, withdrew from loved ones, and carried the weight of fear alone.

Through donor support to the Lorna Rosenstein Legacy Fund, David connected with Gilda’s Toronto and joined a professionally led support group that changed how he navigated cancer.

Not because it removed the uncertainty.
Because it gave him tools, connection, and support.

Today, David is sleeping again. Eating again. Talking more openly with his family. Feeling less isolated.

At Gilda’s Toronto, we help people live, while living with cancer.

Your donation helps provide evidence-based psychosocial support for individuals and families facing cancer — at no cost to them.

And until May 31, every gift will be matched by Freedom International Brokerage Co. up to $25,000.

Give hope today—donate now: https://www.gildasclubtoronto.org/donate/lorna-rosenstein-legacy-fund

When cancer enters a family’s life, parents and guardians are often left wondering:“How do I talk to my children about t...
05/14/2026

When cancer enters a family’s life, parents and guardians are often left wondering:
“How do I talk to my children about this?”
“How can I help them cope?”
“What support is available for us?”

Gilda’s Toronto is here to help.

Careful Steps: Navigating Cancer with Children is a personalized one-on-one support program for parents and guardians concerned about the impact of cancer on their children or youth. Through a one-hour virtual or telephone session with our trained family program support staff, caregivers receive compassionate guidance, practical strategies, and tailored resources to support their family through every stage of the cancer experience — including bereavement.

This support is available to both members and non-members and is designed for families caring for children from infancy to young adulthood.

At Gilda’s Toronto, we believe everyone living with cancer and their families deserve welcoming, inclusive, and evidence-based emotional support — cost-free and grounded in community, empathy, and connection.

📧 To book a Careful Steps session, please email: [email protected]

At Gilda’s Toronto, our purpose is simple: help people live, while living with cancer.

04/22/2026

It’s National Volunteer Appreciation Week, and we’re taking a moment to recognize the people who make Gilda’s Toronto what it is — our volunteers.

Cancer is complex, but the power of community is simple. Every day, our volunteers help create a welcoming, inclusive space where individuals and families can find connection, understanding, and support — all at no cost.

They facilitate programs, welcome new members, support events, and most importantly, hold space for others with empathy and care.

Their “why” is deeply personal:

“Paying it forward to families whose lives have been touched by cancer.” – Cheryl
“Creating conversations where people feel seen beyond their diagnosis.” – Bo Fei
“Honouring my sister’s journey as a survivor.” – Froilan

Because of them, people facing cancer experience less isolation, more connection, and a renewed sense of hope.

To every volunteer in our community: thank you for the time, compassion, and humanity you bring. You are at the heart of everything we do.

If you’ve ever thought about giving back, we’d love to welcome you. Learn more about volunteering at https://www.gildasclubtoronto.org/donate/volunteering

Helping people live, while living with cancer.

At Gilda’s Toronto, we often hear people say that once cancer enters their life, the questions don’t stop at treatment. ...
04/17/2026

At Gilda’s Toronto, we often hear people say that once cancer enters their life, the questions don’t stop at treatment. They start to expand—into what else might help, what is safe, what is evidence-informed, and how to make sense of it all without feeling overwhelmed.

Join our upcoming education session that speaks to some of those questions.

Naturopathy & Cancer 101

📅 Wednesday, April 22, 2026
🕐 1:00 PM – 2:00 PM (ET)
💻 Online via Zoom

🔗 Register here:
https://gildastoronto.member365.org/public/event/details/348dc720a57f7c8cf1ab4696e2a4c5a6bcbe333c/1

An introductory conversation about how naturopathic care is sometimes used alongside conventional cancer treatment. We’ll look at what evidence-informed complementary approaches can offer, how lifestyle supports are considered, and how different forms of care can exist side by side in a coordinated way.

We’re joined by Dr. Jill Shainhouse, who has spent more than 20 years working in cancer-focused care. Much of her work has centred on bridging naturopathic and conventional medicine so that patients can feel supported across the whole experience of care—not just one part of it.

This session is presented in collaboration with Gilda's Club Simcoe Muskoka

At Gilda's Toronto, this is what we come back to: helping people live, while living with cancer.

And sometimes that starts with having clearer information, and a place to ask questions that don’t always fit neatly into a clinical appointment.

When facing cancer, treatment decisions can feel overwhelming.There’s often a lot of information, many options, and an u...
04/14/2026

When facing cancer, treatment decisions can feel overwhelming.

