Training Feel Impossible? 4 Common Causes of Foot Pain in Runners

Running and foot pain often go hand in hand, but it doesn’t necessarily have to be that way. By knowing some of the most common causes of foot pain in runners, you can take action to protect your feet better and ensure more comfort while running. Here are four of the main causes of foot pain that often affect runners.

Ill-Fitting Shoes

Shoes that are of the wrong size can wreak havoc on your feet and cause persistent pain. Shoes that are too small can make the feet more confined and susceptible to injury while footwear that’s too big can rub on the heels and other areas of the feet while running and leave blisters, calluses, and lesions. It’s also important to have shoes that are fitted to provide enough support in the arches and other areas of the feet that running actively engages.

Stress Fractures

The excessive pounding on the bones from running may cause stress fractures to form in the feet. As Active.comexplains, stress fractures are often hard to diagnose because they tend to progress slowly over time and don’t always show up clearly on X-rays. If you happen to get a stress fracture, the best thing to do is to take time off from running and other athletic activities that result in high impact on your feet until the fracture heals.

Plantar Fasciitis

The first sign of this condition is usually intense pain felt at the bottom of the feet. According to WebMD, plantar fasciitis results when the fibrous tissue on the bottom of your feet known as the fascia is stretched too much and forms small tears. Causes of plantar fasciitis may range from ill-fitting shoes to training too aggressively. Treating the root cause usually resolves plantar fasciitis. Orthotics and inserts that are worn inside shoes are sometimes prescribed to help ease pain and facilitate healing.

Tendonitis

One of the main tendon’s susceptible to inflammation while running is the posterior tibial tendon, which helps to support arches. In addition to pain at the bottom of your feet, you may experience symptoms like swelling and throbbing when tendonitis is present. A foot doctor or physical therapist can show you stretches and exercises to treat tendonitis. Icing your feet regularly can also be effective in reducing inflammation.

Finding the source of your foot pain and implementing the right solution can help keep you running longer with less pain. Consider scheduling an appointment with a podiatrist, who can diagnose the cause of your foot pain and administer treatment to ease your suffering.

Ready-to-use most cost-efficient and effective way to counter hospital-acquired infections: Clorox® Professional Products Canada

TORONTO, March 27, 2019 /CNW/ - NYSE: CLX, NYSE: CLX.B - When it comes to fighting hospital-acquired infections (HAIs), the efficiency and efficacy of ready-to-use disinfectants is unparalleled. Lower priced dilutables may be attractive but research has shown¹ that price tag could bear a higher cost when it comes to cross-contamination, quality control issues and low compliance. 

Ready-to-use products like Clorox Healthcare® Hydrogen Peroxide Cleaner Disinfectant Wipes offer a consistent approach to combatting HAIs.

"In Spring, the hectic flu season may be behind us but the germs still stick around on surfaces," explains Barley Chironda, Infection Control Specialist at Clorox Professional. "You need to ensure you're using effective products and ready-to-use products are a sure way of knowing you have the right concentration – you're eliminating the chances of error."

Using products that have consistent dilution is vital, as human error can lead to quality control issues¹. Those errors can have serious consequences, not just financial but fatal repercussions as well. 

According to a report by Canada's Chief Public Health Officer, more than 200,000 patients get infections every year while receiving healthcare in Canada, and more than 8,000 die as a result.² Treatment has proven to be more costly than prevention, totalling an estimated $129 million in 2010 alone.³

"Hospitals and health care facilities are high-risk areas," says Chironda. "It's is important to ensure a safe patient environment."

And the ability to save time, avoid cross-contamination, and ensure disinfectants are the proper saturation and concentration every time helps to offset the growing threat of HAIs, an issue the environmental service, administrative team and clinical teams can't afford to overlook.  

While ready-to-use wipes like Clorox Healthcare® Hydrogen Peroxide Cleaner Disinfectant Wipes can be disposed of safely after use, reusable cotton and microfiber towels used alongside dilutables provide a safe-haven for microorganisms to linger⁴. 

Ready-to-use has also proven more time-efficient. A study¹ found environmental services staff and employees spent 21 per cent less time per patient room when utilizing ready-to-use products, cost savings that equated to $38.58 per employee per day.

It adds up, says Chironda.

"I often hear cost as a barrier to implementing ready-to-use products in hospitals," he says. "But both personal experience and studies have shown that the benefits of guaranteed concentration, improved safety, and ease of use, is well worth the cost."

