Heads Up, Lucky Cats: Popular Fat Mao Noodles Opening Downtown Spot This September

Opening of Chef Angus An's second Thai noodle joint dovetails neatly with back-to-work routines

VANCOUVER, British Columbia, Aug. 30, 2022 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Soon to be the perfect lunch-break or pre-movie spot in Vancouver’s downtown core, Fat Mao Noodles’ newest location will provide comforting one-bowl meals to hungry city dwellers, workers, and visitors. Renowned chef and restaurateur Angus An’s second Fat Mao restaurant is staying true to the original family-owned street-stall inspiration and choose-your-own-noodle tradition behind the original Chinatown location. Located at 983 Helmcken Street, Fat Mao Noodles will be serving up the five flavours of Thai cooking—sweet, sour, salty, bitter, and spicy—with its sought-after snacks and noodle soups starting Tuesday, September 6, 2022.

An has immersed himself in Thai cuisine for over a decade and now has six Thai-focused eateries under his belt. His ability to keep his restaurants fresh and interesting stems from his wanderlust, which includes regular visits to Thailand.

“Fat Mao is an ode to the small storefronts handed down through several family generations that specialize in making one single dish over and over,” explains An. “I want our guests to pull up a stool and enjoy a bowl of their favourite noodle soup with a good novel for years to come.”

While the small and focused downtown menu features many fan favourites from the original Fat Mao, it will also offer a handful of tempting dishes from ceviche to rotating flavours of shaved ice (you read that correctly—shaved ice!) that are exclusive to the new location. Debut highlights include braised brisket noodles served with Asian celery and fried garlic; Nam Ngaio—a Northern-style tender pork-rib noodle dish with pork-blood cake, red cotton tree flowers and fermented soybean; Albacore tuna ceviche with aromatic herb dressing and crispy taro; and Thai-tea shaved ice for a sweet finish, served with grass jelly and condensed milk with Thai iced-tea panna cotta.

The distinctive interior of this casual 25-seat noodle joint was designed by An himself with help of his millworker Denis Lafreiere and mirrors that of the first Chinatown spot. Guests will be welcomed by an open kitchen fitted solely with induction cooktops and helmed by Fat Mao’s head chef and kitchen manager Sai Woranut Pounpakonsolely. There’s an abundance of natural light in the open, airy room, thanks to plenty of street-front windows, and the modern aesthetic is punctuated with pine-wood carpentry and splashes of smoky blue. Eye-catching elements offer playful accents throughout the space, including a pearlescent ‘noodle’ light feature designed by Bocci and charming trinkets depicting the eatery’s lucky cat mascot. A custom contemporary painting by An’s longtime friend, artist George Vergette, is slated to be installed later this September.

Fat Mao Noodles is located in the Wall Centre at Burrard and Helmcken, with the Royal Thai Consulate-General offices as its neighbours, and is walking distance to St. Paul’s Hospital as well as numerous hotels, theatres, and music venues. A liquor license and cocktail list is in the works; in the meantime, the restaurant will serve as a great hub for solo dining, quick lunch meet-ups, and pre-game eats paired with a delicious mango, guava or lychee juice.

As summer fades into fall and the city slips into the comfort of routine, Fat Mao will be ready for cooler weather with its signature warm, welcoming service and steaming bowls of noodles. Open weekdays from 11:30am to 9:00pm starting Tuesday, September 6.

About Fat Mao Noodles
Fat Mao—meaning “prosperous cat” in Cantonese—is a casual 25-seat open-kitchen eatery by Chef Angus An with a focus on Thai-style noodle soups plus southeast Asian sides and drinks. Flavourful made-from-scratch broths and locally sourced noodles are accompanied by smaller dishes of B.C. seafood, house-made tofu and seasonal vegetable salads. Chef Angus recommends customizing your noodles with your choice of spicy sauces, oils, and tangy vinegars to personalize your own fun, comforting, and interactive meal.

The original Fat Mao Noodles is located in Chinatown at 217 E. Georgia St., and open from 11:30am to 8:30pm seven days a week. Chef Angus’ newest Fat Mao Noodles is located Downtown Vancouver at 983 Helmcken St., and open from 11:30am to 9:00pm Monday through Friday.

Visit fatmaonoodles.com and follow @fatmaonoodles on Instagram for more information and up-to-date specials.

Employment expert weighs in on why today’s workers are digging their heels in and refusing to get back to work

Chicago.  When Apple CEO Tim Cook asked employees to spend at least 3 days in the office starting next month, it seemed like a reasonable request. But Apple employees banded swiftly created a petition protesting the mandate, saying the push to get back to the office doesn’t consider “the unique demands of each job role nor the diversity of individuals.” 

Rob Wilson, employment trends expert and President of Employco USA, a national employment solutions with locations across the country, says that his clients have given him the same feedback. 

“Employco’s clients are facing the same strain. Employees are really digging their heels in and trying to prolong remote work as long as possible,” says Wilson. “This is especially true with younger workers. Right now, Gen Z is completely changing the face of the modern workplace, and they aren’t going to go back to the old model without a fight.”  

Wilson says that research shows that Gen Z workers are leading the trend against in-person employment. 

