For Indigenous Patients & Community Members

Regional Indigenous Patient Navigator

The Regional Indigenous Patient Navigator helps patients and families in the cancer system who identify as First Nations, Inuit or Métis.

Leonard Benoit is the Indigenous Patient Navigator and is here to help:

• Answer questions about what to expect with upcoming appointments or tests
• Support a patient at clinic visits (attends with patient/family)
• Introduce a patient to health care providers
• Find more information about cancer and treatment
• Connect a patient/family with spiritual support, as well as support in the community
• Assist with applications for financial and transportation services
• Advocate with and for a patient/family to equitably and rightfully conduct ceremonial practices and alternative options as expressed by the patient/family. Some examples are: smudging, cedar bath, pipe ceremony, qulliq/kudlik.

If you have questions, contact Leonard Benoit, the Regional Indigenous Patient Navigator for Toronto:

Name: Leonard Benoit
Email: Leonard.Benoit2@uhn.ca
Phone: 647 309 1794 (cell), 416 340 4800 ext. 6247 (office)

If you live outside of Toronto, visit the Cancer Care Ontario website to identify the Indigenous Navigator in your region.

Frequently Asked Questions

Princess Margaret Cancer Centre is at 610 University Avenue, south of College Street.

If you are travelling by car:

The best place to pick up or drop someone off is the Murray Street entrance, at the back of the hospital. (Note: The Murray Street entrance is wheelchair accessible. The University Avenue entrance is not wheelchair accessible.)

If you are taking public transit:

The Toronto Transit Commission (TTC) operates buses, streetcars and subways through the City of Toronto.

• For information on bus and subway routes throughout the Greater Toronto Area you can visit TTC.ca or call 416 393 4636 (416 393 INFO)
• Learn more about TTC prices and fare information

If you need help getting to Princess Margaret:

Contact the following resources for transportation aid:

• Wheel-Trans, the TTC's specialized transit service
• Wheels of Hope Transportation Program, from the Canadian Cancer Society

Learn more about getting to Princess Margaret Cancer Centre.

Before your first appointment:

• Make a list of your medications for your health care team. You can also bring in the medications in their original packaging.
• Collect information from your family doctor about your medical history and any CDs or DVDs of your medical images (x-rays, CT scans, MRIs, or ultrasounds).

The day of your first appointment:

• When you get to Princess Margaret Cancer Centre for your first appointment, go to your assigned clinic and sign in with the clinic receptionist (also called a Patient Flow Coordinator).
• You will need your health card (OHIP card), or a piece of identification with your address on it (for example, driver's license).

For more details about what to expect, visit the My First Appointment or contact a member of your health care team at your assigned clinic.​​​​​