Atlanta, GA, January 28, 2021 — Your veterinarian chose to dedicate his or her life to the altruistic pursuit of tending to the health and lives of pets. What you may not have considered is that the health and life of your veterinarian also needs protecting: he or she is nearly four times more likely to die by suicide than someone among the general population. But there are ways you can help.
Sandy Weaver, author of the groundbreaking new book Happy Vet Happy Pet: Caring for Your Pet’s Caregiver, is on a mission to ease the lives of veterinarians, one client’s heart at a time.
“I’ve known for years, as have those in the veterinary field, that there was an issue with suicide and veterinarians,” Sandy says. “Then in early 2019, the CDC report on veterinary suicide was published in the Journal of the American Veterinary Medical Association, and what had been anecdotal became data: male veterinarians are 2.1 times more likely, and female veterinarians are 3.5 times more likely, to complete suicide than their non-veterinarian peers.”
Happy Vet Happy Pet is a distillation of Sandy’s research into neuroscience, neuroplasticity and positive psychology mixed with data from the CDC report. The result is an impactful approach that weaves easy-to-understand science with stories that touch the minds and the hearts of pet owners — empowering them to be part of the solution.
Chapters dive deep into topics all pet owners should understand, including:
1. The heart, mind and life of a person who decides to become a veterinarian; 2. The very human, very vulnerable person behind the scrubs; 3. The ways clients unknowingly mistreat their pets’ caregivers; 4. Three simple rules to follow to help your veterinary team; and 5. What to do if you feel that someone near you is facing suicidal desperation.
Happy Vet Happy Pet shares Sandy’s unique point of view that it takes a village to save a veterinarian. “Making pet owners mindful of how their behavior impacts their veterinarian mobilizes the village to help solve the problem,” she adds.
This book will change your relationship with your veterinarian and their team forever. And what you learn in this book could save your veterinarian's life.
Author Sandy Weaver is an expert speaker, trainer, mastermind facilitator and lover of all things dog.
As the Program Director of the Center for Workplace Happiness, Sandy creates the training programs, workshops, mastermind groups and keynotes that help people lead happier, more successful lives. She is also a citizen-scientist in the fields of neuroscience, neuroplasticity and positive psychology. In 2019, she took the resilience tools and strategies she’d been teaching to general audiences and crafted programs specifically for veterinary teams. Her goal is to touch the life of every veterinarian and technician in a way that helps them avoid the pain and despair that comes with an inability to manage stress.
Now in her 40th year of Siberian Husky ownership, Sandy is a passionate advocate for veterinarians and their teams and an ongoing donor to Not One More Vet.
Make ‘Go on a Diet’ Resolutions Obsolete with the Whole Person Integrative Eating Program
San Francisco, CA, January 27, 2021 — What if you never again need to make a New Year’s resolution to lose weight or “go on a diet” because your most-of-the-time way of eating empowers you to eat and weigh less? Original, pioneering research by holistic nutrition researcher Deborah Kesten, M.P.H., and behavioral scientist Larry Scherwitz, Ph.D.—authors of the award-winning Whole Person Integrative Eating: A Breakthrough Dietary Lifestyle to Treat the Root Causes of Overeating, Overweight, and Obesity—reveals that replacing the complex reasons you overeat— called “overeating styles”—with the scientifically sound Whole Person Integrative Eating (WPIE) dietary lifestyle (meaning, WPIE is a way of life; it’s not a traditional diet) may make weight-loss resolutions obsolete.
“Now is the time to ‘reset’ and rethink what and how we eat; to replace traditional dieting with a scientifically sound way of eating that lessens overeating and that leads naturally to weight loss, health and healing,” says Kesten.
Kesten and Scherwitz share a simple yet powerful premise: Identify the reasons you overeat (your overeating styles) and gain weight—with the illuminating self-assessment quiz—then overcome overeating and lose weight by replacing your overeating styles with the antidotes: the elements of the Whole Person Integrative Eating program.
By shedding light on the root causes of overeating, Kesten and Scherwitz present a program that empowers readers with a personalized plan, and in turn new hope and new choices to help them reduce overeating, lose weight and keep it off.
WPIE is not a diet that a person goes on … then off. It is a scientifically sound, dietary lifestyle designed to be practiced for a lifetime.
