Where to Travel for Christmas and New Year Wellness During the COVID-19 Pandemic
Whether you are pining for a solo retreat in the Caribbean or longing to jet off with the whole family to Europe, a dream healthy holiday for Christmas and New Year is still possible.Health and Fitness Travel, the wellness holiday specialists, recommends the best wellness destinations where you can still enjoy an active winter retreat despite the COVID-19 pandemic. These wellness retreats are a chance to step away from the madness of lockdown and uncover a sanctuary for health and mental well-being. Wherever you choose to go, you can get some much-needed recuperation and rejuvenation; providing you with the tools to sow the seeds for a positive, healthy New Year.
From a mindful escape in the Troodos mountains and a yuletide yoga retreat in the Caribbean, to a spa break in the snow-capped Dolomites and a state-of-the-art fitness getaway in the Yorkshire Dales, each retreat provides personalised care and expert advice to give you the ultimate wellness experience.
If you’re looking to give the gift of wellness this Christmas, you’ll first have to make sense of the ever-changing travel requirements. Discover which countries require a negative COVID-19 PCR so that you can plan your Winter wellness holiday with ease.
Harrogate and the surrounding area are currently Tier 1 COVID Alert which does not restrict travelers from elsewhere in the UK but does limit visitors to socialising in a bubble of up to 6 people.
For those looking to make a lasting resolution this year, the intensive 3-night January kickstart retreat at Grantley Hall can break any bad habits with practices on the forefront of scientific wellness. 3D body scans, electric muscular stimulation and the guidance of professional personal trainers can undo any side-effects of December hedonism, setting you up for a year of personal betterment. The Yorkshire Dales, the backdrop for a stay at Grantley Hall, take on a misty charm during the Winter months, adding a scenic natural wonder to your Kickstart programme.
Health and Fitness Travel (0203 397 8891 healthandfitnesstravel.com) offers 3 nights at Grantley Hall from £2,940 or £1,845 for single occupancy. Price includes full board, a fitness programme and return private transfers.
Tee Off for a Green Christmas: Active at Gleneagles Hotel, United Kingdom
Travel to Scotland from elsewhere in the UK is permitted but tourists are encouraged to avoid public transport and to stick to groups of up to 6. More information on the specific regional restrictions can be found on the Scottish Health Ministry’s website.
Fill your lungs with cool northern air and clear your mind in the mountainous landscapes of Northern Scotland. Gleneagles is offering a timeless stay in the foothills of the Highlands for anyone looking to spend the winter season trouncing through wind-swept heather or pursuing a variety of different outdoor sports. Start your day the traditional way with a hearty breakfast and a 9 o’clock tee off on the world-class golf course. For an evening of luxury, savour the exquisite cuisine and ambience of Gleneagle’s 2 Michelin star restaurant, before curling up by the roaring fire with a warming winter drink. Gleneagle’s provides a new take on the wellness holiday, one that marries healthy pursuits with a dose of enduring Scottish charm.
Health and Fitness Travel (0203 397 8891 healthandfitnesstravel.com) offers 3 nights at Gleneagles for £1,341. Price includes breakfast, 1 x three course dinner and an active programme
Madeira is exempt from the Foreign Office’s advice against all non-essential international travel. In order to fly, you will need proof of a negative COVID PCR Test.
Galo Resort is a mecca for healthy holidays and located on Madeira, one of the few remaining European nations that does not require a quarantine on your return to the UK. Experience the idyllic coastline of the sun-soaked pearl of the Atlantic with a variety of bespoke, healthy activities: canyoning, yoga, stand up paddle boarding and much more. Escape the dreary Winter weather and gift yourself some enjoyable time to focus on self-improvement this Christmas. Galo, and Madeira by extension, is ideal for the person who has difficulty picking one specific sport, the Jack of all trades who simply can’t get enough of everything fitness.
Health and Fitness Travel (0203 397 8891 healthandfitnesstravel.com) offers 4, 7 and 10 nights at Galo resort from £455pp or £540 for single occupancy. Price includes breakfast, a wellness programme and return private transfers.
Travelers are able to visit Cyprus but proof of a negative COVID-19 PCR Test is required at most 72 hours before departure.
High in the Troodos mountains, the wellness experts of Casale Panayiotis are fusing therapies from around the world with local Cypriot healing practices to create a healthy holiday experience that revitalises the physical and emotional strength of guests. If you’re struggling to juggle the pressures of an active work and social life, this Mindful Triathlon programme will give you a chance to catch your breath, balance your mind and grow as a person. Instead of running, swimming and cycling, you’ll be meditating, walking and cleansing. Give yourself natural peace of mind this Christmas with a wellness retreat in the healing heart of Cyprus.
Health and Fitness Travel (0203 397 8891 healthandfitnesstravel.com) offers 4, 7 and 10 nights at Casale Panayiotis from £645pp or £790 for single occupancy. Price includes breakfast, a wellness programme and return private transfers.
Mainland Greece and all Greek islands, except for Mykonos, are exempt from the Foreign Office’s advise against all but essential travel. Travelers to Greece will need to complete a Passenger Locator Form but will not need proof of a negative COVID-19 PCR Test.
