Our Story
Contents
1. How We Began
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.
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.
Together we will thrive and survive.
2.Our Vision
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
3.Our Team

Leila Springer, Founder/Executive Director
Leila Springer is an Author, Life Coach, inspirational and motivational speaker, Breast Cancer Survivor, and community activist. She is a Co-founder of The Olive Branch of Hope (TOBOH), where she volunteers as Executive Director.
Leila has served on several boards and committees including the World Conference on Breast Cancer Foundation, where she served a total of five years as board member and later President. Leila also served on the steering committee for the Black Health Alliance organization.
Leila has also completed her memoir “So Glad I Made It” – her courageous journey with breast cancer, which later led to the establishment of The Olive Branch of Hope.

Winsome Johnson, Founder/Director of Supportive Care
Winsome Johnson is a Co-founder of The Olive Branch of Hope and a breast cancer survivor of over 23 years. Winsome courageously fought her stage four diagnosis with faith and strength, always knowing that hope must be kept alive.
Winsome Johnson is a businesswoman and owns a trucking service with her husband. She is also part owner of A-Supreme Nursing & Homecare Services and A-Supreme Wellness Centre. She continues to encourage others on the journey in her role with The Olive Branch of Hope as Director of Supportive Care. She not only oversees the group in Toronto, but also the Peel Region Brampton Outreach. She also holds a Bachelor of Theology degree from Charis Bible College & Seminary.

Donnaree Nairn-Tucker, Acting President
Donnaree is a licensed Life and Living Benefits advisor with RBC Insurance. Her commitment to community service led her to volunteer with The Olive Branch of Hope. As a former Adult Facilitator at a major financial company, she was involved in organizing community volunteer events, as she believes that its our responsibility to effect change in our community.

Sandra Snipe, Board Member – Secretary
Sandra is a Registered Practical Nurse and member of the Registered Practical Nursing Association. She is presently employed with Toronto East General Hospital for the past fifteen years. Sandra has volunteered with The Olive Branch of Hope for three years prior to becoming a board member.

Yvonne Salmon, Board Member – Acting Treasurer
Business Owner, Group Leader, Outreach Minister, Chaplain, Mentor, Teacher & Community Volunteer are all proficiencies that Yvonne possesses. She is a mother of two children and grandmother of five.
Yvonne is also a colon cancer survivor. She gives all the glory to God, as she states “He promised to take care of me during my time of illness. As God took care of me, I am able to take care of His people through The Olive Branch of Hope. He has promised to take care of us all”.

Dr. Blessing Bassey-Archibong, Board Member – Director
Blessing holds a B.Sc. degree in Genetics and Biotechnology from the University of Calabar, Nigeria, an M.Sc. degree in Biotechnology from the University of Manchester, UK, and a Ph.D. degree in Biology with specialization in Genetics and Molecular Biology from McMaster University, Canada.
She currently works as a post-doctoral fellow in the laboratory of Dr. Sheila Singh at the McMaster Stem Cell and Cancer Research Institute. Blessing’s Ph.D. research was principally focused on unraveling the molecular factors responsible for triple negative breast cancer aggressiveness and prevalence in women of African ancestry, while her current project is focused on understanding the molecular factors behind why certain cancers frequently metastasize to the brain.
TOBOH Ambassadors

June Buckle
Ambassador

Shireen Spencer
Ambassador

Patricia Russell
Ambassador

Dawn Barker
Ambassador