"If people follow the revolutionary program outlined in this game-changing, insightful book, it may be the most helpful step they can take toward losing weight and keeping it off," says bestselling author Kenneth Pelletier, M.D., Ph.D., clinical professor of medicine at University of California School of Medicine, San Francisco.
The authors’ paradigm-shifting message is that food influences not only the physical dimensions of health, but also our emotional, spiritual and social well-being. Their dietary lifestyle can build bridges between the millions who struggle with overeating and weight issues and the medical community. And it can inspire us all to re-envision our relationships with food, eating and weight, so that each time we eat, we are nourished … for life.
Deborah Kesten, M.P.H.,is an international nutrition researcher, award-winning author and health journalist, with a specialty in preventing and reversing obesity and heart disease. She is also an experienced, expert speaker and presenter—from TV and podcast interviews to large conferences and small-group workshops.
Kesten served as Nutritionist on Dean Ornish, M.D.’s first clinical trial for reversing heart disease through lifestyle changes, the results of which were published in the Journal of the American Medical Association. She was Director of Nutrition at cardiovascular clinics in Europe and on the Board of Directors of the American Heart Association, San Francisco.
Kesten has published more than 400 nutrition and health articles. Her first book, Feeding the Body, Nourishing the Soul, received the first-place gold award in the Spirituality category from the Independent Publisher Book Awards. Whole Person Integrative Eating has been honored with the No.1 gold, best-book award in the Health category by Book Excellence Awards and is a No. 1 Amazon best seller. Kesten is a VIP Contributor at Arianna Huffington’s Thrive Global, and is married to behavioral scientist and co-author of Whole Person Integrative Eating, Larry Scherwitz, Ph.D.
Ron Soskolne Joins Mcmaster Innovation Park Development Advisory Panel
January 27, 2021 10:30 ET
HAMILTON, ON, Jan. 27, 2021 /CNW/ - McMaster Innovation Park (MIP) announced today that Ron Soskolne has joined MIP's Park Development Advisory Panel as Chief Park Development Advisor.
MIP is planning massive expansion whereby the park will expand from 700 thousand sq. ft. to 2.8 million sq. ft., with a focus on Life Sciences. The plan is to develop a 'Life Science MegaHub' that will constitute the west end of a life science corridor spanning from Hamilton to Toronto.
Ron Soskolne comes to MIP at a critical period when Canada ranks second globally in its ability to translate academic output to intellectual property, but ranks only fifth in commercialization of that IP, and in last place in respect to its record of scaling our IP up to commercial levels.
Ty Shattuck, the CEO of MIP commented "Today, entrepreneurs, leading global companies and investors in the life sciences increasingly see the Toronto-GTA-Hamilton area as a global-calibre life sciences corridor. MIP plays an important and growing role accelerating the development of our life sciences economy and infrastructure. Ron's unique expertise is helping us to evolve MIP's campus to become a global calibre destination for life sciences innovators, and a catalyst for the elevation of promising IP, ultimately for deployment on a commercial scale."
He added, "It has become abundantly clear that it is in Canada's interests to advance the commercialization of life sciences in Canada with specialized facilities where companies can manufacture at scale and bring together research, innovation, and capital to produce therapies and cures serving our domestic and global markets. For the last two years, this has been MIP's primary mission. We see life sciences as analogous to a renewable resource for Canada, where even one discovery is capable of creating sustained long term economic value, while addressing global needs."
Ty Shattuck added "We are delighted that Ron has agreed to join MIP's Development Advisory Panel as Chief Development Advisor. Together, we have the opportunity to think at a global level about what shapes an effective innovation ecosystem and helps to create an economic engine for Canada at a time when the importance of life sciences has never been more front-and-centre. Ron understands that in an innovation context, connections are critically important. Our strategy is to build a physical and social environment that promotes creative collisions and collaborations which advance the business aspirations of our tenant companies."
Within the global real estate industry, Mr. Soskolne is the reference for directing the planning of vibrant and iconic urban destinations. His firm, Soskolne Associates, is a real-estate development consultancy that specializes in large-scale mixed-use developments and public/private projects. The firm's advisory mandates have spanned Canary Wharf in London, Yonge & Dundas Square and the MaRS Discovery District in Toronto, Downtown Disneyland in Anaheim, and the World Financial Centre in New York City. Many of these were "regeneration" projects – new uses for former industrial sites and tired urban areas.
