Draft:Wellspring Cancer Support Foundation

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  • Comment: Currently written like an advertisement for the foundation. All of the citations are missing date parameters. Please ensure that a neutral point of view is adhered to throughout the article. Utopes (talk / cont) 20:48, 22 July 2025 (UTC)


Wellspring Cancer Support Foundation

Wellspring Cancer Support Foundation (Wellspring) is a Canadian charity[1] that provides non-medical supportive care services for individuals living with cancer, as well as caregivers and family members. Services include peer support, counselling, support groups, physical activity programs, educational workshops, art therapy, meditation, symptom management support and financial navigation.[2] Programs are provided free of charge and do not require a medical referral.[3]

History

Wellspring was founded in 1992 in Toronto, Ontario, by Anne Armstrong Gibson, a cancer patient who sought to address the emotional and practical needs of individuals facing cancer. With support from Dr. Simon Sutcliffe, then CEO of Princess Margaret Hospital, the first Wellspring centre was opened in a coach house on Wellesley Street East. [4][5][6]

In 1999, a second ___location opened at Sunnybrook Health Sciences Centre in Toronto.[4] Since then, the organization has expanded to different locations in Ontario, Alberta, and New Brunswick, as well as through online programming. [7][3][8]

Programs and Services

Wellspring delivers supportive care for cancer patients and caregivers. Programs are delivered by qualified professionals such as social workers, psychotherapists, physiotherapists, art therapists, and dietitians. Services include peer support, support groups, counselling, educational workshops, cancer-specific exercise classes, art therapy, nutrition, financial navigation, return-to-work support, and symptom management support.[2][3][9][10]

In response to the COVID-19 pandemic, Wellspring expanded its virtual programming, enabling access across Canada. [7]

Organizational Structure

Wellspring Cancer Support Foundation operates centres in the Greater Toronto Area, and oversees Wellspring's intellectual property and program standards for affiliate organizations. Affiliate organizations—each a separate legally incorporated charity—operate in other regions while adhering to shared quality, branding, and program standards.[3]

Locations

Wellspring Cancer Support Foundation (Toronto, ON) [1][3]

  • Westerkirk House (Toronto) [3]
  • Birmingham Gilgan House (Oakville)[11]
  • Hospital-based hubs at Princess Margaret Cancer Centre, St. Michael’s Hospital, and Michael Garron Hospital [3]

Wellspring Chinguacousy (Brampton, ON)

Wellspring Niagara (Fonthill, ON)

  • Established in 2001[13]

Wellspring London and Region (London & Stratford, ON)

  • Launched in 1999; expanded in partnership with the YMCA[14]

Wellspring Alberta

  • Carma House (Calgary, 2009)[15][16]
  • Randy O’Dell House (Calgary, 2019)[16][17][18]
  • Edmonton House (Edmonton, 2017)[19]

Wellspring New Brunswick (Moncton, NB)

  • Established in 2024[8]


  1. ^ a b "WELLSPRING CANCER SUPPORT FOUNDATION/FONDATION WELLSPRING POUR LES PERSONNES ATTEINTES DE CANCER — Quick View | Charity's detail page". Government of Canada.
  2. ^ a b Bottaro, Angelica (June 26, 2025). "Harnessing the power of cancer support programs to cope with the emotional scars". Healthing.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: url-status (link)
  3. ^ a b c d e f g "Wellspring Cancer Support Foundation Operating Charity". Charity Intelligence.
  4. ^ a b Picard, A (Jan 27, 2000). "Cancer centre gives patients help, hope". Globe and Mail.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: url-status (link)
  5. ^ Barnes, Alan (Feb 3, 1995). "Lawyer Anne Gibson, advocate 'for the patient with cancer'". The Toronto Star.{{cite news}}: CS1 maint: url-status (link)
  6. ^ Green, Lisa (2009). "Including Spirituality: A Means to Cope with Cancer and Recommendations for Health Care Professionals". Wilfrid Laurier University, Scholars Commons @ Laurier: 7–8.
  7. ^ a b "TD and Wellspring launch new Virtual Centre". Newsire. June 9, 2022.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: url-status (link)
  8. ^ a b "Home donated by Moncton family to become centre for people with cancer". CBC. Nov 7, 2024.{{cite news}}: CS1 maint: url-status (link)
  9. ^ "Longo's Kitchen is the heart of Wellspring". Inside Halton, Oakville Beaver. July 3, 2013.{{cite news}}: CS1 maint: url-status (link)
  10. ^ Howes, Nathan (July 9, 2014). "Money Matters at Oakville's Wellspring Birmingham Gilgan House". Inside Halton, Oakville Beaver.{{cite news}}: CS1 maint: url-status (link)
  11. ^ Leitao, Ramona (May 26, 2025). "Local cancer support volunteers celebrated for decades of dedication". Oakville News.{{cite news}}: CS1 maint: url-status (link)
  12. ^ "Wellspring Chinguacousy opens its doors". Brampton Guardian. Apr 13, 2008.{{cite news}}: CS1 maint: url-status (link)
  13. ^ Lansbergen, Bernard (Jan 11, 2023). "How a dying promise turned into 'the house that Niagara built'". NotLLocal.com.{{cite news}}: CS1 maint: url-status (link)
  14. ^ Bieman, Jennifer (Apr 24, 2019). "Wellspring cancer support agency expands programs to two London neighbourhoods". The London Free Press.{{cite news}}: CS1 maint: url-status (link)
  15. ^ Parker, David (Feb 3, 2025). "Parker: Wellspring Alberta welcomes Joanne Aime as new CEO". Calgary Herald.{{cite news}}: CS1 maint: url-status (link)
  16. ^ a b Stalker, Amy (August 3, 2016). "Calgary businessman inspired by Wellspring to help cancer patients". CTV Calgary.{{cite news}}: CS1 maint: url-status (link)
  17. ^ Croteau, Jill (May 15, 2019). "New cancer support centre soon to be opened in southeast Calgary". Global News.{{cite news}}: CS1 maint: url-status (link)
  18. ^ Fleming, Kevin (Oct 8, 2019). "Wellspring opens second permanent home in southeast Calgary". CTV Calgary.{{cite news}}: CS1 maint: url-status (link)
  19. ^ Gerein, Keith (June 4, 2017). "Cancer patients find new outlet for help at Wellspring Edmonton". Edmonton Journal.{{cite news}}: CS1 maint: url-status (link)