For 20 years, Roger Neilson Children’s Hospice has been known as the house that love built.

From the first blueprints to the final bricks, the pediatric palliative care home — one of the first of its kind in Canada — rose not from a government mandate. Instead, it was built by a community that believed children with life-limiting illnesses and their families should not have to face their toughest days alone.

But if the hospice is a house built by love, its heart is found in the kitchen.

“That is so true here,” Roger Neilson Children’s Hospice (RNCH) CEO Megan Wright told a gathering inside the facility on Tuesday for the unveiling of its newly named Senators Foundation Kitchen. “For families navigating the most difficult moments of their lives, our kitchen becomes a place of comfort, normalcy and connection.”

Wright continued: “It’s where parents can prepare a favourite meal, where siblings can share a snack together (and yes, there’s lots of snacking), and where heartfelt chats and laughter happen among friends.”

Located on the grounds of CHEO, RNCH relies on donors, volunteers and community partners for support, with fundraising managed through CHEO Foundation.

From left, Roger Neilson Children’s Hospice (RNCH) board vice chair Mike Lupiano (Lupiano Executive Search), RNCH CEO Megan Wright, RNCH board chair Michelle Bouchard (Hendry Warren LLP) and RNCH past board chair Ian Hendry at a gathering to celebrate the newly named Senators Foundation Kitchen. Photo by Caroline Phillips

Cyril Leeder, president and CEO of the Ottawa Senators, was in attendance, along with retired hockey player Chris Neil, a fan-favourite and longtime RNCH supporter; Mayor Mark Sutcliffe; Senators Community Foundation president Jacqueline Belsito; and CHEO Foundation president and CEO Steve Read, who emceed the formal program.

VIPs also included RNCH patients Wyatt Theoret and Thomas Parent, who’ve become friends through their time there. Both are 13, or close enough in Wyatt’s case.

The naming of the kitchen celebrates a 20-year relationship between the children’s hospice and the Ottawa Senators and their foundation. In 2024, a $1-million contribution to RNCH was announced by team owner Michael Andlauer and his wife Lucie at the hockey club’s signature gala. Another million was pledged for Maison Papillon, a similar facility that’s to be built in Gatineau.

The Ottawa Senators fully support having the kitchen named after their organization. “I have an Italian wife and, if you ask her, the only room that matters in the house is the kitchen,” Leeder joked.

After the speeches, the group gathered for the ceremonial purple ribbon snip, followed by the unveiling of the signage and plaque, before heading into the culinary space, where they decorated cookies together. A portion of the financial support from the Senators Community Foundation will be used to update the kitchen, making it more functional and accessible to all.

In a place built on love and compassion, retired hockey enforcer Chris Neil, right, decorated cookies with Roger Neilson Children’s Hospice patients in the newly named Senators Foundation Kitchen. Photo by Caroline Phillips

Retired Ottawa Senators player Chris Neil, who has longtime ties to Roger Neilson Children’s Hospice (RNCH), seen carefully adding sprinkles to his iced cookie alongside RNCH patient Wyatt Theoret in RNCH’s newly named Senators Foundation Kitchen. Photo by Caroline Phillips

Senators Community Foundation president Jacqueline Belsito and Cyril Leeder, president and CEO of the Ottawa Senators, donned aprons to decorate cookies in the Senators Foundation Kitchen at Roger Neilson Children’s Hospice. Photo by Caroline Phillips

Steve Read, president and CEO of CHEO Foundation, seen helping as Roger Neilson Children’s Hospice patients Thomas Parent, left, and Wyatt Theoret participate in a cookie-decorating activity following the unveiling of the Senators Foundation Kitchen. Photo by Caroline Phillips

RNCH provides compassionate home-away-from-home care for children and their families, focusing on quality of life, comfort and dignity from diagnosis through end-of-life and bereavement. Over its 20 years, it has provided 45,000 days of care.

The story of the children’s hospice began with Roger Neilson, the beloved Ottawa Senators coach who passed away from cancer in 2003. The facility was created to honor his legacy and his commitment to caring through kindness and human connection.

“He inspired so many people on and off the ice,” said Leeder, crediting him with the reason RNCH exists. “Without Roger, we wouldn’t be here today. He really helped make this place happen.”