Mr. Soskolne commented, "I am very excited about MIP's thinking about how placemaking relates to and can influence the inherently complex process of innovation, and by the potential that that idea holds. This resonated for me based on my own experience." He added, "I was intrigued and excited about how MIP is envisioning the development aspects of MIP's growth, and how MIP sees the innovation park as much more than just a collection of buildings."
Soskolne is known for developing complexes of buildings that become destinations and gathering places in their own right. He specializes in master planning large scale urban regeneration projects and mixed-use developments –often including major public spaces.
About MIP
McMaster Innovation Park (MIP) is Canada's premier research park based in the heart of southwestern Ontario and home to over one hundred companies in the Life Science, Engineering & Advanced Manufacturing and high-tech sectors. MIP's proven ability to support and grow mid-market / SME enterprises results in faster, more economically impactful, and lower risk investments for government and private investors alike.
New Canadian Pharmaceutical Company Brings Novel Cancer Therapies to Market
TORONTO, Jan. 27, 2021 /CNW Telbec/ - FORUS Therapeutics launches today, bringing a new pharmaceutical company onto the Canadian landscape. With a highly-experienced and proven team, an FDA-approved product already in its pipeline, and significant financial investment secured, the Toronto-based company looks to bring innovative cancer therapies to Canadian patients, new treatment tools for caregivers and physicians, and in the future, be a preferred partner for emerging Canadian-based research companies.
To support its launch, FORUS has raised approximately $20 million from investors that include adMare BioInnovations, Canada's global life sciences venture, and sophisticated international and institutional investors.
FORUS has also secured an exclusive Canadian distribution agreement with Karyopharm Therapeutics Inc. (Nasdaq: KPTI) for the commercialization of XPOVIO® (selinexor), an FDA-approved cancer medicine for adults with Multiple Myeloma and Lymphoma. "We are thrilled to launch on the heels of our first licensing agreement to deliver a novel cancer treatment for Canadians," said Kevin Leshuk, Founder and President of FORUS.
Multiple Myeloma is the second most common blood cancer. Every year, 3,400 Canadians are diagnosed with Multiple Myeloma, and sadly 1,600 die from the disease. FORUS will submit XPOVIO® to Health Canada for approval in the coming months.
"We are investing in and supporting the launch of FORUS to address a major gap in the Canadian life sciences ecosystem," said Gordon C. McCauley, President and CEO of adMare BioInnovations. "We have an abundance of world-leading health research, a growing industry to translate that research into new therapeutics, but we have limited home-grown companies to bring these innovations directly to Canadian patients. FORUS begins to fill this gap by connecting medical innovations with the healthcare and patient communities across the country."
"We're turning the traditional start-up model upside down," said Leshuk. Biopharmaceutical start-ups typically begin with early research, then undergo an arduous process of translating the research into a product, which can take at least a decade and have high associated failure rates. In this case, FORUS is starting on strong footing with an FDA-approved product already in place, considerable investment, and an experienced team. The company will move quickly to identify and secure development partnerships with Canadian research companies and globally-sourced innovations.
Leshuk brings over 25 years of experience in the pharmaceutical industry. He and the FORUS founding team have delivered significant financial returns; andsince 2009, secured 12 Health Canada approvals, including five in Multiple Myeloma. The FORUS goal is to continue this track record of success and bring important new medicines to Canadians to actively contribute to the Canadian life sciences innovation ecosystem.
About FORUS Therapeutics
FORUS Therapeutics is a Canadian biopharmaceutical company dedicated to advancing differentiated, novel medicines for hematologic malignancies and other forms of cancer. Our mission is to bring solutions to cancer patients, caregivers, physicians and our partners by accelerating unique and important treatments that meaningfully enhance life. forustherapeutics.com
About adMare BioInnovations
adMare BioInnovations is Canada's global life sciences venture, building the Canadian life sciences industry from sea to sea. We do this by sourcing therapeutically and commercially promising research from leading academic and biotech partners to create new companies of scale, providing specialized expertise, infrastructure, and capital to help existing companies scale up, and drive the growth of those companies into Canadian anchors by training the next generation of highly qualified personnel. adMare's ~20 portfolio companies have attracted more than $1.15 billion in investment and have a combined worth of over $2.3 billion. admarebio.com
SOURCE adMare BioInnovations
Post-Traumatic Thriving
Los Angeles, CA, January 27, 2021 — Is there a science to survival, or are some people simply born with elastic emotional exoskeletons that bounce back readily following even the most traumatic of experiences?
