Protecting a New Canadian Industry: New Association of Companies to Support Establishing National Standards for Medical Mask Manufacturing in Canada

The Canadian Association of Medical Mask Manufacturers (CAMMM) will provide key insights and subject matter expertise to support the establishment of medical mask manufacturing standards in Canada.

KELOWNA, BC and WATERLOO, ON, April 12, 2021 /CNW/ - Founded by two of the largest medical mask manufacturers in the country, the Canadian Association of Medical Mask Manufacturers (CAMMM) was created with the intent of supporting government and industry in establishing standards and regulations for this newly formed Canadian industry. 

CAMMM, founded by Breathe Medical Manufacturing Ltd. located in Kelowna, British Columbia and The Canadian Shield of Waterloo, Ontario, believes the trade association will play a key role in supporting Canada's mask manufacturing industry. CAMMM's group of subject-matter experts will help to communicate with legislators and regulators, as well as support new methodologies and technologies emerging in the industry. 

The association has two main goals: 1) to help enhance the economic health of the medical mask manufacturing industry in Canada, and 2) to help build an established standards and regulatory system to protect Canadians. 

CAMMM plans on working closely with the federal and provincial-territorial governments, health professionals, member companies, suppliers, and other stakeholders to deliver safe, accessible, innovative and sustainable medical masks for Canadians and export markets. Canadian companies, organizations, individuals, and suppliers within the industry are welcome and encouraged to join the association.

Commenting on founding CAMMM, Jeremy Hedges, CEO of The Canadian Shield, said: "On behalf of The Canadian Shield and its employees and suppliers, we're pleased to be joining Breathe Medical as a founding member of CAMMM, and we look forward to building a strong industry. Everyone in the Canadian industry is highly focused on achieving safety and security for Canadians in many different walks of life and industries, and an industry association is a key avenue for all of us to work cooperatively with governments and industry to reach those important goals."

Commenting on the founding of CAMMM, Robert Balazs, CAMMM's Chairperson, said: "Our industry is growing rapidly, and leading companies such as The Canadian Shield, Breathe Medical Manufacturing Ltd. and others form the backbone of a secure and safe supply of protective equipment and masks for all Canadians."

Over the coming months, CAMMM will work directly with key stakeholders and various levels of government to establish standards and regulations for the medical mask manufacturing industry. 

Members of the industry interested in learning more about joining the Canadian Association of Medical Mask Manufacturers can obtain more information at www.CAMMM.ca. 

About The Canadian Shield
Based in Waterloo, Ontario, The Canadian Shield is on a mission to build a sustainable future for medical device manufacturing in North America in order to achieve safety and security for Canada, and to help build a future in which our country is a global leader of medical device manufacturing, product sustainability and innovation. For more information, visit: www.canadianshieldppe.ca

About Breathe Medical Manufacturing Ltd.
Breathe Medical Manufacturing designs, manufactures and distributes disposable surgical/procedure masks and N95 particulate respirators. Breathe Medical services multiple global markets, including medical, health and beauty, industrial, and food and beverage processing plants. Headquartered in Kelowna, British Columbia, the company produces ASTM medical levels 1, 2 and 3 and N95 respirator masks for the Canadian and United States markets. For more information, visit: www.breathemedicalmanufacturing.com

SOURCE Canadian Association of Medical Mask Manufacturers

Ontario's doctors support halt to non-emergency surgeries

TORONTO, April 9, 2021 /CNW/ - Ontario's doctors support the government's decision to halt non-emergency surgeries as an unfortunate but necessary step to reduce the death toll from COVID-19.

The Ontario Medical Association said the order is necessary to preserve capacity in the health-care system to treat not just COVID patients but others with critical illnesses or injuries.

More than 500 Ontarians are in intensive care units – the highest number since the pandemic began – and more than 3,000 people continue to test positive for the virus every day. The new, more contagious versions of the virus are striking younger people and entire families.

"I am sad that we have come to the point again where we have to delay care for patients who have been waiting too long already in order to try to ensure that no one dies because of a lack of acute care resources," said OMA President Dr. Samantha Hill.

