The start of a new year is always exciting and filled with optimism.As the saying goes, if we are to go forward, we must go back. When it comes to planning your financial future, going back will ensure that you have a solid foundation on which to build.
Proper financial planning, tax planning and estate planning is a process, not an event. Many people we meet have excellent professional advisors who are experts at solving problems. But no one is looking at their estate and risk planning from a 30,000-foot perspective or taking a comprehensive approach. Your Big Picture should include the following essentials: Here are ten financial planning tips from WEALTHinsurance.com® for a new year moving forward.
1. Make sure you have an updated will: A recent study by RBC Wealth Management reported that just over half the people canvassed had a will in place. One in three had done nothing at all to prepare for passing on wealth to the next generation. In Ontario, when a person dies without a valid will, provincial bureaucrats determine how the estate is distributed under the Succession Law Reform Act. Many people without a will mistakenly assume their estate will automatically move to their spouse tax-free. Each province has its own rules about beneficiaries and how they are treated in the absence of a will. Engage a lawyer who specializes in wills to develop yours.
2. Powers of Attorney: Your need two Powers of Attorney, one for your legal affairs, and another for your health and personal care. Those individuals will be making important decisions about your health and wealth if you are unable to do so. Choose them wisely and be sure to discuss your wishes with them before conferring such enormous responsibilities upon them.
3. Assets held jointly: It's often a good idea to own assets, like properties, as joint tenants, which avoids probate tax. When a property is owned by joint tenants, the interest of a deceased owner automatically gets transferred to the remaining surviving owners. In some cases, especially for creditor protection reasons, it may be better to own an asset in one person's name only. Again, this points to the need for a specialist to help you out.
4. Beneficiaries: Your list of beneficiaries must be kept current and up to date. Half of Canadian marriages end in divorce, your beneficiaries list should be revisited frequently, especially when you say, "I do". According to Statistics Canada, more than one in five Canadians who does remarry, leaves their second spouse within an average 7.6 years. The last thing you want to do is leave your money to an ex-spouse's children instead of your own.
5. Estate directory: It is impossible to remember absolutely everything you need to have on hand for your spouse, children, and executors if something happens to you. You need to complete the 2021 Estate Directory, available free at WEALTHinsurance.com.® You can easily input and update information on the whereabouts of your wills, insurance policies, bank accounts, brokerage accounts, etc. to help your survivors wind up your personal affairs in an orderly manner.
6. Life insurance: The importance of life insurance cannot be over-emphasized. It is the most cost-effective and tax-effective financial instrument available in Canada, and it enjoys unique treatment under the Income Tax Act. Life insurance benefits flow entirely tax-free, bypassing wills and probate fees. Most importantly, it provides financial security for your family when you are gone, covers your tax liabilities, underpins your Shareholder's Agreement, and guarantees payment to your family for your shares in a co-owned company when you die. It also designates funds to your favourite charity, creating an enduring legacy. These are just a few of the merits of owning a life insurance policy.
7. Other insurance: We live in a great country, with an over-stressed health care system that provides universal coverage (and long wait times for treatment) paid for by our taxes. But all those taxes aren't enough to get you the specialized care you need as quickly as you want it. The cost of long-term care can easily exceed $10,000 a month, and will rapidly deplete your retirement savings, putting a financial strain on your spouse and family. Use insurance as a hedge with policies that include a return of premium option, so if no claim is made you get back all the premiums paid.
8. Health benefits: Know what is covered by your company benefits and what's not. Your company may have what's known as "flex A benefits", allowing you to choose how/where to spend your eligible health dollars, or a wider choice of benefits where everyone receives the same coverage. If you have a special issue, seek advice from a specialist who can help you get the coverage you need without any overlap.
9. Retirement planning: A good plan starts with knowing what you want to do with your money, like paying off your mortgage, paying university tuitions for your kids, helping them buy a home, and travelling the world. In retirement, the salary you have grown accustomed to will no longer be available, and you may be unemployed for several decades. When it comes to retirement planning, you need the help of a Certified Financial Planner to ensure you are on the right track and protected from unwelcome surprises.