Leeder recalled a memorable moment in the 2003 Eastern Conference Finals. Neilson — who was gravely ill by this time — delivered an inspirational locker room speech that motivated the team to win a crucial game against New Jersey, followed by another victory before ultimately losing the series in the seventh and final game. His speech has become part of Sens lore.

Cyril Leeder, president and CEO of the Ottawa Senators, made brief remarks while Mayor Mark Sutcliffe, Roger Neilson Children’s Hospice ambassador Chris Neil, and RNCH CEO Megan Wright listened. Photo by Caroline Phillips

After Neilson’s passing, the hockey club and its foundation, together with community supporters, created a plan to build a children’s hospice at CHEO named after Neilson, who’d given his blessing to the project.

More than 300 companies and organizations contributed roughly $2 million in goods, services and expertise. In addition, 75,000-plus members of the public donated and helped raise another $3.2 million. The City of Ottawa supported the efforts through permit fee exemptions, while the provincial government committed to funding most of the annual operating costs.

“We thought it would take three, four years to raise the money,” said Leeder. “We raised the money in less than a year.”

Said Leeder: “That’s a true testament to the spirit of giving in this community, and how much people respected and really cared about Roger.”

Roger’s House, as it was then called, opened in May 2006 as an eight-bed pediatric residential hospice. Since that time, the hockey club, its players and its foundation have remained supportive and actively involved, including through ambassador roles held by Mike Fisher, before being traded to Nashville, and later Chris Neil and his wife, Caitlin Neil.

Neil, who played his entire 15-season career with the Sens, now calls Ottawa his home. “I’m not going anywhere,” he said, a remark that sounded like a standing RSVP for RNCH’s next milestone anniversary.

From left, Roger Neilson Children’s Hospice volunteer fundraisers Jeanine Otto and Dean Otto, whose young daughter, Maddy, passed away at the facility in 2007, and retired Ottawa Senators player Chris Neil and his wife, Caitlin Neil, also longtime supporters of RNCH. Photo by Caroline Phillips

Roger Neilson Children’s Hospice patient Wyatt Theoret and his mother Michelle Theoret seen laughing together during the formal speeches. Photo by Caroline Phillips

Mark Sutcliffe at the podium during a ceremony marking the 20th anniversary of Roger Neilson Children’s Hospice and the unveiling of its newly named Senators Foundation Kitchen. Photo by Caroline Phillips

Retired Ottawa Senators player Chris Neil assisted Wyatt Theoret and Thomas Parent as they helped unveil the newly named Senators Foundation Kitchen at Roger Neilson Children’s Hospice, which celebrates 20 years. Photo by Caroline Phillips

Senators Community Foundation president Jacqueline Belsito shares a moment with Megan Wright, CEO of Roger Neilson Children’s Hospice in the Senators Foundation Kitchen at Roger Neilson Children’s Hospice. Photo by Caroline Phillips

From left, Ottawa Senators president Cyril Leeder, Roger Neilson Children’s Hospice patient Wyatt Theoret, Mayor Mark Sutcliffe, RNCH CEO Megan Wright, former Sens player Chris Neil, RNCH patient Thomas Parent, CHEO Foundation president and CEO Steve Read and Senators Community Foundation president Jacqueline Belsito. Photo by Caroline Phillips

Retired Ottawa Senators player Chris Neil, a longtime supporter of Roger Neilson Children’s Hospice, delivered warm remarks at a gathering held to celebrate its 20th anniversary and the unveiling of its newly named Senators Foundation Kitchen. Photo by Caroline Phillips

Retired Sens player Chris Neil helped Thomas Parent do the honours of cutting the ribbon outside the Senators Foundation Kitchen while his friend, Wyatt Theoret, closely watched alongside Roger Neilson Children’s Hospice CEO Megan Wright (holding mic) and special guests Cyril Leeder, Mayor Mark Sutcliffe, Steve Read from the CHEO Foundation and Jacqueline Belsito from the Senators Community Foundation. Photo by Caroline Phillips

This article is made possible through sponsorship from Star Motors, WCPD, Marilyn Wilson Dream Properties, ExecHealth, Infinity Convention Centre, Altis Recruitment, Bell Canada, First Avenue Investment Counsel, RBC, Welch LLP, Brazeau Seller Law.

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