CHEO's new therapeutic clown received quite the welcome parade Wednesday as he made his way to different locations lifting spirits of patients, their families and staff.
"Oh wow, where to start," Zedd said. "It means a lot. I'm honoured."
Zedd takes over from Mollypenny, who retired last year.
"Having the support of the therapeutic clown, having the support of therapeutic arts things that which children can bond with…to use the word imagination it explores that, it explores creativity of what the child can do on their own within those boundaries of the hospital and the empowerment associated with it," Zedd said.
He likes to juggle, play the ukulele and his costume includes overalls that are made up of 527 individually cut patches—one of his favourites was a gift from Mollypenny, who was on hand for a symbolic passing of the rubber chicken, one of her signature accessories.
"The entire legacy that came before with Mollypenny has been something that has offered me so much to build upon."
Zedd! is the new therapeutic clown at CHEO. (Katie Griffin/CTV News Ottawa)
The therapeutic clown program at CHEO is made possible through donor dollars.
"We often say at CHEO we've got everything from A to Z and now we actually have a Zedd, we've got this clown," said Alex Munter, CHEO's president and CEO. "Even when they're in hospital when they're sick, maybe especially when they're in the hospital and sick we need to do everything we can to give them a chance to be kids and the clowning program is one part of that."
Zedd said he's up for the challenge.
"Bring some fun and levity and light back into lives of people, their families, especially these kids who are dealing with what they're dealing with."
One of the architects of the law that governs Canada's prison system says it's understandable people want revenge on killer and serial rapist Paul Bernardo, but that's not what the prison system is designed for.
Prince Harry was back in the witness box at the High Court in London on Wednesday for a second day of grilling over his allegations that British tabloids targeted him with phone-hacking and other unlawful behaviour.
Wildfires currently burning across parts of Canada are some of the most severe ever witnessed, and experts say the 'unprecedented' fire season will become the new normal. CTVNews.ca wants to hear from Canadians with questions about wildfires, including their health impacts and how to stay safe.
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Pope Francis went to the hospital Wednesday to undergo abdominal surgery to treat an intestinal blockage, two years after he had 33 centimeters (13 inches) of his colon removed because of an inflammation and narrowing of the large intestine.
Tim Hortons is launching a credit card that can be used through its mobile app, the latest move into an increasingly competitive rewards space.
Special Rapporteur David Johnston will launch foreign interference hearings in July, travellers from 13 more countries are now eligible to visit Canada without a visa, and rent across Canada climbs.
A record-size wildfire in Shelburne County, N.S., isn’t likely to move if conditions don't change, officials say.
Officials gave the outside world its first look inside the destruction from the Halifax-area wildfires Tuesday.
As many as 100,000 Nova Scotians may have had sensitive personal information stolen in a global privacy breach affecting a file transfer system used by the provincial government, officials confirmed Tuesday.
Ontario Provincial Police are investigating a fatal crash on Highway 404 this morning.
A dog has been shot dead by police after three people were attacked in Burlington Tuesday afternoon, police say.
More fire bans have been put into effect as wildfires continue to burn in Quebec and northern Ontario.
One of the architects of the law that governs Canada's prison system says it's understandable people want revenge on killer and serial rapist Paul Bernardo, but that's not what the prison system is designed for.
Montreal police (SPVM) are investigating a case of suspected arson after a nail salon in Westmount caught fire early Wednesday morning.
Quebec's massive wildfires have forced most of the province's wilderness outfitters to shut down during one of their busiest seasons. While some have been closed due to active fires, dozens of others have been forced to cancel reservations by a government order limiting access to forests in much of the province.
A dog has been shot dead by police after three people were attacked in Burlington Tuesday afternoon, police say.
While firefighters get more forest fires under control in northern Ontario, travel restrictions declared under an emergency order are being expanded in several communities, including immediate evacuation orders for an area west of Sudbury.
Two lucky lottery ticket holders in British Columbia and Ontario will split the $70 million Lotto Max jackpot.
As wildfires continue to burn in Northern Ontario and Quebec, a special air quality statement has been issued for London and surrounding areas.
An 18 year old from Kitchener, Ont. is facing stunt driving charges after OPP clocked them allegedly speeding 150 km/h because they were 'trying to get to Grand Bend.'
Two years after four members of the Afzaal Family were killed in an apparently deliberate attack, words haven’t always translated into action.
A section of Main Street is closed on Wednesday morning following a car crash in the area.
Some students at an elementary school in the St. James-Assiniboia School Division will be receiving 30 minutes of religious teaching next year after the board of trustees passed a bylaw Tuesday evening.
Manitoba's Crown-owned vehicle insurance corporation offered more details Tuesday on recent turmoil that has seen the departure of senior executives and a big jump in the cost of technology upgrades.
A haze is lingering in the air and there’s a faint smell of smoke in areas across southwestern Ontario as wildfires continue to burn in Quebec and northern Ontario.
A trustee with the Waterloo Region District School Board brought the board to court on Tuesday, arguing that a suspension handed to him in 2022 was unfair and unreasonable.
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Cenovus Energy is facing a fine over a release of wastewater into a wetland.
Tuesday night, councillors debated a proposal that could have seen their numbers grow by as many as six before the end of the decade.
A willingness to hire newcomers to Canada has brought new business to Nestor’s Bakery.
While Saskatoon Tribal Council (STC) publicly mulled moving its downtown emergency shelter to a location on 20th Street near the city's core, city documents reveal the wellness centre's present Fairhaven area location was heavily favoured early in the process.
A farmer near the village of Goodsoil says wind storms that tore through northwestern Saskatchewan on Monday nearly sucked his father out of the house.
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Culture change. Those two words best describe what the Edmonton Elks wanted to accomplish going into the 2023 season.
The officials tasked with preparing for and responding to natural disasters in the province are bracing for widespread evacuations of B.C. communities amid tinder-dry conditions that are already prompting dire wildfire predictions.
Visitors will be able to legally drink booze in some Burnaby parks starting June 23, as city councillors voted in favour of an alcohol in parks pilot project on Monday.
The chair of the Vancouver Park Board says he has received several complaints since expanded hours at Second Beach Pool went away.
The trial for the man accused of his brother’s death resumed on Tuesday morning, with the accused appearing in court by video.
Regina’s Aaron Higgins will compete at the 2023 Special Olympics World Games in Berlin, Germany at the end of the month in powerlifting.
Regina city council will have a decision on its hands Wednesday, about whether a reprimand is needed for Coun. Andrew Stevens after he disclosed a confidential report.