10. Charity: You have three possible beneficiaries when you pass away: family, charity, and the Canada Revenue Agency (CRA). There are many ways to give to charity, whether you want to donate now or in the future. The most cost-effective way to provide for charity is through life insurance, which usually results in a much larger gift than if you had donated cash. If you are over 65 and collecting CPP, consider using the CPP Philanthropy™ strategy, that you can read about at WEALTHinsurance.com®
The start of a new year is the perfect time to act on the issues described above. Prepare now for whatever lies ahead and enjoy the peace of mind that comes from knowing you have planned appropriately.
For Further Media Information or to set up an interview with Mark Halpern, please contact:
With that in mind, WEALTHinsurance.com® has six tips for everyone to preserve their wealth for their family as well as the charities they are passionate about.
Benefit From Life Insurance While You Are Alive: Most Canadians think the only benefit from a life insurance police occurs when they die. However, you can benefit from life insurance while you are alive. As an example, a retired accountant in his mid 60’s has a $500,000 life insurance policy he didn’t really need. He wanted to donate the policy to his alma mater, so WEALTHinsurance.com® arranged for an independent actuary to determine its current value. The actuary valued the policy at $290,000 and it was donated it to the university, with the individual receiving a charitable donation receipt for the entire $290,000, and he saved about $145,000 in taxes.
Tax Tip: Most Canadians donate to charity using cash, credit cards or a cheque. In truth, that’s the least efficient way to be philanthropic. If you’ve invested in the stock market over the past 10 or 15 years, you undoubtedly have some appreciated securities with ‘pregnant’ taxable gains. Simply donate some of those shares and receive a tax charitable receipt for their full (appreciated) value and pay zero capital gains taxes on them.
RRSPs and RIFs: If you’re single, divorced, widowed, or never married, the tax department will scoop up to 54 % of your RRSP or RIF savings when you die, and probate fees can gobble up another 1.5 %. (in Ontario) If you designate a charity as the beneficiary of some or all of your RSP or RIF, you can effectively eliminate the tax liability.
Create Your Own Family Legacy: Donating to favourite charities can be emotionally fulfilling and financially rewarding, reducing your current or future tax load. It can also enable you to save more for those near and dear to you while creating a family legacy that will carry your name for many years to come.
Selling Your Business? Save taxes if you are about to sell your home or business. Consider donating to charity the amount of funds that will offset all or part of the tax bill and then use the credit that would be available in a Capital Dividend Account to buy some corporate-owned life insurance. Doing so will allow you to donate generously, reduce or eliminate your taxes, and the corporate-owned life insurance that will ensure your family is covered and reimbursed fully for all your charitable good will.
Donate Corporately: Donating personally provides you with an approximate 50 % tax savings, but to get a bigger bang for your buck, donate funds corporately and enjoy a 100 % corporate deduction. A corporation using marketable securities for a donation also doesn’t have to pay any capital gains tax. In this instance, the gains on the donated funds are credited to the company’s Capital Dividend Account (CDA) and bow can be withdrawn tax-free and used for whatever purposes you want.
New Year, New Outlook: Life Coach Shares Powerful Messages of Unity and Positivity
Stafford, TX, March 5, 2021 – Without question, 2020 was a difficult year on many levels. Life Coach Michael Taylor has a powerful call to action, intended to help readers focus on the factors that unite us as humans and view 2021 through a perspective of positivity.
“It is my belief that there has never been a better time to be alive on the planet than right now,” he says. “Obviously, I recognize all the challenges, but at the same time, I honestly believe that every human being has the capacity to be, to do and to have anything that they set their minds to.”
