If you’re looking to buy Canadian, we have quite a few vibrant companies who specialize in ostomy products!
I’ve covered several of these products in my Product Reviews, but I’ve also used others for many years.
The companies listed below are all based in Canada, and most also manufacture their products here.
Even if you can’t find a particular supply that’s made in Canada, look for companies or places of origin that are less hostile to Canada (i.e. not the States). I’ve included a bonus list of such companies at the bottom of this article.
Your health is a priority, so if you have no way of changing brands, find other ways to support your fellow Canadians. Being a strategic shopper can go a long way!
This list is not complete and will evolve over time. If you know of any other Canadian ostomy supply or accessory manufacturers, please let me know in the comment section or the Community Forums.
Table of Contents
Clothing and Accessories
ANA / YAN
Location: Based in Quebec; Products Made in Quebec.
Website: https://www.alternativeana.com
Products offered: ANA makes some beautiful, functional ostomy undergarments and wraps for both women and men.
I own a pair of their “Nolan” underwear, and the quality is exceptional!
Their products are sold at the retail level all over Quebec through their retailers, but you can also order from the Ana website directly.
C.S.P. / Premiere Ostomy
Location: Quebec; Products are made in Canada using Canadian materials.
Website: https://www.ostomycares.com/
Products offered: Various undergarments for women and men, swimsuits, and support garments.
C.S.P. offers their products in a few retail stores in Quebec, but also has online ordering.
Grandma’s Hands
Location: Ontario; Products are hand made in Canada.
Website: https://www.grandmas-hands.com/
Products offered: I’m familiar with Grandma’s ostomy bag covers, since I’ve used them for years. But they also make products for insulin pumps and Epi-Pens.
They offer online ordering and can ship across all of North America.
Ostome Fashion
Location: Ontario; Products are made in Columbia.
Website: https://ostomefashion.com/
Products offered: Ostome Fashion specializes in pouch covers in all kinds of colours and material options.
They offer online ordering and ship worldwide.
Thelma’s Fibre Art
Location: British Columbia; Products are hand made in Canada.
Website: https://thelmasfibreart.ca/
Products: Among Thelma’s collection of handmade items and artwork are ostomy pouch covers in a wide range of patterns!
You can order products through their website.
The Ostomy Clothing Company
Location: Ontario; Products are Made in Canada.
Website: https://ostomyclothingcompany.com/
Products: They offer a range of products from both women and men’s underwear to pouch covers. They also make wraps, hernia support garments, and seatbelt protectors.
You can order directly from their website.
Hernia Helper
Location: Ontario; Products are custom Made in Canada.
Website: https://herniahelper.ca/
Products offered: You can get custom-made hernia support bands here. Because they are custom, they’ll fit better than off-the-shelf products, and you’ll be sure that they are made to your body shape.
You can inquire about the Hernia Helper directly through the company website.
Herni Pro
Location: Quebec; Products are Made in Canada.
Website: https://hernipro.com/
Products offered: Herni Pro offers custom hernia and support bands.
Inquiries can be made through the Herni Pro website.
Supplies
This category is difficult, because most ostomy supplies are made overseas or in the States. Fortunately, many products are made in European countries, so I’d also keep those in mind. A list of such companies are listed in the bonus section further down.
Colo-Majic
Location: British Columbia; Products are made in China.
Website: https://colomajic.com/
Products offered: Colo-Majic specializes in ostomy bag liners, which could offer a cost-saving alternative to single-use (closed ended) throwaway ostomy bags.
You can order liners and other supplies they carry from their website.
Support Organizations
Ostomy Canada Society
Location: Multiple chapters across the country.
Website: https://www.ostomycanada.ca/
Ostomy Canada Society is our national advocacy group for people living with ostomies. They organize events across the nation, host both local (in-person) and online webinars, and offer regular newsletters.
Please support as much of their work as possible.
BONUS: Not Canadian, but also not American
The following companies aren’t based out of Canada, but they are based in more Canada-friendly countries, and their products can be purchased here.
From what I’ve observed, companies out of the EU or Britain tend to manufacture within other European countries, Asia, or even South America.
That said, because of the massive range of products in each company’s catalogue, you’d have to double-check to know exactly where any specific item is made.
Also, some products are made using animal-based ingredients, you can cross-reference my Vegan/Non-Vegan supplies list if you’re looking to avoid those.
Coloplast
Location: Head office is in Denmark.
