Caring clowns are a relatively new phenomenon in Canada. The concept was born in 1986 in Winnipeg when a professional clown, Karen Ridd, took her clown persona Robo into the Children’s Hospital. This acted as a catalyst for programs around the world.  Now there are chapters all across Canada and therapeutic clowns are recognized as part of the medical team. There are programs employing clowns in hospitals in Vancouver, Toronto, Winnipeg, Windsor and Montreal.  Historically, clowns have worked in hospital settings since the time of Hippocrates. Laughter is good medicine.

The distinction must be made between party clowns and caring clowns. The latter are trained especially to visit hospitals, cancer centre, care homes – any place where people need a sympathetic and empathic listener to pay a visit and bring a little cheer. Training includes learning the rules and regulations of the various facilities they visit. They are taught how to listen with empathy, how to assess the energy of the person, the room or the situation and adapt accordingly. A caring clown has a gentle soul and cares deeply about humanity. Training also includes developing a personal clown persona, deciding on a costume and how to apply make-up. Generally these clowns go in “soft face” which, as the names suggests, is a softer look than the typical white face. Everything they learn is focused on the comfort of the patient, their visitors, and medical and non-medical staff.  

The idea of clowns in the hospital or at the cancer centre in Kelowna was initially met with resistance but eventually reservations were overcome. The three clowns were welcomed and took their first steps into Kelowna General Hospital (KGH) together. A recent coup for Kiddell was connecting with a world famous caring clown, Patti Wooten, and arranging for her to do a training workshop in Kelowna last year that was funded by Interior Health and included their staff.  

In costume Lee Kiddell is known as Sparkles. One look at her and you know why – her eyes sparkle as does her incandescent smile. Her creativity as an accomplished seamstress is evident in the costumes she sports.

CCOCO now consists of 18 caring people who spread a little joy in their special way at KGH, the Cancer Center and Lodge, extended care facilities and senior residences.
The clowns meet once a month and are governed by their mission statement and by-laws. The executive committee consists of six active clowns: Retired Big Chair (Immediate Past President); Big Chair (President); Little Chair (Vice President); Money Bags (Treasurer); Scribe (Secretary). Other committee positions are: Big Mouth (Publicity); Big Top (Special Events); Scheduler Clown (Weekly Visits); Memory Clown (Archives).
For further information contact Lee Kiddell at 707-0110 or the writer.

Donna Duke  , Act III