Clever Leaves First Colombian Company to Export Medical Cannabis to Canada

Health Canada has authorized Clever Leaves to import dry cannabis flower for scientific purposes

Bogotá, Colombia, February 7, 2019 -- Ecomedics S.A.S., (“Clever Leaves” or the Company”), a leading vertically-integrated Colombian licensed producer of pharmaceutical-grade medical cannabis serving the global market, has become the first Colombian company authorized to export cannabis into Canada. This will be the first inter-permit to bring cannabis into Canada for scientific purposes from Colombia.

“This is a milestone in the history of Colombia and the medical cannabis industry, as it illustrates that Colombia is positioned to become a global leader in a highly technical industry. Foreign investment, job creation, innovation in pharmaceutical technology are just some of the benefits that Clever Leaves generates for the country and the global cannabis and pharmaceutical markets,” says Andrés Fajardo, CEO of Clever Leaves.

Health Canada, Canada’s government agency responsible for national public health and oversight of the medical cannabis industry, issued six authorizations to Clever Leaves on January 16 to import dry cannabis flower for scientific purposes. On January 29, the Colombian National Narcotics Fund (El Fondo Nacional de Estupefacientes or the “FNE”) granted the approvals necessary to export the material from Colombia. Clever Leaves will begin the export in mid-February.

“Colombia has the unique potential to become a global leader in the cannabis value chain, creating a sustainable plank of economic development for the country. As the demand for medical cannabis increases, Clever Leaves has the advantage to position itself as the leading exporter for pharmaceutical-grade cannabis,” says Kyle Detwiler, Chief Executive Officer of Northern Swan Holdings, Inc. (“Northern Swan”), Clever Leaves´ financial sponsor that helped secure the import permit with Health Canada.

Clever Leaves met all the requirements of Health Canada to obtain the import permit, which demonstrates the high quality of its cultivation practices, extraction facilities, operating procedures, and management team. The company is currently cultivating medical cannabis in the first phase of a 1.5 million square foot agricultural production facility.

Colombia has worked diligently in recent years to become one of the most sophisticated and comprehensive medical cannabis markets in the Southern Hemisphere. With a clear regulatory framework and the potential for large-scale, low-cost production, Colombia could become one of the largest global export leaders of medical cannabis.

About Clever Leaves

Founded in 2016, Clever Leaves is cultivating medical cannabis in the first phase of a 1.5 million square feet agricultural production facility which is compliant with Good Agricultural and Collection Practices (“GACP”).  The Company began operating an EU Good Manufacturing Practices (“EUGMP”)-compliant extraction laboratory in November 2018 which anticipates securing EUGMP certification in late 2019. Clever Leaves will produce approximately 29,000 kg and 77,000 kg of dried flower product in 2019 and 2020, respectively, which will be processed into approximately 2,900 kg and 7,700 kg of medical cannabis oil extract in 2019 and 2020, respectively.  The Company is already recognized as a standard-bearer of job creation in Colombia with approximately 200 employees with plans to employ over 500 professionals by the end of 2019.

About Northern Swan

Northern Swan is an investment firm focused on transformative investments in the international cannabis industry in geographies where the sector is federally legal. With offices in New York, Toronto, Bogota, and Frankfurt, Northern Swan invests in and assists emerging companies develop low-cost production capacity and distribution capabilities to improve distribution globally and generate brand value. Prior to founding Northern Swan, its management team has collectively invested in excess of $3 billion of capital at Blackstone, KKR, and Och-Ziff.

Forward Looking Information

This press release contains forward-looking information based on current expectations. These statements should not be read as guarantees of future performance or results. Such statements involve known and unknown risks, uncertainties and other factors that may cause actual results, performance or achievements to be materially different from those implied by such statements. Although such statements are based on management's reasonable assumptions, the Company assumes no responsibility to update or revise forward-looking information to reflect new events or circumstances unless required by law. Although the Company believes that the expectations and assumptions on which the forward-looking statements are based are reasonable, undue reliance should not be placed on the forward-looking statements because the Company can give no assurance that they will prove to be correct. Since forward-looking statements address future events and conditions, by their very nature they involve inherent risks and uncertainties. These statements speak only as of the date of this press release. Actual results could differ materially from those currently anticipated due to a number of factors and risks including various risk factors.

Healthcare-associated Infections will be Canada's second leading cause of death by 2050… and OptiSolve will help reduce them

OptiSolve^® awarded $4.5 million Genome Canada grant

TORONTO, Feb. 7, 2019 /CNW/ - OptiSolve^® and the Kelley Lab at the University of Toronto will combine novel nanomaterials with a genomics-based approach to allow for precise identification of pathogens that cause Healthcare-Associated Infections (HAIs). This second phase development of OptiSolve's Pathfinder^®technology will let hospitals, long-term care facilities, and retirement homes rapidly detect and identify harmful agents, such as MRSA, C. difficile, and influenza, with the resultant benefits of proactive prevention and quick interventions.

