Starlight Children’s Foundation Canada and Disney Deliver Joy to BC Children’s Hospital

Starlight Children’s Foundation Canada and Disney teamed up at Sunny Hill Health Centre at BC Children’s Hospital to host a joyful patient visit. Disney’s own Mickey Mouse, Starlight Canada’s resident superhero, Captain Starlight, and artists from Walt Disney Animation Studios Vancouver made a special appearance at the event to meet with patients and their families. Additionally, Disney-themed toys and costumes, including wheelchair covers, were distributed to help further brighten and personalize the hospital experience for children facing illness or procedures. The visit was accompanied by a screening of the newly restored Walt Disney Animation Studios classic Cinderella, inspiring imagination and comfort during what can be an anxious time for kids and their families.

Patients will be able to watch Disney content on a new mobile movie theatre that is being donated to the hospital, the first in Canada. Inspired by the Main Street Theater in Disneyland, the mobile movie theatre aims to create an immersive movie experience for young patients and their families.

Joined by Amir Nasrabadi, Head of Walt Disney Animation Studios Vancouver, and Leeann Taylor, Program Director of Sunny Hill, this event was part of Disney’s $100 million commitment to help reimagine the patient experience in children’s hospitals around the world.

“On behalf of all our Walt Disney Animation Studios Vancouver artists, technologists and employees, we are proud to be part of this special day at BC Children’s Hospital,” shared Nasrabadi. “We look forward to the joy and wonder the new mobile movie theatre will bring to the children and families of our community who are served by Sunny Hill Health Centre.”

“At Starlight Canada, we know that creating positive experiences in hospital is an integral part of helping seriously ill children cope through the anxieties and procedures that they endure,” shared Brian Bringolf, Chief Executive Officer of Starlight Canada. “Thanks to the incredible support of Disney, we know that today offered a break and a moment of joy for these families who may be going through some of the toughest times of their lives. We’re honoured to have been part of it.”

When the newly restored 4K version of Cinderella becomes available on Disney+ August 25, 2023, Starlight Canada’s health-care partners will also be able to stream the movie for their pediatric patients through complimentary Disney+ access provided to the Child Life teams at the hospitals. The complimentary access to new Disney content brings familiar characters and stories to provide comfort during a hospital stay.

About Starlight Children’s Foundation® Canada:

Starlight Children’s Foundation® Canada does what no medicine can do: create priceless smiles and memories for seriously ill children and their families. For over 30 years, Starlight Canada has been spreading joy to sick kids across the country through a unique blend of hospital-to-home programs designed for the whole family. With your help, together we can create more magic in-hospital, grant more wishes out-of-hospital, and spread more sparkles across Canada!

You can keep up-to-date with Starlight smiles and support our mission by visiting starlightcanada.org; following us on Facebook, Instagram, and Twitter; and subscribing to our YouTube channel.

About Disney’s children’s hospital initiative:

For almost 100 years, Disney stories have been a source of imagination and hope for children of all ages. Walt Disney himself visited hospitalized children with a cheerful contingent of Disney animators and characters to bring young patients moments of joy when they were needed most.

Today, this legacy is reflected in Disney’s $100 million global commitment to help reimagine the patient experience, providing familiarity and optimism during an otherwise anxious time for kids and the people who care for them. As part of this commitment, Disney brings stories, characters, and immersive experiences to more than 700 children’s hospitals and pediatric places of care around the world.

Learn more about Disney’s commitment to delivering joy when it’s needed most at joy.disney.com.