Our stories

45 years of hope and help to our community – Rideauwood Addiction and Family Services

Ottawa’s Rideauwood Addiction and Family Services opened in 1976 with funding for just four programs and services. More than 45 years later, this valuable organization offers over 15 programs to youth, adults, families and support persons struggling with the role that substance use, behavioural addictions and mental health issues play in their lives. 

Rideauwood’s programs include outpatient counselling for problematic substance use, behavioural addictions, gambling, gaming, and technology use....

30 years later: Maureen and Strider reunite

As adults, we know how scary it is to come to the hospital, especially as a child. There are many unfamiliar faces, loud noises and overwhelmed patients and families.

The role of CHEO staff and medical staff is not just to assess and treat, but to also entertain, distract and comfort our kids, particularly those who are here for a longer stay.

The story of Strider Armstrong and Maureen Merkley proves that making the extra effort for our kids can have an impact that lasts a lifetime.

In 1993,...

"To me, Pride means..."

CHEO’s SOGIE (Sexual Orientation, Gender Identity and Expression) Advisory Committee works year-round to create safe, inclusive and supportive environments for the many 2SLGBTQ+ members in our CHEO community. 

Our SOGIE Advisory Committee is made up of staff, medical staff, learners, and patients and family representations — take a moment to meet a few of our members and read about what Pride means to them! 

Meet Sheila James, Director of the Office of I-IDEAS (Indigeneity, Inclusion, Diversity,...

Let’s build a bigger box

The Government of Ontario’s historic $330M investment in pediatric health care marks a big moment in the life of CHEO and for the families that we serve. 

We've been working towards this for some time now in partnership with children's hospitals, children's treatment centres, mental health agencies, and physicians from across Ontario.  

So, what is it we’ve been working towards? Well, here is the problem we’ve been trying to solve:  

The problem 

Think of any health-care organization as a box, and the...

Grit in the face of adversity: Lily's resilience

After suffering a grand mal seizure at nine years old, Lily was sent to CHEO’s Neurology Clinic. She was diagnosed with Polymicrogyria, an abnormal development of the brain that can cause seizure activity, learning problems and other disabilities. Further genetic tests revealed another diagnosis of 1p36 deletion syndrome, a chromosome disorder that brings a host of other struggles for Lily. Lily will need treatment for her entire life, but despite her tough battle she remains a very energetic...