Media Releases

November proclaimed Crohn’s and Colitis Awareness Month

Mayor David Kogon, on behalf of the Amherst town council, has proclaimed the month of November to be Crohn’s and Colitis Awareness Month in the Town of Amherst.

“There are more than 270,000 Canadians living with inflammatory bowel disease, a chronic autoimmune disease that causes the body to attack healthy tissues leading to inflammation of part of or all of the digestive system,” Mayor David Kogon, said as he signed the proclamation on Tuesday, Nov. 1, 2022, in the presence of councillors George Baker and Dale Fawthrop.

“Canada has one of the highest prevalence rates in the world and Nova Scotia has the highest rates in the country. More than 11,600 Nova Scotians are living with Crohn’s disease or ulcerative colitis.

“During Crohn’s and Colitis Awareness Month, I would encourage people to not only learn about this disease but also learn about the great work carried out by Crohn’s and Colitis Canada, a national, volunteer-based, non-profit organization that supports those living with inflammatory bowel disease. You can do this by going to the organization’s website: www.crohnsandcolitis.ca.”

The website notes there is currently no cure for the disease, which affects more than five million people worldwide.

People living with inflammatory bowel disease routinely endure abdominal pain, cramping, fatigue, internal bleeding and frequent and urgent bowel movements. Cause and risk factors for Crohn’s and Colitis include genetics, the environment and microbiome.

Crohn’s and Colitis Canada supports those who live with inflammatory bowel disease every day as well as those who support them through education, advocating for healthy public policy and raising money so that Crohn’s and Colitis Canada can continue to fund critical research, patient programs, advocacy and awareness initiatives.

As part of the town’s recognition of Crohn’s and Colitis Awareness Month and to show its support for those who live with inflammatory bowel disease, the town will also light up Victoria Square between Nov. 3 and Nov. 9, 2022, in red as a show of solidarity, especially for our local group of community volunteers who annually organize the Gutsy Walk, a successful fundraiser for the organization.