To uncover the answer, world-renown expert on disasters and trauma Dr. Randall Bell undertook unprecedented research, juxtaposing outcomes of scientific studies with stories of real people who have not just survived, but have used their trauma as their fuel to thrive to uncover common denominators. He shares his remarkable insights in his new book, Post-Traumatic Thriving: The Art, Science, & Stories of Resilience.
Dr. Bell sits down with survivors of the Holocaust; murder-victim’s families; crime victims; suicide survivors; and those who’ve experienced homelessness, disasters, addictions, depression, death, divorce, disabilities, defeats and disease to explore the rare mindset of the post-traumatic thriver.
He shares with readers stories of remarkable resilience, including the following:
• A deaf man with a glass eye invented the electric guitar and became a household name, remarkably wealthy and most importantly, happy.
• A convicted murderer took responsibility for the damage he caused, graduated with honors from college, became a minister and turned around the hearts of the most hardened criminals.
• A girl born with cerebral palsy landed the world’s first starring role on national television and spoke at the White House three times.
• A woman hid in a basement for years and lost her entire family in the Holocaust. She eventually found true love and paints stunning artwork.
• The sister of a murder victim helped millions of women in toxic domestic relationships.
• A woman’s car crash resulted in an addiction to prescription drugs, a divorce, a loss of her children and a cot in a homeless shelter. She has rebuilt it all back and more.
• A man set to go to the Olympics had his hopes dashed by Jimmy Carter and went on to build a worldwide business empire.
Ultimately, Dr. Bell documents the science of happiness, as well as the individual styles and common thread that all post-traumatic thrivers have to emerge with a fulfilling life. When trauma hits, your most significant decision will be to dive, survive or thrive. If you choose to thrive, this book is for you.
As an economist, Dr. Randall Bell has consulted on more disasters on earth than anyone in history and is widely considered the world’s top authority in the field of post-traumatic thriving. His clients include the Federal Government, State Governments, International Tribunals, major corporations and homeowners. Dr. Bell believes that “the problem is not the problem — the problem is how we react to the problem.”
Often called the “Master of Disaster,” Dr. Bell is squarely focused on authentic recovery and resilience. His research has been profiled on major television shows and featured in numerous magazines and the international media. More information can be found at www.posttraumaticthriving.com.
Post-Traumatic Thriving: The Art, Science, & Stories of Resilience
Game-changing Avulux® migraine glasses debut in Canada, offering new and highly effective non-pharmaceutical treatment for migraine symptoms
Avulux, a Health Canada Class I Medical Device, is clinically proven to deliver relief from migraines triggered or worsened by light
MONTREAL, Jan. 27, 2021 /CNW Telbec/ - For the millions of Canadians who suffer from migraine symptoms, relief is on the way. Today marks the launch of Avulux® migraine glasses in Canada.
Certified by Health Canada as a Class I Medical Device, Avulux is a durable and stylish set of glasses that are designed to absorb the harmful wavelengths of light that cause and worsen migraine symptoms. Backed by independent clinical studies, Avulux glasses were developed over eight years by a research team in conjunction with Canadian physician and McGill University alumnus Dr. Charles Posternack.
The glasses use a patented precision-tint technology that filters as much as 97 per cent of the most painful light in the blue, amber and red light spectrum without distorting the wearer's colour perception. This sets Avulux apart from other types of light-blocking glasses, most of which only block blue light.
"Light is a key migraine trigger, but many people don't realize that blue light is not the only culprit," said Dr. Posternack. "Red and amber light can be just as painful for migraine sufferers. Exposure to these light waves through excessive screen usage or sunlight is like adding rocket fuel to a fire for someone experiencing migraine. Avulux is the only device on the market designed to absorb those painful light waves and prevent a migraine attack from starting or getting worse."