It’s beginning to look a lot like wellness on this energising detox retreat in the glorious winter sun. Consultation and tests on arrival ensure your holiday is tailor-made to your personal requirements, and a selection of treatments and sessions will leave you with an enhanced emotional wellbeing ready for the new year. Catering to all your nutritional needs, Euphoria Retreat delivers balanced healthy meals to compliment your fitness journey and allows you to indulge in delicious bites without the usual post-turkey food coma.
Health and Fitness Travel (0203 397 8891 healthandfitnesstravel.com) offers 7 nights at Euphoria Retreat from £3,405pp or £3,870 for single occupancy. Price includes full board, a wellness programme and return private transfers.
Travellers have to complete a pre-travel authorisation via the Turks and Caicos Islands online portal. This requires evidence of a negative COVID-19 test and travel insurance with COVID-19 cover.
Rediscover the balance of your mind, body and (Christmas) spirit on this holistic healthy holiday on the sunny beaches of Turks & Caicos. The private-island retreat includes daily yoga and Pilates sessions, alongside educational workshops, so you can progress with your practice whilst you soak in the spectacular sunshine. With catamaran sailing, windsurfing and paddle boarding on offer, you can relax your mind and throw yourself into a fun-filled festive experience that will leave you with a refreshed and motivated mindset for 2021.
Health and Fitness Travel (0203 397 8891 healthandfitnesstravel.com) offers 7 nights from £3,595pp or £7,010 for single occupancy. Price includes daily breakfast, a wellness programme and return transfers.
Visitors must complete a pre-arrival registration form and must provide certified proof of a negative PCR test taken seven days or less before travel.
Treat yourself to a week of personal training, sleep-enhancing therapies and deep tissue massages on a well-earned Winter wellness break where your mental and physical well-being are the top priority. With the unspoilt rainforests and breathtaking waterfalls of St. Lucia as your backdrop and an array of gourmet cuisines and invigorating activities to keep you busy, you’ll make memories that will outlast the festive period. Forget the Christmas jumpers and opinionated in-laws and indulge in a bit of ‘me time’ on this brilliant beachside break.
Health and Fitness Travel (0203 397 8891 healthandfitnesstravel.com) offers 7 nights at BodyHoliday from £5,895pp or £6,045 for single occupancy. Price includes all-inclusive, a wellness programme and return private transfers.
When you arrive in Italy, you must have proof of a negative COVID-19 PCR Test in order to gain access to the country. Alternatively, some Italian airports have on site testing facilities for arrivals but there is no guarantee that they will be usable. A quarantine period is required on your return to the UK.
Unwind in the wonderful winter wonderland of the Dolomite mountain range on this detoxifying wellness retreat. With a state-of-the-art wellness temple surrounded by incredible alpine views, you can indulge in energising massages and draining wraps and forget about the usual Christmas Day chaos. Lefay Dolomiti’s sustainable restaurants offer organic, healthy meals with spectacular backdrops, so burning potatoes and overcooked turkey will feel like a world away and you can rediscover your balance of mind and body in the refreshing alpine air.
Health and Fitness Travel (0203 397 8891 healthandfitnesstravel.com) offers 5 nights at Lefay Resort & Spa Dolomiti from £3,145pp or £4,055 for single occupancy. Price includes breakfast, a detox programme and return private transfers.
When you arrive in Italy, you must have proof of a negative COVID-19 PCR Test in order to gain access to the country. Alternatively, some Italian airports have on site testing facilities for arrivals but there is no guarantee that they will be usable. A quarantine period is required on your return to the UK.
Start the new year the right way and trade dull winter days with a wellbeing boosting break to the stunning coast of Southern Italy. A consultation on arrival will determine your personalised programme to allow you to reconnect with your inner self and prioritise your mental and physical health for optimum happiness. With the Vair spa offering hot stone massages, detoxification wraps and aromatherapy you’ll leave feeling like the festive season is, in fact, the most wonderful time of the year.
Health and Fitness Travel (0203 397 8891 healthandfitnesstravel.com) offers 6 nights at Borgo Egnazia from £5,370pp or £7,450 for single occupancy. Price includes full board, a wellness programme and return private transfers.
November 17th Observes National Bereavement Day 2020 in Canada. Grief is a Shared Journey that Fosters Compassion and Honours our Loved Ones.
OTTAWA, ON, Oct. 21, 2020 /CNW/ - November 17th observes the annual National Bereavement Day in Canada. Grief and bereavement support is an essential element of all care at the end of one's life. This year, the CHPCA invites Canadians on a shared journey that fosters compassion and encourages them to cope with their grief by supporting each other through living and grieving. We might be physically distant, but grief brings us together.
Sharon Baxter, Executive Director of CHPCA says, "It is important that you and those who care about you know that grief is a journey; some part of you will always love and miss the person who died. We learn to live with the loss and grief in ways that maintain and honour our bond with the person who died but don't limit our capacity for joy, pleasure and a meaningful life. At this trying time, we might be physically distant, but we are emotionally, spiritually and socially connected through our grief".
