Trying to overcome an eating disorder can be one of the toughest things that you’ve ever done in your life. While you may be shying away from physical activity, it’s definitely something that you should be investing in during your recovery. Let’s take a look at some of the basics of why exercise is an essential part of your recovery and how you can perform it successfully.
Realize Exercise Effects All Realms of Health
When it comes to your health, there are many areas to focus on. Some of these include mental, emotional, and physical health. Exercise works to enhance all these realms of health during your recovery period. The trick is finding a proper balance between using exercise as a healing aid and overutilizing it and hindering your recovery.
Eliminate Old Beliefs
Many people who have dealt with an eating disorder have created some false beliefs between exercise and weight control. The truth is that while exercise can be utilized to help control weight, it provides so much more. It’s essential to create mental peace. Don’t attribute burning calories to exercise. Rather, consider exercise one of many treatment options for eating disorders.
Look into inpatient programs as well to help you overcome these old beliefs and habits.
Listen to Your Body
Your body is very adept at alerting you of when there’s an issue. The tricky part is actually listening to what your body is telling you. If your body is telling you that it’s tired after 20 minutes of yoga, then stop. Don’t push your body beyond its limit for the sake of getting exercise in. You may find that you need to start your exercise intensity with a slow walk. Then, increase the duration over time. At the beginning, you may not be able to tell when you need to push yourself or rest, so take it slow.
Bring Curiosity to Your Exercise
If you used to spend hours running on the treadmill so you could burn the exact amount of calories you ate, then tracking your exercise is not a great idea. Instead, bring some curiosity to your exercise. Try starting a different type of exercise routine. Yoga is a great form of exercise that can allow you to focus on mastering poses instead of constantly tracking the calories that you burn.
Having an eating disorder can change the way you live your entire life. Overcoming that eating disorder all starts with utilizing exercise as a necessary recovery tool. The above are four great tips that you can implement to turn exercise into a healthy way to overcome your disorder instead of looking at it as a necessity for weight control.
Brooke Chaplan is a freelance writer and blogger. She lives and works out of her home in Los Lunas, New Mexico. She loves the outdoors and spends most of her time hiking, biking, and gardening. For more information, contact Brooke via Facebook at facebook.com/brooke.chaplan or Twitter @BrookeChaplan
A message for all Canadians
Organizations from across Canada join with Morneau Shepell to create WellCan, a hub of sustainable, free resources for Canadians seeking help
TORONTO, April 6, 2020 /CNW/ - Dear fellow Canadians,
Recognizing that in this time of a significant and society altering crisis, it is the responsibility of Canadian companies and organizations to pool and dedicate their resources to support their fellow citizens. We, the undersigned companies and organizations have come together in this moment of national mobilization and in the spirit of public service.
We have established a unique, and evolving partnership that combines the strengths of the organizations involved, to develop a mobile app and website that offers all Canadians easy access to an extensive range of free resources to support their mental health.
Called WellCan, this collection of digital resources will be accessible, free and available to everyone in Canada online and in app stores this week. As an online hub of free mental health services offered to Canadians, WellCan will continuously be refreshed with the latest information and resources.
While the COVID-19 virus is feared for its potential to overwhelm the Canadian health-care system with those suffering from the physical symptoms of COVID-19, the toll on the mental health of Canadians is also expected to be severe, both now and in the coming months, and potentially years.
In Morneau Shepell's monthly Mental Health Index that surveys Canadian workers, there has already been a significantly negative change in the mental health of Canadians because of COVID-19. The largest negative change was seen in the measure of anxiety, followed by helplessness, lack of optimism and isolation.
As Canadians, we're proud of how our governments, health-care workers, and community organizations are putting the health and safety of Canadians first in grappling with COVID-19. By launching this mental-health initiative through WellCan, our hope is to make an ongoing contribution to a critical yet under-served dimension of this crisis that affects all Canadians.
Together, and only together, will we get through this.