Ontario's doctors strongly emphasize and agree with the government message that primary care providers will continue their important role in maintaining care for Ontarians, including cancer screenings, routine immunizations and in some practices COVID-19 immunizations. Other specialists are also continuing to treat and care for their patients.

Anyone needing urgent care should go their nearest emergency department where they can be confidant that the highest safety and infection control measures are in place.

"Your doctor's office is open," stressed OMA CEO Allan O'Dette. "Physicians are seeing patients, and have been throughout the pandemic, whether virtually, by phone or in person where appropriate."

Ontario's doctors urge everyone to be patient while we wait for this new directive and the province-wide lockdown to start having an impact. If we all follow the stay-at-home order and public health guidelines and get the first vaccine offered to us, we can get through this.

About the OMA

The Ontario Medical Association represents Ontario's 43,000-plus physicians, medical students and retired physicians, advocating for and supporting doctors while strengthening the leadership role of doctors in caring for patients. Our vision is to be the trusted voice in transforming Ontario's health-care system.

SOURCE Ontario Medical Association

April 16th is National Advance Care Planning Day in Canada

OTTAWA, ON, April 9, 2021 /CNW/ - Advance Care Planning: An Essential Conversation for Everyone

April 16^th is National Advance Care Planning Day in Canada, a day to promote conversations about your wishes and values for your future health and personal care in the event that you are unable to speak for yourself. This year's Advance Care Planning Day is based on the theme Advance Care Planning: An Essential Conversation for Everyone.

Karine Diedrich, Director of the Advance Care Planning (ACP) in Canada initiative says, "Having an Advance Care Plan will help to ensure your values and health care wishes are respected. In these unprecedented times, with the impacts of COVID-19 felt around the world, it's more important than ever to stay connected to loved ones, regardless of distance, and to have conversations about your values, wishes and what is important to you."       

The ACP in Canada website - advancecareplanning.ca/acpday - features downloadable resources, including posters and social media graphics for organizations and individuals across Canada to promote the ACP Day campaign. 

For its signature event on April 16, ACP in Canada will host a free, exclusive online screening of the critically acclaimed movie The Father for members of the public. Our hope is that the movie will prompt important conversations among Canadians about the type of care and quality of life that's important to them.

Canadians have spoken, and although 80% of the population believes Advance Care Planning is important, less than 1 in 5 Canadians have an Advance Care Plan. Between 6 and 8 pm on April16th, we recommend speaking with your loved ones about your values, wishes and what is important to you. 

It's not always an easy conversation to have. Fortunately, the ACP website at www.advancecareplanning.ca is full of information, tools, and prompts to help with starting these conversations. There are also links to provincial and territorial-specific ACP resources across Canada.

How are you connecting with friends and loved ones during these times? Share inspiring conversations and stories using the hashtags #ACPDay2021 and #ACPinCanada. 

The national 'Speak Up' Advance Care Planning (ACP) in Canada initiative is led by the Canadian Hospice Palliative Care Association (CHPCA) and supported with a financial contribution from Health Canada. The initiative aims to help people living in Canada prepare for their future and personal health care. The project involves a series of public awareness campaigns, supports community-based ACP programs, and promotes ACP resources and guides.

Advance Care Planning Day in Canada is also made possible with generous financial support from GSK.

The Canadian Hospice Palliative Care Association (CHPCA) is a member of the National Advance Care Planning Task Group, comprised of representatives from a number of organizations and professions across Canada. 

www.advancecareplanning.ca

SOURCE Canadian Hospice Palliative Care Association

4 Ways to Improve Your Strength and Flexibility

Strength and flexibility are acquired gradually through hard work and persistence. To be strong and flexible, you only need to make a few lifestyle changes. It is essential to have a routine and stick to it. Here are a few factors that improve your strength and flexibility significantly.

Physical Exercises

To improve your strength and flexibility, you need to indulge in activities that make your muscles work harder than usual. For a physical exercise to be muscle strengthening, you need to work your body to the point where you need a rest before getting back. Flexibility exercises are also part of physical exercises. They include stretching, yoga, Pilates, tai chi, and many more. They are essential in improving joint function to withstand movement when doing daily tasks. Other benefits include reducing aches or pains and improving your posture.

