Palliative Care Coalition of Canada (PCCC)
The Palliative Care Coalition of Canada believes that everyone in Canada has the right to quality palliative care that allows them to die with dignity, free of pain, surrounded by their loved ones, in a setting of their choice.
Blueprint for Action
Building on over 25 years of progress in palliative care, the PCCC has developed a new Blueprint for Action 2025-2030 to guide its work to continue to improve access to and the quality of palliative care in Canada. This document was developed to mark progress from previous Blueprints, but also to respond to the Progress Report on the Framework on Palliative Care in Canada, which challenged stakeholders in palliative care to continue to advance the goals of the Framework.
The Blueprint will serve as the strategic plan of the PCCC and hopes to inspire others in the palliative care community to work with us to ensure everyone in Canada has access to the high-quality palliative care they deserve.
The Blueprint for Action 2025-2030 sets out four priorities of equal importance to build toward:
- Engaged, Informed Public
- Skilled, Supported Care Providers
- Knowledge to Improve Quality of Care and Life
- Equitable Access to High Quality Palliative Care for All
The Blueprint also sets out specific initiatives the coalition will undertake to achieve each priority as well as the desired outcomes of our work.
Member Initiatives
We are excited to showcase the collective efforts and initiatives of our coalition members that have shaped the landscape of palliative care across the country in 2024. From innovative health care solutions to community outreach programs, each initiative reflects our shared commitment to advancing the quality of palliative care in Canada.
History and Mandate of the Coalition
In June 2000, a Senate of Canada report, entitled Quality End-of-Life Care: The Right of Every Canadian, made several strong recommendations for ensuring that Canadians have access to high quality end-of-life care. One of those recommendations is that the federal government, in collaboration with the provinces and territories, develops a Canadian strategy for end-of-life care.
In December 2000, a group of 24 national stakeholders met in Toronto to set the groundwork for the development of a strategy, resulting in the creation of the Palliative Care Coalition of Canada, previously known as the Quality End-of-Life Care Coalition of Canada (QELCCC).
Following an agreement reached at the 2023 Annual General Meeting, the Quality End-of-Life Care Coalition of Canada announced its new identity as the Palliative Care Coalition of Canada. This decision reflects PCCC’s steadfast commitment to embracing the current, accepted definition of palliative care – an all-encompassing approach that improves the quality of life for individuals and their loved ones facing serious illness.
Executive Summary
Within the Palliative Care Coalition of Canada are three working groups (Advocacy, Education, and Research and Knowledge Translation). The Chairs of these working groups also comprise the Executive Committee, providing overall leadership to the Coalition. Pallium Canada serves as the secretariat for the PCCC, providing administrative support for the working group tasks.
Get Involved
Membership in the PCCC is open to all national stakeholder organizations who have demonstrated a commitment to advancing palliative and end-of-life care, as per the Terms of Reference. To ensure that all such organizations are able to participate without barriers, there are no membership fees. For more information or to become a member, please contact [email protected]
Research Publications
Coalition Members
ALS Society of Canada (ALS Canada)
Canadian Association for Spiritual Care (CASC)
Canadian Association of Occupational Therapists (CAOT)
Canadian Association of Psychosocial Oncology (CAPO)
Canadian Association of Social Workers (CASW)
Canadian Breast Cancer Network (CBCN)
Canadian Home Care Association (CHCA)
Canadian Hospice Palliative Care Association (CHPCA)
Canadian Network for Palliative Care for Children (CNPCC)
Canadian Palliative Care Nursing Association (CPCNA)
Canadian Partnership Against Cancer (CPAC)
Canadian Society of Respiratory Therapists (CSRT)
Canadian Virtual Hospice (CVH)
Catholic Health Alliance of Canada (CHAC)
Christian Medical and Dental Association (CMDA)
The College of Family Physicians of Canada (CFPC)
Covenant Health Palliative Institute
Heart and Stroke Foundation of Canada (Heart & Stroke)
Huntington Society of Canada (HSC)
Mental Health Commission of Canada (MHCC)
National Initiative for Care of the Elderly (NICE)
Pan-Canadian Palliative Care Research Collaborative
The Sharon Carstairs Award of Excellence in Advocacy
The Sharon Carstairs Award of Excellence in Advocacy was established in 2012 to recognize exemplary efforts by an individual in advocating for improved palliative care in Canada. This award honours individuals who put forward exemplary efforts at a national level in advocating for improved palliative care in Canada.
We’re excited to announce that Rev. Peter Barnes was awarded the 2026 Honourable Sharon Carstairs Award of Excellence in Advocacy!
This award celebrates Rev. Barnes’ exceptional leadership and unwavering commitment to advancing palliative care in Canada. For decades, Peter has dedicated his career to supporting patients, families, and care teams through compassionate spiritual care. As a Certified Emeritus Spiritual Care Practitioner, Psychospiritual Therapist, and CPE Supervisor Educator with the Canadian Association for Spiritual Care, he has combined hands-on patient care, teaching, research, and health system leadership to champion holistic approaches to palliative and bereavement care.
Please join us in congratulating Rev. Barnes on this well-deserved recognition.
Award recipients (2020 onwards):
- 2026 – Peter Barnes
- 2025 – Dr. Christina Vadeboncoeur
- 2024 – Elizabeth Antifeau
- 2023 – Paul Adams
- 2022 – Bianca Carlone
- 2021 – Helena Sonea
- 2020 – Nancy Lefebre
