Northern Ontario Community Campaign

An estimated 5,600 residents from Northern Ontario are diagnosed with cancer every year. While our region represents 5.7% of all Ontario residents, the rates of cancer incidence and death are proportionally higher for the size of our population.

Factors that contribute to higher cancer rates in Northern Ontario include:

• an aging and rural population
• income inequality
• delays in screening and diagnosis
• long travel distances to the nearest clinic
• lack of regional cancer specialists
• limited access to support services

While we see advances in detecting and treating all types of diseases, cancer remains a significant health challenge for people in Northern Ontario. By 2030, the number of cases will be almost 80% higher than the number diagnosed in 2015. Investing in regional support programs and research is critical to lessening the burden of cancer on families and creating a better future for our community.

At the Canadian Cancer Society (CCS), we are initiating the Northern Ontario Campaign, a new 2-year campaign to raise $2 million for cancer prevention and support, and research programs.

We are committed to providing community services such as our travel subsidy programs and delivering new opportunities to improve healthcare in Northern Ontario. In consultation with community members, we plan to develop, pilot and offer innovative support programs to suit the unique challenges of Canadians who live with cancer and call Northern Ontario home.