In his latest book, The Good News Is, The Future Is Brighter Than You Think!,the self-described “irrepressible optimist” uses science, spirituality and psychology to inform his insights into a range of topics, including:
•Being Human: Understanding what it means to be human, the role of trauma in our lives, how to move on from past trauma and taking 100 percent responsibility for our lives; •Divine Intelligence and Evolution: The Divine Intelligence as the creator of the universe, the driving force behind human evolution and how to use its power; •Spirituality: Recognition and acknowledgment of a connection to a power higher than oneself, the spiritual connection to the Divine Intelligence as a result of evolution; •Race: Realization that there is only one race and that is the human race — only through evolution will we heal our race relations and accept that we’re all the same; •Love: Accepting love as the highest power that can heal this universe and how to create meaningful connections and develop healthy intimate relationships; •Plus health, wealth, education, technology and everything in between!
“If you’ve been looking for a resource that inspires you and motivates you and lights you up, this is the book for you!” Taylor adds.
Author Michael Taylor is uniquely positioned to spread hope and optimism. A high school dropout, he overcamea divorce, bankruptcy, foreclosure, depression and being homeless for two years on his way to becoming a successful entrepreneur, motivational speaker, radio and TV host, and author of nine best-selling books. He has dedicated his life to empowering men and women to reach their full potential by transforming their lives from the inside out.
Taylor is President and CEO of Creation Publishing Group, a company that specializes in creating programs and products that empower men and women to live extraordinary lives,and Too Cool Club, a company that develops transformational education programs for youth. He has been featured in the Amazon.com bestselling book Motivational Speakers America and in USA Today magazine about the changing roles of manhood and masculinity in society. He has won numerous awards for his dynamic speaking style, and he is an Amazon.com bestselling author.
He is the host and producer of two TV Channels on the Roku Network, Joy Passion & Profit and Shatter The Stereotypes, and hosts two podcasts of the same names available on most podcast platforms like Spotify and iTunes.
Most importantly, he has been blissfully married for 18 years to the woman of his dreams and he is a proud father of three grown children.
Canadian Red Cross and HPV Global Action coming together to support International HPV Awareness Day
MONTRÉAL, March 4, 2021 /CNW/ - Cervical cancer is one of today's most preventable cancers. Approximatively 570,000 women were diagnosed with cervical cancer around the world in 2018.(1) Among these, more than three hundred thousand women will die. Ninety per cent of these women live in low- and middle- income countries (LMIC). These deaths are preventable.(2)
The Canadian Red Cross and HPV Global Action have committed to supporting the World Health Organization's (WHO) targets that must be met by 2030 for countries to be on the path towards cervical cancer elimination through:
Vaccination: 90% of girls fully vaccinated with the HPV vaccine by the age of 15;
Screening: 70% of women screened using a high-performance test by the age of 35, and again by the age of 45;
Treatment: 90% of women identified with cervical disease receive treatment (90% of women with pre-cancer treated and 90% of women with invasive cancer managed).(3)
The Red Cross and HPV Global Action recognize that this global strategy is critical in advancing sexual and reproductive health and rights. Both organizations also understand the challenges to delivering the strategy in fragile and conflict settings, as well as in LMIC where the impact of cervical cancer on women, girls and transgender men is the greatest.
This WHO strategy requires an intersectional feminist approach that recognizes the ways in which factors like gender, age, race, ethnicity, education and power shape the offer of and access to services. Many of those at risk or affected by HPV and cervical cancer still lack or have limited access to the health services and education that are critical to eliminating cervical cancer.(4)
The successful implementation of the 90-70-90 strategy could reduce new cases by more than 40% and related deaths by five million within 20 years.(5) To help achieve this, public health policies supporting the WHO strategy should address HPV and its connection to cervical cancer through an intersectional lens to ensure its equitable implementation. Governments should take this opportunity to strengthen healthcare structures for diverse groups, particularly in LMIC and fragile contexts where systems are often challenged by resource constraints and health emergencies such as Zika, Ebola and COVID-19.(6)Equitable policy frameworks and resource allocations can positively impact vaccine acceptance, local supply and delivery, as well as cervical cancer screening practices and the availability of palliative care. These components are critical to ensuring progress on this commitment. International stakeholders are encouraged to prioritize the WHO objectives and work with healthcare providers, researchers, innovators, local actors, women-led organizations and dedicated partners, like the Canadian Red Cross and HPV Global Action, to ensure the WHO global strategy is successful.