There’s often a lot of information, many options, and an underlying pressure to “make the right choice.” No one should have to navigate that alone.

At Gilda’s Toronto, we’re here to support you with the emotional and practical tools needed to move forward with confidence.

Join us for our virtual workshop:
Navigating Cancer-Related Treatment Decisions with Confidence
🗓 Wednesday, April 15, 2026
🕐 1:00 PM – 2:30 PM
📍 Zoom

In this session, participants will learn how to:
• Prepare for treatment decision-making appointments
• Better understand diagnoses and available options
• Ask meaningful questions and advocate for their needs
• Build a strong, supportive care network
• Make decisions that reflect their values and priorities

Open to individuals living with cancer, caregivers, and support professionals, this session is facilitated by Lisa Malinowski Kamran, MSW, RSW, who creates a welcoming and compassionate space for all.

💛 Register here:
https://gildastoronto.member365.org/public/event/details/25b29d73cc31277a7eef630eae1e231f3236462a/1

Please see the graphic for details, and feel free to share with anyone who may benefit.

We are grateful for the support of Charitable Gaming. Community Good. aRama Gaming House , whose funds help expand Gilda’s Toronto programs to better serve our community.

At Gilda’s Toronto, our purpose is to help people live, while living with cancer — and that includes supporting the fami...
04/07/2026

At Gilda’s Toronto, our purpose is to help people live, while living with cancer — and that includes supporting the families and children who are part of that experience.

You’re invited to Rooted Together, a family-focused afternoon on May 2 for those with children and youth under 18.

This gathering offers a space to connect with others who understand, share a meal, and participate in a guided planting activity designed to support emotional expression, reflection, and memory-making in an accessible, age-appropriate way.

Our programs are grounded in the understanding that emotional and social support are essential to navigating cancer — not separate from it.

📍 North Toronto Community Memorial Centre
📅 May 2 | ⏰ 2:00–4:00 PM
📧 To express interest: [email protected]

We welcome you to join us in a space where families can feel supported, understood, and less alone.

Caregiving can be meaningful—but it can also feel overwhelming, isolating, and emotionally complex. At Gilda’s Toronto, ...
04/02/2026

Caregiving can be meaningful—but it can also feel overwhelming, isolating, and emotionally complex. At Gilda’s Toronto, we believe no one should navigate that journey alone.

Join us for our upcoming education session:
Balanced Caregiving: Practical Tools and Supports for Caregivers
🗓️ Wednesday, April 8, 2026
⏰ 1:00 PM – 2:00 PM
💻 Live on Zoom

This free, one-hour webinar is designed specifically for caregivers supporting someone living with cancer. It offers a compassionate space to learn, reflect, and connect—while gaining practical tools you can use every day in your caregiving role.

Together, we’ll explore:
✨ What caregiving really means
✨ Shared experiences that remind you you're not alone
✨ The impact of caregiving on mental health
✨ Supportive coping tools you can begin using right away

You won’t be on camera, but you’ll have the option to engage through chat, polls, and guided practices—creating a sense of connection in a way that feels comfortable for you.

At Gilda’s Toronto, we know that emotional support can mean the difference between isolation and belonging. Everything we offer is grounded in our purpose: to help people live, while living with cancer—and that includes those who care so deeply for others.

🗓️ Open to: Adult caregivers of individuals living with cancer
🎤 Led by: Nancy Ho Hoang & Lisa Malinowski Kamran

👉 Register here:
https://gildastoronto.member365.org/public/event/details/a2f43e9801fee362a0d8c2983cd7ed225b58053c/1

Spring 2026 Support Groups are now open at Gilda’s Toronto.Cancer impacts more than just physical health—it affects emot...
03/24/2026

Spring 2026 Support Groups are now open at Gilda’s Toronto.

Cancer impacts more than just physical health—it affects emotional and mental wellbeing too. That’s why we offer free, professionally facilitated support groups designed to meet you where you are.

Our programs are open to:
• People living with cancer
• Caregivers and family members
• Those who are bereaved
• Children and youth

At Gilda’s Toronto, we believe no one should face cancer alone. Our inclusive, welcoming community provides a space to share experiences, build meaningful connections, and access evidence-based emotional support—at no cost.

💬 100% of participants say they would recommend our groups

Groups begin the week of April 13, 2026.

