Morinville-based Kadence Legacy Fund turns loss into hope throughservice dogs

By Shelley Winger
What began as one family’s fight against childhood cancer has grown into a mission
supporting veterans and first responders living with PTSD and operational stress injuries.
The Kadence Legacy Fund, founded in memory of Morinville teen Kadence Miller, provides
professionally trained service dogs through its program One Dog, One Life. The organization
honours Kadence’s life by transforming profound loss into hope for others facing trauma.
Kadence passed away on April 19, 2024, after a five-year battle with Stage 4
medulloepithelioma, a rare and aggressive cancer. She was known for her resilience,
humour, and compassion — qualities she carried through years of treatment.
“The moment came when I realized the hope we had been holding onto was gone — and
that hope had betrayed us,” said her mother, Tina Gillies, a military veteran and founder of
the Kadence Legacy Fund. “Cancer does that. You’re told to stay positive and believe it will
go away, and sometimes it doesn’t.”
During Kadence’s illness, Gillies worked with Courageous Companions after a
recommendation from fellow veteran John Dugas of Holdfast K9 to secure a service dog for
both Kadence and herself as her caregiver. The decision was made intentionally to support
their mental health during treatment — and in case Kadence did not survive.
That service dog was Sadie.
Sadie attended hospital visits, chemotherapy, radiation treatments, transfusions, and
countless medical appointments. While pediatric oncology offered little mental-health
support, Sadie became a constant presence, providing calm, structure, and comfort during
the most difficult moments.
“Sadie was there for everything,” Gillies said. “When everything else felt fragile, she was
constant. She gave Kadence structure, purpose, and hope during a time when so much felt
out of our control.”
After Kadence’s death, Sadie became essential to Gillies’ ability to function through grief.
The trauma of losing her daughter resurfaced PTSD from her military service in

Afghanistan. Returning to training, therapy, and routine with Sadie became a lifeline.
“In my darkest moments, it was Sadie that pulled me back to hope when it was all lost,” she
said. “One dog can save one life. Sadie is saving mine and my family.”
That experience led directly to the creation of the Kadence Legacy Fund and its core
mission: One Dog, One Life. “It can support a veteran, their partner, and their children by

restoring stability, routine, and hope,” Gillies explained. “This mission exists so others do
not have to fight alone.”
“I want the Morinville community and veterans to understand that this legacy is about
prevention, dignity, and compassion,” she added. “It’s about turning pain into purpose and
protecting lives before they reach a breaking point.”
The fund partners with Holdfast K9, an Alberta-certified, trauma-informed service dog
training organization with extensive experience working with veterans and first
responders. Dogs are placed at no cost to recipients.
The organization operates with a strong commitment to stewardship: 95 per cent of
donations go directly to the One Dog, One Life program, while just five per cent covers
administrative costs. Much of the work is supported by dedicated veteran volunteers.
The Kadence Legacy Fund continues to build momentum locally in Morinville. While there is
no confirmed launch date for upcoming initiatives, updates will be shared through the
organization’s social media channels.
One upcoming fundraiser is a comedy night on January 31, featuring Rob from the Pepper
and Dylan Show. Organizers hope the event will bring people together through laughter
while raising funds to support service dog placements. Tickets are currently on sale.
“Kadence carried hope herself,” Gillies said. “Her life could not end in lost hope. This is how
we carry it forward — one dog, one life at a time.”
For more information, to donate, or to apply for a service dog, visit kadencelegacyfund.ca.