As national and international leaders in community health, the Canadian Red Cross and HPV Global Action are reinforcing their dedication to prevention, screening and treatment, with a focus on those most at risk. The organizations are committed to using their global health capacity to improve access to services and information in areas with high prevalence of HPV and cervical cancer, building on foundations in place with existing partners. Other organizations, advocates, leaders and industries such as diagnostic, surgical, vaccine and pharmaceutical companies, are welcome to join us in working toward eliminating cervical cancer using an intersectional feminist approach.
ABOUT THE CANADIAN RED CROSS
A member of the International Red Cross Red Crescent Movement, the Canadian Red Cross helps people and communities in times of need, and supports them in strengthening their resilience. In addition to responding to disasters in Canada and abroad, the Canadian Red Cross supports local Movement partners in some of the world's most difficult contexts. This includes initiatives for women and children's health, which mobilizes communities and health workers in rural, remote regions to improve access to health-care services.
ABOUT HPV GLOBAL ACTION
HPV Global Action's mission is to raise awareness of positive sexual and reproductive health emphasizing HPV and its potential consequences. We empower culturally and ideologically diverse communities across the globe through the dissemination of critical, evidence-based knowledge for all ages, including health-care professionals and government agencies.
SOURCE HPV Global Action
The Top 5 Technologies for Innovation Leaders in Electronics and IT
Digital biomarkers, edge computing, and AI-enabled sensors are among the top technologies transforming the electronics landscape, according to Lux Research
BOSTON, MA, MARCH 4, 2021 – Digital transformation is one of the hottest topics in every industry, and as consumers are eagerly adopting increasing amounts of digital tech, electronics, and IT players have a unique opportunity to impact more industries than ever before. To help guide innovation in this booming space, Lux Research released its annual report, “Foresight 2021: Top Emerging Technologies to Watch.”
The Foresight 2021 report identifies and ranks 12 key technologies that will reshape the world in the coming years. The technologies are chosen based on innovation interest scores from the Lux Tech Signal, a composite measure assembled from a variety of innovation data sources, along with input from Lux’s experts. In addition to highlighting the overall technologies, for the first time ever, this year’s report ranks the top five technologies for the electronics and IT space to watch.
Lux’s annual report analyzes the digital transformation space, reviewing what topics emerged and which technologies gained traction during 2020. Its expert analysis of the hottest innovation topics and best tech startups found that the top five technologies electronics and IT innovation leaders should look to in the next decade are:
AI-Enabled Sensors – Merging hardware and software to collect and validate critical data will be a major part of use cases from consumer wearables to medical devices to industrial IoT.
Digital Biomarkers – Using data analytics to detect disease through changes in streams of data analytics is a potent path for electronics companies to grab a piece of the healthcare pie.
Natural Language Processing – Natural language processing (NLP) allows electronics and IT players to extend into new services and industry segments, either by using it to leverage their own data or by providing it as a service.
Edge Computing – Limitations in bandwidth and latency are pushing critical computation away from the cloud and out to the edge, with rapidly improving hardware and software enablers.
Synthetic Data – AI needs vast amounts of training data, and when real data is scarce, synthetic data can be a solution. It also boosts data diversity and privacy.
“Digital transformation as a concept has reached a point where developers and end users have to look past the hype and find real ROI from deployment of digital technologies,” explains Kevin See, Ph.D., Vice President of Research at Lux Research. “The central theme of these technologies is extracting value from data – whether layering AI on sensor outputs, analyzing digital biomarkers to detect conditions, or using edge computing to extract insight locally in close to real time. These technologies are primed to impact every industry, from healthcare to manufacturing and beyond.”
To learn more about how these technologies’ potential to impact innovation in the electronics and IT space, download the infographic.
If you are interested in speaking with an Analyst to learn more about this research, please email press@luxresearchinc.com.