Cannabis Industry Expert Shares Top 2020 Market Trends to Watch
MyGN fuels innovation by offering entrepreneurs valuable expertise and guidance to transform “green" ideas into reality with less time, money, and headache
SANTA ANA, Calif. (March 6th, 2020): Cannabis attorney and industry expert Ken Hwang - also the Co-Founder and Chief Executive Officer of My Green Network (MyGN) - shares the top 2020 market trends to watch. Following 6 years of development and millions spent on CA and Colorado cannabis licensing, MyGN levels the playing field for creative business-builders looking to transform ideas into reality, free from unfair legal and cost barriers. MyGN will have the nation’s first membership-based, entrepreneur-focused collaborative cannabis facility (set to open July 2020 in Orange County, CA), and provides a unique, shared space designed to foster the green community, empowering entrepreneurs to create products in the space. Now, company Co-Founder/ CEO Ken Hwang offers an inside look at “what’s next” in one of the country’s fastest-growing industries.
“There is still so much to learn about the applications of cannabis to the global market and an immense amount of untapped potential for entrepreneurs” explains Hwang. “If we want to foster innovation, the traditional business approach simply isn’t going to work. You need a collaborative community and the expert guidance that My Green Network offers.”
Looking ahead through the end of 2020, Hwang expects to see innovation in the following:
● Creative Cultivation Practices: Rather than a broad, commercial approach, growers are trending toward smaller-scale farming designed to achieve a specific outcome. This allows for more operational control, including the fast adoption of new techniques for preserving the plant, resulting in a higher quality, specialty product. For example, one cultivator in Northern California harvests only on the full moon, believing this helps with the curing phase. There are cultivators that are also specifically cultivating “extraction gardens,” meaning the specific strain/type of cannabis is specifically grown for extraction machines. Certain flower types are great flower, but after extraction the flavor profile is too intense and can be too pungent or spicy. This is due to the extraction process because during extraction you are concentrating the terpenes and cannabinoids, for example flower has 30% potency, while extracts have 65-75% potency.
● A Greater Focus on Collaboration: Consumer education and knowledge about the applications of cannabis products is essential to the growth of the industry. Platforms like MyGN, which foster collaboration and the sharing of ideas within the cannabis community, will be key to success. Prime example is the evolution of flowers and extracts. Flower used to be around 20% potency, now the potency is around 30%. Extracts started with shatter (BHO process), then CO2, then distillate, now the craze is live resin. All these evolutions are the byproduct of collaboration and sharing ideas.
● A Growing Catalog of Cannabinoids: In addition to CBD and THC, we will begin to see products featuring other cannabinoids (the essential chemical compounds within the cannabis plant) such as THCV, THCP, CBN, CBG, and CBC, along with more information about how they affect the body’s endocannabinoid system. Platforms like MyGN, help to support this trend by providing a legal and compliant pathway for entrepreneurs to get their products onto the dispensary shelf. This is where the real cannabis market lives. Consumers are also becoming more aware of the rigorous testing that the State requires for products to be on dispensary shelves, which is measured in parts per billion (ppb), and trust that products found in a dispensary are safe and legal.
● Nano-Technology: Nano-emulsion - the transformation of cannabinoids such as CBD and THC into water-soluble molecules - holds great potential for the food and beverage industries. CBD beverages are already hitting the market, offering desired physical effects without the “high.” As the year progresses, we will likely see more of these options coming to market in nearly every possible form, from nano-infused coffee and sodas, to snacks and desserts. The value with nano-emulsion is absorption rate (much higher), which results in more efficacy. The boon for producers is less amount of THC is required, yet the consumer gets a more potent product, a win-win.
For entrepreneurs seeking to harness these market trends, MyGN offers a fully compliant cannabis facility that serves as a workspace, an extensive network of cultivators and manufacturing partners, and the essential elements of guidance from industry experts. The first shared space opens in July 2020 in Orange County - an epicenter of cannabis innovation - providing both direct access to the most profitable cannabis markets and exciting lifestyle options. Due to state regulations, spaces are currently limited to 30 businesses, so now is the time to join MyGN and “go green the way you want.” Simply choose from four customizable membership types, complete an onboarding call, and start creating your very own CBD or cannabis line. Visit www.MyGreenNetwork.com to learn about early bird specials and to get in on the “green rush” the right way!
