Leucan is an association that grew out of the junction of parents of cancer-stricken children and healthcare professionals. Since its foundation in 1978, its mission has been to enhance the well-being, healing and recovery of children with cancer and ensure support for their families. In the last ten years, Leucan, which receives no government grants, has witnessed impressive growth and diversification of its services to families. Leucan plays a key role in pediatric oncology, and works jointly with collaborators in its field, with a comprehensive approach to care.

Quality in accompaniment

Each year, the pediatric oncology centres treat approximately 300 new cases. Almost all such children become members of Leucan. As soon as the diagnosis is made, Leucan accompanies the children and their families throughout all the stages of the illness, and during bereavement, if necessary. More than 2,000 families receive its services of accompaniment.

Beverly Thomson

Co-Host, CTV's Canada AM

One of Canada's most-respected personalities, Beverly Thomson is the co-host of Canada's most-watched national morning show.

Thomson began her career in radio and moved into television as a reporter and anchor for CFTO-TV, now CTV Toronto the flagship station of the CTV Television Network. She then moved to Global Television as their supper hour news anchor at 5:30 and 6. Her warmth and charm has attracted immense audiences to the various newscasts that she has anchored, including news specials and election coverage.

With more than 20 years of news experience as a broadcast journalist in radio and television, Thomson is passionate about the media's role in society. She believes that her role as a broadcaster carries with it a responsibility to give back to the community. She publicly announced her battle with breast cancer and became a spokesperson for the Canadian Breast Cancer Foundation in Ontario.

An alumni member of Seneca College, Thomson is married with two children and an active community volunteer. In addition to the Canadian Breast Cancer Foundation, she works with The Muki Baum Association, The Rouge Valley Hospital Foundation and The Charles H. Best Diabetes Foundation, as well as serving on the Seneca College Board of Advisors for Broadcast and Communications Curriculum. In recognition of her efforts, Thomson recently received the 2006 Gemini Humanitarian Award for her public service and work in the community.

Kevin Hearn

Though best known as a skilled multi instrumentalist and writer in platinum selling, international pop favourites Barenaked Ladies, Kevin has consistently produced original solo and collaborative work outside of the band.

Over the course of four solo albums, Mothball Mint (1997), H-Wing (2001), Nightlight (2004) and The Miracle Mile (2006), he has earned a loyal international following with his idiosyncratic yet tuneful sound.

In May 2008, Barenaked ladies released SNACKTIME!, their first CD and accompanying book for children. The book and album feature Kevin's child-like and humorously twisted artwork. Recently, Kevin toured the USA as keyboardist and vocalist in Lou Reed's band and was in the studio working with Garth Hudson (The Band). He also toured the US with Laurie Anderson and appears as a guest on the latest recordings by Broken Social Scene and Ron Sexsmith.

Sharon Osbourne

The Sharon Osbourne the world now knows is the one made famous by TV, but it's also the sum of many other parts, parts that were constructed on the shop floor of a music business that was in her very blood.

She's as proud of her work ethic now as when she formed her own international company, Sharon Osbourne Management, created two record labels, became a concert tour producer, film producer, five-days-a-week talk show host and started a charity, all at the same time as nurturing her family. 
Then came the most serious of pit stops, when she was diagnosed with colon cancer in July 2002, Sharon spent the rest of the year coming to grips with her own mortality, ravaged by chemotherapy and the attendant sickness. Her brave move to let the MTV cameras document her illness during the filming of the second season of ‘The Osbournes' was all about seizing the chance to promote public awareness of the disease. 
Fully recovered, she started the Sharon Osbourne Colon Cancer Program with the mission of providing free screenings and healthcare to those who can't afford it. Sharon has also lent her support of other charities as well including the Multiple Myeloma Research Foundation (on which she is an honorary board member), the Elton John AIDS Foundation (on which she is an honorary chairperson along with her husband, Ozzy) and she recently appeared on the unprecedented television event, Stand Up 2 Cancer. NBC, ABC, and CBS simultaneously devoted 1 hour of commercial-free prime time to raise funds for the fight against cancer.

Mark Dailey

In 1968, Mark began his career as a radio and television news reporter in Ohio. He was a radio anchor/crime reporter in Detroit for two years before coming to Toronto (CHUM) in 1974. He joined "CityPulse" in 1979. Mark served as an assignment editor and producer before taking the reigns of the Crime Beat for more than ten years. He's been the anchor of "CityNews Tonight" for almost a decade.