Physical Therapy

Two decades ago, people experiencing back pain would be advised to take bed rest and limit their movements. Fast forward to the present day, research has shown that being immobile weakens muscle function and hence weakening spine support. If an individual stays inactive for too long, their recovery might be prolonged or even make some conditions worse. Physical therapy is essential in rebuilding muscle strength which is significant in your overall health. Other essential benefits of physical therapy. They include:

- It relieves pain

- It helps you learn proper physical exercise techniques and methods to improve joint and bone structures' muscular protection.

- You get to have an individualized exercise program.

Watch Your Diet

Consuming the right foods gives your body the building blocks it requires to become strong and flexible. That is why it is important to eat a healthy balanced diet – a combination of grain-based carbs, fruits, vegetables, and proteins. This would impact the growth and health of muscles making you more strong and flexible. Harvard Health wrote that dietitians recommend consuming at least nine servings of vegetables and fruits per day, 130 grams of carbs each day, and about 50 grams of protein every day. Consult a dietitian to help you develop a personalized list of what your body needs to build muscle and improve your flexibility.

Hydrate

When working on your body, especially in activities involving physical exercises and muscle-strengthening workouts, you have to fuel yourself appropriately. Water plays an essential role in your health. Ensure that you drink at least eight glasses of water each day.

If you want to live a healthy and long life, you need to improve your flexibility and muscle strength. This does not only make doing things easier, but you will also feel good about yourself.

Olympus Opens New Global HQ for Therapeutic Solutions Division and U.S. Medical Business

TOKYO, Apr 8, 2021 - (ACN Newswire) - Olympus Corporation ("Olympus" - Director, Representative Executive Officer, President and CEO: Yasuo Takeuchi) announced today the opening of a new facility in Westborough, MA, to serve as the global headquarters for its Therapeutic Solutions Division (TSD) and its medical business in the United States.Olympus has identified TSD as a strategic focus for growth and shifted its global head of TSD from Tokyo to the U.S. to have better access to a key medical industry cluster and generate growth through stronger business opportunities. Since the Transform Olympus initiatives were unveiled in 2019, many U.S.-based executives have been leading TSD growth; Olympus has dramatically expanded the business with acquisitions, as well as through organic growth.

The new 150,000-square-foot facility in Westborough will accommodate both the U.S. TSD employees and those formerly reporting to Image Stream Medical (ISM) facility located in Littleton, MA, with the exception of the manufacturing employees who will remain in Littleton. The facility will serve as one of several R&D hubs for Olympus, while enabling coordinated and agile management processes to support a global medical technology enterprise. At Olympus Westborough, the Olympus Continuum Training and Education Center will offer hands-on learning opportunities led by top medical experts using advanced medical equipment in a wetlab setting, both in person and virtually via the MedPresence telecollaboration platform. For interactions with customers and prospects, the Olympus OR Innovation Center showroom, also outfitted with the MedPresence platform, will provide an immersive environment for in-person or virtual integrated OR demonstrations.

The new Westborough facility will also provide enhanced opportunities for Olympus to build relationships with potential future employees. Olympus will facilitate relationships with potential job candidates, as well as continued partnerships with universities, colleges, and technical schools in the greater Boston area to bring world-class skills and capabilities to the company.

Nacho Abia, Chief Operating Officer of Olympus Corporation, said, "The U.S. market continues to be the largest in the world because of growing demand for minimally invasive treatment and surgery and the need for remote collaboration under COVID-19, so it's natural that we decided to combine all functions in Massachusetts in one place to facilitate agility and collaboration. This agile and globally-connected way of business will enhance our overall business competitiveness."