1. Wiemken, T. L. et al. The Value of Ready-to-Use Disinfectant Wipes: Compliance, Employee Time, and Costs. Am. J. Infect. Control 2014, 42, 329–330.
2. Government of Canada. The Chief Public Health Officer's Report on the State of Public Health in Canada 2013 – Healthcare-associated infections – Due diligence. 2013. https://bit.ly/2AVgHs4. Accessed September 28, 2018. 
3. Canadian Patient Safety Institute. Healthcare-Associated Infections. https://bit.ly/2ecb77j.
4. Sifuentes, L. Y. et al. Microbial Contamination of Hospital Reusable Cleaning Towels. Am. J. Infect. Control. 2013, 41, 912–915

SOURCE Clorox Professional Products Canada

For further information:

Katherine Hamilton, Devon Consulting - Katherine@devonconsulting.ca; Natalie Foote, Devon Consulting - natalie@devonconsulting.ca

Testosterone For Women, Estrogen For Men? Wrong Levels Bring Problems

By Don Colbert, M.D.

You don’t normally think of women needing testosterone and men needing estrogen. But when those levels drop for women and men, respectively, or are way out of balance, a wide range of symptoms may be suffered.

Fortunately, there are ways to correct those levels and restore health. 

Ladies first.

Testosterone is considered the manly hormone, yet few women know that they have quite a bit of it in their bodies, primarily when they are young. In their 20s and 30s, their testosterone is in the normal range, but after 40 is when we start to see the decline in levels.

There are numerous factors that push testosterone levels lower – menopause, medications, stress, aging, removal of ovaries, and more. And with that drop, myriad problems can occur.  Blood work is needed to confirm suspicions, but persistent symptoms of low testosterone in women are hard to argue away. Among those symptoms are aching joints, depression, inability to sleep, lack of sex drive, migraines, and weight gain.

But the great news is, it’s fixable.

The hormone health zone for testosterone in women

The first hormone women need to optimize is testosterone. It may sound a little strange to recommend testosterone therapy for women, but with it they can benefit enormously. Depression and anxiety usually lift. They can slow or sometimes reverse cellulite, lose weight (especially belly fat), tighten skin, restore libido, improve memory, strengthen the heart, and boost energy levels and stamina.

The benefits of boosting testosterone go further; low testosterone is linked to an increased risk of diabetes, high cholesterol, hardening of the arteries, and weak bones. Low testosterone levels give women many of the symptoms associated with hypothyroidism, which serves as another strong motivator for women to keep their testosterone levels up.

Sadly, most doctors are taught to prescribe only low doses of estradiol (in pill format, which is not good) and no testosterone whatsoever. In fact, doctors usually choose not to address hormone issues at all. They will tell you “normal ranges,” and if you happen to be low, they will usually prescribe you a medication for the symptoms. But that will never get your health back.

What your body needs is bioidentical hormone therapy. You may need to find another doctor, someone who will treat your low-testosterone symptoms with bioidentical testosterone. 

I have found boosting testosterone levels with pellets to be effective and efficient. They raise levels quickly, and you don’t need to come back for another treatment for three to four months, and sometimes six months. Testosterone injections are the next-best method if pellets are too pricey, followed by testosterone creams.

I suggest women in their 40s start monitoring their testosterone levels. The time to start optimizing them is when the hormone levels go below 50-60 percent of upper range or when symptoms develop. When your testosterone levels are optimized, life is great! 

Now for you men

Yes guys, it’s true: Even men need estrogen. There’s just a delicate balance that needs to be understood.

Estrogen is one of those things that is good for you in the proper amounts but bad if you have too much or too little of it. Just the right amount of estradiol is good for bone strength, sperm count, cholesterol metabolism, healthy libido, and clear thinking, just to name a few of the known values of estrogen in men.

Usually, however, it is too much estrogen in men that is much more common. This occurs when testosterone levels decrease due to aging, obesity, lifestyle, a lack of exercise, stress, endocrine disruptors, and so on. Too much estrogen has been found to promote abnormal clot formation or blood clots, and excessive estrogen levels may also increase the risk of stroke.

A healthy man usually needs to maintain at least a 10-to-1 ratio of testosterone to estrogen. When the ratio is far below 10-to-1, estrogen levels are too high, and that brings with it a host of ailments. Among the symptoms I’ve seen in men who have too much estrogen in their bodies are brain fog, blood clots, gynecomastia (man boobs), lack of erections, lack of sex drive, and low sperm counts.

There’s also a higher risk for prostate cancer and heart disease when estrogen (estradiol) levels in men are too high.

Too little estrogen, and you also have a lack of sexual interest, few erections, and no libido. It’s also not healthy for the brain to have super-low estrogen levels, nor is brain fog a symptom that anyone enjoys. 