For many of us, grief impacts all aspects of our lives; physically, socially, emotionally, cognitively, and spiritually. It may also affect our sense of meaning and purpose in life; and this reality has created the need to ensure information and resources on hospice palliative care and advance care planning are accessible to all Canadians; that resources are provided to those who need them in a timely fashion and in the setting of their choice, and that resources meet their care needs.
CHPCA provides Canadians with many helpful resources for those living with grief and bereavement. Find this year's resources at www.chpca.ca/GriefDay and share them with your friends, family and loved ones who are experiencing grief. Social media users are invited to engage with CHPCA's Facebook (CanadianHospicePalliativeCare) and Twitter (@CanadianHPCAssn) and to use the hashtags #Grief2020#GriefJourney #SharedJourney to help advocate for support and access to the necessary resources for those living with grief and bereavement.
On this Bereavement Day, the CHPCA is acknowledging the grief so many Canadians have experienced during these unprecedented times with an online concert to honour loved ones and family members who have passed during COVID-19. Canadians can add their loved one's name to be streamed live during the concert. The concert will air on November 15, 2020 at 7 pm EST with representations from every province - featuring an array of Canadian talents: John McDermott, Tara Shannon, Alan Doyle, George Canyon, Gowan, Rosie MacKenzie, Florent Vollant, Kalen Wedge, Shari Ulrich, Eileen Laverty, Ray Legere, Sheila Carabine & Amanda Walther.For more information about the Saying Goodbye concert, please visit www.chpca.ca/sayinggoodbyeconcert.
Funding for National Bereavement Day 2020 is provided by GSK, Arbor Memorial Inc, CBI Health Group, Innovative Medicines Canada, and Purdue.
The CHPCA is the national voice for Hospice Palliative Care in Canada. Advancing and advocating for quality end-of-life/hospice palliative care in Canada, its work includes public policy, public education and awareness. Established in 1991, its volunteer Board of Directors is composed of hospice palliative care workers and volunteers from Canadian provinces and territories as well as members-at-large.
SOURCE Canadian Hospice Palliative Care Association
LuminUltra Files Patent for the World's First Rapid, On-site COVID-19 Wastewater Testing Solution
A Research Collaboration Between LuminUltra, Dalhousie University and Halifax Water Demonstrates Wastewater Data Is a Powerful Tool in Early Detection and Tracking COVID-19 Prevalence within Communities
FREDERICTON, NB, Oct. 21, 2020 /CNW/ - LuminUltra, a Canada-based biotechnology leader and portfolio company of XPV Water Partners, recently filed a patent for the first complete, rapid, and on-site COVID-19 wastewater testing solution that will make non-invasive community health assessment far more accessible to both the public and private sector around the world.
This innovation builds upon LuminUltra's 20-plus years of leadership in the measurement of pathogens and microbes in wastewater systems, and is a direct result of a research collaboration between LuminUltra, Dalhousie University and Halifax Water. Scientists from LuminUltra and Dalhousie University collaborated to assess real-world wastewater samples provided by Halifax Water, in order to refine and improve the process needed to prepare a sample for accurate wastewater testing. Ultimately, the innovation in the RNA extraction and concentration process resulting from the team's research has eliminated the need for additional complicated equipment, greatly simplifying the process from sample collection to result while increasing accuracy and consistency of results.
"The idea of wastewater surveillance testing has been advocated by researchers around the world since the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic," said Pat Whalen, President and CEO of LuminUltra. "Until now, wastewater testing has been complicated, expensive and time consuming – meaning the potentially life-saving technique was reserved for niche subgroups under the watchful eye of researchers. We have been determined to make this surveillance tool more accessible to communities everywhere, allowing for a game-changing early warning of COVID-19 infections."
The presence of the SARS-CoV-2 pathogen can be detected in human waste of infected individuals – even in asymptomatic or presymptomatic patients. LuminUltra's wastewater testing solution utilizes the rapid and portable GeneCount® qPCR device, the same industry gold-standard technology used in clinical diagnostic testing. While other solutions around the world can take days or weeks and require specialized lab expertise to analyze a mailed-in sample, LuminUltra's solution examines multiple samples on-site within 90 minutes, without the need for specific testing expertise – making the testing process more efficient and therefore available at a lower price point than other wastewater testing solutions.
"Public health leaders around the world have validated that wastewater testing is a powerful tool in the fight against the pandemic, and global research leaders have demonstrated the benefits of testing human waste in controlled populations," said Dr. Amina Stoddart of Dalhousie University. "Wastewater testing has been shown to lead to early identification of the virus before it is known in a clinical context – the potential benefit could help Public Health leaders with additional information for decisions concerning the pandemic. We are very pleased to continue Dalhousie's long-standing research relationship with LuminUltra to help fight the COVID-19 pandemic in Halifax and beyond."
"Halifax Water is proud to be a partner in this important wastewater research which aligns well with our focus on public health and environmental protection. This collaboration is an extension of our history of supporting and fostering innovative research in water and wastewater," said General Manager Cathie O'Toole, of Halifax Water. "Halifax and other communities are looking for monitoring solutions to reliably gather information about population health and effectively control the spread of COVID-19."
