Impact Report

On the eve of World Cancer Day, we celebrated our amalgamation with Prostate Cancer Canada (PCC). This partnership is a bold and critically needed step forward within the cancer charity sector in Canada. Read the full news release.

Together, we are increasing the impact for people facing prostate cancer. In 2020/21, we continued to deliver on PCC’s mission by:

• advancing prostate cancer research with a $3.5 million commitment to new projects in partnership with the Movember Foundation
• calling on the Ontario and BC governments to fully fund the prostate-specific antigen (PSA) test when referred by a physician so that there is equitable access to the test regardless of where a person lives in Canada
• engaging the Advisory Council to Improve Prostate Cancer Outcomes in the Black Community to discuss strategies to raise awareness and promote early detection of prostate cancer
• conducting fundraising campaigns in support of prostate cancer research, such as Plaid for Dad and Rock the Road Raffle
• offering webinars about coping with prostate cancer

The COVID-19 pandemic changed the world in countless ways. But it didn’t stop cancer from being a life-changing and life-threatening disease. In fact, it amplified the importance of CCS’s role in helping people affected by cancer.

To serve those in need during the pandemic, we adapted by:

• transforming the way we support people with cancer
• reimagining events into safe and engaging virtual experiences
• creating the COVID-19 Emergency Fund 
• funding a first-of-its-kind COVID-19 clinical trial
• providing much-needed information about cancer and COVID-19 
• hosting a webinar series about managing cancer during the pandemic
• encouraging governments to prioritize the needs of people affected by cancer 
• conducting surveys to help us understand and meet the needs of people impacted by cancer and their caregivers during the pandemic 

Read on to learn more about how we adapted and served people facing cancer throughout the pandemic.

There are deep disparities in cancer risk, cancer care and cancer research. These inequalities have life and death consequences that can’t be ignored. In 2020, we started taking meaningful action to address these disparities and better support people affected by cancer, no matter their age, gender, identity, race, ethnicity, income, sexual orientation or location in Canada.

We took steps to contribute to a more just, equitable, diverse and inclusive world, including:

• sharing a public statement of solidarity outlining our commitment to addressing ­­systemic racism in our organization and, more broadly, Canada’s healthcare sector.
• forming a Justice, Equity, Diversity and Inclusion (JEDI) Council of staff to examine CCS and shape the future of our organization through a JEDI lens.
• launching our Research Inclusive Excellence Action Plan, which commits CCS to the integration of the principles of equity, diversity, inclusion and accessibility across our research funding programs
• using understanding gained from research and consultation about barriers to cancer information and support faced by some underserved populations in order to improve existing programs and shape future ones

We know that there is much more to do. We are committed to continually creating change through our everyday actions, our programs, advocacy and research, internal and external communications, policies, partnerships and more.

Thanks to you, we’re working hard to ensure fewer people get cancer and more people survive a cancer diagnosis. 

• We invested $2.5 million in innovative research focused on cancer prevention to ensure that fewer people ever hear the words “you have cancer.” 
• We responded to over 26,000 phone calls from people seeking help to quit smoking and transformed in-person smoking cessation programs to offer digital support.
• Our advocacy efforts led to new regulations to restrict e-cigarette advertising, increase taxes on tobacco products and introduce a tax for e-cigarettes.
• We called on governments to prioritize access to cancer screening and life-saving treatment for people affected by cancer during the pandemic.
• We launched the new and improved It’s My Life!, an interactive evidence-informed cancer prevention tool that teaches users what causes cancer and how to reduce their risk.  

With your support, we helped people in Canada manage life with cancer, find community and connection and build wellness and resilience throughout the pandemic.

• We advocated for the extension of Canada’s Employment Insurance Sickness Benefit from 15 to 26 weeks to ensure people facing cancer don’t have to choose between a paycheque and cancer treatment.  
• We responded to over 44,000 phone calls, emails and live chat questions from Canadians seeking cancer information, resources and assistance through our Cancer Information Helpline.
• We helped nearly 5,000 people get to and from cancer-related medical appointments through our Wheels of Hope transportation program.
• When public health measures caused us to pause our transportation program, we partnered with Uber to continue to support transportation needs for people affected by cancer.   
• We offered a safe and comfortable stay at our lodges for more than 3,500 people receiving cancer treatment away from home. 
• Following a brief closure, we reopened our lodges with updated health and safety protocols to protect people with cancer, volunteers and staff.  
• We launched live chat on our Community Services Locator and cancer.ca, offering enhanced online information and support to meet an increasing need during the pandemic.   
• We provided a space for community and connection to over 210,000 people affected by cancer through our online community, CancerConnection.ca.  
• We monitored and assessed the impact of the pandemic on people with cancer and their caregivers and responded to new information needs with resources specific to COVID-19, including expert-led webinars.    

Our donors enabled us to help people affected by cancer live their lives to the fullest by enhancing quality of life during and after cancer.

• We invested $5.5 million in research focused on improving quality of life from the time of diagnosis, through treatment and beyond.
• We co-funded 7 Cancer Survivorship Team Grants for pan-Canadian teams working to improve health outcomes for cancer survivors of all ages. 
• We hosted Camp Goodtimes at Home, a virtual camp experience that gave over 500 people – children and youth with cancer and their families – a chance to enjoy camp activities from the safety of their home.   
• We established a virtual distribution model for wigs, headwear and breast accessories, ensuring people with cancer had safe access to items that could help them feel more confident and comfortable.
• In partnership with the Peter Gilgan Centre for Women’s Cancers, we conducted a virtual Breast Reconstruction Awareness Day, which provided over 1,200 people with access to important information.

Although we couldn’t gather in person during the pandemic, we redefined the volunteer experience, created safe, engaging digital events and increased our focus on online fundraising campaigns. Through these efforts, over 68,000 participants and volunteers came together to raise funds to change the future of cancer. 

• Through Relay At Home and Relay For Life Youth, 11,700+ people helped raise $5.3 million. 
• Through the virtual CIBC Run for the Cure, 25,000+ people helped raise $9.3 million. 
• Through our Dry Feb campaign, 13,000+ people helped raise $900,000.
• Through Cops for Cancer, 175 riders visited over 75 communities and helped raise $1.35 million. 
• Through our annual Daffodil Campaign, we received donations from 25,000+ people and 500+ organizations to raise a total of $5.4 million.