IBD and Crohn’s & Colitis Resources for Canada

IBD in Canada

Canada has one of the highest rates of IBD in the world. The 2023 Impact of IBD in Canada report from Crohn’s and Colitis Canada estimated that 322,600 Canadians (0.82% of the population) were living with IBD in 2023, a prevalence of 825 per 100,000 (410 for Crohn’s disease and 414 for ulcerative colitis and IBD-unclassified). That number is forecast to rise to roughly 470,000 people (1.08% of the population) by 2035.

National Organizations

Crohn's and Colitis Canada

National organization with chapters across Canada Based in: Canada

Organization Type:

Charity Patient Advocacy Health Consumer Organisation

Features:

Support Programs Educational Resources Research Funding

Financial Information:

61% of expenditure on programs, including research (FY2025)

Details:

Crohn’s and Colitis Canada is the country’s only national, volunteer-based charity working to cure Crohn’s disease and ulcerative colitis and to improve life for everyone affected by them. Founded in 1974, it is Canada’s largest non-governmental funder of Crohn’s and colitis research, having put more than $150 million into research so far. Learn more about Crohn’s and Colitis Canada

Canadian Digestive Health Foundation (CDHF)

National foundation for digestive health Based in: Canada

Organization Type:

Patient Advocacy Health Consumer Organisation

Features:

Educational Resources Patient Support

Details:

The Canadian Digestive Health Foundation (CDHF) sets out to make digestive health easier to understand. Working alongside gastroenterologists, dietitians, and scientists, it produces free, evidence-based resources (covering IBD and more than 20 other digestive conditions) to help Canadians make sense of their symptoms and manage their care. Learn more about CDHF

Canadian Association of Gastroenterology (CAG)

National professional organization for gastroenterologists Based in: Canada

Organization Type:

Health Professional Body Medical Research Organisation

Features:

Clinical Guidelines Research Programs

Details:

The Canadian Association of Gastroenterology (CAG) is the national body for the gastroenterologists, hepatologists, and researchers who treat and study digestive disease in Canada. It backs their research, training, and advocacy, and writes the clinical practice guidelines that shape how IBD and other digestive diseases are managed across the country. Learn more about CAG

The GI Society (Canadian Society of Intestinal Research)

National organization for gastrointestinal health Based in: Canada

Organization Type:

Patient Advocacy Medical Research Organisation

Features:

Educational Resources Patient Support

Details:

The GI (Gastrointestinal) Society was formed in 2008 on the foundation of the Canadian Society of Intestinal Research (CSIR), founded in 1976 as the first registered charity in Canada devoted to gastrointestinal health. The Society provides medically sound, evidence-based information on GI diseases and disorders, including IBD, supports research, and publishes the quarterly Inside Tract® newsletter. Learn more about the GI Society

IMAGINE (Inflammation, Microbiome, and Alimentation: Gastro-Intestinal and Neuropsychiatric Effects)

National research network Based in: Canada

Organization Type:

Medical Research Organisation

Features:

Research Programs Clinical Trials

Details:

IMAGINE is a pan-Canadian research network studying how inflammation, the gut microbiome, and diet interact to affect gastrointestinal and mental health in people with IBD and irritable bowel syndrome (IBS). A Strategy for Patient-Oriented Research (SPOR) initiative funded through the Canadian Institutes of Health Research, it brings together patients, clinicians, and researchers from institutions across Canada to develop new therapies and improve outcomes. Learn more about IMAGINE

North American Shared Resources

North American Society for Pediatric Gastroenterology, Hepatology and Nutrition (NASPGHAN)

Professional organization serving US, Canada, and Mexico Based in: North America

Organization Type:

Health Professional Body Medical Research Organisation

Features:

Clinical Guidelines Educational Resources Research Programs

Details:

NASPGHAN (the North American Society for Pediatric Gastroenterology, Hepatology and Nutrition) works to improve care for infants, children, and adolescents with digestive disorders, including IBD. It develops clinical practice guidelines, supports research, and produces educational resources for the healthcare professionals and families looking after children across North America.

Online Communities

Crohn's and Colitis Connect

Free national online community run by Crohn's and Colitis Canada Based in: Canada

Organization Type:

Patient Support Group Online Community

Features:

Peer Support Peer Mentoring Educational Resources

Details:

Crohn’s and Colitis Connect is a free online community from Crohn’s and Colitis Canada that brings together people across Canada affected by IBD. Members (18+) can connect with trained peer mentors who have lived experience, take part in regular peer-support events, share their stories, and access trusted information on treatment, nutrition, and mental health.

Global Resources

For additional resources available worldwide, please visit our Global Resources page.