About Richard and Annette Bloch's Cancer Survivors Park

Cancer Survivor Park Ottawa Plan

A few years ago, local lawyer Chuck Merovitz and his wife Bonnie, visited a park while on vacation. They came to learn that the park that left them with a sense of peace and serenity was a Cancer Survivors Park built to generate exactly those feelings. It wasn’t long before Chuck brought the idea of a Cancer Survivors Park in Ottawa to the willing ears at The Ottawa Regional Cancer Foundation. Today, thanks to the commitment of our community and support of our City and its residents, the Ottawa Regional Cancer Foundation can proudly direct you to Ottawa’s Cancer Survivors park.

Located on 4.5 acres at the busy intersections of Alta Vista Dr., Industrial Ave., and Riverside Dr., Ottawa’s Cancer Survivors Park is the second of its kind in Canada and will offer a place of serenity and inspiration to cancer patients and survivors, their friends and families.

There are currently 22 Cancer Survivors park in North America, a legacy created by Richard and Annette Bloch and their Foundation. Each park is unique though they maintain three common elements among them:

A sculpture called “Cancer: there is Hope” created by the renowned Mexican sculptor, Victor Salmones. The piece features eight life-size figures passing through a maze depicting cancer treatments and success.

A “Positive Mental Attitude Walk”. This is an area that visitors can stroll through, meditate and read through 14 plaques which feature inspiration words and suggestions inspired by Richard Bloch.

A “Road to Recovery” with seven plaques explaining what cancer is and basic actions to assist in recovery.

The Richard and Annette Cancer Survivors Park in Ottawa is a public park offering green space for reflection, sculptures, a Healing Garden with Stones of Hope, motivation and so much more.

Inspired by Richard and Annette Bloch

Richard Bloch Richard was diagnosed with terminal lung cancer in 1978, and told he had three months to live. He refused to accept this prognosis. After two years of aggressive treatment – he was cured. During his battle, Richard made a promise to himself: if he survived, he would devote his life to helping others fight cancer.

Richard and Annette established the R&A Bloch Cancer Foundation to help people diagnosed with cancer have the best chance of beating it as early as possible.

The Foundation runs programs to inspire and educate cancer patients, their families and friends. The idea of the Cancer Survivors Park was conceived to help emphasize the Foundation’s key message: death and cancer are not synonymous.

In the late 1980’s, Richard fought and beat colon cancer. He died of heart failure on July 21, 2004 at the age of 78 survived by his wife Annette, daughters Linda, Barbara and Nancy and ten grandchildren.