About Lux Research
Lux Research is a leading provider of tech-enabled research and advisory services, helping clients drive growth through technology innovation. A pioneer in the research industry, Lux uniquely combines technical expertise and business insights with a proprietary intelligence platform, using advanced analytics and data science to surface true leading indicators. With quality data derived from primary research, fact-based analysis, and opinions that challenge traditional thinking, Lux empowers clients to make more informed decisions today to ensure future success.
Covaxin interim efficacy data will further boost market penetration, says GlobalData
Following the news that Bharat Biotech’s COVID-19 vaccine Covaxin showed 81% interim efficacy;
Prashant Khadayate, Pharma Analyst at GlobalData, a leading data and analytics company, offers his view:
“In January 2021, Covaxin was granted emergency use approval in India in the absence of late-stage efficacy data, raising questions on its effectiveness. This was reflected in the lower usage of Covaxin as part of the vaccination drive in India due to people being hesitant to take the vaccine in the absence of publicly available efficacy data. According to the government of India Co-Win dashboard, as of 3 March 2021, Covaxin doses contributed 12% of the overall vaccine doses administered in India, whereas 88% belong to Covishield from Serum Institute of India/ AstraZeneca. India has so far administered over 15 million COVID-19 vaccine doses.
“Covaxin demonstrated 81% interim efficacy in those without prior infection after the second dose. The first interim analysis is based on 43 cases, of which 36 cases of COVID-19 were observed in the placebo group while seven cases were observed in the Covaxin group. The AstraZeneca-Oxford University vaccine showed 62% efficacy, Pfizer-BioNTech has 95% efficacy, Moderna's vaccine demonstrated 94% efficacy; Sputnik V has 92% efficacy while the Johnson & Johnson (J&J) vaccine has 66% efficacy.
"According to GlobalData’s Pharma Intelligence Center, Dr. Reddy’s Laboratories Ltd. (Dr. Reddy’s) is conducting Phase II/III trials of Sputnik V and Cadila Healthcare Ltd ZyCov-D is in Phase III in India. ZyCov-D is the second indigenous vaccine to reach Phase III trials.
“The release of interim data on Covaxin was crucial as the competition within the Indian COVID-19 vaccine market will further heat up with the likely approval of Sputnik and ZyCov-D in the next few months. Based on the interim results, Covaxin has a partial edge over Serum Institute of India/ AstraZeneca Covishield. Interim efficacy data will improve the market penetration of Covaxin both in India and other countries amid boost in confidence on its effectiveness.”
Dismantle Social Constructs and Discover the Life You Were Meant to Live
Las Vegas, NV, March 4, 2021 — What better way to tackle existential angst than with a pint of Ben & Jerry’s Cherry Garcia? Or perhaps a more constructive way might be to take an introspective deep-dive into the ideologies you hold as true and ask yourself, “Is this the life I chose, or the one chosen for me?”
Christina Dylag’s Tiny Little Boxes: How to Cope with Existential Dread by Way of Ice Cream and Other Means takes readers on a soul-searching journey peppered with humor, philosophical musings and plenty of ice-cream-flavored metaphors to help them uncover any preconditioned social constructs and learn to distinguish between personal fact and fiction.
“A life constructed for us by society can be satisfying for a while, but at a certain point, the tension between who we want to be and who we are becomes unbearable,” Christina writes. “We want to follow our dreams and find fulfillment. We settle instead for a destiny carved for someone else. When we search for answers in religion or romance, we are still left with a nagging sense of emptiness.”
Christina’s book delivers a vastly different approach to the world of self-help. It’s unique, funny and fresh, with a free-flowing narrative that mirrors the fluidity of a stream of consciousness. Much of the book centers on the topic of straying from the norm and carving out a new and highly individualized path.
The result is a mind-broadening nudge that gives readers permission to live, to explore, and to break the barriers of their own little boxes. This book was written to expose and unravel the ideologies that we as humans unconsciously hold as truth, Christina explains. Tiny Little Boxes delves into our predetermined belief systems and how we might reassess or re-approach our conditioned world. Beyond our inherited notions of success, the self and existence lies a more expansive sense of freedom.