“A recent Microsoft survey showed that over half of Gen-Z workers would consider moving jobs if it allowed them to work from home,” says Wilson. “In other words, employers that are going to have get really creative if they want young workers to show up.” 

So what can employers do?

“You have to take a stand and create the culture that works best for your office. Giving in and placating the younger generation won’t necessarily get you what you want,” says Wilson. “Even though Apple tried to be as fair as possible in prolonging remote work and creating a hybrid environment, it still wasn’t good enough for Gen-Z and millennial workers. So employers have to decide whether they are going to go with the flow and accept the new trend of remote work or if they are going to ask job applicants to be willing to hustle and give their job 100%.”

Wilson says the next year will be crucial when it comes to defining how the workplace will look for the future generations. 

“This is a cultural standoff between employers and employees, and between young workers and those who have been working for decades,” says Wilson. “This might offer the perfect time for older people to really outshine young workers and prove that experience trumps all. It could also be a good time for employers to trim the fat and get rid of workers who only want excessive benefits and remote opportunities.”

Ontario Family Lawyers Say Coronavirus Vaccine Dispute 
Involving 12-Year-Old Breaks New Legal Ground
Judge found pre-teen was capable of deciding on her own to not get vaccinated

TORONTO, Ontario—Longtime family lawyer Russell Alexander said a recent Ontario case involving a preteen who did not want to get vaccinated against the coronavirus could portend more judicial skepticism on the issue.

The case involved divorced parents who have joint custody of their 12-year-old daughter. The father asked the court to order that the daughter be vaccinated against the coronavirus and receive any other upcoming vaccines in keeping with provincial health regulations.

But the mother declined, saying that while she did not object to the vaccine, the daughter did, even going as far as emailing the mother’s lawyer to flatly declare that she did not want to be vaccinated and that nothing would change her mind.

In a decision rejecting the father’s request,Superior Court Judge J. Christopher Corkery found that the 12-year-old was a “mature minor” who could decide on her own and said that the science around the vaccine is still changing.

“This case is notable because judges have typically backed vaccination by taking the best interest of the child into account,” said Alexander, founder of Russell Alexander Collaborative Family Lawyers, which has offices throughout Ontario. “In this new phase of the pandemic, it’s possible that judges may take more of a hands-off approach.”

Alexander said that disputes between divorced parents rose sharply during the pandemic on such issues as whether children should be going to school in-person, staying with parents at risk of exposure due to their jobs and getting vaccinated. He said that disputes also tend to rise just before school starts in the fall.

“Making decisions on how to raise children is already contentious when parents are divorced, and the pandemic just added another layer of strain,” added Alexander. “The court’s decision to recognize a preteen as having the ability to make decisions here will only make these cases more tricky to resolve in the future.”

                                                                                                        ***

RussellAlexander Collaborative Family Lawyers 
Russell Alexander Collaborative Family Lawyers is committed to practicing exclusively in the area of family law in Ontario dealing with all aspects, including separation and divorce, child custody and access, spousal support, child support, and division of family property. A team of lawyers provide guidance from start to finish, helping clients identify and understand the legal issues as well as the options and opportunities available through the transition. The firm has offices in Toronto, Concord, Markham, Whitby, Oshawa, Lindsay and Peterborough, Ontario.. 

For more information, visit: 
http://www.russellalexander.com

Our emotions and senses are deeply intertwined. Each of the five senses - sight, sound, taste, touch, and smell - feed important information about our environment back to our brain to make sense of the world around us.

Incorporating more of the senses into your self-care routine is an effective way to relax and ground yourself. Sensory self-care is a powerful tool and can really help to level up your well-being routine. 

Self-care has become a popular tool for managing life's stresses and strains. The term refers to activities a person intentionally engages in with the goal of promoting physical and mental well-being.

In particular, focusing on the sense of sound to create auditory self-care experiences has many benefits, such as managing stress and anxiety, increasing feelings of calm, and promoting mindfulness.

With that being said, Katie Ogden, Audiologist and Training Manager of ReSound, provides expert insight into how we can promote well-being through sound to take your self-care routine to the next level. 

Katie explains “Self-care varies from person to person but being mindful about our sense of sound can really help us to have more engagement in self-care activities. 

“Our sense of sound is often overlooked when it comes to self-care techniques, but it is just as effective as others when trying to promote a positive mental state. Hearing helps with our equilibrium, which helps keeps us balanced and focused.”

Self-Care Through Music

Sounds stimulate the brain and are important because they connect us to the world and help to form memories. The brain preserves many forms of memory, including echoic memory. This refers to the sensory memory that stores information from sounds you hear. 

Music is a big component in memory recall and is also often used in self-care practices as a way to relax. Research has found that it triggers a release of dopamine which instantly improves mood.

As music can trigger feelings of nostalgia, it is a common technique to aid comfort and reduce stress, as it helps to lower heart rate and cortisol levels and release endorphins which improve our sense of well-being.

Listening to music has the ability to not only entertain but also improve memory functioning and increase the rate of healing. 

Katie states “Music is a great way to wind down and relieve stresses from everyday life. Slower tempo music helps to quiet your mind and relax your body, whereas faster and more upbeat music encourages feelings of optimism and concentration.”