LuminUltra's wastewater testing solution allows communities and controlled populations to analyze overall population health, rather than relying solely on single-patient clinical tests to determine if there is an infection of COVID-19 present or a surge in cases. Currently, North America does not have the capacity or resources to control the spread of COVID-19 through clinical testing alone. With 40 per cent of infected COVID-19 patients being asymptomatici, and with clinical testing kits being in high demand with concern of a pending shortage, a smarter, broader, more holistic testing approach is needed. LuminUltra is pleased to bring a reliable, trusted solution to communities all over the world.
COVID-19 Testing Solutions
While individual human carriers are tested for COVID-19 using clinical diagnostics, broader population-based testing is also essential to identify the presence of SARS-CoV-2 within a community or environment. LuminUltra provides complete testing solutions for each of the three protocols: clinical diagnosticsii, surface and air testing and now, wastewater testing.
The GeneCount qPCR devices include both the portable and high-capacity options. They can be used to run both the clinical and environment tests to provide a holistic and efficient approach to pandemic management.
About LuminUltra
Founded in 1995, LuminUltra is a biological diagnostic testing company headquartered in Canada with operations in 6 countries. It is widely recognized globally as a leader in developing tests and reagents for environmental, industrial, and diagnostic monitoring and is a key supplier of COVID-19 clinical testing reagents to the Government of Canada. Customers in over 80 countries trust LuminUltra's technology, production reliability and history of customer service excellence to deliver their essential services in a safe-state. At the same time, LuminUltra fosters a culture of innovation and agility and is on an accelerated growth path, acquiring multiple companies in recent years and forming a partnership with the specialized private equity firm XPV Water Partners. Additional information can be found at luminultra.com.
iiGeneCount® COVID-19 RT-qPCR Assay Kit pending FDA and Health Canada approval
SOURCE LuminUltra
Rethink Breast Cancer Launches New Resource Supporting Black Women with Breast Cancer
Uncovered: A Breast Recognition Project is a first-of-its-kind photo-driven resource showcasing Black women affected by breast cancer
TORONTO, Oct. 21, 2020 /CNW/ - Today, Rethink Breast Cancer, a Canadian not-for-profit organization focused on empowering and advocating for those affected by breast cancer worldwide, launched a new, first-of-its-kind resource that will shine a much needed spotlight on the physical and emotional scars of breast cancer, specifically as it relates to black bodies. Uncovered: A Breast Recognition Project was developed in response to the significant underrepresentation of, and lack of support for, Black women and women of colour in the breast cancer community.
"They say cancer doesn't discriminate, but it most certainly does. From insufficient healthcare treatment, poorer health outcomes to the general underrepresentation in the breast cancer community," said MJ DeCoteau, founder and executive director, Rethink. "From the start, we made a promise to rethink the status quo when it comes to breast cancer. Now, as an organization who has contributed to the unjust underrepresentation of the Black, Indigenous and People of Colour (BIPOC) communities, this is one step towards doing better."
Michelle Audoin, a young Black woman living in Toronto with metastatic breast cancer (MBC) felt invisible and deflated throughout her diagnosis and treatment journey, often feeling unheard by her healthcare team to being unseen among the after-surgery imagery shown to her.
"When I was diagnosed with breast cancer I immediately began researching my surgical options. It became abundantly clear that images of women who looked like me were nowhere to be found. It was distressing to have to make a life-altering decision and not have any visuals to help guide me through the process," said Audoin.
In response to her experience, she approached Rethink to help change the conversation and develop a new resource that would help Black women diagnosed with breast cancer have a better, more inclusive experience.
Uncovered: A Breast Recognition Project is launching today, October 21st, on Breast Reconstruction Awareness (BRA) Day 2020. This important awareness day aims to promote access, education and awareness about reconstructive breast surgery, and now with the launch of this important resource we can make sure to see a greater representation of Black women.
Rethink worked with a Black production team to photograph, interview and capture these eight women's stories and experiences. The resource will also be shared with cancer care teams, so they are better equipped to support all the women they care for. This project was kindly supported by Pfizer Canada.
"At Pfizer Canada, the value of equity runs through everything we do. We believe everyone deserves to be seen, heard and cared for," said Cole C. Pinnow, President, Pfizer Canada. "That's why we are honoured to support this important initiative that includes BIPOC communities in the breast cancer conversation and gives them the resources and attention they deserve."
About Rethink Breast Cancer Rethink Breast Cancer is the young people's breast cancer movement. Our mission is to empower young people worldwide who are concerned about and affected by breast cancer by taking a breakthrough approach to education, advocacy, support, community building and fundraising initiatives.
Rethink is changing the breast cancer conversation to make real change. You aren't average and we aren't your average breast cancer charity. We're here to uplift, inspire and most importantly, rethink breast cancer to help young women live better and live longer.