# # #
About My Green Network:
Founded by internationally recognized attorneys Ken Hwang and James Shih, along with visionary branding and marketing expert Maria Cordeiro, My Green Network (MyGN) is California’s premier membership-based space intuitively designed for cannabis entrepreneurs. Leveraging the power of community-based collaboration to revolutionize an infamously complex industry, this “cloud-kitchen meets cannabis incubator” accelerates the journey from idea to entrepreneurship. At MyGN, membership provides exclusive access to essential elements of a successful venture: a compliant cannabis facility, an extensive network of cultivators and manufacturing partners, guidance and supervision from industry experts, licenses, legal advice and much more. Begin transforming your dream into a very real future at www.MyGreenNetwork.com. Follow @OfficialGreenNetwork on Instagram to connect with leaders that are empowering our community.
GETTING TO THE HEART OF HYDRATION-Water Wellness-The Ultimate Guide To Restore, Rejuvenate and Refine Your BodyWith COVID-19 sweeping the globe, it is crucial to stay healthy now more than ever! While drinking water alone will not prevent or cure the virus, the CDC states that hydration is good for overall health and helps the body in several ways. Releasing in late Summer 2020 from Allwrite Publishing, Water Wellnessgets to the heart of hydration!It teaches you everything you need to know about water and the benefits of proper hydration. The amount of water you should drink every day and how best to stay hydrated are topics often filled with false claims or misinformation, but this book drills into the details, offers practical tips and solutions, and debunks the myths! ABOUT THE BOOK:From the creators of the WaterMinder app comes the ultimate guide book to restore, rejuvenate and refine your body with water. Infused with health tips, advice, and fun recipes,Water Wellness is packed full of all the information you need to ensure you stay hydrated every day:160+ pages covering why it’s so important to stay hydrated.Staying hydrated. Factors that influence hydration.Myths debunked. The real truth about hydration and your health.Infused water recipes. Drinking water doesn't have to be boring!Stunning presentation. Gorgeous photography and beautiful design.Water Wellness is designed to help you drink enough water every day to achieve optimal health and maintain the right fluid balance. Pre-Order your Water Wellness Book HERE! WHY YOU NEED THIS BOOK:Water is an essential part of our health and well-being, and without consuming enough of it, both our body and brain, which is 80% water, will feel the impact. Water lubricates the joints, removes toxins, and helps deliver nutrients to skin cells for healthy-looking skin. It also facilitates in building muscles, regulating body temperature and in helping control our weight. Research even shows that it helps our mood and memory. Although 8 glasses a day is a good reference, the amount of drinking water required to maintain good health varies depending on physical activity level, age, health-related issues, and environmental conditions. Like the flu, contracting COVID-19 (Coronavirus) causes fever. This elevation of body temperature causes your body to expel water from your pores, ultimately leading to dehydration. Drinking more water can help prevent dehydration and loosen mucus due to illness. We are all made up of water, so staying properly hydrated is essential for physical/mental performance and especially fighting off illness. Most people know that drinking water is essential, they just aren't sure how to make it a routine or what amount is best for their body. That's where Water Wellness taps in! In this book, author Kriss Smolka offers tips, solutions, and key benefits to staying hydrated. The language is understandable without being oversimplified and the book includes a wealth of photographs making the recipes easy-to-follow. "We all know someone who struggles to drink enough water, and the effects of dehydration can be very scary. My wife suffered from chronic headaches that were caused by dehydration and I eagerly wanted to help. It was hard for her to remember to drink the recommended amount of water daily. After much research, I created the WaterMinder app the Water Wellness book as a way to help track her hydration, and eventually, her headaches subsided..." ...says Smolka, who then put his thoughts on paper and wrote this book to help more people achieve a healthier, happier lifestyle. ABOUT AUTHOR, KRISS SMOLKA: Kriss Smolka is the creator of the award-winning health & fitness app WaterMinder. WaterMinder was named Apple App Store Editor’s Choice in 2019 and has been featured by The New Yorker, Women’s Health, Glamour, Business Insider, BGR, Venture Beat, Apple, and more. Based on his own experience and extensive research, along with numerous real-life stories from those who have been affected by dehydration, Kriss started work on Water Wellness, a hydration book with the goal of educating everyone on the importance of staying hydrated. For More Information Visit:https://hydrationbook.com
MEDIA INQUIRIES:
Advance copies or PDF versions of "Water Wellness" are available upon request. Author, Kriss Smolka is also available for interviews, articles, or to provide commentary. Please contact:
Levitt-Safety Remains Open to Source Critical PPE and Perform Respiratory Fit Testing
MONTREAL, April 6, 2020 /CNW/ - Levitt-Safety announced this week that they remain open for Quebec safety product and servicing needs. Provincial governments across Canada have deemed Levitt-Safety an essential service. Levitt-Safety is taking precautions to ensure the safety of its staff and its customers' staff. The company remains dedicated to providing safety supplies, equipment servicing and respiratory fit testing.