About Olympus' Medical business

As a leading medical technology company, our Medical business uses innovative capabilities in medical technology, therapeutic intervention, and precision manufacturing to help healthcare professionals deliver diagnostic, therapeutic, and minimally invasive procedures to improve clinical outcomes, reduce overall costs, and enhance the quality of life for patients and their safety. Olympus' Medical portfolio includes endoscopes, laparoscopes, and video imaging systems, as well as surgical energy devices, system integration solutions, medical services, and a wide range of endotherapy instruments for endoscopic and therapeutic applications. For more information, visit www.olympus-global.com.

A new report finds waterways near industrial farms in Canada could be a public health threat

TORONTO, April 7, 2021 /CNW/ - Public waterways next to industrial farms in Manitoba contain antibiotic resistance genes (ARGs) that are dangerous to public health says a report from the global charity World Animal Protection.  The report is the first multi-country investigation of its kind titled, 'Silent superbug killers in a river near you' and along with Canada, included testing in Spain, the US and Thailand. 

ARGs should be of concern because they are the building blocks for "superbugs" (bacteria that have developed resistance to one or more antibiotics).  This means those antibiotics will be less or ineffective in treating infections in humans. Some antibiotics are already ineffective in some parts of the world. If action is not taken, in future, routine procedures like caesarean sections or cancer treatments could become dangerous worldwide. 

The report found that industrial farms could be discharging superbugs into the wider environment as a result of pig waste being spread on fields and leeching into groundwater and public waterways. 

Once in the environment, superbugs can reach humans in multiple ways. This includes through recreation such as water sports, eating fish from contaminated water and eating of crops contaminated with surface water.  

In Manitoba, the presence of ARGs was evaluated from samples collected in November 2020 from publicly accessible spaces upstream and downstream of eight industrial pig farms. The investigation found ARGs resistant to antibiotics included cephalosporins and fluoroquinolones, which are of most concern to the World Health Organization (WHO). These antibiotics are the last line of defence for common infections like urinary tract infections or to keep patients alive with life threatening conditions like respiratory infections, when other antibiotics fail.

The routine overuse of antibiotics in animal agriculture is recognized by the WHO and the United Nations as a significant contributor to the emergence of superbugs. Up to 10 million people are expected to die from superbugs each year by 2050 if action isn't taken to stop their overuse.

On industrial farms, mother pigs are often stuck in cages their entire lives, their piglets suffer from painful procedures such as tail cutting and the animals are forced to spend their lives in overcrowded, unsanitary conditions on concrete floors, with no enrichment. This can cause stress and sickness, so routine antibiotics are used on the animals for disease prevention.

Lynn Kavanagh, Farming Campaign Manager, at World Animal Protection, says,

"Industrial animal agriculture is taking risks with people's lives by routinely using antibiotics, which is fueling the rise in dangerous superbugs," she says. "Keeping animals in conditions where they're healthier, is the only way to stop the overuse of antibiotics on farms. We need to stop using antibiotics across groups of animals to prevent sickness."

World Animal Protection also interviewed people from communities near the farms where testing was done. 

Vicki Burns is with the group Hogwatch Manitoba and says they have been trying for years to get government attention on their concerns about the pig farms. She says there are toxic odours coming from the barn, impacting the communities and that too much manure gets into the local lake.

"It's very challenging", says Burns. "It's hard to get any people in power to pay attention to the problems of industrial agriculture."

Bill Massey is a local small scale pig farmer. He says, "I think in terms of antibiotic use, animal welfare, animal health, and just the ethics of this whole thing, I can hardly believe we can treat animals like this. When you take an intelligent animal like that and you put them in those kinds of conditions, you can imagine the stress animals are enduring." 

From January 2022, it will be illegal in the European Union to administer antibiotics across groups of farm animals to prevent disease. Canada should follow suit. 

It is important to note that antibiotics are crucial to treat individual animals who become sick; but stopping the prophylactic use of antibiotics will also make them more effective when needed. 

World Animal Protection also urges the Canadian government to help farmers transition to more sustainable and humane systems where animals don't suffer and human health isn't at risk. 

