Ottawa Cancer Foundation CEO speaks to power of partnerships at breakfast

Ottawa may have just hired its first nightlife commissioner to help shape the city’s after-hours culture, but our early-morning social scene was nothing to sneeze at today during the Cancer Care Champions Breakfast held at The Westin’s rooftop venue, TwentyTwo.

Some 170 community and business leaders gathered in support of The Ottawa Cancer Foundation, a non-profit organization working to ensure individuals living with cancer have equitable access to the community-based supports and resources they need for supportive cancer care.

The two-hour event, presented by Alio Recruitment, was emceed by Dr. Anmar Salman, a family physician and co-owner of Novel Health. The breakfast was an opportunity to learn more about the work the foundation is doing in the community, and to hear first-hand personal stories and perspectives. Organizers also made it easy to donate; there were QR codes available on each table.

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Among the attendees were Ottawa Mayor Mark Sutcliffe, Ottawa MPP John Fraser, city councillor Marty Carr, as well as the foundation’s board chair, Karen Brownrigg, founder and CEO of iHR Advisory Services, and board vice chair Ian Sherman, CEO of Relationship Capital and an award-winning volunteer fundraiser for the cancer foundation.

It was particularly inspiring to hear Deborah Lehmann, president and CEO of The Ottawa Cancer Foundation, speak at the podium about the theme, the Power of Partnership, to a room packed with individuals who are familiar with effecting change together.

“When we join forces as a collective, magic happens,” Lehmann told her audience. “We drive continuous improvement, innovation, and we do that because we want to make sure that everyone’s efforts have a long-sustaining impact.

“I believe we’re the stewards of our society, and we understand, we get it,” she said of their shared understanding of the pressing needs in the community. “Whether it’s fighting against all types of discrimination, advocating for this city’s sustainable long-term growth, addressing housing and homelessness, tackling food insecurity, enhancing access to all health care services, or increasing access to social services – we are driving change, we’re building capacity, and we are looking for the best possible future for this city.”

After a nearly two-year break, the Cancer Care Champions Breakfast was back, but with a notable difference: it was smaller. This was done on purpose, explained Lehmann, who’s nearly a year into her new role. “Our gathering today is, in addition to educating and building awareness and a call to action, about acknowledging those key supporters who have been with us on a very long journey for a very long time, and we are grateful.”

The Ottawa Cancer Foundation has shifted its focus in recent years away from primarily funding cancer research and, instead, to offering an extensive range of programs to help individuals and their family members and caregivers affected by cancer. “What is very new and exciting is we want to extend our reach, we want to serve more vulnerable groups, as well as more equity-deserving groups,” said Lehmann.

The breakfast allowed attendees to learn more about the organization’s evolution as “a unique service provider in the cancer care space” through its Community Cancer Hub and Cancer System Navigation. Programs and services are delivered out of the foundation’s Maple Soft-Jones Centre on Alta Vista Drive.

“What’s really cool about us is that we create pathways of support that are unique to each individual situation. We truly meet people where they are at,” said Lehmann.

If there was one point that she really wanted to drive home, it was this: “Emotional support, education and practical assistance build capacity and resilience”.

Said Lehmann: “Families who are well-informed and emotionally supported can make better decisions, they can be stronger together for each other. Ultimately, they’re going to persevere through some pretty challenging times.

“Cancer demands our attention, turns everything upside down. It challenges not only someone’s physical health but their mental health and, actually, their everyday life.”

The foundation is focused on providing hope and connection to individuals and their loved ones as they navigate through their difficult situations, Lehmann continued. 

“At The Ottawa Cancer Foundation, optimism is part of our culture, and hope and connection is part of our belief system. Transforming supportive care through community collaboration is the reason why we exist. It’s about community collaboration and it’s the power of partnership. It changes everything.”