Levitt-Safety has established a full pandemic response and business continuity plan across their organization, which includes:
Maintaining a significant inventory of parts to service vital equipment.
Continuing to provide mobile services which brings Levitt-Safety service technicians to customer locations for respirator and fall protection equipment servicing.
Posting instructions at branches for servicing pick-up and drop-off and local service contact information.
Practicing and encouraging 2 meter physical distancing recommendations while on-site.
As access to PPE becomes increasingly difficult, Levitt-Safety created an Emergency Supply Sourcing page which shows the items they are sourcing and the anticipated lead times. If there are products you do not see on this list but require, Levitt-Safety will work with you to source it. If the combined buying power allows for sourcing at better prices, Levitt-Safety will flow that savings directly back to those placing orders.
To place an order call 1-800-361-5775 or submit a web inquiry through the form on that page.
To take advantage of the next large national order, place orders with Levitt-Safety no later than 5pm local time on Thursday, April 9.
About Levitt-Safety:
Levitt-Safety is a national provider of life, fire and environmental safety products, services, and training. With branches located across Quebec including Val d'Or and Montreal, Levitt-Safety is ideally equipped to serve companies of any size or industry who want to create a culture of safety in their organization.
SOURCE Levitt-Safety Ltd.
Discovery shows men and women develop heart disease differently
SASKATOON – Scientists fromMcGill University used the Canadian Light Source (CLS) at the University of Saskatchewan to uncover that different minerals block heart valves in men versus women. This discovery could impact how heart disease is diagnosed and treated for the different sexes.
Heart disease is the leading cause of death throughout the world. Marta Cerruti, an Associate Professor with McGill University, and her team used the CMCF beamline at the CLS to analyze damaged heart valves from patients who needed transplants.
“What we showed, which was a surprise to us, is that the type of minerals in the heart valves is different between the sexes,” said Cerruti.
The beamline allowed them to see that the buildup of minerals in the heart, and its progression to a more bone-like state, is slower in women than in men. There was also a type of mineral found almost exclusively in the female samples. “That finding was completely new, we did not expect it at all. There is no other technique that could have showed us this difference in mineral phase.”
The team hopes this finding could help to develop better diagnostics and therapies.
“Now that we know the composition is different, that could help in developing new diagnostic tests that are specific for women versus men,” said Cerruti. “Understanding what the minerals are could definitely help to develop a cure. It’s possible that there could be easier ways to target these minerals and dissolve them for women.”
“The fact that current diagnoses are skewed towards the male presentation of this disease definitely disadvantages women,” she added.
Historically, scientific and medical studies have not featured diversity and inclusion. For example, using only male mice in experiments used to be standard practice. “It’s a relatively new concept that people have to ensure that they analyze diverse samples and patients. I’ve seen it develop in my own career.”
Cerruti supports diversity and that translates into her views as a scientist too. “Basically, by only looking at a specific population, you will skew your data. Having a more diverse data set improves your science,” she said. “That is the way science should be done.”
This isn’t her first time trying to see the world from a broad perspective. When she was in school, she couldn’t decide if she wanted to be a philosopher or a chemist.
“I wanted to help people from a big picture point of view and to understand the world around me. Working on a biology-related project kind of puts the two things together. We’re trying to understand something that relates to the world but also has a direct effect on the wellbeing of people.”
She was able to combine her passions by studying minerals. “Understanding how these minerals are formed has all these clinical applications. Once you understand what the minerals are and how they are formed in places where you don’t want them, like in heart valves, then you can help to get rid of them.”
Their group is also trying to develop an improved delivery system for currently recommended drugs or a new drug. “We want make a system that helps to deliver the drug to the exact correct location so that they help remove mineral buildup in your heart arteries and valves without harming your bones or your teeth.”
