The magic and joy of granting wishes for children with a life-threatening illness all begins with a referral to Make-A-Wish® Canada.

There are several ways to refer a child for a wish. Most referrals come to us from family, friends, medical personnel, teachers or social workers. They simply begin the process. We make sure that the family is aware of the referral before taking the wish to the next step.

If you are not eligible to refer a child, please ask the child's family to visit our website, contact the Canada Office at nationaloffice@makeawish.ca or call 1-888-822-9474.

For more information visit our "Refer a child" section

Make-A-Wish® contacts the child's doctor for authorization that the child meets the medical criteria for a wish.  Once we receive medical authorization, we tell the family the good news and a volunteer Wish Grantor is assigned from a regional Chapter closest to where the child lives. The Chapter continues to work closely with the family to make the child's wish come true.

During the first visit to the child, the Volunteer Wish Grantor helps the child identify his or her most heartfelt wish. They will also determine a second and third wish just in case the first wish is not approved for any reason.

Once it has been determined that the wish is safe and appropriate for the child, the volunteer wish grantor begins the magic of making the wish happen.

Children between the ages of 3 and 17 with life-threatening illnesses may be referred. 

No, a child does not have to be terminally ill. In fact, many of our wish children grow into adulthood and lead long, happy lives.

Make-A-Wish® Canada does not decide which children receive wishes. Every child referred, who is deemed eligible for a wish receives their wish.

Wish costs vary from experience to experience and depend on the complexity of the wish.  Some wishes are very simple, some are more elaborate. For example, a travel wish typically involves transportation and accommodation for the immediate family, as well as meals and expenses. In addition, any necessary medical expenses may also be included. Whenever possible, Make-A-Wish® Canada seeks in-kind donations to help defer wish expenses and grant as many wishes as possible.

Wishes for children could not happen without support from a number of sources. In Canada, Make-A-Wish® relies on funds donated by individuals and corporations. The funds raised in Canada stay in Canada to help deliver wishes to children across the country. We also rely on in-kind contributions which help to lessen the cost of goods and services

Each of the Make-A-Wish® Chapters in Canada has their own fundraising programs to help provide for wishes in their local communities. For more information on events and activities in your area, please visit the "Our Chapters" section.

Most wishes begin with "I wish to be . . . "; "I wish to meet . . . "; "I wish to go . . . ", or "I wish to have . . .". Travel, entertainment centres, computer systems, playgrounds and meeting celebrities are the most requested wishes. The wish is that of the child, but the whole family is involved as it is important for wish children to share their memories and experiences with parents and siblings.

Here are some of the ways you can help:

• Make a Donation - If you would like to make a donation please visit our "Donate" page.
• Refer a Child - If you would like to refer a child with a life-threatening illness for a wish experience please visit our "Refer a Child"  section or contact your local Make-A-Wish Chapter
• Get Involved - To find out how you can get involved in making children's wishes come true, visit our "Get involved" section