Self-Care Through Nature Sounds

The average person spends 87% of their time indoors, but spending time outdoors or listening to nature sounds is a great way to disconnect from everyday life. Nature sounds are not only calming but have profound health and well-being benefits. 

Running water, birds singing, rainfall, and trees rustling are all examples of natural sounds which can help soothe the mind and relax the body. Natural sounds and green environments have historically been linked to relaxation and well-being as a previous study found them to reduce blood pressure, heart rate, muscle tension, and the production of stress hormones. 

Katie suggests “Some easy ways to incorporate nature sounds into your self-care routine are keeping the window open when relaxing or studying, taking a walk through a park or forest, spending time by a stream, river or the sea, or listening to a nature sounds playlist whilst having a bath, doing your skincare or drifting off to sleep.”

How to Incorporate Sounds into a Self-Care Routine

White Noise Machines

White noise is a continuous sound which often has no pattern or rhythm. It can be used in self-care practices to help with feelings of anxiety or sleep deprivation. This is because it engulfs our total hearing range (20-20,000 hertz) which helps mask loud sounds that stimulate the brain, making it a useful distraction from unwanted environmental noises. 

ASMR

Autonomous sensory meridian response (ASMR) has become a phenomenon in recent years on the likes of YouTube and TikTok. It has become very popular within the self-care world as it creates ‘brain tingles’ - a calming sensation which is experienced in response to certain audio or visual stimuli.

Listening to ASMR whilst studying, relaxing or going to sleep helps to encourage feelings of calm and relaxation. Popular sounds, or ‘triggers’, used in ASMR include tapping, crinkling, water sounds, hair brushing, whispering, scratching and typing.  

WoodWick Candles

Candles made with a wood wick instead of a traditional cotton string create a soothing crackling sound while burning, similar to the sound of a fireplace with wood logs. They are a great way to introduce more natural sounds to your self-care routine and create a calming atmosphere. 

Sleep stories

Storytelling has a wealth of benefits for adults just like it does children. Reading before bed has long been recognised as a way to wind down and settle the mind at the end of the day. In recent years, audible sleep stories have grown in popularity as they provide a soothing experience which offer the same story time feel with a more meditative spin. 

Positive affirmations

Saying positive affirmations out loud is great for your self-care routine. Affirmations are encouraging statements that help to restore a more positive state of mind. Try to repeat affirmations to yourself throughout the day such as when you’re getting ready for work, before going to sleep or first thing in the morning. 

Some example affirmations are: “My hard work will pay off”,”I am confident”, “I will find the good in all things”, “I love myself” and “I am safe”.

LoFi music

LoFi music is quickly becoming one of the most popular styles of music as it creates the perfect ambience and is a great way to focus and relieve stress. LoFi music typically has no vocals and takes inspiration from jazz, hip-hop and electronic music. 

Katie adds “Protecting your hearing is important as many people will find their ability to hear certain sounds begin to decline around the age of 50. But other causes of hearing loss can affect people much earlier in life.

“Some signs you may be experiencing hearing loss include asking people to repeat themselves, people sound like they’re mumbling or whispering, having difficulty with phone conversations, the TV or radio is on the top volume or avoiding noisy places as they’ve become difficult to handle.

“When it comes to dealing with a hearing impairment, there are many treatment options available. It’s important not to feel alone or isolated if you feel you are affected by hearing loss.”

It’s important to keep a check on your hearing. If you feel like you or a loved one may be experiencing hearing loss, the ReSound online hearing test provides a quick and easy way to find out how well you’re hearing. It’s also advised you seek further advice from a hearing care professional.

‘Drug factory’ implants eliminate mesothelioma tumors in mice
Rice, Baylor study highlights potential treatment for aggressive lung cancer

HOUSTON – (Aug. 22, 2022) – Rice University and Baylor College of Medicine researchers have shown they can eradicate advanced-stage mesothelioma tumors in mice in just a few days with a treatment combining Rice’s cytokine “drug factory” implants and a checkpoint inhibitor drug.
 

The researchers administered the drug-producing beads, which are no larger than the head of a pin, next to tumors where they could produce continuous, high doses of interleukin-2 (IL-2), a natural compound that activates white blood cells to fight cancer.

The study, published online today in Clinical Cancer Research, is the latest in a string of successes for the drug-factory technology invented in the lab of Rice bioengineer Omid Veiseh, including Food and Drug Administration (FDA) approval to begin clinical trials of the technology this fall in ovarian cancer patients.

“From the beginning, our objective was to develop a platform therapy that can be used for multiple different types of immune system disorders or different types of cancers,” said Rice graduate student Amanda Nash, who spent several years developing the implant technology with study co-lead author Samira Aghlara-Fotovat, a fellow student in Veiseh’s lab.

The cytokine factories consist of alginate beads loaded with tens of thousands of cells that are genetically engineered to produce natural IL-2, one of two cytokines the FDA has approved for treatment of cancer. The factories are just 1.5 millimeters wide and can be implanted with minimally invasive surgery to deliver high doses of IL-2 directly to tumors. In the mesothelioma study, the beads were placed beside tumors and inside the thin layer of tissue known as the pleura, which covers the lungs and lines the interior wall of the chest.

