2025
-
2026
Annual Report
Support Starts Here
Message From The
Deborah Lehmann
President and CEO
This past year has been one of remarkable growth for The Ottawa Cancer Foundation, not simply in the number of people we serve, but in the ways we are reaching our community with compassionate, community-based supportive cancer care.
As the need for our services continues to increase, so has our commitment to ensuring that everyone affected by cancer has access to the care, connection, and resources they need.
This year, we expanded our reach through the opening of our Community Cancer Hub West, initiatives such as the Nourish Program, and by continuing to strengthen the partnerships that make our work possible. Every step forward brings us closer to our vision of making supportive cancer care more accessible across the Ottawa region.
Behind every program and every milestone is a person. Someone navigating a new diagnosis. A caregiver looking for guidance. A family seeking connection during one of life's most difficult chapters. These are the moments that define our work and remind us why it matters.
None of this would be possible without the extraordinary people who make up our community. To our staff, thank you for your compassion and expertise. To our volunteers, donors, sponsors, healthcare partners, and supporters, thank you for believing in our mission and helping us expand our impact.
Research demonstrates that supportive cancer care improves quality of life and contributes to better health outcomes. Your generosity makes it possible for more people to access these essential supports that help them navigate the challenges of cancer with greater confidence, connection, and hope.
While we are proud of how far we've come, we know there is still more to do. I am excited about what lies ahead as we continue to innovate, strengthen our impact, and expand access to supportive cancer care for people impacted by cancer, along with the families and caregivers who walk beside them.
Thank you for being part of this journey.
With gratitude,
Deborah Lehmann
President and CEO
Message From The
As Chair of the Board of Directors, I am proud to reflect on a year that demonstrated both the strength of our organization and the growing impact of our work across the community.
The accomplishments highlighted throughout this report reflect an organization that continues to grow with purpose. As demand for supportive cancer care continues to increase, the Foundation is expanding its reach, strengthening partnerships, and ensuring more people have access to the care and support they need. It is inspiring to see our strategic vision translating into meaningful impact for our community.
The Board's role is to ensure the Foundation remains strong, accountable, and well positioned for sustainable growth. Throughout the past year, we have remained focused on responsible governance, thoughtful stewardship, and supporting the leadership team as they continue to build on this momentum.
On behalf of the Board of Directors, I want to thank everyone who believes in The Ottawa Cancer Foundation and the important role supportive cancer care plays in our community. Your continued trust and support strengthen our ability to meet the needs of today while preparing for the needs of tomorrow.
Together, we are building a stronger future for people impacted by cancer, and I look forward to all that we will accomplish in the years ahead.
Tina Nagratha
Chair, Board of Directors
Cancer is changing, and so are the needs that come with it.
More people are being diagnosed with cancer, including younger individuals balancing careers, raising families, and navigating the demands of daily life. At the same time, advances in treatment mean more people are living longer after a diagnosis.
That progress matters. It saves lives.
But it also means more people are living with the impacts of cancer for longer. From diagnosis onward, individuals face uncertainty and a complex healthcare system. During treatment, the physical and emotional demands can be overwhelming. For many, challenges continue well beyond treatment, including fatigue, brain fog, neuropathy, anxiety, and other lasting effects that can affect work, relationships, independence, and overall quality of life.
Cancer is an experience that unfolds over time, and support must evolve alongside it.
With your support, The Ottawa Cancer Foundation is building an evidence-based model of care that meets people where they are and responds to the realities of living with cancer.
Through the Community Cancer Hub, we provide guidance and navigation to help individuals and families access the right resources at the right time. With the region's only community-based Cancer Hubs, we offer support close to home, helping people access care, programs, and services throughout their cancer experience.
Our mental health programs help people manage the emotional impact of cancer, while our exercise and movement programs support strength, recovery, and quality of life during and after treatment.
We also offer practical supports that address challenges cancer can create. Through the Nourish Program, participants receive nutrition education and guidance on symptom management and healthy eating during treatment and recovery. Our Good Food Box Program delivers nutritious fruits and vegetables directly to the homes of people impacted by cancer, helping reduce barriers to healthy food during times of financial strain or food insecurity.
Recognizing that cancer affects entire families, we also provide dedicated programs for caregivers and loved ones navigating the experience alongside those they support.
This year, we expanded the Community Cancer Hub into Ottawa's west end, bringing care closer to home and increasing access to support for more people across our region.
Together, these programs create a connected system of care that supports people at every stage of the cancer experience.
