Refer a Child

Every child deserves to have a one-of-a-kind and life-changing experience. To ensure the best quality of wishes, there’s a standard process Make-A-Wish Canada follows.

Referral Process

Step 1

A referral is submitted by a medical healthcare professional, parents or legal guardians of the child, or the child themselves

Step 2

The wish referral team reviews each referral with our medical advisory committee to determine the child’s eligibility

Step 3

Eligible children will begin their wish granting journey

The Wish Effect

“The advantages of feeling hopeful, and optimistic and distracted. You tend to have less pain, less anxiety and you sleep better. And your mood is better.” – Dr. Jeremy Friedman

Who is eligible?

At Make-A-Wish Canada, we believe in hope and innovation. Our eligibility criteria are reflective of the latest therapeutic advances and are reviewed regularly in partnership with our medical advisory committee to ensure we adapt to the ever-changing landscape of healthcare science. While our current guidelines are specific, they are not static, and may evolve over time as new treatments become available.

A child’s medical condition does not need to be terminal to be eligible for a wish. In fact, this is one of the enduring myths about Make-A-Wish. Thanks to research and new medical treatments, this is no longer the case for the vast majority of children we serve.

Children must meet these criteria to be eligible for a wish:

The child is biologically between the ages of 3 and 17
The child has a critical illness that is currently in the life-threatening stage
The child has not received a prior wish from any wish-granting organization

The following high-risk, life-threatening principles are used to determine medical eligibility for a wish:

Children whose current medical condition requires high-risk therapy to survive may qualify for a wish.
Children who are dependent on technology to survive may qualify for a wish.
Children with chronic conditions who demonstrate extreme long-term complications may qualify for a wish.
Children at high risk of death not covered by other criteria on this list may qualify for a wish.

While we strive to reach as many eligible children as possible in Canada, it’s important to note that conditions such as autism spectrum disorder, attention deficit disorder/ADHD, speech/language delays, learning disabilities, psychiatric/mental health disorders, diabetes, asthma and global developmental delay, though serious, on their own may not fall within our wish granting criteria. We appreciate your understanding and continued support.

Who can refer a child?

Referrals are accepted from healthcare professionals*, parents or legal guardians, or a child directly. By law, private medical information can only be shared by these three categories. Referrals from any other sources should be directed to ask the family to contact Make-A-Wish Canada.

The family will always be contacted once the referral is made before taking the wish to the next step. If you don’t receive an email or phone call, please ensure to check your junk mail and voicemail.

Make-A-Wish Canada is a bilingual organization and have staff that can fully serve wish families in both English and French.

*Healthcare professionals may include a physician, nurse, nurse practitioner, social worker, or child life specialist who are actively part of the child’s healthcare team.

Parents or Legal Guardians

Healthcare team

Self (Potential Wish Child)

Committed to Inclusion, Diversity, Equity & Access

Together, we are committed to building an inclusive organization that celebrates the uniqueness of every child, family, and community across Canada. In support of this vision, we are committed to developing and implementing a comprehensive IDEA (Inclusion, Diversity, Equity & Access) program to ensure that every eligible child, regardless of background, culture, or circumstances, feels seen, valued, and empowered throughout their wish journey. The four pillars of this program include: Inclusive Leadership, Inclusive Culture, Inclusive Talent, Inclusive Reach. Read more about Inclusion, Diversity, Equity and Access at Make-A-Wish Canada.

Privacy Policy

Make-A-Wish® Canada respects the privacy of our wish children and their families. All medical and personal information is kept confidential and is not communicated with outside parties unless consent is provided by the child’s parents or legal guardians. Find out more about our privacy policy.