Website: https://www.coloplast.com/
Products offered: Coloplast makes just about any type of ostomy supply you can imagine. From bags and wafers to adhesive removers and barrier rings.
You can purchase Coloplast products in just about every Canadian medical supply store, so it’s easy to support local businesses.
Welland Medical
Location: Based out of the UK.
Website: https://wellandmedical.com/
Products offered: Welland offers a wide range of ostomy supplies from adhesive remover and stoma paste to a large selection of ostomy bags and wafers. It looks like they also offer black coloured ostomy bags, too!
While not as widely available in Canada as some other brands, Premier Ostomy out of Quebec is their Canadian distributor!
Salts Healthcare Ltd
Location: Based out of the UK.
Website: https://www.salts.co.uk/
Products offered: Salts offers all standard ostomy supplies like bags, wafers, stoma paste, and barrier rings. They also have stoma collars, adhesive removers, and support undergarments.
Salts products can be found at quite a few Canadian medical supply stores, especially online shops.
ConvaTec
Location: Headquarters based in the UK.
Website: https://www.convatec.com/
Products offered: Being a major brand in the ostomy space, ConvaTec carries all your typical bags, wafers, and care products. One unique product offering that they carry are mouldable wafer products.
You should be able to find ConvaTec products without much trouble in nearly all Canadian medical supply stores.
Eakin
Location: Based out of Northern Ireland, with factories in Norther Ireland, too.
Products offered: While known for their seals (barrier rings), they’ve expanded to include ostomy bags and wafer, as well as gelling agents and adhesive remover.
Eakin products should be fairly easy to get in Canada through most medical supply stores.
Closing Thoughts
Hopefully, this article gives you a few ideas on how to support Canadian companies who sell or make ostomy products.
As you’ve seen, it’s not always possible to find Canadian-made ostomy supplies in every category, but we can fill in the gaps with the help of our British and EU friends who sell through Canadian small businesses.
Additional Resources
Made in CA: “Born at the height of the US/Canada trade spat, Made in CA is compiling a list of Canadian products in one place, so you can support Canadian businesses and Canadian workers.”
Made In Canada Directory: “Made In Canada Directory includes thousands of products that are manufactured here at home.”
If you’re a cyclist, one of my favourite brands is Arkel, out of Sherbrooke, Quebec. They make over 80% of their pannier bags in Canada, and offer work for those with intellectual disabilities, too.
If you’re having trouble paying for your supplies, there are several Canadian support options available, which I outline in THIS post.
Question: Do you other companies to add to the list? Leave it in the comment section below.
@jerseygirl I guess how you wear your jeans would be a personal preference. My ostomy is a few inches south of my waistband, so I wear regular jeans (not low rise) with my pouch inside. If your ostomy is above your waistline, you might want to get a band or long vest to wear over your whole appliance so that it’s contained and mostly inside your jeans. If you choose to wear a hernia support, that would also keep everything contained. A company I really like that sells ostomy friendly garments is Vanilla Blush (vblush.com). They’re in Glasgow, Scotland, but they will ship anywhere.
Changing your wafer is not a hard and fast rule, and is dependent on so many factors, such as: colostomy vs ileostomy, diet, difficulty managing the ostomy, leaks, skin issues, personal preference, etc. I have a colostomy; I generally change my appliance every 5 days. That can change, however, given the above factors. If it’s summer, and I’m swimming a lot, my wafer might degrade faster than it does in the winter, so I’ll change more frequently. Over time, you will decide what makes sense for you, and you’ll get into a rhythm based on your needs.
Laurie
I’m not sure how/where to wear my jeans! The ostomy is right above my waist line, so do I wear them below the bag? I can’t pull them up high enough to wear above. Who knew this would be my first question!
I also don’t know how often to change my appliance. In the hospital they put me in a 2 piece system, and I’ve been emptying and rinsing the bag, but how many days should I go before changing the wafer?
I’m about to shower, but I wasn’t planning on changing it today.
thanks!
@tigerlily thank you!
Thank you for your timely ostomy tips. I have actually incorporated some of your tips in my ostomy life.
I have had my stoma “George since 2021 and glad I decided to be an ostomate.
I would like to stay on your email list.
Ah, the reusable wafers! I’ve always been interested in trying them, along with non-adhesive appliances (just to see). For sure, those listed are dramatically different from what you’d normally find, and it could very well be the type of system you might only find in the States.