Christina Dylag is a writer and co-owner of Velveteen Rabbit, an award-winning craft cocktail bar in Las Vegas which has been featured in Forbes, The New York Times, The Wall Street Journal, Bon Appetit, Saveur, Vice, Maxim, Playboy, and others. Christina is 70 percent water, roughly 30 percent sushi and a shy whisper of human form. She lives in Las Vegas and will likely be survived by her giant pet rabbit, Steve.
For more insights from the author, please visit www.Nihilisticecream.com, or follow the author on Instagram (@nihilisticecream) or on Facebook (@nihilisticecream).
Tiny Little Boxes: How to Cope with Existential Dread by Way of Ice Cream and Other Means
Newport Beach, CA, March 4, 2021 — Traveling can open our eyes and minds to new cultures and experiences, and for licensed captain Gill Terry Causey, traveling by sailboat has also guided him toward profound personal discoveries through the self-realization and introspection that seafaring can inspire.
“It [sailing] is the most rewarding and fulfilling way to travel, and these experiences have been both transformational and even transcendental,” Causey says. “Sailing has taught me to unplug, discover and explore other awe-inspiring worlds, and I am thrilled to share my adventures with you.”
Let the Wind Carry Me: How Curiosity Can Open Doors of Perception and Learning is part autobiography, part detailed travelogue and part breathtaking pictorial of Causey’s worldwide sailing adventures. He shares vivid details (and more than 50 photos) from some of his most memorable excursions, and peppers his narrative with personal insights and reflections on the seeds planted early in his youth that inspired him to explore the world without boundaries.
Readers can experience the exact moment when he fell in love with blue water sailing and hop on board as he runs a successful charter boat in the Hawaiian Islands, explores South America and the Amazon forest, embarks on adventures in Central America, and sails the islands of French Polynesia. In all, Causey completed hundreds of interisland sails, including 12 sails to French Polynesia, 11 sails to the Line Islands, seven sails around New Zealand, three sails to Australia, five sails to Fiji, and one sail each to the Cook Islands and the Solomon Islands.
“Sailing has transformed my life because I have been able to travel to places that are best seen by sailboat,” Causey adds. “It is a way of life that I have always embraced.”
Let the Wind Carry Me is, at its core, Causey’s story, and one he hopes will inspire others to explore and embrace the transformational power of travel.
Author Gill Terry Causey is a lifelong ocean-cruising sailor and a patron of maritime causes and projects from Hawaii (where he lived for more than half his life) to California.
He is a licensed captain of a 50-foot sailing vessel that was built by the German navy in 1928. This vessel is iron riveted and does oceanographic work for the University of Hawaii, the University of Cambridge and the U.S. Department of the Interior. He also dedicates his time to many other projects, including the local Sea Cadets, and he continues to be a significant benefactor to Call of the Sea (https://callofthesea.org/).
He worked with the Polynesian Voyaging Society to revive their sailing culture, and funded and supported the building of the 135-foot Brigantine Matthew Turner in Sausalito, California. The ship was recently certified by the U.S. Coast Guard as a school ship, which will educate and inspire young people for generations to come.
Since family is the most important thing, he retired to take care of his mother and relocated the family home to Newport Beach, California. He will always love sailing and still takes every opportunity to be on the ocean, enjoying the wonders of its cosmic power.
Let the Wind Carry Me: How Curiosity Can Open Doors of Perception and Learning ISBN-13: 978-0960105700 (Retail $49.95)
Currently available directly from the author (limited supply). Available through traditional retail channels in June/July 2021.
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Most Canadians experiencing a mental health issue are not getting help
Lumino Health is making it easier for all Canadians to access mental health resources through expanded mental health support
Sun Life survey finds nearly two-thirds (60%) of Canadians are currently experiencing mental health issues.
Over half (54%) of those experiencing mental health issues have not received medical support.
Affordability (25%) and embarrassment (23%) are the two top barriers Canadians say has prevented them from seeking help.