An Innovation Made In Québec: Maximed, the First Aerosol Pathogen Aspirator, Will Soon Make its US Debut in 3 Colorado Hospitals
MONTRÉAL, Oct. 21, 2020 /CNW Telbec/ - AQC Dust is announcing the first American deployment of the Maximed, an innovative aerosol pathogen aspirator developed in response to the COVID-19 pandemic. Operating like a vacuum system, Maximed eliminates at the source the particles and aerosols exhaled by patients being treated in operating rooms, reducing the probability of contamination by 85 to 90 %. Six (6) Maximed units will start servicing hospitals part of SCL Health in Colorado next week: Lutheran Medical Center, Platte Valley Medical Center, and Samaritan Hospital. Along with a strong sanitary protocol, it will help these hospitals treat more patients right away without compromising the safety of doctors, surgeons, nurses, or hospital personnel. To face the new normalcy, Maximed should become the new standard.
Through an articulated arm, Maximed creates a suction around the exhalation area of the patient. All aerosols and microscopic droplets are vacuumed up and passed through our HEPA filter, certified 99.997% efficient on 0.3-micron particles. By removing particles from the respiratory zone and filtering the air every hour, the spread of pathogens is reduced up to 90%, protecting everyone in the operating room.
With North America in the midst of a second wave of the coronavirus, Maximed is the cost-efficient way to help thousands of patients get safer access to urgent or elective surgeries across Canada. Developed with public health authorities in Québec, where Maximed is already in operation in 4 hospitals. CSA/ULC certified for hospital environments, it is suitable for all medical practices (otolaryngology, cardiology, pulmonology, anesthesiology, etc.), and efficient on all types of airborne viruses or pollutants. The use of Maximed in hospitals will make patients feel safer and healthcare workers more confident in the operating room.
Martin Brisebois, President of AQC, added: "Maximed is our way to help healthcare systems around the world be more resilient and reduce the risks to patients and healthcare workers during this pandemic, and beyond"
About AQC Dust AQC Dust is the leader in air treatment for 30 years. Based in Quebec, AQC produces a full range of dust and pollutant capture systems and helps keep the pharmaceutical industry and hospitals safer since 2004.
SOURCE AQC Dust
New Scorecard Reveals Critical Need to Make Osteoporosis a National Health Priority
Regional Differences Exist in Diagnosis, Treatment and Care of Osteoporosis Across Canada
MISSISSAUGA, ON, Oct. 20, 2020 /CNW/ - Osteoporosis affects approximately 1.4 million Canadians including an estimated 1 in 4 women and more than 1 in 8 men over the age of 50.1 However, according to A Scorecard for Osteoporosis in Canada and Seven Canadian Provinces, a recent study evaluating the burden and management of osteoporosis in Canada, there are significant provincial differences in the diagnosis, treatment, and care of osteoporosis across the country.2
According to the study authors, interventions are needed to close the osteoporosis treatment gap and minimize care discrepancies across the country.
Twenty elements related to osteoporosis management were scored across four areas: burden of disease, policy framework, service provision, and service uptake.
While Canada performed well on several elements of osteoporosis care, including high uptake of risk assessment algorithms and minimal wait times for hip fracture surgery, there are currently no established fracture registries in the country and reporting on individuals with high fracture risk who remain untreated was limited. Furthermore, osteoporosis is not an official health priority in most provinces, access to diagnosis and treatment was inconsistent across the provinces and provincial reimbursement policies did not align with clinical guidelines.
"Osteoporosis is a serious health issue that can have significant consequences. Fractures caused by osteoporosis can significantly impact someone's mobility, independence and overall quality of life," said Dr. David Kendler, Professor of Medicine, Endocrinology, University of British Columbia. "From both a health and economic perspective, we need to look at how we can consistently do better when it comes to assessing and treating Canadians living with this condition."
Making Osteoporosis a National Priority
According to the study authors, Canada and its provinces would benefit from:
The creation of formal government action plans to support osteoporosis education and awareness;
Establishing fracture registries to monitor patient care; aligning reimbursement policies with clinical practice guidelines; and
Increasing fracture liaison service programs in less populous provinces.
Doing so will help ensure that the diagnosis, treatment and care of osteoporosis becomes a national priority and that those Canadians living with the condition benefit from enhanced healthcare system support.
About the Scorecard for Osteoporosis in Canada and Seven Canadian Provinces
The framework used to develop the Canadian Scorecard was adapted from the Scorecard for Osteoporosis in Europe (SCOPE), an extensive analysis conducted for the 27 countries of the European Union (EU) in 2013.
In addition to a national-level analysis, the framework was expanded to seven Canadian provinces (British Columbia, Alberta, Saskatchewan, Ontario, Quebec, New Brunswick, and Newfoundland) in order to identify regional variations in osteoporosis care.
As progress is made, the scorecard can serve as a benchmark to measure advancements in osteoporosis management and care.
The development of the Scorecard for Osteoporosis in Canada and Seven Provinces was supported financially by Amgen Canada.
