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October 2023 E-News

October 2023 E-News

Calgary Ostomy October 2023 News

The Calgary Ostomy Society has been busy this fall! We have some news and upcoming events to share with the community.

Step Up For Ostomy

Calgary Ostomy Society held another successful Step Up For Ostomy event at the Inglewood Community Hall on September 16, 2023. There were about 60 people in attendance. This year, in addition to the ostomy awareness walk, we offered a seated yoga session for those with mobility issues. There was a BBQ with door prizes and an Ostomy Photoshoot with Sean Currie. We also held an Ostomy Expo featuring several exhibitors, such as ostomy vendors and manufacturers. Calgary Ostomy has many people to thank for making this another great event, including the exhibitors, volunteers, and ostomy models.

To those who donated and assisted with fundraising, we can’t thank you enough! This year, we raised $3355, with $280 donated in person at the event. Calgary Ostomy will receive a rebate of 10% for all funds raised in our vicinity. Ostomy Canada Society has raised about 45% of its goal of $100,00 to date. The Step Up For Ostomy campaign will be open until March 30. People living with an ostomy in Calgary can create a fundraiser or donate until then via Just Giving.

For the full recap, please check out our blog: Raising Awareness for Ostomies In Calgary

Alberta Wound, Ostomy and Continence Summit

Calgary Ostomy was honoured to be invited as an exhibitor at the Alberta Summit on Wound, Ostomy, and Continence on October 5, 2023, in Red Deer! This NSWOC Canada summit was truly inspiring, with patients, government, and healthcare professionals coming together to discuss the importance of improving access to specialized wound, ostomy, and continence care for all Albertans. Please visit our blog for a summary of the event.

Upcoming Calgary Ostomy Events

We had hoped to have Dr. Raman speak in October, but unfortunately, she was unavailable.

In lieu, we will host our first Webinar Watch Party on October 18 at 3:00 pm. Ostomy Canada will host a national webinar, Eating and Living Well After Ostomy Surgery, in partnership with Coloplast. You are invited to watch along with us at the Quarry Park Library. We will be going for dinner at Original Joe’s afterwards. You are welcome to arrive at 2:30 to assist with setup.

The Ostomy & J-Pouch Hybrid Support Group will be held on October 24 at 7:00 pm at the Nose Hill Library. We will meet in the Program Room, though we also have a meeting room booked for the j-pouch breakout group. You are welcome to arrive at 6:30 to assist with setup. The support group will be held again on November 28.

The Calgary Ostomy Young Adults Group will meet for their next social and support event on October 30 at 7:00 pm at Monster Mini Golf. Participants are encouraged to wear Halloween costumes! Tiffany and Pris hope to see all the young adults they met at Step Up again. They will be grabbing dinner beforehand at Beckham’s Pub at 5:00 pm, which is optional.

We have also booked our Christmas Party at the Kerbey Centre for December 16. This year will be different because we will not be holding our auction, which is to be held in the spring. We are planning a great menu again, but a more exciting and engaging event this year. There will be a fun theme, like Ugly Christmas Sweaters, plus a White Elephant Gift Exchange. Tickets should be available beginning in November.

Ostomy Visitor Program

Kaylee Janse, our Ostomy Visitor Program Coordinator, plans to hold a training session to certify new Ostomy Visitors on November 25. This will be a hybrid Zoom session using a new online training system. This will be for new volunteers only. Another training session will happen in the new year for those who require re-certification. Volunteers must have police clearance and be current members of the Calgary Ostomy Society for insurance purposes. Please stay tuned for event details. For more information about the Ostomy Visitor Program, please visit our website.

Volunteers Needed

If you have experience with marketing, communications, admin, accounting or graphic design, we can use your help! These flexible positions only require a few hours per month and are all remote. Your own computer is needed. Software is provided, including Canva, MS Office, Grammarly, and more. Please visit our Volunteer page if you are available to get involved.

  • Event Coordinator – Create event listings and post on social media
  • Membership Coordinator – Update membership list as well as volunteer data.
  • Treasurer – Handle all financial duties, including bookkeeping, tax receipts, etc.
  • E-News Editor – Write monthly updates (such as this post) and email to members
  • Administrative Assistant – provide support to our executive committee and special projects
  • Publications Coordinator – Store, replenish and distribute publications.

We hope you will join us in our upcoming events and in the effort to raise ostomy awareness in our city.

 

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