TORONTO, March 4, 2021 /CNW/ - A recent Sun Life survey finds that nearly two-thirds (60%) of Canadians are experiencing mental health issues. Yet, over half (54%) of those Canadians report they have not sought medical support.
"Our nation is dealing with a mental health crisis. Whether it's a loved one, a colleague, or yourself, mental health impacts us all," said Chris Denys, Senior Vice-President, Possibilities, Lumino Health. "We must work together to tackle this emergency. From employers to individuals, we can all play a role in building a more resilient Canada."
How mental health is affecting the nation
Anxiety (40%) tops the list of mental health concerns, followed by stress, depression and addiction. When it comes to the likelihood of experiencing mental health issues, the Sun Life survey finds differences across groups.
Women (62%) and those aged 18 to 34 (74%) are experiencing the greatest impact of mental health issues.
Gen Z, (Canadians aged 18 to 23) are more than twice as likely (16%) as the national average (7%) to say they are experiencing addiction issues.
Barriers to care are a factor in why Canadians are not seeking the support they need. Of those Canadians who haven't sought support but are experiencing a mental health issue, nearly a third (31%) say they feel they don't need medical help. The study found one quarter (25%) say they can't afford it, and nearly one quarter (23%) say they are embarrassed to ask for help.
Lumino Health to expand mental health services Lumino Health, an innovation from Sun Life, is helping all Canadians access the mental health support they need. The digital platform has recorded over 1 million searches for psychologists, with daily searches doubling since the pandemic began.
To meet the increased demand, Lumino Health is expanding its list of mental health professionals. In addition to psychologists, people can soon search for:
Social workers
Clinical counsellors
Psychotherapists
"Throughout the pandemic, Canadians have struggled accessing the care they need. Our expanded platform is one of the ways we are making it easier for all Canadians to navigate and find support," explains Denys. "Lumino Health allows people to search for providers, see patient ratings, and compare costs. This tool is designed to empower Canadians and help reduce stigma around mental health."
The platform has access to over 150,000 providers in Canada, including more than 12,000 offering virtual visits. Lumino Health is also rolling out the ability to search for providers who offer instant booking. This will make it easier for Canadians to connect with the right health care professional for them.
Lumino Health commits to providing Canadians with convenient access to mental health support and resources. Visit Lumino Health for more information.
About the survey The survey is based on findings of an Ipsos poll conducted between January 21 - 25, 2021. A sample of 1,000 Canadians was drawn from the Ipsos I-Say online panel aged 18 and older. The data for Canadians surveyed was weighted to ensure the sample's regional, age, and gender composition reflects that of the actual Canadian population. The precision of Ipsos online polls is measured using a credibility interval. In this case, the poll is accurate to within +/- 3.5% at 95% confidence level had all Canadian adults been polled. All sample surveys and polls may be subject to other sources of error, including, but not limited to methodological change, coverage error and measurement error.
About Lumino Health Lumino Health network is an innovation from Sun Life, launched in fall 2018. Sun Life Assurance Company of Canada created the platform as a commitment to helping Canadians live healthier lives. As Canada's premier network of health resources, LuminoHealth.ca helps Canadians find healthcare providers near them in seconds and access resources and innovations to live healthier lives. In 2019, Lumino Health was awarded the "Reinventor" award by PWC for their innovative and industry-disrupting platform.
About Sun Life Sun Life is a leading international financial services organization providing insurance, wealth and asset management solutions to individual and corporate Clients. Sun Life has operations in a number of markets worldwide, including Canada, the United States, the United Kingdom, Ireland, Hong Kong, the Philippines, Japan, Indonesia, India, China, Australia, Singapore, Vietnam, Malaysia and Bermuda. As of December 31, 2020, Sun Life had total assets under management of $1,247 billion. For more information, please visit www.sunlife.com.
Sun Life Financial Inc. trades on the Toronto (TSX), New York (NYSE) and Philippine (PSE) stock exchanges under the ticker symbol SLF.
Note to editors: All figures in Canadian dollars
Media Relations Contact: Carson MacIsaac Senior Specialist, Corporate Communications T. 416-427-5670 carson.macisaac@sunlife.com
SOURCE Sun Life Financial Inc.