Because of you, individuals and families have access to compassionate support, practical resources, and a community of care when and where it is needed most.
The Community Cancer Hub has been an invaluable source of support for me and my family. During a time filled with uncertainty and emotional stress these services provided clarity, comfort, and practical guidance when we needed it most.
- Zubaida
Community Cancer Hub client
Everything we do at The Ottawa Cancer Foundation is made possible by the generosity of our community. We are 100% donor-funded.
Because of you, our mission, vision and values are not just statements. They are the foundation of real, life-changing support for people affected by cancer at every stage of their journey.
Your support allows us to respond to evolving needs, expand access to care, and ensure that no one in our community has to navigate cancer alone.
To transform supportive cancer care through community collaboration.
The Ottawa Cancer Foundation, through dynamic collaborations with diverse community partners, delivers supportive cancer care services for anyone impacted by cancer in our region.
A community that works together to ensure equitable access to supportive cancer care when and where people need it.
Trustworthy, transparent, respectful, compassionate, collaborative, inclusive.
Thanks to our donors, we are expanding support to meet growing needs and reaching more people at every stage of the cancer journey.
14,703
client interactions
32%
increase in client visits
2,252
clients served
60%
increase in free program offerings
132
On average 132 scheduled programs each month
67
An average of 67 client visits per day to the Community Cancer Hub
507
free cancer-specific counselling sessions provided
643
free boxes of fruit and vegetables delivered by Good Food Boxes to clients
Behind every number is a person, a family, and a moment when support made a difference.
Community Cancer Hub Expansion
461+
visits since opening at the Community Cancer Hub West
As Ottawa grows, support must grow with it. In September 2025, The Ottawa Cancer Foundation expanded its Community Cancer Hub model into Ottawa’s west end, bringing the region’s only dedicated community-based cancer support services closer to home for more individuals and families.
The response was immediate. Since opening, the new location has welcomed more than 461 visits, demonstrating both the demand for supportive cancer care and the importance of making these services more accessible.
For many individuals and families, distance, travel time, and cost can create barriers to accessing the support they need. By establishing a presence in Ottawa’s west end, the Foundation is helping ensure that people can connect with services more easily and sooner.
Located within a welcoming community setting, the hub provides access to programs that fit into people’s daily lives and reduce the burden of travel during an already challenging time.
Programs include nutrition workshops, symptom management sessions, exercise classes, therapeutic martial arts for children, and opportunities for connection, all designed to support people throughout their cancer experience.
“It’s so nice to see the smiles every week. Having this second Hub closer to home is really uplifting for people. We’re already hearing that people would like to see services expand across more days of the week.”
Jessica
Community Cancer Hub West Program Coordinator
of clients said our services improved their quality of life
of clients report improved mental health and well-being
of clients felt less isolated
of clients would recommend the Community Cancer Hub
Cancer affects every part of a person’s life. From diagnosis, through treatment, and into recovery and beyond, individuals and families face challenges that extend far beyond medical care.
At The Ottawa Cancer Foundation, our Community Cancer Hubs are where comprehensive support comes to life. Located in central and west Ottawa, they are the region’s only community cancer hubs.
These welcoming spaces provide a single point of access to a wide range of programs and services, helping people navigate cancer with guidance, connection, and support at every stage of the journey.
Who We Serve
Personalized support at every stage.
Resources and connection for those who care.
Programs that bring comfort, strength, and hope.
How We Support
Cancer System Navigation
Exercise + Movement
Symptoms + Side Effects Management
Educational Workshops
Social Supports
Mental Health Programs
Nutrition Supports
Through the Community Cancer Hubs, this spectrum of support brings together cancer system navigation, mental health care, exercise and wellness programs, nutrition support, workshops and resources for caregivers and families.
Each plays a distinct role, but together they create a coordinated approach that helps people manage the physical, emotional, and practical realities of cancer.
By bringing these services together in the community, the Hubs reduce barriers to access, foster meaningful connections, and make support available closer to home.
What makes this model unique is that it is shaped by the people it serves. Guided by the insights of our Community Advisory Group, made up of individuals with lived experience of cancer, and informed by research and evidence-based practices, our programs continue to evolve alongside the needs of those we support.
The Ottawa Cancer Foundation could not operate without the contributions of our donors and partner organizations. We are sincerely thankful to every person who shares their resources to support individuals and families in our community impacted by cancer.
The impact of your generosity can be seen in the many ways support has grown and evolved this year. Here are just a few highlights:
Opened a second Community Cancer Hub, expanding access to support across West Ottawa.
