Hensall family gives back with Childcan Family Fun Day
By Dan Rolph
What started as an elevator pitch in a hospital as a local boy was receiving cancer treatment led to a day filled with fun, firsts and hope for families from throughout the region impacted by a child’s cancer diagnosis.
The Cann family of Hensall opened their family pond and cottage to serve as the backdrop for a Childcan Family Fun Day on Aug. 29. Even after having to change dates due to rain, the day was one that allowed children diagnosed with cancer and their loved ones a moment of normality where they could swim, fish and enjoy a day outdoors as a family.
“They were able to just be who they are, share their story and just spend time with one another in this beautiful place,” said Childcan support program manager Todd Goold.
Childcan is a charity based in London that offers direct support for the families of children in the region who are navigating the challenges of a cancer diagnosis.
When Harvey Cann, 6, was diagnosed with leukemia in 2025 after a visit to South Huron Hospital, the Cann family were quickly referred to Childcan, which helps cover unexpected expenses with financial support, meal vouchers, care packages, parking passes and more.
With Harvey having just recently passed the 500-day milestone of his treatment journey, his family said they wanted to do something to give back.
“When he was first diagnosed, his only thing he wanted to do was go up to our camp,” said Brad Cann, Harvey’s grandfather. “He couldn’t go because he had to stay near the hospital.
“I know how much it meant to him. That’s one of the reasons why we wanted this event, because it was something for the kids to look forward to, plus the parents. The parents wanted to be here as much as the kids.”
The idea of hosting a Childcan Family Fun Day started when Harvey was at the hospital for treatment with his father, Justin, and his grandfather. As they spoke with Childcan about their family pond, the idea for the day started to materialize.
“With folks just seeing the inside of a hospital room or the inside of the day unit, it’s just such a different feeling,” said Goold. “It almost immediately just brings down that anxiety or that worry and you just get a chance to be normal and just enjoy the folks around you and the nature.”
Perhaps what both Childcan and the Cann family weren’t prepared for was the level of support they saw coming from the community as they prepared for the day.
When all was said and done, about $25,000 had been raised to support Childcan during the day — far exceeding any fundraising expectations. As well, many local businesses and members of the community came together to offer everything that was needed to make the day special. Volunteers signed up to help prepare the pond for the event, firefighters from the Hensall firehall arrived with trucks for a touch-a-truck experience, neighbours agreed to man the grills for a barbecue, businesses brought activities for the children and more.
Everywhere they looked, the Cann family found people willing to step up to make the day one the Childcan families will remember for years to come.
“The donations for the event were one thing, but the in-kind services that were provided and all the help that our neighbors gave us to get the place smartened up and ready for the day was immense and unexpected and wonderful,” said Hannah Cann, Harvey’s mother. “People raised their hands up right away and said, ‘I want to volunteer.’”
Harvey’s father, Justin Cann, said the community became so invested in making the day special that volunteers wouldn’t take “no” for an answer.
“I said to a couple of volunteers, ‘I think we have enough people,’ and they said, ‘I’m not asking.’”
Goold said that level of community support is something that makes small communities special.
“You only see that in a rural community, that amount of support and connections and just willing to give,” said Goold. “I was blown away. I really, really was.”
The Cann family said Childcan brought extensive experience from organizing similar events throughout their coverage area, but that the family was on board to help make the day truly special in every way they could.
“Justin put more effort into planning the Childcan day than he spent planning our wedding,” Hannah joked.
With Harvey having passed 500 days since his cancer journey began, he’s approaching the halfway mark in his treatment.
In the early days of his treatment, Harvey was unable to go far from the hospital, and some parts of everyday life had to be put on hold as he and the family focused on his healing.
However, the family said much has changed since those early days. Harvey is now able to visit the family’s camp further north, and he has recently restarted his jiu jitsu classes, with an upcoming tournament set to be his first.
“You know, you think 500 days, all the stuff you could accomplish in that time and how far we’ve come, it’s pretty mind blowing,” said Hannah.
“He’s doing great,” said Justin. “We’ve been very lucky. He hasn’t done a single overnight at the hospital since we left after diagnosis.”
Hannah said support from their family, friends, community and Childcan has helped them reach this stage of Harvey’s treatment in a good place, and the family has focused on finding the strength to remain hopeful and optimistic through the difficult moments.
“From the beginning we’ve refused to be victims of our circumstance and we choose every day to make the most of it and learn through the experience,” she said. “It’s so easy to fall into the victim mentality of ‘why was it us that this happened to?’ and stuff like that, but we’ve decided, that’s not a productive path and that if we can be in this space and greet it with open arms. We can contribute and give back while we’re in it.
“That is way more rewarding, and we’ll have more fond memories to look back on,” she added. “The bad times are temporary, the good times are temporary, and you can choose to make the most of the bad times or the good.”
For the Canns, playing host to the Childcan Family Fun Day was just one was a way of giving back after receiving support from the organization that has made Harvey’s cancer journey more manageable.
“It was really quite a privilege for the Cann family to allow us to host here,” said Goold. “It’s more than the day. That feeling, those memories, the joy that those families feel, that will continue. That will help them to get through whatever treatment’s next, or the lumbar punctures or the chemotherapies, then they think about these things that bring joy and meaning and connection. It’s a big deal.”
As for future Childcan Family Fun Days at the Cann family pond?
Brad said he’s almost certain it will become an annual tradition.
“There’s no way that a child is going to sit in the hospital for another year looking forward to this event and we don’t have it,” said Brad. “That’s not going to happen.”
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