One in five Canadians lives with chronic pain, a condition that can affect every part of life, from relationships to work to mental health. At St. Paul’s Hospital, clinician-scientist Dr. May Ong is charting a new path forward with support from a $1 million gift from the Leon Judah Blackmore Foundation.
This gift strengthens a pain program that’s already changing lives, empowering it to advance innovative therapies, deepen research, and inspire similar models across Canada. In recognition of this generosity, St. Paul’s Foundation is proud to name the Leon Judah Blackmore Centralized Pain Treatment Unit in their honour.
“Under Dr. Ong’s leadership, we have confidence that the impact will be significant,” says Nicola Brailsford, CEO & trustee, Leon Judah Blackmore Foundation. “This gift gives her vision the legs it needs to change lives across British Columbia.”
The Leon Judah Blackmore Foundation: From personal acts of kindness to strategic giving
Leon Blackmore believed in doing the right thing and in helping others live better lives. Nicola, his colleague and friend for more than 30 years, describes him as a man of principles and integrity, with philanthropic values rooted in compassion, responsibility, and service to the greater good.
He held deep respect for science and the people behind it, giving generously to advance health care and medical research. Leon also had a soft spot for animals, regularly supporting organizations that cared for their welfare.
“He lived a life of giving. Not just through money or funding, but also through time and advice,” Nicola recalls. “If he had knowledge or insight, he felt it was his responsibility to share it. He never stood on the sidelines; he was involved.”
Leon treated everyone like family and he made sure Nicola and her colleagues Bonnie and Sybil felt that deeply. If you admired something in his home, chances are he’d offer it to you on the spot. Nicola remembers coming home after the birth of her son to find Leon sitting on her patio. He was a fixture at her home for weeks after – a gesture that reflected the deep bond they shared. Over the years, her children came to know him as ‘Uncle Leon’.
“That’s the kind of friend he was,” Nicola says. “When he’s your friend, he’s there.”
To carry on his spirit of generosity, Leon created the Leon Judah Blackmore Foundation. Guided by his belief in fairness and dignity for all, the Foundation strives to ensure its support reaches people equitably.
“He wanted impact. To him, every dollar and cent mattered,” says Nicola. “He was very aware of the value of a dollar. For us, the most important thing is impact: that our donations reach everyone and are fair.”
Today, that legacy continues with an important donation to St. Paul’s Foundation that advances pain care for thousands across British Columbia.
A gift that drives hope and innovation
The Leon Judah Blackmore Foundation is helping change the way chronic pain is treated – creating hope for patients, families, and communities.
Leon and Nicola first learned about Dr. May Ong’s pain treatment model through her husband, Dr. Stephen Lam, a world leader in lung cancer research and a longtime partner in Leon’s philanthropic support of BC Cancer. Nicola had followed Dr. Ong’s progress for years, and when the opportunity arose to champion her work, they knew this was where the Foundation’s dollars could make a profound difference.
The Leon Judah Blackmore Foundation’s pivotal $1 million gift is more than funding: it’s a catalyst for innovation. By backing Dr. Ong’s vision, the Foundation is helping advance therapies, accelerate research, and transform lives.
“What excites me most is the possibility, and the hope for people living with centralized pain,” says Nicola. “When you help somebody, the family flourishes, as well as the neighbours, the community, the city. It’s a domino effect.”
Leading Canada’s first centralized pain treatment unit: Dr. May Ong
Chronic pain doesn’t always have a clear cause—and it doesn’t just go away. In some cases, a past illness or injury rewires how the brain processes pain, sending constant signals even when there’s no physical reason. This is called centralized pain, and it requires a specialized approach.
At St. Paul’s Hospital, clinician-scientist Dr. May Ong is leading that approach. As Providence Health Care’s Chair in the Neurobiology and Neuropharmacology of Pain, Dr. Ong heads the Leon Judah Blackmore Centralized Pain Treatment Unit, the only one of its kind in Canada. Her team of researchers has published outcomes revealing significant improvements in patients’ pain and function.
One of the unit's most innovative treatments is IV ketamine infusion therapy, designed for patients with central neuropathic pain. Ketamine, originally developed as an anesthetic, works by blocking pain receptors in the nervous system. In this first-of-its-kind protocol, patients are admitted for 10 to 14 days to receive continuous, low-dose infusions that modulate pain pathways while they remain alert and functional. Every step is carefully monitored to ensure safety and maximize relief.
After nearly four decades of specializing in pain management, Dr. Ong has seen the science evolve dramatically – especially in the past decade. Her vision is bold: expand access, deepen research, and inspire similar programs nationwide.
“This is exciting work,” says Dr. Ong. “We want to heal better – emotionally, psychologically, physically – so patients can lead productive lives, including returning to work. Some of my patients have been off work for two, four, even eight years, and now they’re back. That’s just unheard of.”
Dr. Ong’s dedication hasn’t gone unnoticed.
“This isn’t just a job for her – it's her passion,” says Nicola. “It’s a wonderful feeling to be in a position to provide funding and to help Dr. Ong make her vision a reality.”
Looking ahead, Dr. Ong sees limitless possibilities for collaboration and innovation. “We’re going to continue to expand research opportunities and work with different fields of medicine to find new ways to quiet overactive pain pathways – not just with ketamine, but with other emerging therapies,” she says. “The opportunities are incredible, especially as we move into our new hospital.”
St. Paul’s Foundation is deeply grateful to the Leon Judah Blackmore Foundation for their commitment to helping shape the future of pain treatment in Canada.