The hormone health zone for estrogen in men

Optimizing estrogen levels in men usually coincides with their testosterone levels. They are linked; raise testosterone, and estrogen usually rises; lower testosterone, and estrogen usually lowers. Remember, the goal is for at least a 10-to-1 ratio.

When men start using testosterone cream, shots, or pellets, some of the testosterone aromatizes, or converts, to estrogen. Some men have excessive aromatization, especially older men and men who are obese. To stay in the estradiol hormone health zone, men will need to take a hormone-regulating supplement called DIM (Diindolylmethane), 150 mg twice a day. It is the safest way to lower estrogen without the fear of going too low.

For men who have never had their estrogen levels checked and believe they might have the symptoms of high or low estrogen, ask for blood work that gives you your estradiol level. Then you and your doctor will know what to do to treat it. Estrogen levels are usually pretty easy to treat in men.

It may be surprising that men need to watch their estrogen levels, but it’s one of those things that they must be aware of. When we were learning to drive, we were all taught to watch for the “blind spots.” Those spots aren’t dangerous in and of themselves. But when you need to take action, the blind spots are suddenly very important.

Don Colbert, M.D. (www.drcolbert.com), is the author of Dr. Colbert's Hormone Health Zone. He has been a board-certified family practice doctor for more than 25 years and has offices in Orlando, Fla., and Dallas. The author of over 40 books, he wrote two New York Times best-sellers – The Seven Pillars of Health and Dr. Colbert’s “I Can Do This” Diet – has sold more than 10 million books and treated 50,000-plus patients. Dr. Colbert is a frequent show guest of Christian leaders Joyce Meyer, John Hagee, and Kenneth Copeland and has been featured on The Dr. Oz Show, Fox News, ABC World News Tonight, and in periodicals such as Newsweek and Reader’s Digest.

Scotiabank Healthcare+ Physician Banking Program Offers Unique Solutions for Canadian Physicians at Every Stage of Their Career

TORONTO, March 27, 2019 /CNW/ - Scotiabank today announced Scotiabank Healthcare+ Physician Banking Program ("the Program"), a robust suite of banking services tailored to Canadian physicians at every stage of their careers. Developed in collaboration with MD Financial Management ("MD"), the only national financial services firm exclusively dedicated to the financial well-being of Canada's physicians and their families, the program will contribute to the well-being of physicians by helping to provide financial peace of mind.

"Scotiabank appreciates the unique financial demands placed on physicians in their personal and professional lives," said Glen Gowland, Executive Vice President and Head of Global Wealth Management at Scotiabank. "We've built the Scotiabank Healthcare+ Physician Banking Program to meet those demands, with tailored financial solutions to help physicians at any stage in their career—whether they've just begun studies or are starting up or winding down their practice—wherever they study or practise in Canada." 

The Scotiabank Healthcare+ Physician Banking Program leverages Scotiabank's wide range of products, services and expertise to create solutions that meet the varied financial considerations of students, residents, and practicing and retired physicians. Medical students, for example, will benefit from education financing with flexible, competitive repayment terms and pricing. Practicing physicians will be able to take advantage of a range of exclusive benefits that support them in building and managing their business. Retiring physicians, meanwhile, will be able to access customized investment opportunities to help enable their lifestyle after their career has ended. 

The Program is the perfect complement to the comprehensive, physician-centric financial management services already available—and honed over the last five decades—at MD. Physicians who wish to do so can also take advantage of MD's highly talented roster of wealth management advisors and portfolio managers; MD's self-directed services (MD Direct Trade™); and MD's autonomous investor services (MD ExO Direct®).  

"Together, through the Scotiabank Healthcare+ Physician Banking Program, MD clients can truly access all the financial solutions they need through one comprehensive offering and one trusted advisor," said Brian Peters, President and CEO of MD. "Scotiabank and MD's proud history of 237 years of combined experience is the solid foundation to help our clients achieve their goals."

Physicians and physicians in training who are interested in learning more about the Scotiabank Healthcare+ Physician Banking Program can visit www.scotiabankhealthcareplus.com

FURTHER BACKGROUND

Programs Tailored for Medical Students, Residents, and Practicing and Retired Physicians

Scotiabank has created specific plans to provide banking that grows with physicians at every stage of their medical career. 

Early Career: For many medical students and residents, debt is a major concern. More than 83 per cent of Canadian medical graduates report debt related to their medical education, with an average debt load of more than $160,000, according to the Association of Faculties of Medicine of Canada.¹

Studies also show that debt among some medical students and graduates is directly related to higher levels of burnout, preventing them from learning and performing at the highest level.²

Scotiabank has developed a plan that offers all early career physicians financial peace of mind and lets them focus on what matters most — their education and profession. 

