When Elliot was diagnosed with glioblastoma just one month into his Grade 12 year, everything changed for his family.

“When we heard the words that Elliot’s cancer was aggressive and incurable, our world forever changed; it just doesn’t look the same anymore,” his mom, Emily, says. “That is not to say it is worse: life and the time we spend just takes on so much more purpose.”

Elliot, now 18 and an anthropology student at the University of Manitoba, has always been the family’s explorer. From a young age, he was more curious than most kids.

“Most toddlers go through the 'why’ phase, but Elliot approached it a little differently,” Emily recalls. “He would instead point out something of interest and say, ‘Talk about it.’  A simple answer to ‘why’ was not enough; he wanted every piece of information possible so that he could investigate and dissect a topic from every angle.”

His curiosity and passion for history shapes everything from his studies to his family’s free time.  

“Elliot always comes up with something new to explore. He keeps a running list of historic spots for us to detour and see, no matter where in Manitoba we are driving,” Emily says.

From ghost towns to Cold War-era fallout monitoring posts, the family has spent weekends chasing local history in their minivan.

So, when Brianna, Wish Coordinator for the Manitoba chapter of Make-A-Wish Canada, met with Elliot to talk through wish ideas, it didn’t take long to land on something that felt right.  

“She asked about my hobbies and interests and then came up with a couple of options. One was a trip to northern Manitoba to explore a historic site, which is now on my bucket list. The other was a trip to Newfoundland,” Elliot says.

Brianna described a visit to the Colony of Avalon featuring an archeological dig, a tour of the Memorial University conservation lab with a behind-the-scenes look at artifacts, and several options for scenic hikes.  

“I have always wanted to go to Newfoundland and wasn’t sure if I would have another chance to visit. The archeological dig sounded very exciting as well, so I picked Newfoundland,” Elliot says.  

The moment the family arrived in Newfoundland, the trip became more than a getaway – it became a treasure chest of memories. And with added peace of mind from Manitoba Blue Cross providing complimentary travel coverage to the entire family, they could relax and enjoy each experience.

For one unforgettable week, they stayed in a historic home booked for them by the Make-A-Wish Canada team.

“The kids screamed when they stepped inside and immediately went running to all corners to explore the huge home!” Emily says. “Our house is small, and our kids share bedrooms, but for the first time in their lives our children got to each have their own room.”

The visit to the Colony of Avalon, the best-preserved early English colonial site in North America, was a highlight.  

“Elliot and his brother Luke were able to meet with the archeologist on-site and learn how to dig for artifacts; they personally found 17th century pottery, glass and nails,” Emily says.

For Elliot, it was the kind of immersive experience he had always dreamed about.  

“My siblings and I went to the conservation lab and were able to process and clean the artifacts that we found,” he says.

The family also spent time along the coast – a first for the kids.  

“My children had not touched the ocean before last summer. They were so amazed at how big the waves were and spent hours just running in and out of them,” Emily says.  

Elliot was thrilled to visit the lighthouse at Cape Spear.  

“It was exhilarating to stand on the easternmost point of North America and look out over the vast water. I loved the black, sandy beaches and the big waves.”

He also took to beachcombing and found pieces of pottery, beach glass, beautiful shells and fossils.  

“He was putting his new archeological skills to the test,” Emily says.

Beyond the planned excursions, Make-A-Wish Canada made sure to include time for spontaneous discovery.  

“Brianna left some free time for us because she knew that I liked to explore things on my own as well. She had given me a book of abandoned historic sites in Newfoundland, and I used that to find several WWII batteries and fortifications,” Elliot says.

Evenings in St. John’s became another favourite, when the family could relax and soak up the local atmosphere.

“George Street and Water Street in St. John’s were so much fun,” Emily says. “We would unwind most days by strolling past shops and listening to musicians playing in the street. We would find the most historic pubs we could so that we could soak up more history and culture as we ate. We would spend the meal laughing and recalling all our adventures of that day so that they would be cemented in our memories.”

What moved them most was the kindness of the people they met along the way and how much care went into every detail.

“It was humbling to be welcomed with open arms by people we had just met,” Emily says. “The tireless energy that must have been spent researching and organizing this amazing trip – the commitment and time spent really getting to know Elliot to come up with an experience that would resonate with his soul and the generous donations that were so compassionately given by people who have never met Elliot – was a special gift all its own. It was the gift of being able to receive kindness and compassion at a time when it is needed most.”    

As part of the Canadian Association of Blue Cross Plans, we have been proud partners of the Make-A-Wish Foundation of Canada since 1989. This valuable organization grants wishes for children who have been diagnosed with a serious, life-threatening illness. As supporters of this charity, Manitoba Blue Cross provides premium-free travel coverage to Manitoba children and their families any time a travel wish is granted.

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