The Harris Family (from left, Farrah, Zunayrah, Sumayyah and Syed) stayed at Ronald McDonald House South Central Ontario for 128 nights while Zunayrah was being treated at the NICU unit of Hamilton’s McMaster Children’s Hospital.SUPPLIED
Address: 16 Ronald McDonald Houses are located steps away from Canada’s children’s hospitals, with another 21 Family Room programs inside hospitals.
Key features: Purpose-built amenities, designed to meet the needs of families navigating their child’s medical journey, include: private rooms, shared kitchens and dining facilities, play areas and recreational spaces, wellness and creative spaces, and the peace of mind that comes with staying steps away from your child’s medical care.
Value: For tens of thousands of families annually, Ronald McDonald House is a lifeline. The only national organization enabling access to Canada’s children’s hospitals for families with sick or injured children, its value lies in helping families with critically sick and injured children stay together during their toughest moments.
The background
Nutritious meals, relaxing spaces, a make-believe job for their five-year-old daughter, and proximity to their baby’s bedside are some of the features that most comforted parents Farrah and Syed Harris during their recent months-long stay at Ronald McDonald House South Central Ontario in Hamilton.
The family’s time there followed the admittance of their second-born daughter, Zunayrah, to the Neonatal Intensive Care Unit at Hamilton’s McMaster Children’s Hospital after Farrah’s emergency C-section at 24 weeks.
“We loved the sense of community at the House,” Farrah says. “We were absolutely amazed by the setup […] which was intentionally designed to support families’ needs and wants.”
“While managing multiple emotions, coming to the House brought a sense of ease, knowing we were close to the hospital and in good hands with the staff and volunteers. We had a comfortable room, meals prepared and initiatives to engage and support us. Everything was considered.”
With only 16 specialty children’s hospitals serving the entire country, travel to access life-saving medical paediatric care is a necessity for most Canadian families with sick or injured children. Leaving their communities and support networks behind, often on short notice, can lead to significant challenges to a family’s financial, emotional, mental and overall well-being.
This is the gap Ronald McDonald House bridges across Canada, having proudly served more than 500,000 families since first opening its doors in Toronto 45 years ago.
For Farrah and Syed, who live nearly an hour from McMaster Children’s Hospital, where their daughter Zunayrah was being treated, the Ronald McDonald House became more than a place to stay for 128 nights. It was a refuge that allowed them to be close to Zunayrah as she underwent treatment, and where Farrah could recover from multiple infections related to her C-section, with her family by her side. In a time marked by uncertainty and fear, Ronald McDonald House gave them the stability, comfort, and togetherness they needed to stay strong and heal as a family.
Ronald McDonald Houses across Canada offer shared recreation spaces to give families a place to connect and recharge. Shown here, the games room at Ronald McDonald House South Central Ontario in Hamilton.SUPPLIED
Ronald McDonald House across Canada today
Intentional design plays a central role in creating a feeling of home for families staying at Ronald McDonald House. Modern finishes, natural light and a balance of communal and private spaces create a comforting environment, while programs and services, such as meal programming and a range of non-medical therapies, allow families to focus on what matters most: being present for their sick child.
“We loved the community kitchen, where we shared meals with other families and were connected with staff and volunteers who were so invested in our journey,” Farrah says. The couple also appreciated that the House staff “hired” their then-five-year-old daughter, Sumayyah, to “help” at the front desk, which allowed her to find joy and play during an unimaginable time.
There are 16 Ronald McDonald House programs across Canada, each located near a children’s hospital. In addition, 21 Ronald McDonald House Family Room programs run in-hospital, often steps from paediatric and intensive-care units, providing spaces for families to have a warm meal, shower, rest, work or simply find pause in a non-medical environment without leaving the hospital.
Purpose-built amenities and services
While each Ronald McDonald House reflects its local community, certain features remain consistent nationwide. Ronald McDonald Houses across Canada today range from 15 to 91 bedrooms, and are designed to provide comfort and support during prolonged hospital stays. Open-concept kitchens allow multiple families to prepare or enjoy meals. On-site laundry facilities enable familiar routines. Playrooms and shared recreation spaces give the whole family a place to connect, recharge and feel at home.
Essential care also extends beyond the physical. Mental health issues are among the top 10 most common diagnoses among children whose families are staying at a Ronald McDonald House. Additionally, according to the 2025 Learning from Families study commissioned by Ronald McDonald House, 77 per cent of caregivers reported experiencing anxiety and more than half (56 per cent) faced depression. That’s why Ronald McDonald House prioritizes mental health and well-being programs, offering families access to counselling, peer support and restorative programming – such as arts and crafts, pet and music therapy, yoga, spa services and meditation.
“We enjoyed movies in the theatre, and the wellness room was very peaceful. Overall, having our own room helped us rest and recharge,” Farrah says. “We also participated in initiatives like the Family Reunion BBQ, visits from Wilbur the Dog, in-house dinners and sponsored events like visiting the cow farm.”
The properties’ legacy and future
Today, four out of five families who need Ronald McDonald House services are unable to access them due to lack of space or no available program location, making the need for support increasingly urgent.
With recent House expansions in Calgary and Halifax, and one underway in Ottawa, plus the opening of three new Family Room programs in Toronto, Prince George and Kamloops in 2025, Ronald McDonald House is on track to double the number of families served by 2030. This progress is only made possible through generous donations from individuals and corporations, as well as community and government support.
“Ronald McDonald House represented more than just a house for our family – it was a home,” Farrah says. “It was a place to keep our family together while Zunayrah was undergoing treatment, and allowed us to remain close to the hospital for our daily NICU visits.”
Visit ronaldmcdonaldhouse.ca/essential to learn more about Canada’s Most Essential House and how you can make a difference.
Advertising feature produced by Globe Content Studio with Ronald McDonald House. The Globe’s editorial department was not involved.