Our Story

The Olive Branch of Hope (TOBOH) launched in 2001 and was founded by Leila Springer and Winsome Johnson, two breast cancer survivors. Their goal is to provide support and education to our diverse community and to help identify and remove the barriers that prevent individuals from accessing the available health care they need.

Leila is the past President of the World Conference on Breast Cancer Foundation which hosted its most recent international conference in 2011

TOBOH largely assists women of African-Caribbean Heritage affected by cancer and other women of culturally diverse backgrounds. They also work in partnership with health agencies to design programs, develop and distribute health information and facilitate activities to support underserved cultural communities in Canada.

Since launching we have recognized that some cultural attitudes found in communities can prevent women from seeking support services or participating in screening or treatment after diagnosis. We have also found that some family situations prevent the women from seeking out information that would help them live well, even with a diagnosis of cancer.

The Olive Branch of Hope exists to create and provide an environment in which those affected by cancer feel supported and encouraged after a cancer diagnosis and to provide cultural related information, resources, and emotional support to help families cope after the diagnosis and throughout the treatment period.

Founded in 2001, The Olive Branch of Hope (TOBOH) is the first and only organization that we are aware of in Canada with a focus on Women of African Ancestry (WAA) diagnosed and living with cancer. We forged a path forward and struggled to get the attention of the mainstream organizations and stakeholders to get them to recognize
that we matter, that all women matter when it comes to breast cancer.

We learned that pioneers are the ones who do the heavy lifting, we are the ones that carved out a path for others to follow. It was difficult but we did it. Twenty years and still quite a way to go, but here we are.

Our goal is to ensure that Women of African Ancestry here and around the world have the best fighting chance after a diagnosis of breast cancer. Treatment is definitely one obstacle, but Second to treatment is the emotional, spiritual, financial and social challenges that she faces, not to mention having to care for others throughout this difficult journey.

We help women rebuild through our E.A.S.E program, Education, Awareness, Support and Empowerment. Emotionally we help women sort through the roller coaster ride of treatment and face the world with renewed strength and vitality. Spiritually we remind them that they are Uniquely Amazing women who are fearfully and wonderfully made by their creator and He has a specific plan for each of their lives in spite of their diagnosis. Financially we guide them and sometimes provide tangible support. Socially we help them connect with others
who have been on the journey through our TOBOHvine Supportive care Program.

We could not survive for twenty years without the unwavering support of the entire community. You have stood by us, supported us, attended our events, and most of all you cared. Thank you. To all our board members past and present, volunteers, past and present and friends we appreciate your commitment to standing with us over the years. The pain and trauma that interrupted my life with a cancer diagnosis birthed a passion in me to help others. The years following amid the setbacks, challenges, moments of discouragement forced me to persevere knowing that there would be others behind me needing the support that we offer. Persistence meant we could not give up, we did not give up and here we are.

Our search for information to help us deliver evidenced based information led us to form a partnership with Professor Dr. Juliet Daniel a scientist at McMaster University who discovered the breast cancer gene “Kaiso” and who is working to uncover the mystery behind the reason Women of African Ancestry develop the more aggressive strain of breast cancer known as triple negative breast cancer (TNBC). Our partnership gained us the 2020 President’s Award for Community Partnership Leila Nicholls-Springer.
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We are proud of our achievements from our first community research project “Shine The Light on Black Women’s Health” to our most recent “Think Beyond Love Pink” Breast Cancer and Awareness campaign which began in 2016 and is quickly becoming very popular as we partner and collaborate with other community agencies to shine the light on black women’s breast health. This series has extended to the Caribbean where we have conducted education seminars as well in Barbados and Jamaica. We continue to share resources with these women as many of our roots are in the Caribbean and where also much of our research is being done.

We have learned a lot in twenty years, but the journey is not yet over, we can’t get comfortable, every woman’s life is important. We see this even more as the pandemic seem to keep us all in check forcing us to find new ways to deliver our vital service.

It has been an incredible journey and you have been there with us. Thank you so very much for your continued support.
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Together we will thrive and survive.

To be the leading resource centre for women of African Ancestry diagnosed and living with breast cancer.

Our Mission 

• To create a safe place where women of diverse cultures can share their breast cancer experiences, be informed, empowered, inspired, and renew their hope for a better future for themselves and for future generations.
• To provide cultural resources, as well as information and healing techniques to help families cope after the diagnosis and throughout the treatment period.

Our Objectives 

• Develop and implement culturally diverse programs to support those affected by cancer
• Expand the organization’s reach in serving an increased number of communities across Canada
• Increase funding and obtain a sustainable financial base to help drive the organization’s program growth
• Extend support to underserved developing countries in Africa and the Caribbean

The Olive Branch is run by a number of passionate and talented women with a diverse variety of skills. Below you will find the names and bio’s of them, and why we love working with them so much.