The Wish Journey
We recognize that every child’s health journey is unique. Discover the six steps of the wish journey, a cherished process that has brought smiles, hope, and strength to thousands of children facing critical illness across Canada.
A wish is a heartfelt expression of hope, not just for the child, but for their family and community. It’s a celebration of life and the individual’s courage, not a marker of their prognosis. While we acknowledge the serious nature of critical illnesses, our wishes aim to inspire and uplift, offering a joyful experience that can be a respite from challenging times. We are here to support all our wish kids and their families, through all outcomes, with compassion and care.
How We Grant Wishes
Our wish granters are made up of caring and passionate community members who work towards providing your child and family with the best possible experience throughout the wish Journey.
Wish granters can include:
- Medical Providers are often the first to introduce Make-A-Wish to families and help build anticipation around the wish journey.
- Wish Granting Staff are the main point of contact for our wish families. They are always available to answer any questions and to help create a joyful experience. Staff are involved in every step of the wish journey, from referral to lifelong connection.
- Wish Granting Volunteers are also actively involved in the wish granting journey from the discovery phase to special enhancements and wish realization.
- Vendors, Donors, and Sponsors offer their skills, passions, and donations to help craft customized wish experiences for each child.
- Wish Alumni stay connected with Make-A-Wish for a lifetime and support other wish families as donors, volunteers, advocates, and more.
6 Steps of the wish journey
A wish is not a fleeting gift — it’s a carefully planned journey, tailored to your child, and helps them replace fear with confidence, sadness with joy and anxiety with hope.
Step 1: Referral
Who can refer a wish: medical professionals, parents or legal guardians of the child, or the child themselves.
From the moment a referral is received, our dedicated wish team works closely with the child, their family and their healthcare team to navigate the wish journey with care. We are committed to personalizing our approach to meet the specific needs and timelines of each referral, ensuring that every child’s wish journey is handled with care and attention.
Find out more about wish eligibility and refer a child today
Step 2: Discovery
Who is involved: wish granting staff, wish granting volunteers
Your child has the power to discover their wish! Your wish team will be made up of either Make-A-Wish staff, volunteers or both who will guide your child along their wish journey. The wish team will contact you to schedule a time to meet and start talking about your child’s wish. We are excited for your child and family to meet your team!
During the Wish Discovery, the wish team will work to gather different wish ideas from your child. Along with gathering the wishes themselves, your wish team will want to gather information about your child’s vision of the wish idea. Each child’s wish is unique, so our focus is on learning the heart of your child’s wish; the reasons they chose the wish ideas are just as important as the wishes itself.
Most wishes fit into one of these five categories:
- I wish to go: Some children may wish to travel to their favourite theme park, while others want to visit a beach, see mountains for the first time, or attend a major sporting event or concert.
- I wish to be: Children search the depths of their imagination when they wish to be someone for a day – a firefighter, a zookeeper, or an artist.
- I wish to meet: Many children wish to meet their favourite athlete, recording artist, TV personality, movie star, politician, or public figure.
- I wish to have: Children often wish for a special gift, such as a gaming computer, art supplies, a playset, or something that they have desired for a long time.
- I wish to give: Children sometimes wish to share their special gift, by using their wish to give back to others.
Occasionally, a child will request a wish that does not fall into one of the five standard wish categories. Wishes are not bound by categories.
Step 3: Design
Who is involved: wish granting staff, wish granting volunteers, community helpers
Your child’s wish has been discovered! Once your child’s wish is officially approved, your wish team will get to work making the wish come to life.
Your wish granting team will work with your family to schedule the wish. We work to grant wishes in a timely manner, unless there are medical or wish-related circumstances that lengthen the time needed to grant the wish.
Each wish design embarks on its own unique timeline. Our team is dedicated to crafting an individualized plan for each wish, ensuring that every step from referral to realization is tailored to the specific needs of each child. We pledge to maintain open communication and provide support throughout this process, as we work towards creating a memorable wish for each child.
Step 4: Anticipation
Who is involved: wish granting staff, wish granting volunteers
For a child facing critical illnesses, the moment of discovering that their heartfelt wish is coming true marks an important step in the wish journey. It serves as a beacon of hope, illuminating a path away from the daily struggles of medical routines and uncertainties. This newfound focus can foster resilience, ignite a spark of excitement, and offer a powerful reminder that anything is possible.
Step 5: Realization
Who is involved: vendors, donors, sponsors, wish granting staff, wish granting volunteers
Granting the wish creates cherished memories that the family will treasure forever. Whether it’s a personal encounter with a beloved celebrity, a dream vacation, or the thrilling surprise of a big reveal, these experiences become milestones in the child’s medical journey. The wish journey is much more than a single event; they are the stories that will be recounted and relived, bringing smiles and comfort during difficult days.
Take some time to reflect on your wish journey and your favourite moments of the experience. These cherished moments become a symbol of joy that wish children and their families can hold onto. It’s a precious pause from life’s challenges, allowing the family to embrace the power of a wish.
Post-wish survey: Our goal at Make-A-Wish Canada is to provide you with every opportunity to enjoy the entire wish journey with your child. After your child’s wish is granted, a survey will be sent to your family about your experience. Your participation in this survey helps ensure that we continue to create high-quality wishes and provides us insight into the wish journey from your perspective.
Step 6: Lifelong Connection
Who is involved: wish alumni, wish granting volunteers, wish granting staff
We’re honoured to have granted your child’s wish, but the journey doesn’t stop here. We’d like to formally welcome you to the wish alumni community to provide an opportunity for continued support and a life-long experience. There are different ways you can stay involved if you choose, and our door is always open to you and your family.
To find out more, visit our wish alumni community pageOpens in new tab.
Refer a Child
You have the power to bring hope to a child with a critical illness. Whether you’re a parent or legal guardian, a member of the child’s healthcare team, or an eligible child yourself, your referral can be the first step towards a life-changing journey.
