At Epilepsy South Central Ontario (ESCO), we’re proud to offer free programs, education, and support to individuals and families affected by epilepsy. Every day, our team works across Mississauga, Brampton, Hamilton, Halton, Peel, Waterloo, Wellington, Dufferin, and surrounding regions to improve quality of life, promote independence, and spread awareness — but we can’t do it alone.
What many don’t know:
ESCO receives zero sustainable government funding.
That means:
❌ No base government support
❌ No predictable long-term grants
✅ 100% of our services rely on fundraisers, sponsorships, private donations, and community action
This funding gap leaves us with hard questions:
Will we need to scale back programs?
Can we continue offering services for free?
How do we stay sustainable and available to the families who need us most?
We believe no one should have to pay to learn how to manage epilepsy or support a loved one. And we’re asking you — our community — to help keep these programs going.
🧠 What We Do
ESCO provides a wide range of free and essential programs, including:
Counselling & Support Groups for individuals, teens, families, and caregivers
Epilepsy 101 Education for schools, workplaces, and first responders
Clinic to Community sessions for newly diagnosed individuals
Sunny Days Camp – a safe and empowering summer experience for children with epilepsy
Family & Youth Conference – annual learning and connection for families across the region
Seizure Response Service Dogs, in partnership with the Lions Foundation of Canada
Advocacy & Awareness through events, workshops, and public campaigns
A growing library of tools and resources, including Spark Sheets
🔗 Explore our full list of programs
How You Can Help — Without Donating a Dollar
You can make a huge impact in five simple ways:
1. Share Your Story
Be featured in a video or write a testimonial — your voice helps others feel less alone.
🎥 Want to participate? We’ll connect you with our Media Manager, Trevor.
2. Leave a 5-Star Google Review
Your feedback builds trust and helps others find us.
⭐ Mississauga Office Review
⭐ Kitchener Office Review
3. Create a Facebook Fundraiser
Select “Epilepsy South Central Ontario” as your charity —
100% of funds come to us and donors get automatic tax receipts.
4. Share Our Donation Links
Even if you can’t give right now, sharing spreads awareness:
🔗 Donate via ESCO
🔗 Donate via CanadaHelps
5. Be an Advocate
Remind others that ESCO receives no government funding
Write to your local MP — tell them why epilepsy support matters
Celebrate Purple Day (March 26) or host a fundraiser any time of year
Keep the conversation going — 1 in 100 Canadians live with epilepsy
Let’s Keep This Going — Together
The uncertainty of our funding is real, but so is our determination.
We’re not asking you to reach into your pockets (unless you can).
We’re asking you to raise your voice, share your story, and remind the world that epilepsy support should never come with a price tag.
Have an idea? Want to get involved?
We’re here and we’re listening.
