Media Coverage
NHLPA Goals & Dreams makes community investment in New Brunswick
NHLPA | Friday, Jan 16, 2026
NHLPA Goals & Dreams is giving back to New Brunswick this weekend by supporting grassroots hockey and community initiatives. As Moncton welcomes hockey fans for Scotiabank® Hockey Day in Canada, NHLPA Goals & Dreams and the Smilezone Foundation are bringing the spirit of hockey off the ice with the unveiling of new Smilezone spaces at The Moncton Hospital. On the ice, NHLPA Goals & Dreams and Jake Allen’s Program 34 are contributing 25 sets of equipment, including two sets of goalie equipment, to Fredericton’s Brendon Oreto Foundation.
Read More
Smilezone Foundation – Bringing Joy to Kids Across Canada
City Parent Staff, City Parent | Thursday, Nov 20, 2025
For parents, few places feel more daunting than a hospital waiting room. But thanks to one Oakville-based charity, those spaces are being transformed into havens of colour, comfort, and joy – one Smilezone at a time.
Read More
Moncton Hospital unveils Smilezones to brighten care
Alex Allan, 919 The Bend | Thursday, Nov 20, 2025
Children receiving care at The Moncton Hospital now have access to five newly transformed Smilezone spaces in the Child and Adolescent Psychiatry Unit. Smilezones are colourful areas designed to bring joy and ease stress for young patients and their families. The spaces feature bright murals, interactive play walls and nature‑themed designs.
Read More
Smilezone Foundation celebrates 500th project
Adam Freill, On-Site | Thursday, Nov 6, 2025
Committed to improving the lives of children receiving medical treatment at health facilities across Canada, the Smilezone Foundation has unveiled its 500th space.
Read More
Smilezone 500th Build
Staff, Build Canada | Wednesday, Oct 29, 2025
Smilezone Foundation is proud to announce the completion of its 500th Smilezone, marking a major milestone in its mission to transform healthcare facilities into joyful, therapeutic spaces for children.
Read More
Oakville charity Smilezone celebrates 500th therapeutic space opening
Oakville News Staff, Oakville News | Monday, Oct 27, 2025
The 500th Smilezone was officially unveiled at Janeway Children’s Health and Rehabilitation Centre in St. John’s, Newfoundland, on Oct. 16, a significant step as the foundation continues expanding from coast to coast.
Read More
New Smilezone Spaces at The Brandon Clinic Enhance Family Care Experience
Staff, BDNMB.ca | Thursday, June 19, 2025
The Brandon Clinic is proud to unveil two newly designed Smilezone spaces in the main floor Pediatric Station, part of its continued commitment to creating a welcoming, patient-centered healthcare environment for families.
Read More
New Smilezone Spaces at the Brandon Clinic enhance family care experience thanks to community support and Tim Hortons Smile Cookie Campaign
Betty Sawatzky, DiscoverWestman | Friday, June 20, 2025
The Brandon Clinic is proud to unveil two newly designed Smilezone spaces in the main floor Pediatric Station, part of its continued commitment to creating a welcoming, patient-centered healthcare environment for families.
Read More
Hockey Helping Kids Tourney reaches fundraising goal
Oakville News Staff, Oakville News | Friday, May 30, 2025
The Smilezone Foundation is thrilled to announce the tremendous success of its 10th Annual Hockey Helping Kids Tournament, which took place on Saturday, May 24 at Joshua’s Creek Arenas in Oakville, Ontario.
This milestone event not only drew enthusiastic crowds of fans and families but also met its ambitious fundraising goal of $200,000 all in support of creating joyful, therapeutic spaces for children receiving medical treatment across Canada.
Read More
"Smilezone" unveiled at Autism Nova Scotia in Halifax
Sarah Drysdale, CKDU | Thursday, April 24, 2025
A new Smilezone has been unveiled at Autism Nova scotia in Halifax in the Joseph Howe area.
The Smilezone foundation works to create kid-friendly, sensory friendly environments for children in hospital and clinical settings. Co-founded by Scott Bachley and Adam Graves, the foundation has seen success in both Canada and the United States.
Read More
Autism Nova Scotia to open sensory-friendly spaces in Halifax
Blake Priddle, City New Everywhere | Tuesday, April 22, 2025
Autism Nova Scotia received newly designed sensory-friendly spaces this week from the Smilezone Foundation in their new office space in Halifax.
