OSTOMY TORONTO, FOUNDED IN 1958

Join us at our support meetings

Ostomy Toronto meets from September to June. For more information please call the Ostomy Toronto office, or click HERE to submit an online application form for membership.

Life with an ostomy

An ostomy is a surgical procedure that creates an artificial opening for the elimination of bodily wastes. At Ostomy Toronto, we believe that once an individual learns the proper way to care and manage their ostomy, they can live life to its fullest.

I met my husband after I had my ileostomy surgery and we have now been married 49 years. Together we have traveled extensively, visiting 85 countries — Dianne Garde, Ostomy Toronto Member and World Traveler.

For many, the beginning stages of adapting to a new ostomy can be challenging. Ostomy Toronto is here to support you through your transition. Meeting and learning from other people who have an ostomy can help ease many of the emotional and physical changes that accompany this new transition. Connecting with other individuals who have an ostomy can help eliminate the apprehension and possible stigma associated with the ostomy lifestyle.

I have had a cecostomy for around 7 years and Ostomy Toronto has helped me by being a wonderful support team and providing funds which enable me to go to Camp Horizon.
— Kaitlyn O’Brien, age 14, Ostomy Camp Participant and Long Distance Runner

The Toronto ostomy community is made up of a group of people who have successfully transitioned to living life with an ostomy. We swim, dance, work, travel and participate in activities just as we did before surgery. We believe that living with an ostomy does not define the individual.

Your ostomy should not define you as a person. If anything, it enhances your life and helps you to achieve goals that otherwise may not have been possible. - Maria-Jose Bouey, age 23, Ostomy Toronto Member and University Student

In fact, a person with an ostomy is unrecognizable on the street and just as we vary in age, career, and lifestyle, we also vary in our type of ostomy.

At Ostomy Toronto’s meetings, I saw people who looked and behaved like everyone else – you could not tell they had ostomies. I learned that I was not the only one who had ostomy challenges – and that they could be resolved.
— Aaron Wolkoff, age 67, Ostomy Toronto Member and Olympic Torch Bearer

Ostomy Toronto advises that you maintain contact with your Enterostomal therapist, practitioners, the Community Care Access Centre (CCAC) and hospital for medical advice. Our role at Ostomy Toronto is to be a valuable source of peer support and camaraderie. As individuals who have successfully made the transition to the ostomy lifestyle, we want you to know that you are not alone!

Membership in the Ostomy Toronto community provides you with:

Practical support.
Through our Patient Visiting Program, monthly meetings, and RAP sessions, Ostomy Toronto connects you with peers, medical professionals such as Enterostomal Therapists, and manufacturers of ostomy-related products – people who understand what your needs are, and who want to help.

Educational materials.
Ostomy Toronto can provide you with access to numerous educational resources designed for individuals living with an ostomy, their family members, and caregivers. Join our community to receive monthly newsletters and to access the United Ostomy Association of Canada’s publications: UOAConnection, and Ostomy Canada magazine.

Networking opportunities.
By joining Ostomy Toronto, you will be connected with other individuals in our local ostomy community. Learn how you can live an active and productive life through the experiences of your peers, their families and caregivers.

Online resources.
Please join our Facebook group, follow us on Twitter, and find links to other important resources such as the United Ostomy Association of Canada’s online discussion forum, right here on our website.