Our Mission

To provide education and resources to support persons living with epilepsy and their communities and support ongoing research. 

About Epilepsy Association of the Maritimes

The Epilepsy Association of the Maritimes (EAM), formerly Epilepsy Association of Nova Scotia, is a registered charity founded in 1980. EAM is the only epilepsy organization in the Maritimes who serves persons living with epilepsy, their families and their communities. EAM provides Epilepsy Awareness and Seizure First Aid Education to schools (all levels), First Responders, Hospitals, Nursing Homes, Small Options, Recreational and Community Groups; we offer advocacy, navigation with healthcare and government agencies; invited guest speaking engagements; programming and a quarterly newsletter. 

In 2008, EAM was invited into a school to provide education to then 9-year old Cassidy Megan and her class.  Encouraged by her classmates' positive reception of the information, Cassidy disclosed to her peers they did in fact know someone with epilepsy; that she had epilepsy. Cassidy and her mom approached EAM with the goal of creating one day where all persons living with epilepsy would not feel isolated or alone and also have an opportunity to network with others who shared this very common condition.  Thus Purple Day, March 26th was founded by Cassidy Megan and EAM is the Founding Agency.  This is now a global campaign in more than 85 countries and supporters around the world wear purple to raise epilepsy awareness. On June 28, 2012, it was passed in the House of Commons that going forward, March 26th would officially be recognized in Canada as Purple Day.  Canada is the only country to have Purple Day officially acknowledged.