Founder Seana O'Neill

   Seana is a native Torontonian, who has enjoyed an eclectic journey thus far. After graduating from high school in Etobicoke, Seana began a three-year program studying film and television production. While studying, Seana was offered the opportunity to work on a film in Kathmandu, Nepal for 6 weeks. This began a love of travel that has taken her to many countries around the world. The 6-week trip turned into 6 months through Asia and Europe.

Upon her return to Toronto, Seana began a 10+ year career in the Toronto film and television industry. She began as a Producer's Assistant on such productions as RoboCop, F/X, Due South and Mimic before becoming a Production Coordinator on several US feature films and movies-of-the-week. The intense and varied nature of this environment provided her with the skills and experience one needs to create a successful organization. In 1999, Seana was one of 8 Canadian's invited to attend the prestigious Canadian Film Centre in Toronto as a Producer Resident. While working towards a producing career Seana became pregnant with the first of two sons. After graduating from the CFC, Seana and her family moved to Winnipeg for two years before moving back to Ontario in the summer of 2002.

In 2002, while sitting on her dock in Haliburton, Seana O'Neill wondered how she might share her cottage with someone less fortunate, and then the thought came to her. Why not offer her cottage to a family who has been touched with cancer? Seana's mother is a breast cancer survivor but sadly lost 2 uncles to the disease and as a life long cottager she knows first hand the impact a cancer diagnosis has on a family and the role a cottage could play in recovery. These events were instrumental in the creation of Cottage Dreams.

"This incredible journey is still a surprise to me. I was going to make movies, travel and live the life I had planned but the power of this program and the results of each and every placement teaches me daily that we all have the ability to make a difference and make people feel better." says O'Neill. "The entrepreneur in me finds such pleasure in creating the "Business of Cottage Dreams" and to work with an incredible team, who also see the value of bringing this program to all Canadians, is truly amazing."  Due to the response to Cottage Dreams, a small Toronto office has been opened in Toronto but the headquarters remains in Haliburton.

Seana still hopes to produce an Oscar-winning film one-day but for now she will continue to work tirelessly for Cottage Dreams.

In 2006, Seana was named one of five women in North America to make a difference in her community by Harlequin Enterprises.  A subsequent financial donation was given to Cottage Dreams as well as being a part of the Harlequin book "More Than Words" which used Cottage Dreams as a backdrop to a story.  "I still giggle at being in a Harlequin romance, it's an honour but also such fun!" says Seana

Recently, Seana was named one of twelve Ontarian's profiled in the TVOntario series "Get Involved" that aired in April 2009.