The Scotia Professional® Student Plan includes: 

• Education financing with flexible, competitive repayment terms and pricing. 
• A comprehensive personal banking package with fee savings and rewards. 
• Access to preferred banking solutions with industry-leading pricing, and no annual reviews or re-applications.

Practicing Physicians: For practicing physicians, Scotiabank has created a targeted plan that helps them grow and manage their practice while taking care of themselves and their loved ones.

In addition to the support of a dedicated advisor, physicians have access to a national team of Healthcare & Professional Specialists, who provide advice and access to specialized products and services tailored to physicians. 

Support includes:

• A comprehensive personal banking package with access to a team of advisors who understand the unique and specialized needs of medical professionals throughout their career cycle. 
• Competitive rates on lending products, with bonus rates on savings and term deposit products. 
• Premium credit cards for personal and business needs.

Retired Physicians: For physicians approaching or beginning retirement, the Scotiabank Healthcare+ Physician Banking Program focuses more on Private Banking³ and investment opportunities that make it easier for physicians to enjoy their retirement.

In addition to a comprehensive personal banking package, retired physicians can benefit from:

• Access to the Total Wealth Credit Solution^TM. 
• Transactional banking support. 
• A leading-edge concierge and travel management service. 
• A customized line of credit that lets them take advantage of investment opportunities whenever they arise.

Commitment to the physician community: Scotiabank continues to reinforce its ongoing commitment to the well-being of Canada's physician community, with close to $50 million contributed to the enhancement of health in Canada over the last four years—including the recently announced $1.6 million contribution for Well Doc Alberta in collaboration with MD and the Canadian Medical Association—and, now, with the launch of Scotiabank Healthcare+.

About Scotiabank 

Scotiabank is Canada's international bank and a leading financial services provider in the Americas. We are dedicated to helping our more than 25 million customers become better off through a broad range of advice, products and services, including personal and commercial banking, wealth management and private banking, corporate and investment banking, and capital markets. With a team of more than 98,000 employees⁴ and assets of over $1 trillion (as at January 31, 2019), Scotiabank trades on the Toronto Stock Exchange (TSX: BNS) and New York Stock Exchange (NYSE: BNS). For more information, please visit www.scotiabank.com and follow us on Twitter @ScotiabankViews. 

About MD Financial Management Inc.

With 50 years of physician-focused experience, MD has one main goal: to help Canada's physicians achieve financial well-being. MD has more than $49 billion in assets under administration and is dedicated to serving Canada's physicians and their families. MD provides financial products and services, the MD Family of Funds and investment counselling services through the MD Group of Companies. For a detailed list of these companies, visit md.ca.

______________________________________
¹ "Future MD Canada," Association of Faculties of Medicine of Canada, https://afmc.ca/sites/default/files/qa/Q3c.pdf  
² "Medical student debt and major life choices other than specialty," Nov. 11, 2014 https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC4229497/ 
³ For clients with a minimum of $1 million in investable assets.
⁴ Employees are reported on a full-time equivalent basis.

SOURCE Scotiabank

Carlson is a Three-Time Winner of the #1 Rated Omega-3 Products Award

Arlington Heights, Ill. (March 26, 2019) – Carlson recently received the #1 Rated Omega-3 Products Award from consumerlab.com, making them a three-time winner of the prestigious award. Results are based on the 2019 consumerlab.com Survey of Supplement Users, which included nearly 11,000 participants. The survey offers consumers an opportunity to rate leading nutritional supplement brands across a variety of categories. 

“We were honored to receive the #1 Rated Omega-3 Products Award from Consumer Lab for a third time,” said Carlson President Carilyn Anderson. “We take great care to source our products sustainably and responsibly – and to produce the best-tasting, highest-quality fish oils. We’re very grateful to be recognized for our efforts.”

To ensure maximum freshness, Carlson omega-3 fish oils are closely managed from sea to store. Carlson sources the highest quality, deep, cold-water fish using traditional, sustainable methods. They then go to great lengths to ensure their fish oils are pure and protected against oxidation. Carlson omega-3s are bottled or encapsulated with a touch of antioxidants and are tested by an FDA-registered laboratory for freshness, potency, and purity.

Consumerlab.com is a leading provider of independent test results and information to help consumers and healthcare professionals identify the best quality health and nutrition products. The company is privately held and has no ownership from or interest in companies that manufacture, distribute, or sell consumer products. 

For more information, visit consumerlab.com/survey2019.