Learn more and register here:
https://www.gildasclubtoronto.org/our-programs/?jsf=jet-engine:so-programs-grid&tax=program-category:206

We are grateful for the support of Charitable Gaming. Community Good. and Rama Gaming House, whose funds are directed to help support Gilda’s Toronto programs like our Support Groups. Because of this funding, we are able to expand our program offerings to better serve our members impacted by cancer.

Together, we help people live, while living with cancer.

Today we’re celebrating an incredible milestone from one of our own 💛New research led by Amy Symington, in partnership w...
03/23/2026

Today we’re celebrating an incredible milestone from one of our own 💛

New research led by Amy Symington, in partnership with Social Sciences and Humanities Research Council of Canada (SSHRC) and George Brown Polytechnic College, highlights the impact of culinary nutrition programs at Gilda’s Toronto.

It captures something we hear so often—how much it means to have a space where you feel supported, understood, and connected.

These programs, and the moments they create, are only possible because of a compassionate community of supporters who believe in caring for the whole person.

If you’ve ever wondered what your support makes possible—this is it.

Helping people live, while living with cancer. 💛

👉 Learn more: https://www.mdpi.com/2072-6643/18/5/858 #

💛 When a parent is living with advanced cancer, supporting children through diagnosis, progression, and end-of-life can ...
03/20/2026

💛 When a parent is living with advanced cancer, supporting children through diagnosis, progression, and end-of-life can feel overwhelming. Honest conversations matter — and so does having compassionate guidance.

As part of Treading Above Water, our education series about dying and death, we invite you to join us for:

🌊 Supporting Children & Families Through a Parent’s Advanced Cancer and End of Life
🗓 Wednesday, March 25, 2026
⏰ 1:00 PM – 2:00 PM (ET)
💻 Zoom Webinar

This moderated, panel-style session offers a compassionate and informative space for parents, guardians, professionals, and caring adults helping children navigate a parent’s advanced illness.

Topics include:
• Sharing developmentally appropriate information with children
• Common emotional themes and questions that arise
• Discussing hospice, medical assistance in dying (MAiD), and end-of-life with clarity and care
• Supporting connection and communication within the family

Facilitated by experienced Child Life and family support professionals:
Darian Rogers-Sysak, MSc, CCLS, RECE — Family Coordinator at Gilda’s Toronto
Amber Jellema, MSc CLS Student Intern — Masters student in Child Life and Pediatric Psychosocial Care
Latoya Hillson, MSc, CCLS — Child Life Specialist focused on supporting families facing complex pediatric illnesses

Grounded in evidence-based practices in child development, grief theory, and family-centered care, this interactive session will also include follow-up resources to support continued learning.

Through programs like this, Gilda’s Toronto helps people live, while living with cancer, ensuring no child, parent, or family faces these difficult conversations alone.

Registration is now open. Reserve your spot today:
https://www.gildasclubtoronto.org/treading-above-water

The end of cancer treatment is just the beginning of a new journey — and no parent should have to face it alone.At Gilda...
03/16/2026

The end of cancer treatment is just the beginning of a new journey — and no parent should have to face it alone.

At Gilda’s Toronto, our purpose is to help people live, while living with cancer. We know that when a child finishes treatment, parents often carry lingering fears, shifting family dynamics, and the challenge of finding a new “normal.”

That’s why, in partnership with and funded by POGO Pediatric Oncology Group of Ontario, we’re launching Life After Treatment: A Pediatric Parent Support Group — an 8-week virtual program designed just for parents navigating life after their child’s cancer treatment.

In this confidential, trauma-informed space led by a professional facilitator, parents will connect with others who understand, explore topics like:

• Identity after treatment
• Lingering grief and fear
• Changes in parenting and family dynamics
• Advocacy and survivorship
• Integrating cancer into daily life

Program Details:
📅 Wednesdays starting April 15, 2026
⏰ 6:00–7:30 PM
💻 Virtual | 8 weeks
📍 For Ontario parents whose child completed treatment within the past five years

Participation is free, but registration is required.

Become a member and express interest here:
https://www.gildasclubtoronto.org/become-a-member/caregiver-for-ages-18

Together with Pediatric Oncology Group of Ontario, we’re helping families find connection, understanding, and hope — because life after treatment deserves support, too.

Address

Toronto, ON
M5T1N2

Opening Hours

Monday 9am - 5pm
Tuesday 9am - 5pm
Wednesday 9am - 5pm
Thursday 9am - 5pm
Friday 9am - 5pm

Telephone

+14162149898

Website

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