1995-2015
York Cemetery
Section 28 Lot 4122
Carley Elle Allison was a vibrant Toronto figure skater and singer whose extraordinary courage inspired people far beyond the ice rink. Before her cancer diagnosis, Carley was known for her dedication to competitive skating, her musical talent and the warmth she brought into every room.
At 17, Carley was rushed to North York General Hospital. Doctors discovered a golf‑ball‑sized tumor compressing her trachea, leaving her only two millimetres of airway. She was diagnosed with an exceptionally rare clear‑cell sarcoma of the trachea, becoming only the second known case in medical literature, roughly one in 3.5 billion.
Just days after an emergency tracheostomy, Carley made a choice that would define her legacy: she sat at her piano, covered her trach tube and recorded herself singing One Direction’s “More Than This.” She posted the video online, and it quickly went viral. Her message was simple: find a reason to smile.
Carley chronicled her journey on her blog, Always Smile, sharing both the hard days and the joy she fought to hold onto. Her positivity became a lifeline for others facing adversity and her online community grew into thousands of supporters.
Throughout treatment, Carley continued to sing, skate and perform. After a complex surgery to remove part of her trachea, she stunned doctors by returning to both her voice and the ice. Even when her cancer spread to her lungs, she continued to inspire, including singing the national anthem at the NHL’s Hockey Fights Cancer game at the Air Canada Centre.
Carley passed away on March 31, 2015, at age 19. She rests at York Cemetery, Section 28, Lot 1422. Her gravestone is inscribed with the message her family – and the world associate with her: We will always smile.
Her legacy lives on through Carley’s Angels, a foundation created by her parents, sisters and boyfriend. The organization works to make integrative cancer care accessible for all patients, combining traditional treatment with holistic support, just as Carley experienced. Since 2015, Carley’s Angels has raised over a million dollars and funded groundbreaking programs at major cancer centres.
Carley’s story has been told worldwide through the Netflix film Kiss and Cry and the bestselling book Always Smile, ensuring that her voice, her courage and her motto continue to touch lives.
Sources:
• Carley’s Angels – About Carley
• AKSM Media – “Remembering Carley Allison; Five Years Later”
• CBC News – “Late Toronto teen’s life with cancer coming to big screen”
• AKSM Media – “What World Cancer Day Means to the Team at Carley’s Angels”
Photo credit: Tara Walton, Getty Images