Avulux also offers a frame that can accommodate wearers' vision prescriptions. These frames come with a titanium clip-on containing Avulux migraine lenses that can be worn continuously or at the onset of any migraine symptoms.
Proven prevention and treatment of migraine symptoms
Migraine is a neurological condition that can cause debilitating headaches, nausea, vomiting, brain fog, dizziness, and sensitivity to light, sound and smell. Often sufferers are forced to retreat to a dark, isolated room until their migraine symptoms pass. However, findings from three independent clinical studies showed that more than 90 per cent of Avulux wearers were able to continue with their daily activities in the face of migraine.
In addition, 74 per cent of Avulux wearers were able to reduce or eliminate their usage of migraine medication to manage their symptoms. Thirty-eight percent experienced a complete disappearance of their headaches if they wore the Avulux glasses at the earliest onset of a migraine symptom or migraine aura.
Dr. Jerry Nolfi, MBA, Co-Founder and Executive Director of Toronto Eyecare, has introduced Avulux to his practice. "I was most intrigued by the robust science and the potential clinical benefit of Avulux lenses on my migraine-suffering patient population. Avulux lenses may prove to be a very useful clinical tool in relieving migraine headache-related discomfort," he said.
The only lens of its kind, Avulux can be used alone or paired with other forms of migraine treatment as a complementary device.
"Avulux is unique because it involves zero sacrifices," said Dr. Posternack. "There are no side effects, no colour distortion, no additional costs, no time away from the people and activities you love. There is not even a sacrifice in fashion, because the glasses look great and come in a selection of styles. This makes it easy to incorporate Avulux glasses into your roster of treatments to help prevent, or even eradicate, migraine attacks."
Pricing and availability
Avulux is available in Canada in seven different styles, and can be purchased at www.avulux.ca. Pricing ranges from $399.99 for non-prescription glasses to $439.99 for frames that can be fitted with a vision prescription. Avulux offers free shipping and a 60-day money-back guarantee.
SOURCE Avulux
Sun Life partners with FitSpirit and 21.02 High Performance Hockey Center Les Canadiennes
One more step to help girls in Quebec get active and take charge of their health
MONTREAL, Jan. 27, 2021 /CNW/ - Encouraging girls and young women to be physically active is known to support healthy development and boost self-esteem. However, the statistics are not reassuring — with nine out of ten teenage girls not meeting Canada's physical activity guidelines, there is an opportunity to help promote a healthy active lifestyle. Sun Life is pleased to announce new partnerships with FitSpirit and 21.02 High Performance Hockey Centre Les Canadiennes (Centre 21.02). They are aiming at helping young girls become more active and develop the next generation of female athletes.
These partnerships align with Sun Life's commitment to help Quebecers take charge of their health. FitSpirit's mission to get teenage girls active for life and Centre 21.02's programs fit perfectly with this goal. They also align with Sun Life's global commitment to support diabetes awareness, prevention, care and reseach. One in ten Quebecers[1] are living with diabetes, which is the fifth leading cause of premature death worldwide. Physical activity and healthy eating help prevent and control type 2 diabetes. "I'm proud of these new partnerships, which focus on concrete and practical health programs. When young girls see inspiring female role models from their own community come out of these programs, it makes a lasting impression and has positive health impacts," said Jacques Goulet, President of Sun Life Canada. "Helping people live healthier lives is central to our purpose. When we help young women get active and support the rising generation of female athletes, we know we're making a difference."
"I'm thrilled with this commitment from a partner such as Sun Life. This partnership will make it possible to hold an event this summer that brings mothers and daughters together for some physical activity. It also demonstrates Sun Life's commitment to making a real difference in the lives of teenage girls and reaching even more women," said Claudine Labelle, Founder and President of FitSpirit.
By partnering with a world-class high-performance hockey centre for elite female athletes in Montreal, Sun Life is helping support our local hockey hopefuls. "The Centre 21.02 is the missing link in the development of an elite hockey player. It is the first high performance Centre recognized by competent authorities such as Hockey Quebec, member of Hockey Canada. Welcoming Sun Life as one of the founding partners makes it possible to realize and bring to life this long thought-out project, but above all to establish a viable professional career and also to inspire a new generation of girls to play hockey. I will be forever grateful to you", Daniele Sauvageau, president and chief executive officer of the Centre 21.02.