“I take care of patients who have malignant pleural mesothelioma,” said Dr. Bryan Burt, professor and chief of Baylor’s Division of Thoracic Surgery in the Michael E. DeBakey Department of Surgery. “This is a very aggressive malignancy of the lining of the lungs. And it’s very hard to treat completely by surgical resection. In other words, there is often residual disease that is left behind. The treatment of this residual disease with local immunotherapy — the local delivery of relatively high doses of immunotherapy to that pleural space — is a very attractive way to treat this disease.”

Veiseh said the mesothelioma study began when Burt and Baylor surgeon and associate professor Dr. Ravi Ghanta heard about the early results of ovarian cancer animal tests Veiseh’s team was conducting with collaborators at the University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center. In March, Veiseh and MD Anderson collaborators published a study showing IL-2-producing beads could eradicate advanced-stage ovarian and colorectal tumors in mice in less than a week. 

“They were really impressed by the preclinical data we had in ovarian cancer,” Veiseh said of Burt and Ghanta. “And they asked the question, ‘Could we actually leverage the same system for mesothelioma?’”

Mesothelioma refers to any cancer that occurs in the tissue linings that surround and protect internal organs. About 80% of mesothelioma cases are linked to prolonged exposure to asbestos.

Immunotherapy with drugs called checkpoint inhibitors has met with some success in treating mesothelioma. Checkpoint inhibitors don’t kill cancer directly but rather by training the immune system to recognize and destroy cancer cells.

In the mesothelioma study, the Rice-Baylor team tested Veiseh’s drug factory implants both by themselves and in combination with a checkpoint inhibitor that targeted the PD-1 protein. They found the drug factory implants eliminated tumors in more than 50% of the treated animals when used by themselves. Tumors were destroyed completely in all seven mice that were treated with both the drug factory implants and PD-1 checkpoint inhibitor.

“It’s very hard to treat mesothelioma tumors in mice, like it is in human beings,” said Burt, who also is a member of the Dan L. Duncan Comprehensive Cancer Center at Baylor. “And what our data show is that delivery of these immunotherapy particles, regionally, to these mice who have mesothelioma, has very provocative and very effective treatment responses. In fact, I've not seen these mesothelioma tumors in mice be eradicated, with such efficacy, as we have in this mouse model.”

Veiseh said the results also suggested that the combination of IL-2-producing implants and anti-PD-1 checkpoint inhibitors could be effective at training “memory T cells” that can reactivate the immune system to fight mesothelioma if it recurs.

“We have a spinout company, Avenge Bio, that recently received clearance from the FDA to treat ovarian cancer patients, and in the next couple of months they expect to begin treating patients with these IL-2 cytokine factories,” Veiseh said.

“The preclinical data reported in our latest manuscript helped justify initiating a second clinical trial for patients suffering from mesothelioma and other lung cancers with pleural metastasis,” Veiseh said. “We have held meetings with the FDA and expect to initiate a second trial for this patient population in the latter half of 2023.”

In addition to the cancer research, Veiseh and Ghanta have received a grant from the American Heart Association to study the cytokine implants’ potential for healing heart injuries caused by heart attacks.

The research was funded by the Cancer Prevention Research Institute of Texas (RR160047), the National Science Foundation (1842494) and the National Institutes of Health (R01DK120459-01).

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Peer-reviewed paper:

“Activation of adaptive and innate immune cells via localized Interleukin-2 cytokine factories eradicates mesothelioma tumors” | Clinical Cancer Research | DOI: 10.1158/1078-0432.CCR-22-1493

Amanda M. Nash, Samira Aghlara-Fotovat, Bertha Castillo, Andrea Hernandez, Aarthi Pugazenthi, Hyun-Sung Lee, Hee-Jin Jang, Annie Nguyen, Alexander Lu, Bryan M. Burt, Ravi K. Ghanta and Omid Veiseh

https://aacrjournals.org/clincancerres/article/doi/10.1158/1078-0432.CCR-22-1493/707851/Activation-of-adaptive-and-innate-immune-cells

VIDEO is available at:

https://youtu.be/92wQ-ejKAmY
DESCRIPTION: Rice University and Baylor College of Medicine researchers have shown they can eradicate advanced-stage mesothelioma tumors in mice in just a few days with a treatment combining Rice’s cytokine “drug factory” implants and a checkpoint inhibitor drug. The researchers administered the drug-producing beads, which are no larger than the head of a pin, next to tumors where they could produce continuous, high doses of interleukin-2 (IL-2), a natural compound that activates white blood cells to fight cancer. In a study published in Clinical Cancer Research, the Rice-Baylor team found tumors were destroyed completely in all seven mice that were treated with both the drug factory implants and a PD-1 checkpoint inhibitor.