Children's Link Expands its Transition-to-Adulthood Services to Southern Alberta!
CALGARY, AB, March 4, 2021 /CNW/ - Mohan Jadeja's son, Karan, was first diagnosed with Autism when he was three. As he approaches his 18th birthday and starts the transition to adulthood, the team at Children's Link continues to provide "life-altering" services to the Jadeja family. "It takes a village to raise a child," says Jadeja. "I'd add it takes a very kind-hearted village to raise a special needs child! That village for us includes Children's Link."
For over 24 years, Children's Link staff have supported over 50,000 families and professionals throughout Calgary. Remarkably, in the middle of a global pandemic, the non-profit organization has extended its Transition-to-Adulthood program to Lethbridge and Medicine Hat. This program helps young adults with disabilities and their families prepare for adulthood, and in some cases, becoming more independent. Transition support workers assist with complex government forms and provide resources, so families don't feel isolated during this important transition period.
"The positive impact Children's Link has on our life is immeasurable," says Stephanie Duncan (whose son, Ethan, was diagnosed with ADHD, Anxiety and Sensory Processing Disorder) of the much-needed service anticipated to support over 200 families in Southern Alberta communities. "Their team alleviated our stress and anxiety throughout the entire application process."
At Children's Link, all families and disabilities are supported regardless of health issues or financial means. "Children's Link is often a parents' first call after a new diagnosis or when a challenging life event or transition happens," says Eryn Dewald, Executive Director, Children's Link. "We offer a compassionate, judgement-free space to talk about difficult issues and to explore options that are right for a family. The pandemic has opened our eyes to new vulnerabilities. For families caring for children and youth with disabilities, this has become even more apparent. We're here to help."
About Children's Link – is known and valued for offering resources, information, connections and hope to families and professionals in the disabilities community. Their resource database contains over 1,000 community resources, enabling Children's Link to provide families and professionals with a variety of comprehensive service and support options. Through one-to-one conversations, support groups, workshops, and online networking opportunities, Children's Link provides a safe, accepting environment for people to learn, share and connect.
SOURCE Children's Link
Training Center for At-Risk Women Offers Hope for Independence
Seattle, WA, March 4, 2021 — Women and children are particularly vulnerable to the dangers of living on the streets or in unsafe environments. Drug dealers, pimps and human traffickers lie in wait for new victims. Seattle spends a staggering $1 billion per year on fragmented programs to support its homeless, according to Puget Sound Business Journal, yet the challenges continue to grow.It’s time for a new approach.
Providence Heights is a forward-thinking, Christian-based nonprofit designed to empower Seattle’s women in need through housing, employment opportunities and personal development programs. The organization’s business model is revolutionary: Providence Heights plans to reinvest revenues generated through real-estate, commercial and entrepreneurial enterprises to create a sustainable source of income, something founder Christine Soule calls Capitalism for the Poor. Additionally, “Our unique retail space integration will secure revenue as well as provide apprenticeship, jobs and entrepreneurial skills,” Soule explains.
Phase I will provide housing and resilient growth programs for over 88 women (and children) at risk of losing their homes, or who simply need opportunities to regroup and equip themselves to not just survive but to thrive. Also for those who have come out of a program such as the Union Gospel Mission and are fully prepared to commit to changing the trajectory of their lives.
Phase II aims to provide housing for more than 200 women, including those with children. Once the revenue stream is firmly established in this phase, Providence Heights will enter Phase III — the final phase — when the organization will replicate this model from city to city. They hope to also empower similar organizations to use its successful blueprint to help those they serve.
Providence Heights Founder and Chief Executive Officer Christine Soule is a lover of people and passionate about leading them toward a restored and dignified life. From her personal experience, she has great compassion for at-risk and abused women. She co-founded The Purpose and is a philanthropist, author and inventor. Her recently released book, Broken and Beautiful, chronicles her remarkable journey from trauma to triumph. Christine is also a mother of five and married to Mitch, the love of her life.