Sun Life in the community At Sun Life, we are committed to building sustainable, healthier communities for life. Community wellness is an important part of our sustainability commitment and we believe that by actively supporting the communities in which we live and work, we can help build a positive environment for our Clients, employees, advisors and shareholders. Our philanthropic support focuses on health, with an emphasis on diabetes awareness, prevention, and care initiatives through our Team Up Against DiabetesTM platform; and mental health, supporting programs and organizations with a focus on building resilience and coping skills.
We also partner with sports properties in key markets to further our commitment to healthy and active living. Our employees and advisors take great pride in volunteering close to 12,000 hours each year and contribute to making life brighter for individuals and families across Canada. Learn more about Sun Life in the community.
About Fitspirit FitSpirit partners with schools to organize activities designed for girls to help them thrive and set them on the path to an active and healthy lifestyle. Backed by a community of inspiring and dedicated girls and women, FitSpirit transforms every activity into a memorable experience complete with friends, role models and fun. This winning combination has enabled FitSpirit to positively impact the lives of more than 200,000 girls aged 12 to 17 since it was founded in 2007. For more information, visit fitspirit.ca.
About the 21.02 High Performance Hockey Center Les Canadiennes On 21.02.02, Canada won the Olympic gold medal in women's hockey for the first time. For millions of girls and women, this was the start of a bigger dream. Founded in 2019 by Danièle Sauvageau, the Centre 21.02 brings together the past and the future and is the only high performance hockey centre recognized by the competent bodies, namely Hockey Quebec, member of Hockey Canada. Based at the Verdun Auditorium in Montreal, the High Performance Hockey Centre is a key partner in the long-term athlete development path for elite players aspiring to play for their national team, and, possibly, the professional ranks.
Data Privacy Day: The Health Apps Holding The Most Data On You (& What To Do About It)
27 January 2021Hi Alicia,With Data Privacy Day tomorrow, Uswitch has revealed the top health apps that are collecting the most data on you, as well as steps from Mobiles Expert, Catherine Hiley, you can take to keep your data safe. MyFitnessPal was revealed to store the most data on users (20 out of 24 data points) including a users BMI, location, mental wellbeing and sleep habits. The top tips from mobiles expert, Catherine Hiley, at Uswitch.com include:Change the account settings in your apps to deny access to the most personal informationKeep your apps up to date and delete any you don’t useDo your research before installing an app to check for previous data breaches and if it’s safeBe wary of the data apps ask for - if it’s not relevant to the app, don’t allow it. If you’re interested in the study, please credit: https://www.uswitch.com/mobiles/health-app-index/ I’ve attached the release below for you, please let me know if this is of any interest to you and if you have any questions! Thanks, Sophie---These are the apps that collect the most data (and what you can do about it) Whenever we use apps on our phones, our data is up for grabs. Brands like Facebook run their whole business model around selling ads - and our personal data makes it easy for them to do that. And now thanks to Apple’s new privacy labels, we know exactly what data each app collects, from name, age and address, to much more private data such as your weight or sexual activity. As part of the new Health App Index, researchers at Uswitch have taken 15 health apps and discovered just how much information each app is squirrelling away, plus Catherine Hiley, mobiles expert at Uswitch.com, explains how to give your apps a privacy health check, without limiting your experience. So how do the most-searched health apps stack up when it comes to data collection? MyFitnessPal - 20 out of 24 data pointsMyFitnessPal tracks diet and exercise, gamifying the experience to motivate users to scan the barcodes of various food items into the app’s large pre-existing database. The app collects the most data out of the whole list, ranging from name and age, all the way through to more private information such as body mass index (BMI) and fitness level. How to manage your privacy settings on the app:Catherine says, “You can tweak the settings of your app to control what information you make public to your friends and what data you keep private. “You can also stop MyFitnessPal from sharing your location data by going to the right-hand corner of the app and selecting more > privacy centre > personalisation. “Unfortunately, we couldn’t find a setting to opt-out of third-party data sharing”. Fitbit - 18 out of 22 data pointsFitbit dominates the fitness app market with almost 60% of the share of all users who use fitness-tracking apps. It also dominates the list of companies who collect personal data from their users, collecting 18 out of 22 items of data which include social media information and female health. How to manage your privacy settings on the app:“During the setup process, you can deny access to most personal information by