About Osteoporosis
Osteoporosis is a condition that causes bones to become thin and porous, decreasing bone strength and leading to increased risk of breaking a bone.3 The most common sites of broken bones from osteoporosis are the wrist, hip, spine, and shoulder.3 Osteoporosis can strike at any age, however it mainly affects women after menopause as their ability to form new bone cannot counterbalance the rate at which bone is being removed.3,4 This bone loss leads to weakened bones over time, increasing the potential for a break.3
At least one in three women and one in five men will suffer a broken bone from osteoporosis during their lifetime.3 Broken bones from osteoporosis are more common than heart attack, stroke and breast cancer combined.3 One in three people who break a hip will re-break it at one year, and over one in two will suffer another bone break within five years.3
The World Health Organization has officially declared osteoporosis a public health crisis5, while the International Osteoporosis Foundation urges governments worldwide to make osteoporosis a healthcare priority.6
About Amgen Canada
As a leader in innovation, Amgen Canada understands the value of science. With main operations located in Mississauga, Ontario's vibrant biomedical cluster, and its research facility in Burnaby, B.C., Amgen Canada has been an important contributor to advancements in science and innovation in Canada since 1991. The company contributes to the development of new therapies and new uses for existing medicines in partnership with many of Canada's leading health-care, academic, research, government and patient organizations. To learn more about Amgen Canada, visit www.amgen.ca.
2 Kendler, D., Adachi, J., Brown, J., Juby, A., Kovacs, C., Duperrouzel, C., . . . Burke, N. (2020). A scorecard for osteoporosis in Canada and seven Canadian provinces. Osteoporosis International. doi:10.1007/s00198-020-05554-2
5 The World Health Organization. Bulletin of the World Health Organization. Exercise interventions: defusing the world's osteoporosis time bomb. Available at: http://www.who.int/bulletin/volumes/81/11/mingchanwa1103.pdf. Accessed September 28, 2020
Improving lives and communities: Morneau Shepell releases annual CSR Report
Prioritizing the health and productivity of people – the heart of every successful organization – is more important than ever through this year of uncertainty
TORONTO, Oct. 20, 2020 /CNW/ - Morneau Shepell, a leading provider of total wellbeing, mental health and digital mental health services, today released its annual Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) Report. The company's second annual report outlines CSR activities completed in 2019 and over the first six months of 2020, including environmental, social and governance performance and significant advances in key areas such as employee mental health and wellbeing, sustainability initiatives and community investments that support mental health and education.
"Our priority continues to be protecting the health, safety and wellbeing of our employees and clients, as well as creating solutions to improve lives globally," said Stephen Liptrap, president and chief executive officer. "The transformational investments we have made in recent years have made our work and workforce flexible in ways that have greatly contributed to our success in adapting to COVID-19. This has ultimately translated into better supporting our clients, their teams and families during an especially stressful time."
In addition to an expanded environmental policy and community-focused investments, Morneau Shepell's CSR strategy remains strongly focused on providing the much-needed services and resources that broader communities require to successfully navigate the challenges that COVID-19 has created. In 2020, Morneau Shepell introduced services and resources designed to support Canadians during this time, including WellCan, an online hub of wellbeing resources, and AbilitiCBT™, an internet-based cognitive behavioural therapy program designed to address the uniquely challenging aspects of a pandemic. The company also opens its free crisis hotline for communities affected by traumatic events, such as natural disasters, fatal accidents and mass shootings.
In the first half of 2020, Morneau Shepell also launched the Mental Health Index™, an innovative survey that measures mental health levels in the employee population in the four key jurisdictions where the company operations: Australia, Canada, the United Kingdom and the United States.
Inclusion and diversity at the forefront In 2019, Morneau Shepell established an Inclusion and Diversity (I&D) Council and developed a strategy, which was expanded earlier this year to form an Anti-Racism Task Force, adding to the company's existing advancements in gender equality and diversity. The company also enthusiastically pledged its support for the CEO Action Pledge in the United States and the BlackNorth Initiative in Canada – two leading initiatives that work to meaningfully address anti-Black racism and advance diversity and inclusion in the workplace.
"We are proud to have a gender diverse team. In 2019, women occupied more than one third (38 per cent) of our Board of Directors and one quarter (27 per cent) of executive officer roles – a number that is significantly higher than the 10 per cent reported for women working in the C-suite across Canada's 100 largest publicly traded companies last year," added Liptrap.
Among other advancements in CSR, Morneau Shepell achieved a ranking of seventh out of 224 companies in the S&P/TSX composite index and a total score of 96 out of 100 points in The Globe and Mail's annual corporate governance assessment, reflecting the company's strong governance framework. The Company recently became a supporter of the United Nations Global Compact.
Morneau Shepell aims to improve one billion lives Today, Morneau Shepell's work reaches nearly one hundred million people through its employee and family assistance programs, the pension plans it administers, the volunteer work of its employees and its community investments. The company also launched its Improving 1BillionLives program, which includes contributions from the employee engagement and community volunteer programs.
"Improving one billion lives is an aspiration of our team in the long term," added Liptrap. "We firmly believe that this an attainable goal and it is one that drives our employees today in their activities and will continue to do so in the future."
