On October 2, 2024, we commemorated World Ostomy Day, a day dedicated to raising awareness, challenging stigmas, and celebrating the resilience of people living with ostomies. This year, the observance was made even more special as the Hon. Wanda Thomas Bernard, a Senator from Nova Scotia, delivered a poignant speech in the Senate of Canada, shining a national spotlight on the importance of ostomy care and the invaluable work of the Ostomy Canada Society.
Honouring People Living With an Ostomy Across Canada
In her Senate address on October 3, Senator Bernard paid tribute to the approximately 150,000 Canadians living with ostomies, highlighting their courage and determination in facing the unique challenges that come with this life-saving procedure. Despite the fact that an ostomy is a crucial intervention, it often remains shrouded in silence due to the lingering stigma. Senator Bernard’s powerful words served to break through that silence, encouraging greater public understanding and compassion.
Senator Bernard shared a deeply personal connection to the ostomy community. Her husband, George, has lived with an ostomy for 17 years, a life transition that was made easier through the support and guidance of Ostomy Halifax, a local Chapter of Ostomy Canada Society. Ostomy Halifax has been offering education, awareness, and community support for over 50 years, helping people living with an ostomy like George live life to the fullest. Senator Bernard’s story emphasized the transformative role that organizations like Ostomy Canada Society play in empowering individuals through community, education, and advocacy.
Step Up for Ostomy: Breaking Stigmas Nationwide
In line with this year’s theme, "Living Life to the Fullest," Ostomy Canada Society celebrated World Ostomy Day with its annual awareness event, Step Up for Ostomy. This initiative encourages Canadians to engage in activities that honour the strength and resilience of those living with ostomies. Senator Bernard, boldly and proudly stepping up in the Senate to raise awareness, exemplified the spirit of the day and underscored the ongoing need to break down the barriers and stigmas surrounding ostomy care. NSWOCC is proud to be a Gold Sponsor of Step Up for Ostomy.
You can still donate to the Step Up for Ostomy campaign online at https://stepupforostomy.ca/.
The Power of Partnerships: Ostomy Canada Society and NSWOCC
Nurses Specialized in Wound, Ostomy and Continence Canada (NSWOCC) is proud to partner with Ostomy Canada Society in advocating for better ostomy care, furthering education, and expanding awareness across the country. As a registered charity representing over 600 specialized nurses dealing with wound, ostomy and continence care, NSWOCC plays a vital role in advancing education, research, and advocacy related to wound, ostomy, and continence care. Through our partnership with Ostomy Canada Society, we work collaboratively to support initiatives that enhance the quality of life for people living with an ostomy.
One of the key areas of collaboration is our Ostomy Canada Society and NSWOCC Joint Advocacy Committee projects, which focus on expanding access to resources and funding such as the Disability Tax Credit (DTC), which is a non-refundable tax credit used to reduce the amount of tax payable the income for people living with ostomies. Individuals with a permanent ostomy or a temporary one lasting at least 12 months may qualify for this credit, which helps offset ostomy-related expenses. Together, NSWOCC and Ostomy Canada Society work to ensure that more Canadians are aware of and can benefit from such programs.
Additionally, NSWOCC and Ostomy Canada Society frequently join forces for advocacy summits, aimed at sharing best practices, improving patient experience, and increasing access to—and capacity for—high quality wound, ostomy and continence care in each Province and Territory. Recent advocacy summits in Nova Scotia, New Brunswick, Alberta, and Ontario have brought together healthcare professionals and policymakers to address these crucial issues, with more summits planned for the future. You can learn more about these summits online and access the meeting proceedings:
1. Nova Scotia Summit: https://www.nswoc.ca/ns-summit
2. New Brunswick Summit: https://www.nswoc.ca/nb-summit
3. Alberta Summit: https://www.nswoc.ca/ab-summit
4. Ontario Summit: https://www.nswoc.ca/ontario-summit
Continuing the Mission
NSWOCC is committed to continuing our advocacy work alongside Ostomy Canada Society, and we invite everyone to join us in supporting this vital cause. We are jointly focused on influencing legislative policies and governmental support that affect wound, ostomy, and continence care, aiming to improve outcomes for patients nationwide.
This World Ostomy Day, we encourage everyone to take a moment to thank those living with an ostomy in their lives, the healthcare professionals who support them, and organizations like Ostomy Canada Society, which works tirelessly to uplift this community. Together, we can create an environment of understanding, reduce stigma, and celebrate the strength of those living with an ostomy.
For more information on how you can get involved with Ostomy Canada Society, please visit their website. You can also watch the full video of Senator Bernard’s inspiring speech here.
Support Ostomy Canada Society
If you’d like to contribute to the efforts of Ostomy Canada Society, donations can be made to support initiatives such as:
Advocacy for the Disability Tax Credit and ostomy reimbursement programs
The national Visitors Program
Awareness events like Step Up for Ostomy
The Youth Camp for young people living with an ostomy
Educational awards and scholarships
And many more.
Learn more about how to donate and the impact your contribution can make by visiting the Ostomy Canada Society Donation Page, or contribute to their Step Up for Ostomy campaign at https://stepupforostomy.ca/.
Together, we can ensure that everyone living with an ostomy has the support and resources they need to live life to the fullest.