High-resolution IMAGES are available for download at:

https://news-network.rice.edu/news/files/2022/08/0822-MESO-fit759-lg.jpg
CAPTION: From left, Amanda Nash, Omid Veiseh and Samira Aghlara-Fotovat (Photo by Jeff Fitlow/Rice University)

https://news-network.rice.edu/news/files/2022/08/0822-MESO-fit763-lg.jpg
CAPTION: From left, Amanda Nash, Dr. Bryan Burt, Omid Veiseh and Samira Aghlara-Fotovat. (Photo by Jeff Fitlow/Rice University)

https://news-network.rice.edu/news/files/2022/08/0822-MESO-vDFpn-lg.jpg
CAPTION: Tiny alginate bead implants invented in the laboratory of Rice University bioengineer Omid Veiseh can be loaded with cells that produce cytokine, proteins that play a major role in immune response. A new study found a treatment combining the implants and checkpoint inhibitor drugs eradicated advanced mesothelioma tumors in all seven mice in which it was tested. (Photo by Jeff Fitlow/Rice University)

Related stories:

Rice, Baylor developing implants to heal heart attack injuries - Aug. 8, 2022
https://news.rice.edu/news/2022/rice-baylor-developing-implants-heal-heart-attack-injuries

Rice lab’s ‘drug factory’ implants cleared for human trials – Aug. 3, 2022
https://news.rice.edu/news/2022/rice-labs-drug-factory-implants-cleared-human-trials

‘Drug factory’ implants eliminate ovarian, colorectal cancer in mice – March 2, 2022
https://news.rice.edu/news/2022/drug-factory-implants-eliminate-ovarian-colorectal-cancer-mice

Rice team creating insulin-producing implant for Type 1 diabetes – July 26, 2021
https://news.rice.edu/news/2021/rice-team-creating-insulin-producing-implant-type-1-diabetes

Heart attack damage reduced by shielded stem cells – Aug. 18, 2020
https://news.rice.edu/news/2020/heart-attack-damage-reduced-shielded-stem-cells

Links:

Veiseh lab: http://veisehlab.rice.edu/

Laboratory for Cardiac Regeneration: https://www.bcm.edu/departments/surgery/research/laboratory-for-cardiac-regeneration

Baylor College of Medicine News: https://www.bcm.edu/news

Rice Bioengineering: https://bioengineering.rice.edu/

Rice’s George R. Brown School of Engineering: https://engineering.rice.edu/

This release can be found online at news.rice.edu.

Follow Rice News and Media Relations via Twitter @RiceUNews.

Located on a 300-acre forested campus in Houston, Rice University is consistently ranked among the nation’s top 20 universities by U.S. News & World Report. Rice has highly respected schools of Architecture, Business, Continuing Studies, Engineering, Humanities, Music, Natural Sciences and Social Sciences and is home to the Baker Institute for Public Policy. With 4,240 undergraduates and 3,972 graduate students, Rice’s undergraduate student-to-faculty ratio is just under 6-to-1. Its residential college system builds close-knit communities and lifelong friendships, just one reason why Rice is ranked No. 1 for lots of race/class interaction and No. 1 for quality of life by the Princeton Review. Rice is also rated as a best value among private universities by Kiplinger’s Personal Finance.

Back-to-school prep: The Canadian Ophthalmological Society urges parents to monitor children's vision to start the school year off right

Highlighting the importance of good eye health for the classroom return this Children's Eye Health and Safety Month

TORONTO, Aug. 23, 2022 /CNW/ - August marks Children's Eye Health and Safety Month and as children prepare for a return to the classroom, the Canadian Ophthalmological Society is reminding parents that vision plays an important role in their child(ren)'s learning and academic success. Maintaining good eye health should be a priority for back to school, especially with the increasing evidence that prolonged screen time increases the risk of myopia (nearsightedness) in children. According to a recent survey by the Canadian Ophthalmological Society, 45 per cent of Canadians believe that too much screen time can cause myopia (nearsightedness) in children and adults.

"The start of the school year is always a good time to remember to monitor your child's eyes and determine if they have had any changes to their vision," says Dr. Phil Hooper, President of the Canadian Ophthalmological Society.  "A comprehensive evaluation early in the school year is important to detect changes and rectify them before they can have an impact on learning."

The survey revealed that 83 per cent of respondents believe that prolonged screen time is harmful to their child(ren)'s eye health. Since the pandemic began, parents report that their children are spending about 4.4 hours in front of a screen on average, which is 1.2 hours more than they did prior to the pandemic. Three-in-five parents whose child(ren)'s COVID screen time is greater than pre-COVID feel that this increased screen time has negatively impacted their child(ren)'s eye health.

In addition to screen time, there are other factors that can damage vision, such as the lack of protective eyewear during sports and/or hobbies. The survey revealed that when it comes to eye protection during outdoor sports, only 20 per cent of respondents say their child(ren) wears protective eyewear regularly and only 22 per cent wear them regularly during hobbies (such as crafting or woodworking).

In addition to assessing your child's vision, an eye exam can give eye doctors more insight into what's going on with the rest of the body. For instance, once Amanda Gavin noticed changes in her son's (Michael) vision, she booked an eye exam with Dr. Ken Roberts, a member of the Canadian Ophthalmological Society. Through the exam, Dr. Roberts noticed that Michael's optic nerves were swollen and suggested that Michael get an MRI. This led to the discovery of a brain tumour, saving Michael's life through early diagnosis, and highlights the importance of getting extensive eye exams.