About Carlson
Carlson began in 1965 as one woman’s mission to improve the health of families by creating nutritional supplements with high-quality ingredients. Susan Carlson’s father suffered from heart issues but found relief after taking natural-source vitamin E. Inspired by this discovery and her background as a pharmacist, Susan started Carlson out of her small Chicago apartment with a single vitamin E formula. Her product line quickly expanded. In the early 1980s, Carlson helped launch the omega-3 marketing in North America. Today, the commitment to helping families live a healthier lifestyle continues, as Susan’s daughters President Carilyn Anderson and Vice President Kirsten Carlson continue the Carlson family’s mission to produce high-quality nutritional supplements. 

If you would rather not receive future communications from Carlson Labs, let us know by clicking here.
Carlson Labs, 600 W University Dr, Arlington Heights, IL 60004 United States

Speed Rack Canada Returns for a Fourth Season of Celebrating the Nation’s Women Behind the Bar

The all-female speed bartending competition that raises money for breast cancer research will host the national finals of their fourth Canadian competition season in Montreal on Monday, May 13th CANADA (March 2019) -- Cocktails, competition, camaraderie - Speed Rack is back for its fourth spirited swing around Canada, as part of the organization’s eighth global competition season. The all-female speed-bartending competition has visited five Canadian cities during preliminary rounds this year, whittling down the country’s new group of top female mixologists - a uniquely impressive range of first-year bartenders to decorated mixologists and longtime bar managers - who will soon go head-to-head for the coveted title of Miss Speed Rack Canada 2019 at Les Foufounes Électriques in Montreal on May 13th.
As always, the competition in Speed Rack Canada Season 4 promises to be fierce, but so does the fundraising. Co-founders Lynnette Marrero and Ivy Mix started Speed Rack in the U.S. in 2011 as a way to give back to the bar community while simultaneously providing a platform for up-and coming female bartenders. To date, Speed Rack has raised over $850,000 worldwide for breast cancer prevention, treatment and awareness. This year’s mission in Canada is no different with 100% of ticket sales being donated to Speed Rack Canada’s official charity partners, The Breast Cancer Support Fund and Breast Cancer Action Quebec.
“We’re very passionate about the number of different charities that we support in cities across the world as we continue to grow, and are excited to be so close to our longtime goal of $1 million raised for charity”  states Speed Rack co-founder, Lynnette Marrero. “The competition is always exciting, and we love seeing the hard work and creativity behind the bar from the Speed Rack competitors every year, but at the end of the day, our mission is to spread awareness and support research to ultimately end this disease that so many of us have been touched by in one way or another.”
The fundraising is already off to a strong start with over $26,000 raised so far this season, thanks to a combined effort of proceeds from the five preliminary regional finals in Vancouver (Feb 24), Toronto (Feb 25), Calgary (March 3), Montreal (March 4), and Halifax (March 11), as well as donations from the esteemed national non-profit organization, Restaurants Canada, who partnered with Speed Rack Canada to showcase the Toronto preliminary finals during a sold-out “Industry Night Out” event on February 25th.Last year’s Speed Rack global season saw the organization’s return to Canada for a third year, as well as their much anticipated debut first season in Australia, and expansion to multiple corners of the globe. “Going into our eighth year of Speed Rack, we’re so excited to continue growing this community across the globe.” says Speed Rack co-founder, Ivy Mix. “What started out as an idea to give female bartenders a space to thrive in a male-dominated industry, has grown into this incredible network where women from around the world are able to connect and support each other both in and out of the industry, and that’s something we’re really proud to be a part of.”
Every year, the community and sense of community expands - but what’s a little competition between friends? Regional winners from each preliminary round will go head-to-head during the national finals, making classic cocktails in timed heats as a panel of industry-experts judge their final execution. The star-studded cast of judges this season have included a variety of industry experts and drink writers, including Michael Hopper (Owner of Highwayman), Kate Boushel (Beverage Director at Barocco Group) and the renowned spirits expert and author, Elayne Duff who judged the Toronto preliminary competition. Industry heavyweights Kaitlyn Stewart (Diageo World Class Global Champion 2017) & Kelsey Ramage (Co-Founder of Trash Tiki) are both signed on to judge the national finals in May.
Tickets for upcoming events can be procured on Speed Rack’s Website: http://events.speed-rack.com/ca/season-4. You can also follow the organization @speed_rack on Instagram and Twitter and at on Facebook at facebook.com/speedrackinfo. #backtherackABOUT SPEED RACK:Speed Rack was created and produced by nationally acclaimed bartenders and industry ambassadors, Lynnette Marrero and Ivy Mix. The first nationwide competition was designed to highlight up-and-coming women in the cocktail industry, and give back to those impacted by breast cancer, Speed Rack taps top female bartenders in leading cocktail markets and puts them head to head in timed challenges – all for the purpose of raising funds for breast cancer charities. To date, Speed Rack has raised more than $850,000 for charities supporting breast cancer research.
ABOUT THE BREAST CANCER SUPPORT FUND The Breast Cancer Support Fund is a national charity managed by a volunteer board and an advisory team. Their goal is to be a change-maker among breast cancer organizations by raising awareness about the financial crisis that too often accompanies a breast cancer diagnosis and, with the support of individuals and organizations, bridge that gap between the financial reality faced by patients and the limited financial resources available.
ABOUT BREAST CANCER ACTION QUEBECBreast Cancer Action Quebec is a non-profit advocacy group directed by women who have been sensitized to the trauma of breast cancer and who are committed to prevention and the reduction of the incidence of this disease. Breast Cancer Action Quebec is the only independent breast cancer organization in Canada whose mission is to work for the prevention of breast cancer and the elimination of environmental toxicants linked to the disease.
ABOUT RESTAURANTS CANADA:Restaurants Canada is a growing community of 30,000 foodservice businesses, including restaurants, bars, caterers, institutions and suppliers. We connect our members from coast to coast, through services, research and advocacy for a strong and vibrant restaurant industry. Canada’s restaurant industry directly employs 1.2 million Canadians and serves 18 million customers every day.
REGIONAL FINALISTS:
Vancouver: Carolyn Yu - Gotham Steakhouse, BartenderAmber Bruce  - Keefer Bar, Bar Manager
Toronto:Colie Ehrenworth - Mahjong Bar, BartenderMarta S. - Chantecler, BartenderMonique Godinho - The Cloak Bar, BartenderAdriana Cavarra - Mother Tongue, Bartender
Alberta:Christine Verdone - Milk Tiger Lounge, BartenderMaya Bartha - Bartender
Quebec:Daphnee Vary - Foxy, BartenderKate Boushel - Barocco Group, Beverage DirectorTep Yith - La Distillerie, BartenderEmilie Loiselle - Cloakroom Bar, Bartender
Halifax:Ellie Rideout - The Ostrich Club, BartenderMackenzie Bouchard - Middle Spoon, Bartender
SPONSORS:
Platinum:Lot 40 100% RyeKettle One VodkaBulleit Bourbon Bacardi Rum Johnnie Walker Black Label Jack Daniels No.7
Gold: Courvoisier CognacMartini Herradura Tequila Tequila Tromba Ungava Gin Tanqueray Gin
Local:Bittered Sling BittersAlambika

