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ALS Ontario was founded in 1988 as a charitable organization with the goal of providing support services to persons with ALS and their families, helping to raise funds for research and to generate public awareness and education regarding this fatal disease.
In 1994, ALS Ontario began to supply equipment, not covered or only partially covered by healthcare and private insurance, to people living with ALS. The equipment is supplied from loan pools maintained in geographically diverse locations to meet the needs of clients. The equipment program has expanded significantly from its beginning and today ALS Ontario maintains approximately $3 million in 14 loan pool locations, enabling the fulfillment of more than 1,700 client requests each year.
In 2000, ALS Ontario opened its first office outside of Toronto when the Ottawa location was staffed. Subsequently a regional presence has been established in Hamilton in 2002, Sudbury in 2003, Durham in 2009, and North Bay, Timmins, York/Simcoe and London in 2010. Coupled with a growing base of volunteers across the province, these regional offices have enabled a significant growth in the breadth and availability of services, with more than 1,000 clients now served each year.
Beginning in 2001, and in partnership with ALS Canada and other provincial ALS societies, ALS Ontario founded the Walk for ALS. From a base that year of 4 events that raised $556,000, the Walk for ALS in Ontario has grown to more than 29 locations and in 2010 raised $1,450,000 in support of client services and research.