To determine whether your child is experiencing changes to their vision, some of the common signs to look out for include:

  • Frequent rubbing of the eyes
  • Squinting, tilting, or turning the head to look at objects
  • "Wandering" eyes or eyes looking in different directions
  • Increased headaches and/or fatigue
  • It's also good to know where your child is sitting in a new classroom to determine if they may have issues with seeing

To learn more about eye health and watch Michael's full story, visit seethepossibilities.ca.

ABOUT THE SURVEY

An online survey of 2003 Canadians aged 18+ was completed between June 10 and June 21, 2022, using Leger's online panel. No margin of error can be associated with a non-probability sample (i.e. a web panel in this case). For comparative purposes, though, a probability sample of 2003 respondents would have a margin of error of ±2.2%, 19 times out of 20. Leger's online panel has approximately 400,000 members nationally and has a retention rate of 90%.

About Canadian Ophthalmological Society

The Canadian Ophthalmological Society (COS) is the national, recognized authority on eye and vision care in Canada. As eye physicians and surgeons, we are committed to assuring the provision of optimal medical and surgical eye care for all Canadians by promoting excellence in ophthalmology and by providing services to support our members in practice. Our membership includes over 900 ophthalmologists and 200 ophthalmology residents. We work collaboratively with government, other national and international specialty societies, our academic communities (ACUPO), our provincial partners and affiliates and other eye care professionals and patient groups to advocate for health policy in Canada in the area of eye and vision health. The COS is an accredited, award-winning provider of Continuing Professional Development (CPD) through the Royal College of Physicians and Surgeons of Canada (RCPSC) and is an affiliate of the Canadian Medical Association (CMA). For more information, visit cos-sco.ca.

SOURCE Canadian Ophthalmological Society

Sage extends partnership with Canada Games Council through to PEI 2023 Canada Winter Games

Sage is celebrating a decade of being a proud Canada Games Multi-Games National Partner

TORONTO, Aug. 23, 2022 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Sage, the leader in accounting, financial, HR and payroll technology for small and medium-sized businesses (SMBs), today announced an extended partnership with the Canada Games Council, expanding its support to include the PEI 2023 Canada Winter Games. The PEI 2023 Canada Winter Games, to be hosted in Prince Edward Island from February 18 – March 5, 2023, will mark a decade of Sage showing its Canadian pride by championing the ambitions of Canada’s top amateur athletes.

With the extended partnership, Sage will continue supplying the software, training and expertise to the Canada Games Council and Host Societies, to ensure their finances run smoothly, with real-time reporting to remove complexity and deliver insights for the Games.

“Sage is committed to breaking down barriers and helping businesses flow so they can succeed,” said Mark Hickman, Managing Director, Sage Canada. “As a global company who supports the desire to win for Canadian small and mid-sized businesses, we are proud of our continued partnership with the Canada Games Council. Our organizations are strongly aligned on the common values of leadership, human connection, entrepreneurship and athleticism, and the importance of being resilient, bold and disciplined in these endeavours. For the PEI 2023 Canada Winter Games and beyond, Sage is excited to cheer on Canada’s athletes with supporters across the country and witnessing the very best in Canadian sportsmanship and team spirit.”

“As a non-profit organization, the Canada Games Council has a bold vision to unite all of Canada through the power of sport and have an enduring legacy on communities from coast-to-coast,” said Kelly-Ann Paul, President and CEO, Canada Games Council. “Sage is a trusted and valued Multi-Games National Partner of the Canada Games, so we are excited to extend our partnership and lean on Sage Intacct to deliver real-time financial insights for the PEI 2023 Canada Winter Games,” she concluded.

At this year’s Niagara 2022 Canada Summer Games, which took place August 6 – 21, 2022, Sage was honoured to present the “Team Behind the Team” volunteer awards program. A Sage tradition since the 2015 Winter Games, the “Team Behind the Team” program recognizes outstanding Canada Games volunteers who support the sport teams by overseeing many of the logistics the teams require to compete to the best of their ability.

“Sage is proud of the relentless dedication and team spirit of volunteers, who spend countless hours working behind the scenes to ensure the various Canada Games competitions occur without a hitch,” commented Hickman. “As we extend our congratulations to the thousands of athletes, coaches and supporters who participated in the Niagara 2022 Canada Summer Games, we look forward to celebrating a successful PEI 2023 Canada Winter Games,” he concluded.

TELUS Health MyPet offers virtual care visits with qualified veterinarians

Studies show approximately 75 per cent of pet health concerns can be treated virtually without a clinic visit, according to a 2021 Ontario Veterinary Medical Association survey

VANCOUVER, British Columbia, Aug. 23, 2022 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Today, TELUS Health launched TELUS Health MyPet, a new virtual veterinary care service app, bringing dog and cat owners in British Columbia peace of mind knowing a provincially-licensed vet is available virtually. TELUS Health MyPet vets provide care for anything from nutritional management and parasite control to behavioural challenges, and can prescribe certain medications.