The spaces, called Smile Zones, are designed to create inclusive and calming environments for people experiencing anxiety and overstimulation, which are common challenges for individuals with autism.
Read More
Elliot Lake Hospital celebrates the opening of three child-friendly areas in the facility
Rosalind Russell, MyEspanolaNow | Sunday, Dec 1, 2024
St. Joseph’s General Hospital Elliot Lake celebrated the grand opening of three new spaces, called Smilezones, in its facility yesterday with a ribbon cutting.
The three zones are all kid-friendly and are in the emergency department, the medical-surgical pediatric room, and the continuing care unit family lounge.
Read More
Smile Cookie funds have an impact at Elliot Lake hospital
Alana Everson, CTV News | Thursday, Nov 28, 2024
In Elliot Lake on Wednesday, St. Joseph’s General Hospital was joined by Tim Hortons and the children’s charity Smilezones to celebrate a transformation of three rooms at the hospital into child-friendly spaces.
Most of the funding for the transformation came from the sale of Smile Cookies. The goal is to make visiting the hospital less daunting for kids.
Read More
Cambridge families facing challenging times now have new places to smile
Barbara Latkowski, Cambridge Today | Tuesday, Nov 19, 2024
When something is beautiful, it can really make a difference for children and families during challenging times.
On Monday, Starling Community Services in Cambridge celebrated the grand opening of two new Smilezones in the Child and Parent Place (CAPP) program, designed to support children and families with joyful, comforting, and interactive spaces.
Read More
Three new Smilezones at the hospital
ElliotLakeToday Staff, ElliotLakeToday | Wednesday, Nov 27, 2024
St. Joseph’s General Hospital Elliot Lake (SJGHEL) is excited to announce the grand opening of three newly created Smilezones in the hospital’s emergency department, medical surgical pediatric room, and continuing care unit family lounge. These spaces foster a positive atmosphere that can ease fears, boost morale, and enhance the healing experience, helping children and their families feel supported during difficult times.
Read More
Smilezone brings 10 new comforting children’s care spaces to Hamilton
News Staff, CHCH | Thursday, Oct 3, 2024
A charity that brings joy to the lives of children undergoing medical treatment has expanded operations in Hamilton.
Smilezone Foundation takes stress-inducing spaces, like hospital waiting rooms and patient care rooms, and transforms them into relaxing, fun, and comfortable spaces for kids of any ability or diagnosis.
With the support of the Tiger-Cats, Forge FC, and Toronto Rock, Hamilton opened the doors to 10 new Smilezone rooms on Wednesday.
Read More
Lansdowne undergoes Smilezone transformation
Brian Thompson, The Expositor | Wednesday, Sept 25, 2024
Lansdowne Children’s Centre has undergone a Smilezone visual transformation aimed at making children and their families feel more comfortable when coming to the treatment centre on Mt. Pleasant Street in Brantford. The lobby is now adorned with imagery that reflects nature, history, and the historical Indigenous legacy of the local lands. The reception desk is adorned with the word Hello in many different languages, indicative of the increasingly diverse community of Brantford-Brant that is reflected in the Centre’s clients and staff.
Read More
Ron and Cari MacLean fund upgrades at Red Deer children’s rehabilitation centre
Ashley Lavallee-Koenig, RDN | Thursday, Aug 22 2024
Red Deer Children Rehabilitation Services, located in the 49 Street Community Health Centre, has received a Smilezone facelift, transforming a traditional medical setting into a bright and friendly space for healing.
The new features were revealed and celebrated on Aug. 21 at the facility, with staff, donors, Smilezone representatives, and users of the space in attendance. The upgrades were completed in June. Read More
Smilezone transforms rehab spaces in Red Deer for young patients
Emily Rogers, CentralAlbertaOnline.com | Wednesday, Aug 21 2024
Young Central Alberta patients now have a reason to smile when they come for treatment with Children’s Rehabilitation Services.
The first Smilezone in Central Alberta was unveiled today (Aug. 21), in the 49th Street Community Health Centre. Donated by the Smilezone Foundation, with support from Ron and Cari MacLean, the Smilezone includes colourful murals, sensory development equipment, and kid-friendly technology. Read More