Chickapea Launches High-Protein Pasta with Loblaw Stores Countrywide

COLLINGWOOD, ON (March 26, 2019) – Chickapea is thrilled to announce the launch of its high-protein pasta line into Loblaw Market stores across Canada. 

Now the leading brand of pulse-based pasta in the country, Chickapea continues to make good on its mission to create good for the world through nutritious, organic meal options and impactful social contributions.

The brand’s listing with more than 330 Loblaw stores, which include Loblaws, Fortinos, Zehrs, Independent, Atlantic Superstore and more, puts Chickapea’s chickpea lentil pasta on shelves at well over 3,000 locations across North America.

“Since launching Chickapea in 2016, we have seen dramatic and exciting growth year-over-year,” said Chickapea Founder and CEO Shelby Taylor. “This expanded listing in Loblaw stores 

will help us meet market demand and make it more convenient for our fans, and anyone looking for healthy versions of the foods they love, to find and enjoy our products.”

Although the business has experienced rapid growth, Taylor has ensured its positive impact every step of the way. As both a Certified Women’s Business Enterprise and Certified B Corporation, Chickapea meets the highest, measurable standards of environmental and social responsibility. The company’s vision of Good with Every Bite includes donating 3 cents from the sale of every product to feed nutritious meals to children in need, in partnership with WE Charity’s School Nutrition Program.

Chickapea’s launch with Canada’s largest supermarket chain highlights the growth and acceptance of plant-based foods and plant-based proteins in the Canadian marketplace. According to a Nielson’s study, plant-based nutrition and diet saw a 15% sales increase in 2018 which is sprouting growth for retailers.

Constantly innovating to meet the growing healthy needs of consumers, Chickapea will also be

launching spaghetti and linguini, as well as a creamy Vegan Mac in the coming weeks.