Developed on the heels of the fastest growing, highest customer rated virtual care service TELUS Health MyCare, TELUS Health MyPet is designed with the support of veterinarians to reduce the number of non-urgent visits to emergency clinics, and to ensure pet owners who live in remote areas, or whose pets don’t travel well in vehicles, still have access to care.

“We believe that patient-centric, high-quality virtual care should be available to all members of our family, including our beloved dogs and cats,” said Juggy Sihota, Vice-president, Consumer Health, TELUS Health. “The launch of TELUS Health MyPet is a significant milestone in our journey to leverage our world-leading technology to not only empower Canadians to take an active role in their own health and that of their loved ones, but also to support veterinarians with the ever growing demand for pet care.”

According to a 2021 Ontario Veterinary Medical Association (OVMA) survey of pet owners, nearly 75 per cent of telemedicine appointments can be treated solely through virtual care, without a trip to the clinic. While it doesn't replace in-person physical exams, vaccinations or tests, TELUS Health MyPet can support pet owners in British Columbia with preventative healthcare and non-urgent medical interventions. The app is free to download for iOS and Android smartphones. Each consultation with a veterinarian costs $95, and for a limited time, consultations are 20 per cent off at $76. TELUS Health MyPet will expand to other provinces in the coming months.

“A service like TELUS Health MyPet is a fantastic tool for pet parents to avoid long wait times at some vet clinics, and to avoid some of the extra expenses and stresses associated with in-person care for non-emergency situations. TELUS Health MyPet consultation notes can be accessed within the app and medical records can be shared with regular family veterinarians to ensure seamless continuity of care,” said Dr. Ko Arman, Lead Veterinarian, TELUS Health MyPet.

As part of this launch, Trupanion, the leader in medical insurance for cats and dogs in Canada, is offering TELUS Health MyPet subscribers waived enrollment fees when they subscribe to a Trupanion policy which offers pet parents the broadest medical insurance coverage with unlimited payouts for the life of their four-legged family members.

About Trupanion
Trupanion is the leader in medical insurance for cats and dogs in Canada with over 740,000 pets enrolled throughout Canada, the United States and Australia. The company was founded in Canada in 2000, and for over two decades Trupanion has given pet parents peace of mind so they can focus on their pet's recovery, not financial stress. Trupanion is committed to providing pet parents with the highest value in pet medical insurance with unlimited payouts for the life of their pets. Trupanion is the only provider with the technology to pay veterinarians directly in seconds at the time of checkout. Headquartered in Seattle, WA., Trupanion is listed on NASDAQ under the symbol "TRUP". Trupanion policies are issued in Canada by Omega General Insurance Company and distributed by its wholly-owned subsidiary Canada Pet Health Insurance Services, Inc., and, in the United States, by its wholly-owned insurance entity American Pet Insurance Company. Trupanion Australia is a partnership between Trupanion and Hollard Insurance Company. For more information, please visit trupanion.com/canada.

About TELUS HealthTELUS Health is a leader in digital health technology, providing virtual care, home health monitoring, electronic medical and health records, benefits and pharmacy management, and personal emergency response services. By leveraging the power of technology to deliver connected solutions and services, TELUS Health is improving access to care and revolutionizing the flow of information while facilitating collaboration, efficiency, and productivity for physicians, pharmacists, health authorities, allied healthcare professionals, insurers, employers, and citizens, to progress its vision of transforming healthcare and empowering people to live healthier lives.

Through TELUS Health Care Centres, teams of renowned and passionate healthcare professionals deliver best-in-class patient-centric care to thousands of Canadian employers, professionals, and families in more than 15 medical clinics located across the country.

For more information please visit: www.telushealth.com.

BioSyent Announces Adoption of Dividend Policy

MISSISSAUGA, Ontario, Aug. 23, 2022 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- BioSyent Inc. (“BioSyent”, “the Company”, TSX Venture: RX) is pleased to announce that its Board of Directors (the “Board”) today adopted a Dividend Policy in order to establish terms of reference for the Board in its decision-making around the declaration of any dividends to be issued to shareholders of the Company.

“The adoption of a Dividend Policy by the Board is an important step in our evolution as a Company and a formal recognition of the confidence we have in our business with Q2 2022 marking BioSyent’s 12thconsecutive year of profitability” commented Mr. René Goehrum, Chairman of the Board of Directors of BioSyent. “Over those 12 years, we have grown our sales by more than 25 times, invested in and launched new products and continued to generate positive cash flows. As a result, our balance sheet today has never been stronger, even as we have deployed more than $13.5 million since December 2018 under our share buyback program, cancelling more than two million common shares to the benefit of all remaining shareholders. We remain focused on our primary strategic objective of revenue growth, and we will continue to invest in expanding our product portfolio while returning capital to shareholders. We anticipate initiating an inaugural dividend by the end of 2022.”

About BioSyent Inc.

Listed on the TSX Venture Exchange under the trading symbol “RX”, BioSyent is a profitable growth-oriented specialty pharmaceutical company focused on in-licensing or acquiring innovative pharmaceutical and other healthcare products that have been successfully developed, are safe and effective, and have a proven track record of improving the lives of patients. BioSyent supports the healthcare professionals that treat these patients by marketing its products through its community, specialty and international business units.

As of the date of this press release, the Company has 12,213,111 common shares outstanding.

