Montreal English Meetings

Meeting formats vary, but you’ll likely hear a few readings from OA literature as well as stories from OA members about their struggles and recovery from compulsive eating and food behaviours. Members may share their first names and phone numbers so people can support each other between meetings.

Most meetings collect a few dollars to pay for the zoom hosting or in the case of in-person meetings, to pay for the rooms we meet in, but contribution is always voluntary and often newcomers are encouraged not to contribute.

Many meetings will have a featured speaker who shares for 10-20 minutes. Some meetings focus on recovery using the Big Book of Alcoholics Anonymous.

At many meetings, you will have an opportunity to introduce yourself as a newcomer, if you like.  Anonymity is a foundational principle of OA so you are assured that what you share will be held in confidence. Someone from the meeting may call you to offer support or answer questions you have about the program, and you are welcome to take down phone numbers to reach out for help or to ask questions.

An Open Meeting is open to OA members and non-OA visitors, such as family and friends. All meetings are considered open unless otherwise indicated.

A Closed Meeting is restricted to people who desire to stop eating compulsively or to normalizing behaviours surrounding food — that is, OA members and those who think they may have a problem with food.

Although we have no dues or fees, we are self-supporting through our own contributions as defined by our 7th Tradition. Consequently, we do invite a suggested contribution of $5 per meeting from our regular members (this is NEVER required for attendance – please give only to your level of ability). We invite all newcomers to attend their first few meetings for free.

OA English Montreal intergroup does incur ongoing expenses (for this website, office expenses, the technologies employed, etc.). We give – according to our individual abilities – in order to cover all expenses so that we might continue to reach the still suffering compulsive eater and to keep our doors/online meetings open to those seeking to work our spiritual program of Twelve Step recovery – a design for living that really works.

(If you would like to contribute to OA MEI so we can share our message of hope with more compulsive eaters throughout our city and beyond, please click here!)

Whether you are a compulsive eater, anorexic, restrictor, under-eater, bulimic, over-eater, over weight, obese, or are of normal size yet struggle with food, excessive exercise, or body image, or if you merely have questions about whether you might have issues with food – everyone is welcome at OA meetings.

We welcome you at one of our virtual meetings or in-person once per month in the Montreal area. Please refer back to our meeting list as it is being constantly updated. You may also reach out to the contact person for each meeting before attending.