Chickapea is a nutrient-dense, high protein pasta made with only two ingredients, organic chickpeas and lentils. It is a great option for those looking for a more nutritious alternative to the comfort food they already know and love. With great taste and texture, Chickapea is a favourite for a quick, easy and nutritious meal. It’s organic, certified gluten-free, non-GMO, vegan and kosher. 

Learn more about Chickapea at www.choosechickapea.com

Great-West Life and Dr. Joti Samra launch new tool for leaders to promote psychologically safe workplaces

WINNIPEG, March 26, 2019 /CNW/ - The Great-West Life Centre for Mental Health in the Workplace and Dr. Joti Samra announced the launch of the Psychologically Safe Leader Assessment (PSLA), a free, online tool helping assess leadership strategies related to psychological health and safety.

The assessment was developed by a team of Canadian researchers led by Dr. Joti Samra, R. Psych. – an innovator in the area of psychological health and safety in the workplace, and principal and founder of MyWorkplaceHealth.com. 

The PSLA can help create a psychologically safe workplace where employees can thrive. Through the tool, leaders obtain feedback on the extent to which they implement effective strategies in five key areas:

• Communication and collaboration; 
• Social intelligence; 
• Problem solving and conflict management; 
• Security and safety; and 
• Fairness and equality.

"The PSLA draws on evidence showing that employees who work for psychologically safe leaders are more likely to report higher job satisfaction and engagement, better workplace relationships, and better psychological well-being," said Dr. Samra. 

"The National Standard of Canada for Psychological Health and Safety in the Workplace acknowledges the need for organizations to ensure that those in leadership roles have the training and skills to support psychological safety, and we wanted to find a way for employers and leaders to meet this requirement," said Mary Ann Baynton, Program Director for The Great-West Life Centre for Mental Health in the Workplace. "We look forward to continue building healthier workplaces through resources like the PSLA."

With the PSLA, for the first time leaders can assess the extent to which their strategies align with the National Standard of Canada for Psychological Health and Safety in the Workplace. Results from the PSLA can be supplemented by the Psychological Safe Leader Assessment: Employee Feedback (PSLA-E), allowing leaders to receive feedback from their direct reports. 

To take the assessment, visit psychologicallysafeleader.com. 

To learn more about the PSLA and other resources offered by the Great-West Life Centre for Mental Health in the Workplace, visit workplacestrategiesformentalhealth.com/psla.

About the Great-West Life Centre for Mental Health in the Workplace 
Established in 2007, the Great-West Life Centre for Mental Health in the Workplace is a leading source of practical ideas, tools and resources designed to help with the prevention, intervention and management of workplace mental health issues. Around the world, Canada is recognized as an international leader in workplace mental health. Many individuals and organizations have contributed to this distinction and it has been a privilege for the Centre to have played a part in many of their important initiatives. For more information, visit the Centre's website at workplacestrategiesformentalhealth.com.

About The Great-West Life Assurance Company
Great-West Life is a leading Canadian insurer, focused on improving the financial, physical and mental well-being of Canadians. For more than 125 years, our customers across Canada have trusted us to provide for their financial security needs and deliver on the promises we have made. Together with our subsidiaries London Life and Canada Life, we serve the financial security needs of 13 million people across Canada. To learn more, visit greatwestlife.com.

SOURCE The Great-West Life Assurance Company

Canopy Growth Receives New Health Canada Licence in Atlantic Canada That Will Boost Output, Create Jobs

New $40M production facility will increase Canopy Growth's cannabis output by more than 5,000kg annually, create more than 130 jobs in Fredericton, NB

SMITHS FALLS, ON and FREDERICTON, NB, March 25, 2019 /CNW/ - Canopy Growth Corporation (TSX: WEED), (NYSE: CGC) ("Canopy Growth" or the "Company") is pleased to announce that it has received a cultivation licence from Health Canada for its facility in Fredericton, New Brunswick. With this licensing, Canopy Growth predicts the facility will initially produce more than 5,000kg of cannabis annually, with first harvests expected to become available to the market within six months. 

Developed in collaboration with Canopy Rivers Inc. (TSXV: RIV) and operating under Canopy Growth's flagship Tweed brand, the facility will support the Company's global and local operations with high quality, large-scale cannabis production capabilities that will serve the needs of recreational and medical customers. To meet that demand, Canopy Growth expects to create more than 130 jobs at the Fredericton plant.  

"New Brunswick has emerged as a leader in the legal cannabis sector and the province is an excellent place to do business," said Bruce Linton, co-CEO and Chairman, Canopy Growth. "We will leverage our existing operational expertise to ensure we support the needs of our customers while making a meaningful contribution to the local economy primarily through new job creation." 

