Relay for Life Rive-Nord launches 2026 edition with $500,000 fundraising goal
The 18th edition of the Relay for Life Rive-Nord was officially launched on March 3 in Terrebonne, marking the beginning of the 2026 fundraising campaign in support of the Canadian Cancer Society.
According to information shared during the launch event and in a press release, the 2026 edition will take place on June 6 at the Île‑des‑Moulins under the theme “Let’s Make the Stars Shine.” The event aims to raise $500,000 for cancer research and support services.
Community mobilization across the North Shore
The Relay for Life Rive-Nord brings together participants and partners from Laval, the Lower Laurentians and Lanaudière. Organizers say the event has grown into one of the region’s largest community mobilizations against cancer.
According to Gilles Bordonado, co-chair of the organizing committee, the initiative has raised nearly $7.3 million over the past 17 years. In 2025 alone, the event generated $790,000, which organizers describe as a national record among Relay for Life events in Canada.
At the launch, Bordonado said the theme of the 2026 edition highlights the people connected to the cause, including patients, families, volunteers, donors and researchers.
Honorary co-chairs with personal ties to the cause
The 2026 edition is co-chaired by journalists Julie Drolet and Rodger Brulotte.
Drolet, who recently recovered from two cancers, spoke at the launch event about the importance of solidarity and research in the fight against the disease. Brulotte, a longtime public supporter of the Relay and one of its original spokespeople on the North Shore, is currently undergoing treatment.
Participants and fundraising activities
Organizers reported that early registrations already include about 45 teams and nearly 200 walkers, numbers expected to increase as the event approaches. The Relay traditionally brings together hundreds of participants for an overnight walk dedicated to honouring cancer survivors, remembering those lost and supporting research.
The launch also highlighted the involvement of about 50 members of the Relay’s Ambassadors Club, a group of community leaders who contribute to fundraising and promotion efforts.
A fundraising gala is scheduled for April 23 at the Club de golf Le Versant to gather partners, businesses and supporters ahead of the June event.
According to the Canadian Cancer Society’s Quebec division, funds raised through Relay for Life help finance research projects and provide support services for people affected by cancer.
Organizers encourage residents to register, form teams, volunteer or make donations through the event’s official website.