While her team does not yet know why different minerals form in the hearts of men and women, they plan to come back to the CLS to find out. “We want to find out why this is happening and there could be many different causes.” Down the road, these answers could help to save millions of lives around the world.
The Canadian Light Source at the University of Saskatchewan is a national research facility, producing the brightest light in Canada—millions of times brighter than even the sun. One of the largest science projects in our country’s history, the CLS hosts annually more than 1,000 scientists from around the world who use our light to conduct ground-breaking health, agricultural, environmental and advanced materials research.
The Canada Foundation for Innovation, Natural Sciences and Engineering Research Council, National Research Council of Canada, Canadian Institutes of Health Research, the Government of Saskatchewan and the University of Saskatchewan fund our operations.
Interview availability:
Marta Cerruti will be available for phone and video chat interviews (in English or French) from Montreal, Quebec.
COVID-19: CAE announces measures to protect its financial position and mitigate the impact on its employees
Common share dividend and share repurchases suspended
Temporary layoffs (furloughs) and work-week reductions
To help save lives, CAE is developing an easy-to-manufacture ventilator
MONTREAL, April 6, 2020 /CNW Telbec/ - (NYSE: CAE) (TSX: CAE) – CAE announced today that it has taken a series of flexible measures to protect its financial position in response to the COVID-19 crisis and mitigate the impact on its employees. The measures include temporarily suspending its common share dividend and share repurchase plan, as well temporarily laying off 2,600 of its 10,500 employees and placing another 900 employees on a reduced work week. CAE also announced that, in an effort to help save lives, it is developing an easy-to-manufacture ventilator which will provide life support to patients in intensive care.
"CAE continues to support its customers as the training services we provide are considered essential around the world. Our Civil Aviation operations are most affected by the unprecedented disruption of the global air transportation system. At the same time, our Defence & Security operations are less impacted because CAE provides mission critical services worldwide," said Marc Parent, CAE's President and CEO. "We entered this crisis from a position of strength with a leading market position, a balanced business with recurring revenue streams, and a solid financial position. Taking decisive yet flexible action will help to protect our people and operations over the short-term and gives us the necessary agility to resume long-term growth when global air travel returns. Our employees have always been at the core of CAE's success, we regret the hardship these temporary measures will cause those affected, especially during these difficult times, and we are grateful to all our employees for their contribution and dedication."
To mitigate the number of temporary layoffs, CAE significantly reduced capital expenditures and R&D investments. The company also announced cost-containment measures, including salary freezes and salary reductions for staff not affected by reduced work weeks (50% for the CEO and executive team, 30% for vice presidents, 20% for directors and managers, and 10% for group leaders and employees).
CAE is working to access government emergency relief measures and wage subsidy programs in its main operating jurisdictions and will assess their impact on its mitigation plans. As details of government assistance programs around the world are finalized, CAE will do everything it can to recall as many employees as possible.
Dividend and share repurchase plan (NCIB) suspended
CAE's Board of Directors has approved the suspension of dividend payments to common shareholders until further notice and will review this position on a quarterly basis. Core to its capital allocation priorities, CAE remains committed to paying dividends over the long-term that are commensurate with the long-term growth of its business and will seek to resume dividend payments as soon as it is appropriate.
CAE's Board of Directors has also approved the temporary suspension of all share repurchases under its normal course issuer bid program.
CAE provides essential services critical to maintaining customers' operations
In Civil aviation, training is highly regulated, and for pilots to remain active and to continue to hold their certifications, they must train regularly - usually every 6 to 9 months. While training activities related to new pilot training have decreased substantially, many airlines and business jet operators have continued to conduct recurrent training to maintain the certification of their existing pilots. Two-thirds of CAE's more than 50 civil training centres worldwide continue to be operational, however training utilization is lower than usual as a result of restrictions from border closures and lockdowns that have forced temporary closures and disruptions to operations.
In Defence & Security, as underscored by governments worldwide, CAE's work is considered essential, and its employees are deployed worldwide to actively support training and readiness requirements. Over 90% of CAE's operational sites are still delivering services to support defence forces who must always be prepared and ready in the interest of national security.
