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Welcome to the Canadian Mesothelioma Foundation

Founded in 2008, the Canadian Mesothelioma Foundation is a largely volunteer-run registered charity, dedicated to raising awareness and understanding about mesothelioma in Canada. Mesothelioma is a rare cancer that is almost exclusively linked to asbestos exposure. The CMF supports mesothelioma patients and their families, as well as the development of a network of expertise in mesothelioma diagnosis, treatment and care across Canada. Learn more about us here.

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Bienvenue à la Fondation Canadienne du Mésothéliome

Fondée en 2008, La Fondation Canadienne du Mesotheliome est un organisme de bien faisance enregistré en grande partie géré par des bénévoles, dédié à la sensibilisaton et la comprehension sur le mésothéliome au Canada. Le mésothéliome est un cancer rare qui est presque exclusivement liée à l’exposition à l’amiante. La FCM soutient les patients de mésothéliome et leurs familles, ainsi que le développement d’un réseau d’expertise dans le diagnostique, les traitements, et les soins de mésothéliome à travers le Canada. Pour en savoir plus, cliquez ici

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Support Groups

Connect with peers through private groups and live sessions.

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Make a Donation

Help us make a difference by donating to CanadaHelps.org.

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Health Network

Join our health network for mesothelioma professionals.

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Save the Date:  Mission for Meso Fundraising Gala 2025

September 17, 2025 at the Four Seasons Centre for Performing Arts

(watch for more info)

The CMF is proud to support 

The Italian Fallen Workers Memorial E vent

MONDAY, APRIL 28, 2025
3:00 pm

The Consulate General of Italy in Toronto and Villa Charities together with the Italian Fallen Workers Memorial Project Committee invite you to join them in honouring the memory of thousands of Italian Fallen Workers, who immigrated to Canada in search of a better life, but who instead, met their destiny on the work fields of this great nation. May we never forget their sacrifice. Please join us in honouring their memory.

Sala Caboto, Villa Colombo Toronto on the Villa Charities campus,
901 Lawrence Avenue West, Toronto, Ontario M6A 1C3
(Sala Caboto is just south of the Italian Fallen Workers Memorial Wall inside of Villa Colombo)
Preferred parking is at the rear of Columbus Centre near the Italian Fallen Workers Memorial Wall.
At this year’s Memorial, new initiatives and updates on the project will be announced. The Italian Fallen Workers Memorial Project is a joint project between the Italian Fallen Workers Memorial Project Committee and Villa Charities Inc., supported by the Consulate General of Italy in Toronto.
Donate to our Finish the Memorial Project at Villa Charities Foundation - Villa Charities Foundation. Villa Charities Foundation is a registered charithy. www.ItalianFallenWorkersMemorial.com

 
Virtual Support Group Session  was held  Wednesday, February 12th, 7-8 pm EST

Dr. Paul Demers joined the Support Group Session to give a presentation "Mesothelioma by the Numbers: Tracking the Impact of Asbestos."

Dr. Demers is the Scientific Director of the Occupational Cancer Research Centre (OCRC), as well as a Senior Scientist with Ontario Health and a Professor with the Occupational and Environmental Health Division of the University of Toronto’s Dalla Lana School of Public Health. He has a PhD in Epidemiology and an MSc in Industrial Hygiene, both from the University of Washington in Seattle. Paul is internationally recognized for his expertise on the health effects of workplace exposures and has sat on many expert panels, including the International Agency for Research on Cancer working groups that evaluated carcinogens such as dusts and fibres, firefighting and formaldehyde. He is also a member of the CMF Scientific Advisory Committee.

The session was moderated by Robin Forbes, oncology social worker, and the co-lead of Psychosocial Oncology at Princess Margaret Cancer Centre. There was a Q&A as well as a discussion following Dr. Demers' presentation.

Please register by emailing skirouac@cmfonline.org  

 

 In Memory of Éric Jonckheere

Eric Jonckheere

It is with great sadness that we inform you of the death of our friend and colleague Éric Jonckheere, a courageous activist for justice for asbestos victims and for a global ban on asbestos.
 
Éric and his family endured an unimaginable degree of suffering caused by asbestos. Their story began in a small company town in Belgium, where Éric’s father was the manager of an Eternit asbestos cement factory. A significant proportion of the asbestos used there came from Canada. Eventually, Éric’s father, mother and two of his brothers died from mesothelioma. Tragically, Éric himself joined them on December 13, 2024 after a tenacious struggle against the relentless cancer that began four years ago. His story will of course resonate deeply with many of you, from your own experience or that of a loved one with mesothelioma.
 
Éric decided years ago that he would not rest until he helped to win justice for asbestos victims and achieve a global ban on asbestos. He made a magnificent contribution to that struggle. He was a charismatic, bigger than life, figure who won people over with charm and humour (often dark) as much as by statistics and policy arguments.
 
Éric contributed greatly to our asbestos struggle in Canada, as he did in many parts of the world. Alec Farquhar, CMF Board Member and Coordinator of Asbestos Free Canada, was privileged to host him in 2012, when he stood in solidarity with hundreds of activists of Sarnia, Ontario. This was a major moment of progress on our journey to ban asbestos in Canada in 2018.
 
