Support for Parents of Children with Cancer
Careful Steps is a series of eight free drop-in workshops in 2026 for parents and guardians across Canada who are supporting a child in active treatment or within five years post-treatment. Funded and delivered in partnership with Childhood Cancer Canada, these sessions offer a supportive space to connect with other parents, learn practical coping strategies, and feel less alone.
You can attend one session or join multiple throughout the year.
Full Gilda’s Toronto membership is not required.
View upcoming sessions below and register today.
For further information, please get in touch with us at 416-214-9898 or email us at info@gildasclubtoronto.org
Managing Fear and Anxiety Together Tuesday, March 31, 2026 12:00 PM – 1:00 PM This session focuses on recognizing common sources of anxiety and learning practical grounding and breathing tools. Parents will discover how sharing experiences can normalize fears, foster calm, and build resilience within the group community. Intended Participants: This group is for parents of a child with a cancer diagnosis who are newly diagnosed, currently in treatment, or up to five years post-treatment. Learn more and register today | ||||||
Guilt, Helplessness, and Self-Compassion Tuesday, June 30, 2026 12:00 PM – 1:00 PM This session helps parents explore feelings of guilt and helplessness that can come with caregiving. Through guided reflection, group conversation, and self-compassion practices, participants learn how empathy and mutual understanding can transform self-blame into acceptance and strength. Intended Participants: This group is for parents of a child with a cancer diagnosis who are newly diagnosed, currently in treatment, or up to five years post-treatment. Learn more and register today | ||||||
| Holding the Family Together: Relationships and Connection at Home Tuesday, July 28, 2026 12:00 PM – 1:00 PM This session supports parents in navigating changing family dynamics during a child’s treatment. Participants will explore shifts in roles and relationships, learn practical ways to stay emotionally connected with partners and siblings, and share strategies for maintaining balance at home. Intended Participants: This group is for parents of a child with a cancer diagnosis who are newly diagnosed, currently in treatment, or up to five years post-treatment. Learn more and register today | ||||||
Coping with Uncertainty and Building Emotional Resilience Tuesday, Aug 25, 2026 12:00 PM – 1:00 PM This session helps parents understand how uncertainty affects their emotions, thoughts, and daily life during a child’s treatment. Together, parents will practice simple resilience strategies and find steadiness through connection and shared experience. Intended Participants: This group is for parents of a child with a cancer diagnosis who are newly diagnosed, currently in treatment, or up to five years post-treatment. Learn more and register today | ||||||
Caring for the Caregiver Tuesday September 29, 2026 12:00 PM – 1:00 PM This session focuses on helping parents recognize that caring for themselves is an essential part of caring for their child. Participants will explore common barriers to self-care, identify simple daily practices to restore energy, and learn how peer support can make self-care more sustainable. Intended Participants: This group is for parents of a child with a cancer diagnosis who are newly diagnosed, currently in treatment, or up to five years post-treatment. Learn more and register today | ||||||
Meaning, Hope, and Resilience Together Tuesday December 08, 2026 12:00 PM – 1:00 PM This session invites parents and guardians to reflect on the sources of meaning, hope, and strength that support them through their child’s cancer journey. Through guided journaling and group conversation, participants will explore how gratitude and connection can build resilience, even in uncertain times. Intended Participants: This group is for parents of a child with a cancer diagnosis who are newly diagnosed, currently in treatment, or up to five years post-treatment. Learn more and register today | ||||||
Supporting Family Changes Through Childhood Cancer Tuesday, December 15, 2026 12:00 PM – 1:00 PM This session invites parents to explore how illness has reshaped their family dynamics, and to learn practical tools for navigating these changes with compassion and strength. Through guided discussion and interactive exercise, participants will reflect on how their child, siblings, and family unit have evolved during treatment. Together, parents will share experiences, identify coping strategies, and recognize the meaningful ways families adapt and grow. Intended Participants: This group is for parents of a child with a cancer diagnosis who are newly diagnosed, currently in treatment, or up to five years post-treatment. Learn more and register today | ||||||