Playing a role in saving lives in the fight against COVID-19
To help in the fight against COVID-19, our CAE Healthcare engineers and scientists have designed in 11 days a simple, maintainable, easy-to-manufacture ventilator prototype to provide life support to patients in intensive care. CAE is currently sourcing components in order to begin production of this ventilator as soon as it is approved by Health Canada. (A video is accessible via this link, and photos are available at www.cae.com/multimedia-centre/photos/).
"CAE has employees around the world, and we are all proud of the impact we can have by putting our expertise to work to create a ventilator that can help save lives in the fight against COVID-19," said Marc Parent. "Once this prototype is approved by public health authorities, we are looking at manufacturing thousands of units in our Montreal plant and in other sites over the next few months."
CAE is also providing complimentary training seminars on how to prepare healthcare workers in the fight against COVID-19. The CAE team is launching simulation-based training solutions, both web and hardware based, to train personnel in the safe practice of ventilation and intubation, which is key to saving lives. This is even more critical right now when ventilation and intubation is being done by healthcare professionals who are not trained for these complex procedures.
About CAE
CAE is a global leader in training for the civil aviation, defence and security, and healthcare markets. Backed by a record of more than 70 years of industry firsts, we continue to help define global training standards with our innovative virtual-to-live training solutions to make flying safer, maintain defense force readiness and enhance patient safety. We have the broadest global presence in the industry, with over 10,500 employees, 160 sites and training locations in over 35 countries. Each year, we train more than 220,000 civil and defence crewmembers, including more than 135,000 pilots, and thousands of healthcare professionals worldwide. www.cae.com
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Caution concerning forward-looking statements
Certain statements made in this press release are forward-looking statements. Forward-looking statements describe future expectations, plans, results or strategies and normally contain words like "believe", "expect", "anticipate", "plan", "intend", "continue", "estimate", "may", "will", "should", "strategy", "future" and similar expressions. All such forward-looking statements are made pursuant to the 'safe harbour' provisions of applicable Canadian securities laws and of the United States Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. By their nature, forward-looking statements require us to make assumptions and are subject to inherent risks and uncertainties associated with our business which may cause actual results in future periods to differ materially from results indicated in forward-looking statements. While these statements are based on management's expectations and assumptions regarding historical trends, current conditions and expected future developments, as well as other factors that we believe are reasonable and appropriate in the circumstances, readers are cautioned not to place undue reliance on these forward-looking statements as there is a risk that they may not be accurate. The forward-looking statements contained in this press release describe our expectations as of April 6, 2020 and, accordingly, are subject to change after such date. Except as required by law, we disclaim any intention or obligation to update or revise any forward-looking statements whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise. The forward-looking information and statements contained in this press release are expressly qualified by this cautionary statement.
SOURCE CAE INC.
Opinion: Exercise can be good for you and your country especially during a crisis like COVID-19
By Patricia Scotland, Commonwealth Secretary-GeneralPublic parks have been gated shut, beaches emptied and stadia deserted, as an unprecedented 2.5 billion people across the world are told to sit at home. Times are tough. The Coronavirus is real and as it spreads its tentacles across the globe it is taking its toll on the lives and livelihoods of people everywhere. Measures such as closing gyms, shutting sports facilities and staying at home put a limit on a person’s mobility and exercise. Necessary, but painful, as enforced inactivity can contribute to periods of intense stress and can lead to long-term negative health impacts. Commonwealth athletes, ranging from Cameroon’s Samuel Eto’o and West Indies’ Brian Lara to Ghana's Olympian Akwasi Frimpong, Kenya’s Eluid Kipchoge and Hellen Obiri and the United Kingdom’s Tom Daley, are sharing important information on reducing the spread of coronavirus or staying active at home. There are several online series, virtual classes and resources, including Jamaica Moves, to help people stay active, improve mental health and reduce the risks of developing non-infectious diseases. Building on this energy, we will soon launch the Commonwealth Moves campaign to encourage more people from the 54 member countries to stay active and exercise as we stare down this disruptive pandemic. So even when competitions are postponed and venues closed, sport and physical activity can be a powerful influence for good in these troubling times. It is a common denominator and a universal language, one that can unite people from different