Éric visited Canada again in 2019, when the CMF sponsored the Canadian launch of Daniel Lambo’s film “Breathless”, which portrayed the global reach of the asbestos industry, grounded in the story of the Jonckheere family. In 2022, the CMF supported the global distribution of the English translation of Éric’s book.
 
After his mesothelioma diagnosis, Éric came to Toronto in November 2023 and gave a powerful speech at the CMF’s conference. Again, he showed us the urgency of supporting the best possible research into early detection and treatment of mesothelioma. With CMF support, Éric also visited the closed asbestos mines in Quebec – in the town formerly called Asbestos and now called Val des Sources. Éric was in great discomfort at times but courageously and in good humour confronted once again the place where the asbestos in his lungs came from.
 
Éric was a powerful influence in our movement and a great friend of the CMF.  We miss him deeply.
 
In love and solidarity with Éric, his family and many friends and colleagues

CMF Mesothelioma Live Support Groups

Date posted

Photograph of CMF team member Robin Forbes

The CMF provides a service for our support groups, where members join a Zoom call and connect with the CMF and others affected by mesothelioma. These sessions are moderated by the newest member of our team, Robin Forbes, an oncology social worker, and the co-lead of Psychosocial Oncology at Princess Margaret Cancer Centre.She is familiar with the Mesothelioma program and knows about mesothelioma compensation options and the need for emotional and practical support for people diagnosed with mesothelioma and their family members.

Dr. Paul Demers joined the Support Group Session in February 2025 to give a presentation "Mesothelioma by the Numbers: Tracking the Impact of Asbestos."

Dr. Demers is the Scientific Director of the Occupational Cancer Research Centre (OCRC), as well as a Senior Scientist with Ontario Health and a Professor with the Occupational and Environmental Health Division of the University of Toronto’s Dalla Lana School of Public Health. He has a PhD in Epidemiology and an MSc in Industrial Hygiene, both from the University of Washington in Seattle. Paul is internationally recognized for his expertise on the health effects of workplace exposures and has sat on many expert panels, including the International Agency for Research on Cancer working groups that evaluated carcinogens such as dusts and fibres, firefighting and formaldehyde. He is also a member of the CMF Scientific Advisory Committee.

The session was moderated by Robin  and Dr. Demer's answered questions and joined in a discussion following his presentation. 

Our June 2024 CMF Mesothelioma Discussion group was on pain management with Dr. Camille Munro, a pain management specialist and a member of the CMF Scientific Advisory Committee and Assistant Professor and Clinician-Teacher with the Division of Palliative Medicine at the University of Ottawa. Dr. Munro's presentation to the live support group on palliative care and pain management has now been uploaded to the CMF website. To view: Palliative Care and Pain Management

Are you a patient or a caregiver of a patient with mesothelioma? If yes, please watch for news to join us for upcoming sessions.  For confidentiality and privacy, Zoom invitations for discussion groups will only be sent to registrants for each session - register for sessions by emailing skirouac@cmfonline.org and include your connection to the disease.

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CMF News

3rd Annual Scotty's Legacy Charity Golf Tournament

Date posted
Brent, Bill, Jordan & Terry golf pic

Louie Palu Photo Exhibition and ScotiaBank Contact Photo Festival: Sunday, April 30, 3:30 pm

Date posted

Louis Palu headshotLPphot0The Canadian Mesothelioma Foundation held a fundraising and awareness raising event with award-winning photographer and filmmaker, Louie Palu, at the Stephen Bulger Gallery, 1356 Dundas Street West, Toronto, Ontario M6J 1Y2. 

Louie provided a guided tour of his photos documenting the harm of exposure to asbestos.  His beliefs have been shaped growing up as the son of an immigrant construction labourer in Toronto's Italian community.  

Palu's work has been published worldwide, including in The New York Times, The Washington Post, National Geographic and the Globe and Mail.  His work is in the collections in museums such as the National Gallery of Art, Museum of Fine Arts Boston, Museum of Fine Arts Houston and Smithsonian.  The exhibition was followed by a ScotiaBank Contact Photo Festival Special Event with Rebecca Senf, Curator Center for Creative Photography Arizona discussing Louie's work. 

Although asbestos is now banned in Canada, people continue to be exposed to asbestos because of its prevalence in our built environment.  Asbestos-related diseases continue to be the number one cause of workplace deaths.  

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Funds raised go to support Meso patients and their families in many ways including support groups, information on diagnosis and treatments, advocacy to prevent further exposures, and we provide funds for research to improve diagnosis, treatments and help find a cure.  But most of all we provide hope to those who receive this devastating diagnosis.

Many thanks to our sponsors:

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CMF support groups for patients & caregivers

An important objective of our organisation is to support the emotional health of patients living with mesothelioma, as well as the people who care for them.  

Currently, we offer a number of private, invite-only Facebook groups for mesothelioma patients, loved ones and bereaved to connect with one another, share experiences and seek support from others in similar situations.  

To join one of our online groups, please follow these steps: