September is Childhood Cancer Awareness Month

September is coming!

If you would like to have your municipality fly a flag, light up a landmark, or proclaim September as Childhood Cancer Awareness Month (depending on the options available for your municipality), please contact us today!

Childhood Cancer is the number one cause of death by disease of Canadian children (i)

The incidence rate of childhood cancer in Ontario is increasing by approximately 1% per year (1986-2018) (ii)

Childcan serves 25% of all children diagnosed with childhood cancer across Ontario.

There are so many reasons why Childhood Cancer Awareness Month is important. September, Childhood Cancer Awareness Month is: 

A time to acknowledge the thousands of children and their families who are dealing with a cancer diagnosis.

A time to take notice and raise awareness about the reality of childhood cancer, and to emphasize the importance of research.

A time when you can show your support by glowing GOLD! Here’s how:

• Purchase a lawn sign and show your support proudly. Take a photo of your sign and share it with us with the name of the town where it’s located. Be sure to tag @Childcan and use the hashtag #ChildcanGold so we can share your support with our families.
• Save the date to join us for the Childcan Pyjama Walk in:
  
  • Mitchell on Saturday, September 12, 2026 4-7pm
  • Owen Sound on Saturday, September 19, 2026 11-2pm
  • London on Saturday, September 19, 2026 4-7pm
  • LaSalle on Sunday, September 20, 2026 10-1pm
  • Brights Grove on Sunday, September 20, 2026 1-4pm
  • or walk near you.
• Create your own fundraiser on our Hands of Hope website and fundraise with your own creative flair.
• Show your support by purchasing Childcan merchandise or some of our signature gold ribbon items.  Get your gold on by visiting the online store!
• Leave your porch light on to glow gold. Take a photo and share it with #ChildcanGold and tag @Childcan so that we are amplify your show of support.
• Join us at one of the flag raising ceremonies listed below. More details can be found on our events page too.
• Donate to show your support to other families.

These local municipalities have already pledged their support for Childhood Cancer Awareness Month in 2026:

• Tecumseh will a flag and illuminate their Town Hall building from Sept 1, 2026
• LaSalle will host a flag raising ceremony at the Civic Centre on Sept 2, 2026 at 12pm. Join us!
• Kingsville will host a flag raising ceremony at the Kingsville Arena Complex on Sept 3, 2026 at 12pm. Join us!
• Essex will host a flag raising ceremony on Sept 4, 2026 at 12pm. Join us!
• Elgin County will host a flag raising ceremony on Sept 8, 2026 at 10am. Join us!
• St Thomas will host a flag raising ceremony on Sept 21, 2026 at 10am. Join us!
• more to come...

These local municipalities pledged their support for Childhood Cancer Awareness Month in 2025:

• Chatham-Kent hosted a flag raising ceremony on Aug, 29, 2025 at 11am.
• Huron County flew a flag throughout the month of September!
• West Perth flew the digital flag on Highway 8, and lit up buildings on the Clock Tower and Outdoor Lights at the Welcome Centre from Sept 1-14.
• Stratford hosted a flag raising ceremony on Sept 2, 2025 at 9am. They also proclaimed September as Childhood Cancer Awareness Month.
• Sarnia City Hall and Sarnia sign was illuminated in gold from Sept 2-8, 2025.
• London flew a flag and buildings were lit up from Sept 2-9, 2025, including City Hall, RBC Place, JA Taylor (Wellington & Dundas) and Canada Life Centre.
• Childcan’s office hosted a flag raising ceremony on Sept 3, 2025 at 12 noon.
• LaSalle hosted a flag raising ceremony on Sept 3, 2025 at 1pm.
• Kingsville hosted a flag raising ceremony on Sept 4, 2025 at 1pm.
• Essex hosted a flag raising ceremony on Sept 5, 2025 at 1pm at the Town of Essex Offices. They also proclaimed September as Childhood Cancer Awareness Month.
• Owen Sound hosted a flag raising ceremony on Sept 5, 2025 at 2pm at City Hall.
• Aylmer hosted a flag raising ceremony on Sept 8, 2025 at 11am at Aylmer Town Hall.
• Big Bruce lit up in gold for Childhood Cancer Awareness Month and the Municipality of Arran-Elderslie proclaimed September as Childhood Cancer Awareness Month.
• Brockton flew a flag at their Municipal Office in Walkerton from Sept 8-12, 2025 and proclaimed September as Childhood Cancer Awareness Month.
• Elgin County lit up their building and hosted a flag raising ceremony on Sept 9, 2025 at 10am at 450 Sunset Dr, St. Thomas.
• St Marys hosted a flag raising ceremony on Sept 15, 2025 at 9:30am at St Marys Town Hall.
• Tecumseh flew a flag and illuminated their Town Hall building from Sept 9-16, 2025.
• St Thomas hosted a flag raising ceremony on Sept 22, 2025 at 10:30am at St Thomas City Hall.

On September 17, 2025, Andrew Lawton rose in the House to acknowledge Childhood Cancer Awareness Month.

On October 1, 2025, Senator Rob Black rose in the Senate to say: “September has come to a close marking the end of another Childhood Cancer Awareness Month, but pediatric cancer does not stop with the end of the month. We must continue raising awareness for this disease, to promote more investment in research, in order to reduce the number of children lost - far too soon - to childhood cancer”. Listen to his entire speech:

Thank you Senator Black for highlighting September as Childhood Cancer Awareness Month.

Where will you see the gold ribbon flag this September?

If you are aware of areas that can proclaim, fly flags, or light up, and want to help, please contact us at info@childcan.com.

[i] Statistics Canada, or Facts about Childhood Cancer In Ontario, July 2024 (pdf).

[ii] Incidence rate statistic provided by Pediatric Oncology Group of Ontario. Childhood Cancer in Ontario: The 2020 POGO Surveillance Report. Toronto: Pediatric Oncology Group of Ontario; 2020.