backgrounds, empower communities and contribute to rebuilding nations. The shared love of cricket has played a role in connecting Singhalese and Tamil people in Sri Lanka. It was cricket that connected islands of the Caribbean creating one of the most powerful symbols of West Indian unity to delight the world. The Commonwealth Games, a cultural feast of sporting excellence, shines as a beacon of inclusion and diversity. Recognising this beneficial potential, the UN six years ago declared 6 April as the International Day of Sport for Development and Peace. The international community identified sport as an important enabler of the 2030 Agenda for sustainable development and highlighted its impact on health, education, social inclusion, women’s empowerment and youth development. Many governments and organisations are using sport as a vehicle to deliver tangible projects at the grassroots level. The ‘Just Play’ initiative in the Pacific uses football games to teach children about healthy living, while Singapore’s ‘Sport Cares’ project uses sport to defy stereotypes associated with persons with disabilities. The Commonwealth Secretariat’s ‘Peace at the Crease’ initiative which has brought people of different faiths and those of none to play and learn together in peace has already started to make its mark. Such initiatives improve people’s health, teach important skills and values, and if done well, can help unite communities. But the reach of sport goes far beyond these local interventions. It can and should be rooted in national policy and planning so that sport and physical activity can truly reach everyone, including the poor, marginalised, refugees and victims of natural disasters and violence. But how? We have worked with Mauritius to develop and implement a new policy which considers the impact of sport on the UN sustainable development goals (SDGs) and injects it into the national vision 2018-2028. The policy is designed to make people fitter and healthier to reduce the risks of non-infectious diseases and lessen the burden on hospitals. This holistic approach is crucial because about four in five adolescents do not get enough physical activity - and around a quarter of adults - due to infrastructural, economic and cultural obstacles. This leaves them unable to reap the potential economic, social and health benefits that can come from sport and being physically active. We are urging all governments to invest more to address this gap. It is not only the right thing to do but is good value for money. Typically, less than 1% of the national budget is allocated to sport but its contribution to GDP is in multiples of that. In 2016, Fiji spent about 0.5% of its annual budget on sport but in return, revenues from sport contributed 1.7% to GDP - more than the country’s mining, quarrying and forestry sectors. In the same year, the size of Canada’s sport economy grew by 3.2% while jobs creation in the sector rose by 4.9%. This potential to create jobs will be even more important as we move to recover from the current health crisis and to rebuild shattered income streams. The benefits are not just economic. In 2016, research found that every £1 England spent on sport generated £1.91 in social returns through contributions to a reduced risk of disease, improved wellbeing, low crime and improved educational performance. While the gains are clear, expertise and capacity to robustly measure the impact of sport on the development targets pledged in the SDGs remain limited. This is where the Commonwealth has a game plan. In order to assess the value of public investments in the sector and enhance evidence-based policymaking, we are creating the world’s first common measurement approach working in partnership with UN agencies. This initiative will help countries and international bodies count and assess the contribution sport, exercise and physical education makes to the specific SDGs identified in the Kazan Action Plan. So how does it work? For instance, we can urge countries to build more playing fields and develop plans to inspire people to take up sport if we can better measure how this contributes to achieving the SDG target 3.4, on reducing deaths from non-infectious diseases like diabetes and cancer. Seven countries, including Japan, are currently piloting this approach. We hope Commonwealth leaders will endorse this approach at their next biennial meeting. At a time when climate change and numerous health crises affect people’s ongoing struggle to overcome entrenched problems, we can collectively push the progress on delivering sport for all and achieving healthy, educated, employed and inclusive societies. The world is now in a period of a pandemic, what is important is that we all work together as one team on a united front against a common opponent.
National Research Study by Egale Canada and INNOVATIVE Research Group finds LGBTQI2S people in Canada are Disproportionately Impacted during COVID-19 Health Crisis
TORONTO, April 6, 2020 /CNW/ -Egale Canada has partnered with Innovative Research Group (INNOVATIVE)to include LGBTQI2S communities in a national research study on the impacts of COVID-19 and the needs of Canadians during this health crisis. The newly released report, Impacts of COVID-19: Canada's LGBTQI2S Community in Focus, uncovers alarmingly disproportionate impacts of COVID-19 on vulnerable LGBTQI2S communities across several priority areas including household finances, job loss, mental and physical health, overall quality of life, and more.
