“Prescribed by Doctors. Delivered by You”: Make-A-Wish Canada Celebrates World Wish Month with New Community-Focused Theme

Honouring the Canadians behind every wish, from referral to lasting impact

April 1, 2026, Toronto, ON – This April, Make-A-Wish^® Canada marks World Wish Month™ by celebrating the Canadians behind every wish granted for children facing critical illnesses, from referral to lasting impact. Anchored in the organization’s Wishes Are Medicine platform, this year’s theme, “Prescribed by Doctors. Delivered by You,” highlights the essential role a wish plays in a child’s treatment journey and the people who make it possible.

In 2025, more than 600,000 people were connected through the impact of a wish as Make-A-Wish Canada granted 1,835 wishes to children across the country. Staff, volunteers, donors, community members, corporate partners, classmates and many others form the extraordinary network at the heart of every wish, supporting families navigating serious medical journeys from coast-to-coast-to-coast.

Healthcare professionals are increasingly referring children to Make-A-Wish because they recognize that wishes are an essential part of a child’s treatment plan. In Canada, a child is diagnosed with a critical illness every two hours, and currently, more than 3,500 wishes are waiting to be fulfilled.

Throughout the month, Make-A-Wish Canada will take Canadians behind the scenes of the wish journey, from the moment a child is referred, to the discovery and delivery of their heartfelt wish, to the lasting impact it creates. The organization will spotlight the people across the country who help fill wish prescriptions and share powerful stories made possible by their support.

For the first time, donors will have the opportunity to choose the type of wish they would like to support, which include “to have,” “to go,” “to meet,” or “greatest need.”  This new approach offers a more personalized and engaging giving experience, allowing donors to fund wishes that resonate most with them.

“Every wish begins with a referral from a medical professional, but it takes an entire community to make it happen,” said Meaghan Stovel McKnight, Chief Executive Officer of Make-A-Wish Canada. “Donors, volunteers, partners and staff across the country play a vital role in helping deliver hope and strength for children and families navigating critical illnesses.”

National Volunteer Week, taking place April 19-26, also falls within World Wish Month, offering a special opportunity to honour the volunteers who are essential to delivering wishes nationwide. The celebratory month closes out with World Wish Day on April 29, the anniversary of the first wish granted in 1980, and celebrates the global movement it inspired.

Canadians can learn more about the wish journey, the community that makes wishes possible, and the urgent need for funding to meet growing demand at makeawish.ca.