Expanded exercise and movement programming to better meet clients’ evolving needs, including new advanced-level options.
Created three new peer support groups, helping more people connect and feel less alone.
Expanded our nutrition program to three locations, making healthy, supportive programming more accessible across Ottawa.
The support from both staff and volunteers has been a blessing in disguise and together with all the friends I’ve made attending the many activities provided, has made a huge difference in my ongoing recovery dealing with my cancer.
- Margaret
Community Cancer Hub Client
Spotlight On:
Feeding wellness
Food can be a powerful source of strength during cancer treatment, supporting recovery, resilience, and quality of life. Yet, treatment often affects appetite, taste, digestion, and energy levels, making it harder for people to get the nutrition they need. Research shows that malnutrition is common among people with cancer and can negatively affect both wellbeing and treatment outcomes.1
The Ottawa Cancer Foundation’s Nourish program, licensed from Wellspring Cancer Support and delivered locally in Ottawa, helps people navigate these challenges with guidance from registered dietitians, practical education, and shared meals. It provides clear, reliable nutrition support and realistic strategies to manage side effects and improve overall wellbeing.
Just as importantly, Nourish creates a welcoming space where participants can come together, ask questions, and learn alongside others who understand what they are going through. This sense of connection is as meaningful as the nutritional support itself.
“Donor support makes this work possible. Thank you for nourishing the wellbeing of people affected by cancer”.
Jill
Registered Dietitian and Director of Community Partnerships and Programs.
1 Arends J. et al. (2024). ESPEN Practical Guideline: Clinical Nutrition in Cancer. Malnutrition is common among people with cancer and early nutrition screening is recommended.
As the program grew, it became clear there was a rising need for accessible, practical nutrition support across the city. Thanks to donor support, Nourish has expanded to multiple locations, including the west end, making it easier for people to participate without the added burden of long travel times.
The impact has been significant. Participation in Nourish has increased by 65% over the past year, reflecting both the growing demand for cancer-specific nutrition guidance and the importance of making these supports more accessible.
The program continues to evolve through partnerships with community organizations, ensuring it reflects diverse cultural food practices and meets people where they are. Collaboration with registered dietitians across the community also brings a range of expertise and perspectives to participants.
Because of you, more people are gaining the knowledge, confidence, and support they need to nourish themselves during cancer treatment and beyond, building strength and restoring a sense of control in one of the most essential parts of daily life.
The Ottawa Cancer Foundation
All of our programs and services are free to those affected by cancer and their loved ones, thanks to the generosity of donors.
100%
of program and services funding comes from our caring community
4,670
guests welcomed at our events
37%
increase in event attendance
850
tulip bulbs planted in our Petals with Purpose garden, in memory and honour of cherished loved ones
11,000+
donations received from our generous community
350+
monthly donors provide critical ongoing support year-round
60%
increase in event sponsorship
I have really enjoyed the variety of programs. It’s so important to me that I’m not alone in my cancer journey. Meeting other people on a similar journey has helped me and my outlook on this scary time in my life.
- Rob
Community Cancer Hub Client
Sue Merrill
Chief Mission Officer
Thank You.
Your generosity is helping ensure that individuals, families, and caregivers can access support at every stage of the cancer journey. From the moment of diagnosis, through treatment, recovery, and beyond, you are making it possible for people across Ottawa to find guidance, connection, and care when they need it most.
Because of you, people are experiencing stronger emotional well-being, reduced isolation, and greater access to the programs and services that help them navigate life with and beyond cancer. Your support is strengthening a community of care where people feel seen, understood, and supported every step of the way.
Every day, people walk through the doors of our Community Cancer Hubs seeking answers, resources, and connection. Thanks to you, they find a community ready to support them.
As the needs of our community continue to grow, so does the opportunity to make a difference. Together, we are ensuring that support is available not only when cancer begins, but for every challenge that follows.
Thank you for making that possible.
Sue Merrill
Chief Mission Officer, The Ottawa Cancer Foundation
Together, we are building a stronger, more connected community of care. Should you have any questions or feedback, please do not hesitate to reach out to our team.
Charitable Registration Number: 8983 11170 RR0001
Audited financial statements can be found at ottawacancer.ca
Everyone deserves a community of care.
Your donation makes it possible for anyone affected by cancer in Ottawa to receive free counselling, programs, and support that bring comfort, connection, and hope.
Thank you for taking action.
