A personal tragedy has given Collingwood resident Tom Rayner the motivation to bring cancer support services to Collingwood by partnering with the Georgian Bay Cancer Support Centre in Penetanguishene.
Hi wife Kathy had cancer and Rayner was her caregiver for approximately seven years until her death in 2022. She did spend her last days at Hospice Georgian Triangle's Campbell House.
But, what was lacking all along was local cancer support services for both Tom as the caregiver and his wife who had cancer. And he's not the only one.
"There is a lot of need out there," said Rayner, who is, himself, a cancer survivor.
Rayner and seven others, including cancer survivor Frank Tilley, put their heads together to come up with a way to bring support services to Collingwood. That included a meeting at the Georgian Bay Cancer Support Centre (GBCSC) in Penetanguishene with Executive Director Eric Walter and Board of Director Chair Katherine Wolfer in 2023.
What they discovered was that people from Wasaga Beach, Collingwood, Stayner and the surrounding area were already members at the GBCSC.
"We have individuals who drive over an hour to attend a support group or access individualized support on a nearly weekly basis because this type of environment hadn't existed closer to home," said Walter.
GBCSC in Penetanguishene is the only centre of its kind in the province outside a large urban centre. It was built and opened during the COVID pandemic and is a thriving location offering everything from one-on-one counselling to group exercise, arts, crafts and meals.
"They have a lot of programs and they understood what we could do first," Rayner said.
In January, Rayner and his group started three support groups in Collingwood, a women's, a men's and a caregivers' group. They each meet twice a month at 4:30 p.m. at Journey's Blend Café at 30 Mountain Dr.
The men's group meets the second and fourth Wednesday, the women's group meets the second and fourth Tuesday and the caregivers' group meets the first and third Tuesday. The groups have a trained volunteer facilitator and a coordinator. Rayner coordinates the caregivers' group.
The GBCSC recently received a $25,000 grant from Ontario Seniors' Community Grant to expand Collingwood services.
Funds are being used for the new program Soup for the Soul offered on Mondays at noon at the Collingwood Leisure Time Club at 100 Minnesota St. The program includes a guest speaker on topics relevant to the cancer journey and the opportunity for cancer patients and caregivers to connect and learn over lunch. The grant is also funding the first staff person for cancer support programming.
Rayner, 70, joined the Board of Directors for the GBCSC in January.
“After my wife died of cancer, it was important for me to find a way to do something significant in the community,” he said. “The GBCSC has allowed me to do that in a meaningful way. I’m serving in different volunteer roles, which gives me the opportunity to apply my experience and knowledge.”
People calling into the GBCSC from the Collingwood region are looking for counselling services and financial support through the GAP (gas, accommodation and parking) program to offset costs when travelling to Princess Margaret Hospital in Toronto and other hospitals for treatment.
Walter said people in the cancer journey spend "endless hours travelling to out-of-town appointments. Cancer takes so much from people as it is. By bringing support closer to home, we want to give people the opportunity to reclaim some normalcy and sense of self in the town they live in."
Walter added that the GBCSC is committed to bringing services to Collingwood with more local staff and volunteers to support individuals and families going through cancer.
"More than anything, this will mean a home for hope for individuals and families across South Georgian Bay fighting cancer," Walter said.
In 2025, Rayner wants to expand services in Collingwood and is looking for a dedicated space to house the programs.
“The ultimate goal would be to have a purpose-built facility," said Rayner.
For more information about GBCSC services, including services in Collingwood, visit the website: gbcancersupportcentre.ca, call 705-749-6664 or email: [email protected]. All services are free of charge.