About Morneau Shepell Morneau Shepell is a leading provider of technology-enabled HR services that deliver an integrated approach to employee wellbeing through our cloud-based platform. Our focus is providing world-class solutions to our clients to support the mental, physical, social and financial wellbeing of their people. By improving lives, we improve business. Our approach spans services in employee and family assistance, health and wellness, recognition, pension and benefits administration, retirement consulting, actuarial and investment services. Morneau Shepell employs approximately 6,000 employees who work with some 24,000 client organizations that use our services in 162 countries. Morneau Shepell is a publicly traded company on the Toronto Stock Exchange (TSX: MSI). For more information, visit morneaushepell.com.
SOURCE Morneau Shepell Inc.
One Million Masks Donated in the GTA. Millions of People Protected: DYMON Self Storage Announces Face Mask Donation Initiative
As COVID-19 cases surge, DYMON Self Storage is making one million face masks available to charitable organizations and communities across the GTA
TORONTO, Oct. 20, 2020 /CNW/ - Today, DYMON Self Storage ("DYMON" or "the company") and its owners Glen Luckman and Brent Wilson, announced a donation of one million commercial grade face masks to charities and community groups in the Greater Toronto Area in order to combat the spread of COVID-19. DYMON Self Storage's initiative is designed to protect vulnerable residents of the GTA in the face of rising case numbers by distributing DYMON face masks to front line workers and clients of charities and community groups.
"Like everyone, we are very concerned with the rise in COVID-19 cases across the GTA and want to ensure the health and safety of vulnerable people within our community by providing commercial grade face masks," said Glen Luckman, CEO of DYMON. "DYMON Self Storage's donation of certified face masks to the GTA is a reflection of our corporate commitment to philanthropy and our pledge to donate 50% of profits and 50% of our value creation to charity over time."
"As a community partner, it is essential that we take collective and decisive action to fight the pandemic," added Brent Wilson, President of DYMON. "Wearing a certified DYMON face mask is a critical preventative measure that we can all undertake to slow and stop the spread of COVID-19, particularly when used universally throughout our community."
DYMON's commercial grade face masks are in the GTA today, and are ready to be delivered immediately to organizations and communities across the region directly from the company's state-of-the-art climate-controlled self storage facility in Etobicoke.
Over the past three weeks DYMON Self Storage has donated over 100,000 face masks to more than 40 charitable and community organizations in the City of Ottawa, including The Ottawa Mission, The Ottawa Housing Corporation, and the Ottawa Community Immigrant Services Organization. DYMON's donation of one million face masks to the GTA is an expansion of this initiative, and the company believes it is the largest single private corporate donation of PPE in the GTA. Through its donation, DYMON Self Storage will be providing the equivalent of one certified face mask for every six GTA residents.
Made to exacting standards, DYMON's commercial grade face masks are individually packaged and have a five-layer construction designed to filter at least 95% of particles to help reduce the exposure to airborne contaminants, including the coronavirus. Featuring a better seal against the wearer's face than surgical or cotton face masks, the DYMON face mask design ensures that individuals are "protected from others" and "others are protected from them".
Through its donation, DYMON Self Storage aims to help as many vulnerable people served by GTA charities and community organizations as possible. If you are a charity or community group that needs protective face masks to safeguard your employees and clients, please visit DYMON Self Storage online at dymon.ca or contact the DYMON Self Storage team at 416.844.3874.
ABOUT DYMON Self Storage
A proudly Canadian-owned and operated company, DYMON Self Storage is rapidly expanding its footprint in the GTA with plans to build more than eighty (80) facilities comprising in excess of 10 million sq. ft. DYMON's current portfolio consists of the world's largest storage facility in Etobicoke (across from IKEA), as well as a facility in Brampton. DYMON Self Storage will also be opening another of its state-of-the-art facilities in Oshawa before the end of the year. Through its Guest-focused approach, DYMON is changing the entire storage industry.
DYMON Self Storage has become Canada's most innovative storage operator by offering residential and business Guests unparalleled service and innovative storage solutions. DYMON is changing the way people think about storage by offering a variety of sophisticated, mixed-use projects in combination with its state-of-the-art storage facilities. All of DYMON's facilities offer full climate and humidity control, 24/7 access with extended retail hours and overnight surveillance, boardroom rentals, drive through bays where Guests can be protected from weather conditions, and FREE movers, truck and driver at move-in. DYMON has managed to create a strong and differentiated presence by offering other value-added services, including moving and packing supplies, shredding services, safe deposit vaults and the unique DYMON retail store, which is now available to shop online and features over 2,500 home décor and organizational products along with custom closet solutions. In addition, DYMON recently launched DYMON Work Refined, its new collaborative workspace business, and DYMON Wine Cellar, its unique wine club and storage experience, at its flagship facility in Etobicoke, ON.
SOURCE DYMON Self Storage
Poor people demand a just COVID stimulus package during Moral Monday focus on battleground states
A 29-year-old mother of four from Kansas wants U.S. senators who are refusing to pass a just COVID stimulus package to know this about her life: She had decided last year that she would have to die because she couldn’t afford the $4,000 she needed to start treatment for stage 4 uterine cancer.