LITTLE KNOWN FACT: Mark has had some parallel careers as a police officer in Ohio, a part-time truck driver and roles in the private security and music businesses.

Marissa Winokur

A native of New York, Marissa started her career on the stage, appearing as "Jan" in the Broadway production of Grease. Marissa Jaret Winokur is best known for creating the role of "Tracy Turnblad" in the hit Broadway musical Hairspray, a performance for which she won a Tony Award, Drama Desk Award and an Outer Critics Circle Award for Outstanding Actress. Since finishing Hairspray, Winokur has been seen co-starring with Drew Barrymore and Jimmy Fallon in the Farrelly Brothers film Fever Pitch from Fox 2000, and on the hit comedy "Stacked" with Pamela Anderson on FOX. She starred in the Lifetime movie Betrayls. Marissa recently danced her way into the hearts of America on the hit ABC series, "Dancing With the Stars," making it all the way to the finals. In addition, Marissa recently signed a deal with Sony Pictures Television to develop a daytime talk show for fall 2009. She is currently a correspondent for TV Guide Channel's "Hollywood 411" and "Reality Chat."

Rene Angelil

One of Quebec’s most renowned businessmen and both manager and husband of superstar Celine Dion, Rene Angelil was born to an Oriental Christian family that came to Canada at the turn of the century. Part Syrian, part Lebanese and part French, he is totally and completely family oriented. A caretaker. A Big Brother in all the wonderful meaning of it.

The remarquable show “A New Day”, a stage creation signed Franco Dragone, produced under Rene’s guidance and presented at the Colosseum, a 4000 seats theatre built for her at Caesars Palace in Las Vegas, was sold out from its opening date on March 25th, 2003 until the last performance, December 15th, 2007. A five years success story still in the hearts of millions of fans who came from all over the world to see her.

If serendipity can be defined as the art of making your own luck, Rene Angelil has mastered it. A passionate fan of both amateur and professional hockey, he counts among his close friends many athletes and other key figures within the sport. Admired for his strength, sincerity, decency, honesty, and dignity, he is committed to achieving excellence and superior results in all his endeavors.

Richard Petit

At the age of 23 Richard Petit began his career as leader of the group L'Affaire Tournesol and won the prestigious L'Empire des futurs Stars award in 1997. In 2000, Richard released his first solo effort "Kiss and Run" to critical and commercial acclaim. This was followed in 2002 with his album "Little Girl". Additionally Richard also began composing for television, scoring a few popular québecois tv series. At this time Richard was also working as producer and artistic director on several Musique Plus television programs. Despite all this Richard still managed to find the time to tour - including several international dates to entertain Canadian & UN troops overseas ( East Timor, Bosnia, Afghanistan ).

Richard's cancer was diagnosed back in 2005, which lead him to become spokesperson for the États généraux de la lutte contre le Cancer foundation in his native province. He would also go on to share his personal experience in a book called "Détour Imposé" detailing his long & difficult battle. Now 35, Richard Petit has just released his 3rd solo album "YUL", a mature & personal album celebrating life & hope.

Bif Naked

Bif Naked's brash alternative beauty, unforgettable yet somehow intimate and instantly recognizable across the board from videos, TV, fashion magazines and music media, Bif Naked is one of the most identifiable recording artist's in Canada. Her smoldering sexy looks have been voted the top both nationally and regionally. Voted by "TV Week" as one of the top 10 sexiest women, at Much Music she blew away the competition (Pink, Christina Aguilera, etc) for the Hottest Female with Tattoos", CFOX Vancouver named Bif the hottest celebrity (they said it was a landslide win).

In 2005 Bif Naked released her last record "Superbeautifulmonster" in North America, Europe & the UK. Superbeautifulmonster was a creation which took almost 4 years to create with the parts harvested and assembled from over 50 songs written and recorded.

While touring & promoting Superbeautifulmonster, Bif Naked found the time to embark on more television work… She was a re-occuring host of the Bodog Fight series which aired around the world, including over 100 million households in North America on The Score, and ION Networks. Additionally a Pay Per View live fight which aired December 2006 to over 30million households in North America.

Bif Naked's charm & clever wit, landed her a spot as one of the 3 judges of the Bodog Battle of the Bands TV show which was shot around America and aired on the Fuse TV network Summer 2007. Bif was joined by fellow judges Johnny Rotten & Billy Duffy (guitarist of the Cult), as well as the Host of the Show Stryker (currently on the Ellen Show).

