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Ollie Pale – Therapeutic Clown

Where can you find us?	C3-401B
Who to contact with questions?	Michelle Wilband, Coordinator Michelle.Wilband@lhsc.on.ca Telephone: 519-685-8500 Extension 52097
Who to contact when you are making a referral?	Ollie Pale, Therapeutic Clown Telephone: 519-685-8500 Extension 50025

Our Program

The Therapeutic Clown program helps improve children, youth and their families’ hospital experience with play and humour, creating a safe space that supports emotional expression, empowerment, and social interaction. Working under the umbrella of Child Life Services, the therapeutic clown collaborates closely with child life specialists, and other health care providers to develop therapeutic strategies within the philosophy of family centred care.

Our Team

Ollie Pale is our resident therapeutic clown. He is a non-medical staff member who helps to normalize children’s lives during their hospital visits. His pleasant and humourous demeanor goes well with his spontaneity, wit, and playfulness. Ollie is equipped with magic tricks, toys, gags and a mischievous nature, taking pride in making people happy.

What to Expect of Your Visit with Us

The Therapeutic Clown Program is available to paediatric patients and their families Monday through Friday (except Wednesday). The program can be found in the Paediatric Medical Day Unit in the mornings, and the Paediatric Inpatient Unit and Children’s Emergency in the afternoons. Visits to the Paediatric Critical Care Unit and Paediatric Day Surgery are by referral.

The program provides individual and small group interactions in patient rooms, playrooms, and hallways. It offers paediatric patients some distraction from the medical side of their day and serves as a reminder that they are children and have the right to play and laughter. Also, in an environment where the child or youth has little control, the clown offers a way for the child or youth to exercise choice. It is the child or youth who decides whether or not the clown may enter his/her room to play and what direction the play interaction will take.

As the saying goes, “laughter is the best medicine”. Humour and laughter can help create a positive and hopeful attitude. A good laugh relaxes tense muscles, sends more oxygen into the lungs and lowers blood pressure. Laughter is infectious and smiles are contagious; two good symptoms to have in a hospital!