About World Animal Protection

From our offices around the world, including China, Brazil, Kenya and Canada, we move the world to protect animals. Last year, we gave more than 220 million animals better lives through our campaigns that focus on animals in the wild, animals in disasters, animals in communities and animals in farming. For more information visit www.worldanimalprotection.ca

SOURCE World Animal Protection

Fonds de solidarité FTQ invests US$4 million in Ventus Therapeutics

Ventus' innovative technologies pave the way to develop new drugs for elusive therapeutic targets

MONTRÉAL, April 8, 2021 /CNW Telbec/ - Fonds de solidarité FTQ (the « Fonds ») is investing US$4 million in Ventus Therapeutics. Created in 2019 by Versant Ventures, Ventus is pioneering a unique approach to structure-based drug discovery to address biologically validated, but elusive, drug targets. The company is rapidly advancing a pipeline of new medicines to treat autoimmune and inflammatory diseases, neurological disorders, and cancer.

"We are thrilled to see a Montréal-based company backed by such a great financial syndicate. Versant brought together a great team around cutting-edge science. Ventus' innovative technologies are promising for immunology, oncology and neurology patients. By investing in Ventus, we are investing in a better society," said Geneviève Guertin, vice-president for investments, Life Sciences, at the Fonds.

The Fonds first invested in a Versant fund in 2014 and has since reinvested in five of the firm's subsequent funds. 

Since 1989, the Fonds de solidarité FTQ has invested $1.6 billion to support the Québec life sciences sector. Today, the Fonds dedicated life sciences team has eight members, including a senior scientific director. The team invests directly in life sciences companies as well as in life sciences investment funds.

About the Fonds de solidarité FTQ
The Fonds de solidarité FTQ is investing in a better society thanks to its over 700,000 shareholder-savers. Through its private equity and venture capital investments, the Fonds seeks to have a positive impact on society, namely in the health, environmental and innovation sectors. With net assets of $15.6 billion as at November 30, 2020, the Fonds supported over 3,300 partner companies and more than 220,000 jobs. 

SOURCE Fonds de solidarité FTQ

Benefits with a difference: Medavie Blue Cross launches new plan option to support needs of small businesses with up to 10 lives

New offering uses a claims pooling approach giving small businesses a cost-effective option to offer employees the protection they need and expect 

TORONTO, April 8, 2021 /CNW/ - Medavie Blue Cross has launched Benefits for Small Business, a life and health plan that gives small business employees the protection they need and expect – more important than ever as the COVID-19 pandemic continues. 

Available to established companies with up to 10 lives in Ontario and Atlantic Canada, Benefits for Small Business provides coverage for extended health care, including vision care, prescription drugs, dental, disability, as well as life and travel insurance. As part of the plan design, claims are pooled together with other small businesses that have been operating for at least six months. This approach lowers the financial impact of high claims activity and ensures the plans remain cost-effective for businesses over time.

"With a strong commitment to improving the wellbeing of Canadians, we are always looking at ways to reimagine our plans to support the needs of Canada's diverse workforce," says Alaina MacKenzie, Regional Vice President, Business Development at Medavie Blue Cross. "We're excited to offer Benefits for Small Business as a flexible, cost-effective way for small business owners to give their employees access to a comprehensive benefit plan that supports their health and wellness needs, both during the pandemic and beyond."

Key features of Benefits for Small Business include:

• Stable pricing for must-have employee benefits that can be up and running within days 
• No deductibles or medical questionnaires required for core benefits 
• Digital tools for easy, on-the-go plan access and claims management 
• Direct payment of claims through Medavie Blue Cross' vast provider network 
• Access to virtual health care options at preferred member rates 
• Easy activation and simple administration 

The plan also provides added flexibility with a health spending account option and employee-paid optional coverage for critical illness, accidental death or dismemberment and additional life insurance. 

About Medavie Blue Cross
Medavie Blue Cross is a premier all-in-one carrier that provides health, dental, travel, life and disability benefits, and administers various federal and provincial government-sponsored health programs. Together with Medavie Health Services, we are part of Medavie, a health solutions partner committed to improving the wellbeing of Canadians.

We are one of Canada's Most Admired Corporate Cultures and recognized as an Imagine Canada Caring Company. As a not-for-profit organization, we are proud to commit an annual social dividend to the Medavie Health Foundation to support programs and initiatives aimed at addressing some of our country's most pressing physical and mental health care challenges.