On December 11, 2007 Bif Naked was diagnosed with stage 2 breast cancer, and went in for a lumpectomy in that same month. January 08 she began Chemo and is currently in her last few treatments with an estimated completion of treatment in early 2009.

After taking 10 months off from touring, recording & promoting to undergo treatment for breast cancer, Bif Naked is feeling strong and inspired to work on her next record. Over the last few months she has been writing and has now begun working in the studio in Vancouver Canada on her newest record. Release for the currently untitled record is tentatively scheduled for April 2009.

Saku Koivu

Saku started his professional ice hockey career playing for TPS in the Finnish SM-liiga, in the 1992-1993 season. He spent three seasons with TPS, winning two Finnish championships with the team in 1993 and 1995, and being elected Player of the Year by his fellow players in the 1994-1995 season. He was drafted by the Canadiens in the 1993 NHL Entry Draft as their first-round selection (21st overall), and moved to North America for the 1995-96 season.  On September 30, 1999, Koivu was named the 27th captain of the Montreal Canadiens, and the first European-born captain in the history of the Canadiens.

After six seasons in the NHL, Koivu was diagnosed with Non-Hodgkin's lymphoma in September 2001 and missed practically the entire 2001-02 NHL season. He made an amazing recovery and was able to return for the playoffs, leading the Canadiens to an unlikely first-round upset of the number one-ranked Boston Bruins. For his courage and off-ice team leadership while undergoing cancer treatment, he was awarded the Bill Masterton Memorial Trophy following the 2002 playoffs. He followed up in the 2002-03 NHL season by scoring his career best single-season point total with 71 (21 goals, 50 assists) to that date.

The 2006-07 NHL season was, for Saku Koivu, personally successful. In a game on January 9, 2007, in which the Montreal Canadiens defeated the Atlanta Thrashers 4-2, he registered his 500th NHL point. With 2:47 remaining, Koivu fed Michael Ryder with a pass across the slot for a power-play goal. Koivu received a standing ovation from the sellout crowd of 21,273 in Montreal. Koivu went on to score 22 goals and 53 assists in 81 games, totaling 75 points, making 2006-07 his best season. At the season's annual awards banquet, Koivu was announced as the winner of the King Clancy Trophy for his role in the cancer-fighting Saku Koivu Foundation.

Belinda Stronach

Executive Vice- Chairman, Magna International Inc.

Co-Founder, Spread the Net

Through a varied career that has encompassed the worlds of business, politics and philanthropy, Belinda Stronach has worked to pursue the goal of a better Canada and a better world. Belinda currently serves as Executive Vice-Chairman of Magna International, a company she had led as CEO earlier in the decade. After years of being active in a variety of philanthropic efforts, she recently founded The Belinda Stronach Foundation, which aims to advance human potential and achievement through individual empowerment and social change.

Belinda has long been a prominent public figure in Canada and beyond. In 2001, the National Post recognized her as the most powerful businesswoman in Canada. That same year, the World Economic Forum named her a "Global Leader of Tomorrow." In 2002, Belinda was ranked #2 by Fortune magazine in its list of the world's most powerful women in business - and was named one of Canada's "Top 40 under 40," an awards competition that honours the country's top business innovators under the age of 40.

In 2004, TIME magazine ranked Belinda as one of the world's 100 most influential people - and in 2005 the World Economic Forum named her a member of its network of global young leaders. That same year, the Women's Executive acclaimed her a "trailblazer" and one of Canada's top 100 most powerful women.

First elected to the Canadian House of Commons in the 2004 general election (and subsequently re-elected in 2006), she served as Member of Parliament for Newmarket-Aurora. At the invitation of the Prime Minister, she joined the federal Cabinet in 2005 and assumed responsibility for three separate portfolios: Minister of Human Resources and Skills Development; Minister Responsible for Democratic Renewal; and Minister responsible for Service Canada. She declined to seek a third term in office in the 2008 election.

Belinda is also a Director of the Center for Global Development in Washington, D.C., a leading and influential research and policy development institute in the area of international development.  

Following her personal experience with breast cancer in the spring 2007, she became patron of the Belinda Stronach Chair in Breast Cancer Reconstructive Surgery at the Toronto General and Western Hospital Foundation. The Chair provides funding for a program to ensure that the important option of reconstructive surgery is more widely available to women who have undergone mastectomies.