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Wishes Improve Health Outcomes for Sick Children

In Canada, a child is diagnosed with a critical illness every two hours, and we do not have sufficient funds to grant life-changing wishes to them all.  We need your help to reach every family in Canada and give them the strength to face the devastation of childhood critical illness.

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Wishes Provide Hope and Strength

A wish gives a sick child and their family the strength to face the devastating journey ahead of them. Wishes provide relief and hope, helping the family focus on something other than pain, fear and uncertainty.​

Wishes are treatment and are essential to improve the health outcomes of children with critical illnesses.  Healthcare cannot always change the outcome for a sick child, but a wish will always improve the journey and must be included alongside the medical care of every sick child.

Congratulations Meaghan! Canada’s Top 100 Leader

Make-A-Wish Canada’s Chief Executive Officer, Meaghan Stovel McKnight, has been awarded the 2024 “Canada’s Most Powerful Women: Top 100 Award” by the Women’s Executive Network (WXN). This award recognizes her contributions to Make-A-Wish Canada and her work in community health initiatives.

In this year’s awards, WXN highlighted women leaders who demonstrate bold leadership in their professional and personal lives. Meaghan was recognized in the Canadian Tire Community Impact category for her efforts to create healthier communities during her tenure at Make-A-Wish Canada.

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The Power of a Wish

Why We Are Essential

Wishes are treatment and are essential to improve the health outcomes of children battling critical illnesses

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Wish Research

Medical providers overwhelmingly agree that the wish experience contributes substantially to physical, mental, and emotional health

Wish Data

40 Years of Wishes

For over 40 years we have helped to provide sick children with the strength they need to face their illness by granting them a wish

Our History

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You are helping to grant more wishes and are giving hope to children with critical illnesses.

Wish Impact Statistics

90%

of wish parents said that a wish is an essential and necessary part of a child’s medical journey

90%

of wish kid alumni said their wish experience improved their overall quality of life

88%

of medical practitioners said a wish improves a child’s overall physical and emotional well-being

100%

of medical providers said the wish experience helps a child feel significantly more joyful

Read Our Annual Impact Report

Wish Stories

I wish to meet my favourite princesses

Wish Story

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I wish to go on the Rocky Mountaineer Train

Wish Story

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I wish to be the GM of the Toronto Raptors

Wish Story

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I wish to have an Apple product package

Wish Story

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I wish to go to my favourite theme park

Wish Story

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Other Ways to Support

In addition to donating directly to our mission, there are many other ways to support Make-A-Wish Canada and help grant life-changing wishes to children with critical illnesses.

Volunteer

Join our dedicated and passionate volunteer team and make dreams come true—whether through wish granting or inspiring events. Your impact starts here.

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Events

Get in on the action coast to coast! Join our exciting virtual and in-person events and help make more wishes come true with Make-A-Wish Canada.

Your community events

Leave a Legacy

Build a lasting legacy! Your support today will ensure that wishes keep lighting up lives for generations to come.

Legacy giving process

Our Corporate Partners Make Wishes Come True

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