"This research is the first of its kind in Canada and has given us a glimpse at the unique vulnerabilities and challenges that our LGBTQI2S people face in this crisis – This is only a starting point," said Helen Kennedy,Executive Director at Egale Canada. "The government needs to apply this timely research to decision making frameworks and policies that assist vulnerable LGBTQI2S communities across Canada."
The survey results show a telling contrast between Canada's LGBTQI2S community and the broader Canadian population. Although astonishing, the results are not unexpected. Below are some of the key findings;
More than half (52%) of Canada's LGBTQI2S households have faced lay-offs or reduced employment as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic, compared to 39% of overall Canadian households.
The perceived negative impacts on mental health over time increase exponentially for LGBTQI2S people with nearly 60% of LGBTQI2S respondents reporting that they expect their mental health to be negatively impacted in the next 2 months compared to only 42% of the general public
Additionally, LGBTQI2S people are significantly more likely to have a chronic illness or physical disability, both of which come with many barriers and risks during a time of crisis. The report also shows that over time, the perceived or expected impacts on LGBTQI2S people rises at an exponentially higher rate than the average Canadian – in some areas there is nearly a 25%increase in perceived or expected negative impacts for particularly vulnerable LGBTQI2S people.
"Everyone has been impacted by the COVID-19 crisis, the disproportionate numbers we see between the LGBTQI2S community and the general population is really quite astonishing." said Jason Lockhart, Vice President of INNOVATIVE. "We have only scratched the surface, but it is enough to signal that more research is needed with vulnerable communities to ensure that all Canadians are receiving the support they need during this difficult time."
"Every inch closer that we come to closing the data gap, is one step forward towards a more inclusive Canada,'' said Kennedy. "Our LGBTQI2S community is facing critical needs that show the potential to worsen over time – now is the time to be looking at the problems that are on the horizon, not just for LGBTQI2S people, but for everyone."
The survey was conducted online among a representative sample of 2,610 adult Canadians from March 24-29, 2020. The sample has been weighted by age, gender, region and sexual orientation to reflect the actual demographic composition of the Canadian and LGBTQI2S populations, resulting in an overall representative national sample size of 2,000 Canadians and representative national LGBTQI2S sample size of 300.
About Egale Canada Egale is Canada's only national organization working to advance LGBTQI2S human rights. Egale works to improve the lives of LGBTQI2S people in Canada and to enhance the global response to LGBTQI2S issues. Egale's vision is a Canada, and ultimately a world, without homophobia, biphobia, transphobia and all other forms of oppression so that every person can achieve their full potential, free from hatred and bias.
About INNOVATIVE Research Group INNOVATIVE is a full-service market research firm with offices in Vancouver and Toronto. www.InnovativeResearch.ca
SOURCE Egale Canada
Ontario’s Russell Alexander Law Firm Gives Back to First Responders, Restaurant Employees With New Food Initiative Divorce firm helps workers on the front line of the pandemic through its ‘Save a Slice’ effort
LINDSAY, ONTARIO—Russell Alexander Collaborative Family Lawyers has started a new weekly program to help two groups struggling during the coronavirus pandemic: first responders and restaurant workers. With its “Save a Slice” initiative, an effort to provide food for first responders, the Ontario family law firm is buying pizza from local eateries and sending it to health care professionals on the front lines of the response.
“We wanted to find some way to recognize the incredible work being done by our first responders,” said Alexander. “What better way to do that than by supporting a local restaurant?”
For its inaugural event today, April 4, the firm ordered 50 pizzas from Lindsay, Ontario Italian restaurant Pane Vino to be delivered to the emergency room of Ross Memorial, a local hospital, to feed doctors, nurses and support staff.
The firm, which helps families going through divorce with a collaborative approach, has also created a new Covid-19 and Divorce Information Centre to provide answers to common questions during the pandemic. On the website, Ontario residents can get answers to questions about how to work remotely with their attorneys, how the pandemic may affect court dates and even how to avoid sparking a divorce during the stress of quarantine.
With attorneys deemed an essential service, the Russell Alexander Collaborative Family Lawyers remains open, although staffers are working remotely for their safety and the safety of their clients.
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.
