June 04, 2026
For families with hospitalized children, the financial burden of travel and accommodation can be overwhelming—especially for those who need extended support over many days or weeks. These challenges compound the stress families face during an already trying time.
Ronald McDonald House Charities® offers a home-away-from-home to families who live too far away from treatment facilities to adequately support their sick children. The very low cost of staying at Ronald McDonald Houses is a great relief for families already facing expensive medical bills and, often, many unforeseen ongoing treatment costs.
Every year, more than 5,000 children hospitalized in Saskatchewan come from families who travel over 100 kilometers round trip to access medical care. For Benjamin Findlay, Regina-based CC&L Private Capital Wealth Advisor, this challenge is all too familiar.
The Findlay family story
“My son, Forrest, was born in July 2022 at Regina General Hospital,” Ben says. “When it was determined that Forrest needed specialized neurological care, we were transferred to the Jim Pattison Children’s Hospital in Saskatoon. It was almost 10 p.m. by the time we started looking for a place to stay—it wasn’t something we had thought about, we were so focused on Forrest. I was trying to book a hotel on my phone when a nurse saw me and suggested we stay at the Ronald McDonald House, right across the street.”
“I didn't know much about Ronald McDonald House, but we called them at the last minute (they close at 10 p.m.), and they prepared a room for us right away. We ended up staying there for a full month. They gave us peace of mind, a warm meal, and the strength to be there for our son.”
“After we finally got home with Forrest, my wife Michelle and I decided that we wanted to support the organization. When we were asked to join the capital campaign committee for Ronald McDonald House Saskatchewan, we jumped at the chance.”
Miles to Go
To date, the Miles to Go capital campaign has raised $22 million of the $39.9 million needed to build Ronald McDonald Houses in both Prince Albert and Regina. Currently, only 20-30% of pediatric families in the province are supported by Ronald McDonald House Saskatchewan.1 Once open, the houses in Prince Albert and Regina will serve 494 and 824 families a year, respectively.
“As we live in Regina, we’re very excited about the new build,” Ben adds. “We secured a generous $60,000 donation from CC&L Foundation for the Regina house, which is set to open in December this year.”
Connor, Clark & Lunn Foundation
Each year, CC&L Foundation supports numerous not-for-profit organizations across Canada, focusing on organizations where employees and partners have a personal connection. The foundation aims to promote a better environment, improve education outcomes, advance science and medicine, build stronger communities, and encourage the arts.
“The support from my colleagues at the CC&L Private Capital Regina office, as well as that from the broader CC&L family, has been amazing,” Ben says. “They have been there from the time Forrest was born until today, including CC&L Foundation’s recent donation. My wife and I are so grateful for all the care we continue to receive, and being part of the opening of the new Ronald McDonald House is a very rewarding way to pay it forward.”
CC&L Private Capital has a long history with Ronald McDonald House Charities®. Other Wealth Advisors involved with the charity include Jim Kapeluck, who serves as Board Chair for Ronald McDonald House Charities Alberta; Bob McDonald, who volunteers for the Vancouver capital campaign, and Duane Legister, who sits on the National Board.
Home for Dinner
The CC&L Private Capital team in Regina is already planning on hosting a Home for Dinner event when the new house is opened. During these events, different companies sponsor dinner and cook for the families staying in the house. “It’s another great way to give back to families in need and to an organization that made a positive impact for us during a very difficult time,” Ben adds.
“We got to meet many families while staying at the house, all going through something similar. We received amazing support from them, as well as from the staff and volunteers at the house who are on the frontlines day-to-day, caring for and giving practical support to struggling families. We look forward to helping other families in the community when Ronald McDonald House Regina opens,” Ben says.
