The founder's story

The Founder’s Story

My journey with The LeBlanc Foundation began with a personal tragedy that changed my life forever.

My mother was the strongest woman I knew. She carried our family through difficult times with resilience and grace. But when she fell ill, we quickly discovered that her strength alone could not overcome the barriers she faced in Canada’s healthcare system.

Living in a rural area, my mother was turned away multiple times when she sought care. Whether it was long travel distances, lack of culturally sensitive services, or dismissals of her pain, she encountered obstacles at every step. By the time she was finally diagnosed with cancer, it was too late. We had lost precious time — time that could have made all the difference.

Watching her suffer, not from just the disease but from a system that failed her, was the most painful experience of my life. I remember the helplessness I felt, sitting beside her hospital bed, wishing things could have been different. And when she passed away, I knew one thing for certain: I had to do something.

Her story is not unique. Far too many Black Canadians in rural communities face the same barriers my mother did — barriers that cost lives. That is why I founded The LeBlanc Foundation: to fight for equity in healthcare access, to provide support where systems fall short, and to ensure that no other family has to endure the heartbreak mine did.

Every health screening we provide, every coat we deliver, every meal we share — it is in her memory. Her legacy lives on in the work we do, and in the hope we give to families across Canada.