Canopy Growth expects to fill a wide variety of jobs at the facility, including lab supervisors, technologists, growers, post-harvest crews, quality assurance experts, as well as shipping and maintenance crews. Their combined efforts will position the facility as one of Atlantic Canada's leading growth operations, capable of supplying the market with a steady, reliable and high-quality stream of commercial cannabis products. With distribution and strong partnerships across each of Atlantic Canada's provinces, this facility further strengthens the Company's commitment to the region.

In the coming weeks, Canopy Growth looks forward to sharing details regarding local job fairs to fill these positions. Interested applicants are encouraged to monitor canopygrowth.com/careers and the Company's Twitter feed @CanopyGrowth for more information.

Here's to Future (Maritime) Growth. 

About Canopy Growth Corporation
Canopy Growth is a world-leading diversified cannabis and hemp company, offering distinct brands and curated cannabis varieties in dried, oil and Softgel capsule forms. Canopy Growth offers medically approved vaporizers through the Company's subsidiary, Storz & Bickel GMbH & Co. KG. From product and process innovation to market execution, Canopy Growth is driven by a passion for leadership and a commitment to building a world-class cannabis company one product, site and country at a time. The Company has operations in over a dozen countries across five continents.

The Company is proudly dedicated to educating healthcare practitioners, conducting robust clinical research, and furthering the public's understanding of cannabis, and through its wholly owned subsidiary, Canopy Health Innovations ("Canopy Health"), has devoted millions of dollars toward cutting edge, commercializable research and IP development. Canopy Growth works with the Beckley Foundation and has launched Beckley Canopy Therapeutics to research and develop clinically validated cannabis-based medicines, with a strong focus on intellectual property protection. Canopy Growth acquired assets of leading hemp research company, ebbu, Inc. ("ebbu"). Intellectual Property ("IP") and R&D advancements achieved by ebbu's team apply directly to Canopy Growth's hemp and THC-rich cannabis genetic breeding program and its cannabis-infused beverage capabilities. Through partly owned subsidiary Canopy Rivers Corporation, the Company is providing resources and investment to new market entrants and building a portfolio of stable investments in the sector.

From our historic public listing on the Toronto Stock Exchange and New York Stock Exchange to our continued international expansion, pride in advancing shareholder value through leadership is engrained in all we do at Canopy Growth. Canopy Growth has established partnerships with leading sector names including cannabis icon Snoop Dogg, breeding legends DNA Genetics and Green House seeds, Battelle, the world's largest nonprofit research and development organization, and Fortune 500 alcohol leader Constellation Brands, to name but a few. Canopy Growth operates ten licensed cannabis production sites with over 4.3 million square feet of production capacity, including over 500,000 square feet of GMP certified production space. The Company operates Tweed retail stores in Newfoundland and Manitoba and has entered into supply agreements with every Canadian province and territory. For more information visit www.canopygrowth.com

Notice Regarding Forward Looking Statements
This news release contains "forward-looking statements" within the meaning of the United States Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995 and "forward-looking information" within the meaning of applicable Canadian securities legislation. Often, but not always, forward-looking statements and information can be identified by the use of words such as "plans", "expects" or "does not expect", "is expected", "estimates", "intends", "anticipates" or "does not anticipate", or "believes", or variations of such words and phrases or state that certain actions, events or results "may", "could", "would", "might" or "will" be taken, occur or be achieved. Forward-looking statements or information involve known and unknown risks, uncertainties and other factors which may cause the actual results, performance or achievements of Canopy Growth or its subsidiaries to be materially different from any future results, performance or achievements expressed or implied by the forward-looking statements or information contained in this news release. Examples of such statements include statements with respect to future product format offerings. Risks, uncertainties and other factors involved with forward-looking information could cause actual events, results, performance, prospects and opportunities to differ materially from those expressed or implied by such forward-looking information, including the Company's ability to satisfy provincial sales contracts or provinces purchasing all cannabis allocated to them, and such risks contained in the Company's annual information form dated June 27, 2018 and filed with Canadian securities regulators available on the Company's issuer profile on SEDAR at www.sedar.com. Although the Company believes that the assumptions and factors used in preparing the forward-looking information or forward-looking statements in this news release are reasonable, undue reliance should not be placed on such information and no assurance can be given that such events will occur in the disclosed time frames or at all. The forward-looking information and forward-looking statements included in this news release are made as of the date of this news release and the Company does not undertake an obligation to publicly update such forward-looking information or forward-looking information to reflect new information, subsequent events or otherwise unless required by applicable securities laws.

SOURCE Canopy Growth Corporation