changing your account settings in the app. “Looking at the privacy policy in more detail, we found that Fitbit aggregates and anonymises data to share with marketing partners. And it doesn’t look like there’s a way to opt-out of this.” Strava - 17 out of 22 data pointsStrava has almost 50 million users across the globe and has a total of 3 billion activity uploads, meaning they hold a lot of data about each of their users. It’s one of the most popular apps on the market and collects a whole range of data including location and email address. Although users own the rights to all of their workouts, posts and routes, Strava's privacy policy states that it reserves the right to use it which has confused some users in the past. How to manage your privacy settings on the app:“When you download the app and sign up, you give Strava automatic access to all of your data, including the public mapping feature. This element could reveal where you live or exercise, so be sure to manually change the settings before use,” says Catherine.“The app guides users through this and we found it very easy to do, so all our information remained private.” Flo - 15 out of 22 data pointsFertility app Flo is used by more than 30 million people around the world to monitor their feminine health, but recently the app has been in the news regarding privacy concerns. Out of all the period tracking apps in the study, Flo collects the most data with 15 out of 22 data points which include mental wellbeing and sexual activity. How to manage your privacy settings on the app:“There are some very simple settings within the privacy section of the app that you can toggle on or off depending on your preference. But it’s worth noting that these need to be turned on or off manually once you have signed up for an account with Flo. “Interestingly, Flo has a dedicated Data Protection Officer who you can contact about any data privacy concerns,” Catherine points out. Headspace - 14 out of 22 data pointsHeadspace was one of the first mindfulness and meditation apps on the market, reaching more than 62 million users across the globe. The app is packed full of audio meditation sessions that users can tap into, but it’s also collecting plenty of data, too. Of the mindfulness apps in the study, Headspace asks for the most personal user data with 14 out of 22 data points collected, including location and family/marital status. How to manage your privacy settings on the app:Catherine says, “Headspace says that they will use personal data to inform the way that the app interacts with you via email and in-app adverts. But it's pretty simple to opt-out using the in-app options. “But, as with most apps in the study, you need to remember to manually go through this process, as the default settings don’t protect your data.” Catherine Hiley, mobiles expert at Uswitch.com shares advice for mobile phone users looking to safeguard their personal information:“While we can’t be sure of the true intentions of each and every app, there are some steps users can take to better protect their personal data,” Catherine remarks.Do your research before downloading and installing an app“Before you install any app, check the reviews to find out what other users have said about it. If you’re not sure, don’t download and install.” Be wary before agreeing to permissions“If an app asks for permissions that it really shouldn’t need to function, then you should question the reason for it asking to collect that data. For example, why should Headspace or Flo need to know your location?” says Catherine.Keep your apps up to date and delete any that you don’t use“It’s likely that your phone has far too many apps. Deleting the ones you don’t use will help your battery life and protect you from any potential privacy problems. “It might be tempting to avoid updating your apps, but it’s key to ensuring that your data and personal information is secure.”Keep on top of your mobile app permissionsCatherine says, “Did you know that many apps can still function without all of the permissions they might ask you to agree to? Why not experiment with different combinations of permissions to see if you can safeguard your personal information.” Find out how you could save nearly £1,000 a year with Uswitch here
‘Check Yourself’ a first-of-its-kind cannabis collaboration to support breast cancer awareness
How does candy combat cancer? Where do gummies support boobies? In California’s compliant cannabis industry, that’s where. This month, Kiva Confections announced it has launched a new Lost Farm Live Resin Passionfruit Gummy to support Keep A Breast, a nonprofit devoted to helping young people make monthly self-checks the norm. Airfield Supply Co., the largest single-site dispensary in California, has rallied five other cannabis retailers to sell the gummy across the state with an ultimate goal of raising $20,000.
Because It’s Personal
Airfield Supply Co. Chief Marketing Officer Chris Lane initially reached out to Kiva to support breast cancer awareness because it’s personal. His mother-in-law is fortunately a survivor and his wife is determined to be one, too.
Born with the genetic marker that indicates breast cancer, this 30-something mother of two has made the difficult choice to have a choice. She’ll undergo a radical double mastectomy in the coming year so that breast cancer won’t get to call the shots in her life. She will.
