OTTAWA, ON, Sept. 17, 2026 /CNW/ -- For children living with cancer or serious illness, creating spaces where they can simply be kids can make a real difference.
Today, the Honourable Adam van Koeverden, Secretary of State (Sport) and Member of Parliament for Burlington North-Milton West, and Chris Malette, Member of Parliament for Bay of Quinte, announced more than $27 million in federal funding to build a new medically supported overnight camp for children living with cancer or serious illness.
Supported through the Government of Canada's Build Communities Strong Fund, the new facility will include an activity centre, dining hall, accessible recreational facilities, creative and cultural program spaces, and equestrian facilities. Together, these spaces will give children room to learn, play, make new friends and enjoy the outdoors, while having access to the medical support they require.
The Build Communities Strong Fund is investing $51 billion in a wide range of infrastructure projects across the country and is the cornerstone of the Government of Canada's plan to build the infrastructure needed to build Canada strong – today and for generations to come.
Quotes
"Building a strong Canada starts with building strong communities. Every child deserves a community where they can play, make friends, try new things and simply enjoy being a kid. For children living with cancer or serious illness, Campfire Circle makes that possible while giving families the reassurance that the medical support they need is close by. This investment will help create a place where kids can make memories and experience the joy of camp, making a real difference for them and their families."
The Honourable Adam van Koeverden, Secretary of State and Member of Parliament for Burlington North-Milton West
"The Government of Canada is building infrastructure at a speed and scale not seen in generations – the type of infrastructure projects that support stronger, safer, more connected communities across the country. Investing in projects like Campfire Circle Overnight Camp is vital for the well-being of our communities and our children. I am thrilled to see this investment in Campfire Circle, and am honoured that they've chosen Prince Edward County to create a haven for children and families who are facing one of life's most daunting challenges. This investment helps ensure children facing a serious illness will still have an opportunity to enjoy the simple, but oh so special pleasure of just being a kid."
Chris Malette, Member of Parliament for Bay of Quinte
"For 43 years, Campfire Circle has created camp experiences for children with cancer or serious illness and their families, combining expert medical care with joy, connection, and a sense of belonging during some of life's most difficult moments. As the only medical camp in Canada that can administer IV chemotherapy and blood transfusions on site, we are incredibly grateful for this historic investment. It will help expand access to our unique model of medical care, play, and community, ensuring more children and families across eastern Ontario can experience the transformative impact of camp, sooner."
Alex Robertson, CEO of Campfire Circle
Quick Facts
- The federal government is investing $27,718,655 in this project through the Direct Delivery stream of the Build Communities Strong Fund. Various philanthropists have also donated $90 million, including $20 million from Emmanuelle Gattuso and $15 million from Stu and Kim Lang.
- Starting in 2026-27, the Build Communities Strong Fund will deliver funding through three major streams:
- A Provincial and Territorial stream, which provides $17.2 billion over 10 years, including $5 billion in health infrastructure funding over three years;
- A Direct Delivery stream, which provides $6 billion over 10 years, including $1 billion over 4 years as part of a Local Impact Stream that is being delivered by Canada's Regional Development Agencies to support community infrastructure projects with local impact; and,
- A Community stream (formerly the Canada Community-Building Fund), which provides $27.8 billion over 10 years and, indexed at 2% to deliver $3 billion per year ongoing.
- The Buy Canadian Policy is an important part of the Build Communities Strong Fund. It will help ensure that more of every public dollar goes right into the Canadian economy – creating Canadian careers, using Canadian resources, and benefiting Canadian communities.
- The Build Communities Strong Fund will help create thousands of good jobs, including careers in the skilled trades, by encouraging the use of Red Seal endorsed tradespeople, apprentices, and unionized labour.
- The Build Communities Strong Fund will be a force multiplier in infrastructure – with funding that will be matched by nearly $17 billion from provinces, and additional billions leveraged through municipal and territorial partnerships as well as private capital. The fund will also boost Canada's GDP by $95 billion over the next decade.
- Under the Direct Delivery stream, at least 10% of the funding will go towards investments in Indigenous communities.
- Project funding is subject to the signing of a contribution agreement between the Government of Canada and the recipient.
- Federal funding is conditional on fulfilling requirements, including those related to consultation with Indigenous peoples and environmental assessment obligations, if applicable.
Associated Links
- Build Communities Strong Fund
- Prime Minister Carney launches the Build Communities Strong Fund and announces the first tranche of projects
- Prime Minister Carney shares Budget 2025 plan to build communities strong
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Web: Housing, Infrastructure and Communities Canada
SOURCE Department of Housing, Infrastructure and Communities
Contacts: For more information (media only), please contact: Bahoz Dara Aziz, Director of Communications, Office of the Secretary of State (Sport), [email protected]; Media Relations, Housing, Infrastructure and Communities Canada, 613-960-9251, Toll free: 1-877-250-7154, Email: [email protected]; Kate Daley, Director of Communications, Campfire Circle, [email protected], 647-299-7639
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