“In the richest nation we should not resign ourselves to die because we can’t afford to beat our cancer,” Shelby Fedrenbacher said during the national Moral Monday Digital March on McConnell’s Senate held by the Poor People’s Campaign: A National Call for Moral Revival.
People from several battleground states spoke during the program, along with actors/activists Alyssa Milano and Bradley Whitford. In addition to Kansas, people from Mississippi, Michigan, Pennsylvania, Maine, North Carolina, South Carolina, Kentucky, Texas and Kansas talked about their lives during COVID-19 and why they’re determined to vote, no matter the obstacles presented by the pandemic or voter suppression tactics.
People have flooded McConnell’s office phones in Kentucky and Washington, D.C., with calls for several weeks. This week, the Poor People’s Campaign asked them to flood the offices of all U.S. senators on the same Monday as when the House and Senate were negotiating yet again over a COVID-19 relief package.
Fedrenbacher, who was diagnosed with cancer last year, said she “was so depressed I would look at my four children every day and just decide that I am just going to die as peacefully as I can. I don’t know what else to do here.”
Friends rallied around her and raised the $4,000, but Fedrenbacher wouldn’t have had to rely on their goodwill for her healthcare if Kansas had expanded Medicaid. It’s one of 12 states that has not taken this basic step to guarantee health insurance to millions of more Americans.
A lack of healthcare, a pandemic, the stacking of the Supreme Court. None of this has to happen, Rev. Barber said.
“Everything we see now is man created, even the way in which this pandemic is hurting us is man-created,” Rev. Barber said. “The fact that we are talking about stacking the Supreme Court and not passing a stimulus. All of that is created by politicians, by a human being, by the president, by Mitch McConnell: It does not have to be.”
“Not only does it not have to be, we have the power to change.”
The 8 million people who have fallen into poverty during the pandemic are on top of the 140 million who were already poor and low-income, Rev. Theoharis said. And “that's on top of the growing sections of people who are one fire, one storm, one healthcare crisis, one job loss away from deep poverty,” she said. And this is in the richest country in human history, this is with a Senate that has the means, has the power to make it all better and make it all OK.”
Both Whitford and Milano decried the state of the country and urged people to vote.
“I have watched in horror as over the last decades the Koch brothers have pumped money into my state to suppress the vote,” Whitford said. “At least 100,00 people who wanted to vote in Wisconsin were disenfranchised all because of Republican chicanery ....we need to be talking about a long active strategy by Republicans to suppress the vote.”
Milano described voting as one way that Americans protect each other.
“We need an America where everyone can afford rent, can put food on the table and set aside some savings for a rainy day,” she said. “We need an America where people don't perpetuate these injustices and continue to march forward” each day.
Morneau Shepell announces new appointment to Board of Directors
TORONTO, Oct. 19, 2020 /CNW/ - Morneau Shepell is pleased to announce the appointment of Robert Courteau to its Board of Directors, effective today. Mr. Courteau most recently served as the CEO of Altus Group, a leading provider of independent advisory services, software, and data solutions to the global commercial real estate industry.
"On behalf of the Board and the Company, it's a pleasure to welcome Robert," said Jill Denham, Chair of the Board. "We are thrilled to welcome an executive who has a deep global background with both digital transformation skills and broad experience with SaaS based business models. His command of data markets, analytics and information services platforms will be important for the company as we move our strategic plan forward." The Board and management will also value his executive insights, growth orientation and managerial depth to support the many market opportunities for the company. Prior to his most recent position at Altus Group, Mr. Courteau was President, North America and Global Chief Operating Officer at SAP AG, a global market leader in enterprise application software.
Mr. Courteau is a member of the Board of Directors of Kinaxis, and a past member of the Board of Real Matters. Mr. Courteau holds a Bachelor of Commerce degree from Concordia University and was awarded an Honorary Doctor of Laws degree from Concordia University in 2011. In recognition of his commitment to education and endorsement of international standards and regulation, Robert was awarded a Fellowship with RICS (FRICS) in 2014. Mr. Courteau is also the Vice Chair of the Holland Bloorview Hospital Foundation.
The Company also announces that Michele Trogni has stepped down from the Board of Directors, effective September 30, 2020. "Michele's 30-year career of building businesses, along with her expertise in data insights, analytics and technology solutions have been valuable to the Company," said Denham. "I'd like to thank Michele for her many contributions to the success of the company during her tenure on the Board."
About Morneau Shepell Inc.
Morneau Shepell is a leading provider of technology-enabled HR services that deliver an integrated approach to employee wellbeing through our cloud-based platform. Our focus is providing world-class solutions to our clients to support the mental, physical, social and financial wellbeing of their people. By improving lives, we improve business. Our approach spans services in employee and family assistance, health and wellness, recognition, pension and benefits administration, retirement consulting, actuarial and investment services. Morneau Shepell employs approximately 6,000 employees who work with some 24,000 client organizations that use our services in 162 countries. Morneau Shepell is a publicly traded company on the Toronto Stock Exchange (TSX: MSI). For more information, visit morneaushepell.com.
SOURCE Morneau Shepell Inc.
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