SOURCE Medavie Blue Cross

Ontario's doctors support government orders, local public health measures

TORONTO, April 7, 2021 /CNW/ - Ontario's doctors today gave their support to new provincial measures to stop the spread of COVID-19 and to public health leaders making decisions to further protect their local communities.

The Ontario Medical Association supports the government stay-at-home order, and urges every Ontarian to do so as well, while still getting physically distanced outdoor exercise and paying attention to their mental health needs.

Doctors who have been on the front lines of the pandemic for more than a year also urge those who are able, to support their local restaurants and other small businesses by ordering food and other goods through delivery or curbside pickup.

"Doctors are worried. The current increased number of people contracting COVID-19, requiring hospitalization and/or intensive care is alarming. It's dramatically higher than anything Ontario has yet seen during this pandemic, and reminiscent of Britain's third wave, which carried a death rate greater than their first and second wave combined," said OMA President Dr. Samantha Hill. "We all want this pandemic to finally end. The good news is that we are not powerless. We all have a role to play to make that happen, and Ontarians have repeatedly proven themselves capable."

The OMA continues to advocate for paid sick leave for essential workers, whose workplaces are the source of many outbreaks, especially in the hotspots of Toronto and Peel Region. Most essential workers are paid only when they go to work and cannot afford to stay home and lose that income if they are sick or suspect they have been exposed to COVID.

The OMA also supports the immunization of all essential workers and disadvantaged workers, and residents of hotspots. Every Ontarian should take the first vaccine offered to them. Family doctors already vaccinating their patients in some regions of the provinces and ready and able to expand their role.

"We urge everyone to follow the advice of public health leaders and stay home if you are able," said OMA CEO Allan O'Dette. "We need to get COVID-19 under control while more of us get vaccinated so that we can reopen the economy for good."

About the OMA

The Ontario Medical Association represents Ontario's 43,000-plus physicians, medical students and retired physicians, advocating for and supporting doctors while strengthening the leadership role of doctors in caring for patients. Our vision is to be the trusted voice in transforming Ontario's health-care system.

SOURCE Ontario Medical Association

How a Cycling Class Can Help You Meet Your Weight Goals

In addition to being one of the cornerstones of a healthy lifestyle, physical exercise can also play an essential role in weight loss. Choosing the right workout routine or fitness plan can help speed up your results and help to keep the weight off. From professional instruction to the comfort, convenience and consistency that comes from working out in an indoor environment, enrolling in a cycling class can go a long way towards helping you to meet your weight goals.

Staying Focused

From fitness programs designed for beginners to training regimes advanced enough to challenge seasoned athletes, focus and consistency are both key elements for ensuring success. Cycling outdoors often means that inclement weather can be a major obstacle, especially during the colder months of the year. If you are serious about achieving your fitness and weight-loss goals, the consistency and dependability that can only be found within an indoor environment can make a real difference. An indoor cycling class is often the optimal solution for those who find themselves struggling to brave the elements.

Professional Instruction

Structured programs like Plan 7 Coaching  also offer the benefit of supervised instruction. Crafting your own program can have serious limitations and even established workout routines that lack coaching, instruction, and supervision may fail to deliver the level of results you are seeking. Unlike cycling alone, a class can provide you with the extra encouragement, instruction and feedback you need in order to go the extra mile.

Working Out With a Group

The social component of an exercise routine is another factor that is too often overlooked. Working out with a group is a great way to network, meet new friends and to establish the level of companionship and friendly competition that can provide you with that extra boost of motivation. Enrolling in a cycling class can be an ideal solution, especially if you find it difficult to hit the track or make it to the gym when working out on your own.

In addition to weight loss, regular exercise can provide you with extra energy and greater physical and mental well-being. Having a safe, comfortable indoor environment and the chance to work out as part of a larger group offers the added edge you need in order to reach and achieve your weight loss and fitness goals. Enrolling in the right class can be an important initial step on the road to healthier, more fit, and more fulfilling lifestyle.