By Tiffany Shorson

Our April Ostomy Discover Day welcomed approximately 27 attendees in person and another 10 participants via Zoom. It was encouraging to see such strong participation both in Calgary and from communities across Alberta. Attendance was more than double that of our March session, demonstrating the growing interest in these educational and support-focused events.

We were fortunate to have Alyson Wood, NSWOC, lead an informative presentation on peristomal skin care and common ostomy-related concerns. Alyson shared practical strategies for maintaining healthy skin and answered a wide range of questions from attendees.

We had also planned to hear from Carmen Leclerc, Territory Manager with Hollister, who was scheduled to provide updates on recent product enhancements, including improvements to Hollister’s ostomy pouching systems. Unfortunately, Carmen had to leave unexpectedly due to a medical emergency involving her partner. We completely understand and extend our best wishes to Carmen and her family during this difficult time. They have been amazing supporters of our chapter over the past few years.

Although Carmen was unable to complete her presentation, Alyson shared some general information about Hollister’s latest product updates. One notable enhancement is the introduction of upgraded waterproof fabric on Hollister pouches. As retailers work through existing inventory, members may continue to receive previous versions before the newer products become widely available. Those ordering through Co-op Home Health may begin to see the updated products in future orders. Additional information, including videos and FAQs, can be found on the Hollister website: https://www.hollister.ca/en-ca/update

During the interruption, I took the opportunity to share some Ostomy Canada resources, including educational brochures, travel cards, and information about the Ostomy Visitor Program. Many attendees were interested to learn that they can connect one-on-one with a trained Ostomy Visitor Volunteer for peer support and encouragement. We also invited newcomers to introduce themselves, helping maintain a sense of community despite the unexpected change in plans.

Like many live events, the afternoon presented a few challenges. Due to the emergency and limited technical support, our Zoom session went unmonitored for a period of time, and some virtual attendees left because they were unsure what was happening. We also encountered technical difficulties, including a failed HDMI cable shortly before the event began and a limited microphone range within the meeting space. To top it all off, I even experienced a minor fall when a chair unexpectedly slid out from under me!

I would like to sincerely apologize to our Zoom participants for the disruption and confusion. Accessibility remains a priority for our chapter, particularly for members who live outside Calgary or who may not have easy access to an ostomy nurse. While many other affiliated Ostomy Canada groups have decided to move away from hybrid events due to the challenges involved, we remain committed to offering a virtual attendance option whenever possible.

Following the event, the executive committee discussed several improvements to enhance the online experience. Future sessions will use our standard hybrid meeting setup, including the audio mixer and wireless microphone system, with support from our secretary, Pris Squibb. We will also ensure that at least two volunteers are assigned to monitor Zoom throughout each event.

We would like to thank Carmen Leclerc and Hollister for generously providing Tim Hortons refreshments. Special thanks also go to Gerald Sheen and Sharon Sheen for assisting with coffee and snacks, and to Pat Cimmeck and Deanna Desramaux for their support in helping make the event possible.

The Calgary Ostomy Society executive committee decided to expand the program to eight sessions in 2026 and to transition to Sunday afternoons to better accommodate attendees. Unfortunately, May didn’t work out, so Ostomy Discover Day will return on June 28. This new format will replace our long-standing quarterly meeting schedule and provide more frequent educational and social opportunities throughout the year.

We have already secured Deanna’s condo lounge for the upcoming Ostomy Discovery Days sessions on September 13 and October 25. We are also pleased to announce that Tyler Trefiak, Territory Manager at Coloplast, has agreed to speak at our October event.

As our programming continues to grow, we are looking for additional volunteers to help support these initiatives. Whether you are interested in joining the executive committee, becoming a guest speaker, or assisting with event setup and teardown, your involvement would be greatly appreciated.

Thank you to everyone who attended. We look forward to seeing you again at a future Ostomy Discover Day—either in person or online.