Jean-Pierre Lapointe

CANADA  

While serving as a police officer at the Sûreté du Québec, Jean-Pierre Lapointe was diagnosed with ulcerative colitis. He underwent ostomy surgery in 1980 and soon returned to his duties as a police officer while devoting his free time to helping other ostomates.

Determined to increase public awareness of inflammatory bowel disease and ostomy surgery, Jean-Pierre developed the Renaissance Award Program, which recognizes Canadians who have made significant achievements in their life following their ostomy surgery, made a meaningful contribution to the community and contributed to eliminating prejudicial misconceptions relating to people living with an ostomy.

"I want to encourage others to not fear surgery or be embarrassed about living with an ostomy,” said Jean-Pierre. “I hope that my experience will help show others that their ostomy will not be an end to their lifestyle.”

Now retired from the police force, Jean-Pierre has not slowed down. In addition to serving as president of the Ileostomy and Colostomy Association of Montreal, he is president of the Association québécoise des personnes stomisées (Ostomates Association of Quebec), representative of the District Support Services for the United Ostomy Association of Canada Inc., and director of Friends of Ostomates Worldwide (Canada). He also was recently awarded the Governor General’s Caring Canadian Award.

Jean-Pierre and his wife of 32 years, Nicole, are the parents of Patrick, age 28, and Isabelle, age 24.