Lane says, “As someone whose immediate family has been marked by breast cancer, it’s important to me to underscore that breast cancer isn’t just an issue in October, when it is traditionally highlighted. Affecting men as well as women, breast cancer is a human issue that impacts us all every single day of the year. We’re excited to begin the New Year by setting a focus in 2021 around long-term personal wellness and shining a light on the importance of consistent self-care in preventing this disease while helping to raise funds for this truly inspiring nonprofit.”
Philanthropy + Cannabis
There are less than 700 legal cannabis dispensaries in California, a state that could ably support 5,000 such retail outlets. Because their numbers are so exclusive, dispensaries wield an unusual amount of influence on the industry. For a dispensary like Airfield to lead a charitable drive that does little to impact their bottom line speaks volumes to what is possible when philanthropy and cannabis come together. Never before have six disparate retailers combined their power to support a nonprofit.
“Creating a small-run, limited-edition edible is not something we take lightly at Kiva, where research and development can be time-consuming. The passion that Airfield has for this cause was simply contagious, and it quickly became clear that we had to be involved. Our team is incredibly proud of the Passionfruit gummy that resulted from this collaboration, but we are even more proud to support Keep A Breast’s important, life-saving mission,” says Adam Grablick, COO at KIVA Confections. In addition to the Lost Farm gummy development, Kiva has also committed to giving $10,000 to the nonprofit.
In addition to Airfield Supply Co. (San Jose), look for the Lost Farms Live Resin Passionfruit Gummy at other leading dispensaries throughout the state, including The Apothecarium (San Francisco), Jayden’s Journey (Modesto), King’s Crew (Long Beach), March and Ash (San Diego), Solful (Sebastopol), and Sweet Flower (Los Angeles). Additionally, consumers will have the opportunity to support the work of Keep A Breast through point-of-sale donations at Airfield and Sweet Flower’s registers or online at CheckYourself.funraise.org.
[Side bar]
Just the Facts
•. Forty percent of all breast cancers are first detected through a lump
• One in eight women will be diagnosed with breast cancer in their lifetime
• Ninety percent of breast cancers occur in women with no family history
• The early detection survival rate over five years is 95%
• Ninety percent of all breast cancers may be caused by lifestyle and environmental factors
• Only 10,000 units of the Lost Farms Live Resin Passionfruit Gummy were produced
Ontario’s Russell Alexander Law Firm Hires New Lawyer Amid Expansion New associate joins legal team due to Coronavirus-related spike in cases
LINDSAY, Ontario — Russell Alexander Collaborative Family Lawyers today announced that it has hired Alex De Melo as an associate lawyer amid an expansion due to a coronavirus-related spike in cases.
“Family law can be one of the most personal and difficult areas of our profession, but Alex has shown that he can handle a wide range of cases,” said founder Russell Alexander. “We are excited to welcome him to the team.”
An experienced family lawyer, De Melo has worked as a legal counsel at Legal Aid Ontario, the Peel Children’s Aid Society and the Children’s Aid Society, handling difficult issues such as child abuse, spousal support and adoption since being called to the Ontario Bar in 2013.
After earning a degree from the University of Toronto, De Melo earned a law degree from the University of Ottawa in 2011, researching collaborative family law, family courts and children and the law, among other things.
He has also volunteered for organizations such as Big Brothers and Sisters, working with children in difficult situations.
“With courts strained by the coronavirus pandemic and families feeling the stress of the last year, taking a collaborative approach to family law is more important than ever,” added Alexander. “Alex’s background gives him unique insight into the struggles these families are going through.”
*** RussellAlexander Collaborative Family Lawyers Russell Alexander Collaborative Family Lawyers is committed to practicing exclusively in the area of family law in Ontario dealing with all aspects, including separation and divorce, child custody and access, spousal support, child support, and division of family property. A team of lawyers provide guidance from start to finish, helping clients identify and understand the legal issues as well as the options and opportunities available through the transition. The firm has offices in Lindsay, Whitby, Oshawa, Markham, Peterborough and Toronto, Ontario. For more information, visit: http://www.russellalexander.com
TRAIN IT RIGHT NEWSLETTER
Sign Up and get a free 7 day Train it Right HIIT Program!