For a direct market quote for the TSX Venture Exchange and other Company financial information please visit www.tmxmoney.com.

For further information please contact:
Mr. René C. Goehrum
President and CEO
BioSyent Inc.
E-Mail: investors@biosyent.com
Phone: 905-206-0013
Web: www.biosyent.com

This press release may contain information or statements that are forward-looking. The contents herein represent our judgment, as at the release date, and are subject to risks and uncertainties that may cause actual results or outcomes to be materially different from the forward-looking information or statements. Potential risks may include, but are not limited to, those associated with clinical trials, product development, future revenue, operations, profitability and obtaining regulatory approvals.

Canadian fitness survey tells tales of struggles, boredom, results and plateaus

86 per cent of Canadians regularly participate in walking – overshadowing all other fitness and sports routines

PWH - Press Release image

Survey shows walking is the exercise of choice for Canadians. Photo Credit: Power WearHouse™

TORONTO, Aug. 24, 2022 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Canadians overwhelmingly favour walking as their preferred form of exercise, beating out all other types by a large margin. This is according to a new survey by Power WearHouse, a Canadian designer of weighted fitness wearables.

The Exercise Habits of Canadians, an Angus Reid study of 1508 people, puts a lens on how (and how often) people engage in physical activity, where people are stuck, or where they seek to add something new to their routines. Overall, nine-in-10 Canadians are active, including 56 per cent that conduct their routines three-days per week or more.

When asked what forms of exercise they regularly participate in, a whopping 86 per cent of Canadians favour walking as their preferred form of exercise; followed by weight or fitness training, hiking, cycling, yoga, running and dancing.

Table: The favourite forms of exercise for Canadians

Favourite forms of exerciseTotalMaleFemale18-3435-5455+
Walking86%85%87%87%84%87%
Weight or fitness training29%31%27%41%29%19%
Hiking27%29%25%33%29%19%
Cycling23%25%20%28%20%21%
Yoga15%7%23%20%17%10%
Running10%13%8%22%11%2%
Dancing7%2%12%10%8%3%


“We conducted this survey to get a benchmark on Canadian fitness and wellness behaviours, likes and dislikes,” said Shelagh Stoneham, founder of Power WearHouse. “Not only can we see that Canadians are motivated to exercise, but the results highlight their frustrations and where there is room for improvement.”

The study shows there are several challenges for Canadians. A stunning 43 per cent of Canadians still feel gross using shared equipment. Additionally, more-than-half (53%) struggle fitting their walking and/or fitness routines into their schedule, 41 per cent are bored with their current routine and 46 per cent are sick and tired of trying to lose their “COVID pounds.”

Table: Struggles, boredom, results and plateaus

Canadian exercise sentimentsTotalMaleFemale18-3435-5455+
I am feeling bored with my current walking and/or fitness routine41%40%42%44%43%35%
I struggle fitting my walking and/or fitness routine into my schedule53%53%54%65%59%39%
I feel like I have hit a plateau with my walking and/or fitness routine (not getting the same benefit I used to)44%40%47%46%43%43%
I feel gross using shared equipment in a gym and/or studio43%37%49%44%42%45%
I’m sick and tired of trying to lose my “COVID pounds”46%38%54%48%49%43%
I feel satisfied with my current walking and/or fitness routine57%60%54%56%53%63%
I am continuing to see results from my current walking and/or fitness routine57%60%54%56%53%63%
I exercise regularly to maintain my health62%61%63%61%58%67%
I’ve used online workouts, fitness apps and home gym routines since COVID41%33%48%54%44%27%
I feel that my fitness regimen has improved since COVID32%32%32%38%32%27%


“What this survey shows, is that despite great intentions and good follow through, people are not getting the results they seek,“ said Stoneham. “While many Canadians are active, their bodies are plateauing (often mentally and physically) and adjusting to the law of diminishing returns. People don't always know how to change, or don’t want to change, their training style once they have an exercise habit in place.” 

Adding weighted wearables (vests, belts, ankle weights) to a regular exercise or training routine carry several benefits including increased cardio benefit, extra muscle toning and conditioning and extra calorie and fat burn. These small additions can make a huge difference, combatting against the exercise plateau, boredom, and other workout struggles.

About the Exercise Habits of Canadians survey by Power WearHouse
From August 10 to August 12, 2022, an online survey was conducted among a representative sample of 1,508 Canadians who are members of the Angus Reid Forum. For comparison purposes, the sample plan would carry a margin of error of +/- 2.5 percentage points, 19 times out of 20. Discrepancies in or between totals are due to rounding. 

About Power WearHouse
Power Wearhouse is a health and wellness brand that specializes in weighted wearables that are both fashionable and functional. Founded in 2021 by Shelagh Stoneham, the best-in-class line of wearables is engineered to maximize the benefit from any exercise routine and is designed for maximum comfort. Using innovative cooling technology, the Power Weighted Fitness Vest and Power Weighted Fitness Belt can keep users cool for an hour by freezing the zinc-coated cast iron weights prior to their workout. Power WearHouse products are available for purchase at health and fitness retailers across North America and online at www.powerwearhouse.com.