This leap forward in technology was made possible on Monday, February 4 when the Honourable Kirsty Duncan, Minister of Science and Sport, announced the awarding of a $4.5 million Genome Canada grant to OptiSolve and the Kelley Lab. The OptiSolve grant focuses on the Detection and Identification of Surface Microbial Contamination in High-Risk facilities.

According to a recent report by the Public Health Agency of Canada, Healthcare-associated infections (HAIs) are currently the country's fourth leading cause of death and could move up to second place by 2050. Attention to cleanliness and disinfection of surfaces plays a large role in reducing HAIs. However, historically it has been difficult to measure cleaning effectiveness and meaningfully improve processes or related training. There is a clear need for a system that can identify disease-causing bacteria and viruses on surfaces.

OptiSolve, a division of family-owned Canadian company Charlotte Products Ltd. (CPL), has developed an environmental monitoring system and optical sensor technology, called Pathfinder, which is used to image and assess surfaces for microbial contamination (see photo). Dr. Shana Kelley and her team are working with the company to further enhance the OptiSolve offering to allow for recognition and identification of specific pathogen species to Reveal the Invisible.

"The current OptiSolve offering already provides breakthrough precision cleaning capabilities to improve environmental health and safety in all types of facilities - from hospitals to food manufacturing plants to educational facilities and offices – just to name a few. However, this grant takes us to the next level because we will be able to identify deadly pathogens such as C. diff and listeria on surfaces, in real time. We couldn't be more pleased," said Tony Ambler, chairman of Charlotte Products Ltd.

The service and technology will significantly reduce HAIs while enabling environmental services and infection prevention managers to avoid taking a "worst-case scenario" approach to outbreaks, which can include bed closures and cancellation of procedures. The result will be improved health of patients, residents, staff, and visitors as well as healthcare savings and risk mitigation. This first-to-market technology will contribute to economic growth and employment for highly qualified personnel.

SOURCE OptiSolve, a division of Charlotte Products Ltd.

Learn To Live An Empowered And Purposeful Life By Utilizing Natural Strengths And Traits 

Elkhart, IN, February 6, 2019 ― One of the biggest regrets people have in life is that they didn't do what they wanted to do and instead did what everyone else told them to do. But it's possible to break the cycle by simply deciding now to live a life of intention.

Craig C. Sroda, founder and former CEO of Pinnacle of Indiana, provides actionable, step-by-step instructions for living a more purpose-driven life in The Ultimate Manual — a personal life coach in a book. 

With 232 pages of clear, customizable exercises, The Ultimate Manual guides readers on a journey of discovery that will provide insight into the following areas:

•    Strengths
•    Emotional Intelligence
•    Love Languages
•    Turning Points
•    Life Wheel Evaluation
•    Time Usage
•    Core Values
•    Legacy Thinking, and more

Additionally, Sroda teaches readers how to take everything they've uncovered and synthesize it into a unique, one-page life plan — a dashboard of sorts to keep front and center that will help readers stay on track and accomplish their goals. 

Anyone of virtually any age who is seeking purpose and looking for affirmation for their life direction will find valuable information between the covers of The Ultimate Manual that will help them live their lives on purpose — with purpose — and minimize regrets.

Author Craig Sroda's mission is to guide people toward ways that work for them to live their lives intentionally. His goal is to influence 100,000 people to create a life plan by 2022. With the ripple effect, those 100,000 people will influence one million through their five domains of life: personal, family, vocation, community and faith.

Sroda co-founded and served as CEO of Pinnacle of Indiana — one of Indiana's largest Microsoft partners — for 18 years. His passion is helping individuals operate in their "sweet spot”— a place where their passion and strengths intersect so they can maximize their potential. Sroda's previous books include You in the Sweet Spot and Intentional Living and Leadership. After completing his first life plan and exposing priorities of his faith, his wife, three daughters and wanting to help others live on purpose, he sold his company. He is committed to helping others recognize their natural strengths and know their "why.” 

For more information and support, please visit www.craigsroda.com.

The Ultimate Manual
Released: November 2018 
Available from Amazon.com

Reviews:

Mickey Hay, Ph.D. and Erin Cressy, Ph.D., Leadership Consultants at Cressy Consulting: "Craig Sroda is a magnificent curator of the best thinking in personal and professional development, and he brilliantly synthesizes the best of the best to create this accessible manual for anyone wanting to get and stay on purpose. Roll up your sleeves, digest every page and complete every worksheet because everything in this book has been created with thoughtfulness and heart. Use it to create a happier, sweeter, more productive and success-filled life!”

Scott Franko, Founder, Designer, Author, and Speaker at Franko Design: "I've personally experienced working with Craig as he coached me through the life plan process. You will go through that same process with Craig in this book as he guides you through the steps that will lead to more clarity and intention for you and your life. This truly is the 'ultimate manual' for taking a proactive approach to learning about yourself and how that understanding can change your life.” 

Tim Leman, CEO at Gibson, author of rEvolution: Turn Crisis Into Clarity and Ignite Growth: "Craig Sroda has truly put together the 'ultimate manual' for anyone looking for an impactful yet simple guide to creating a life plan. Pulling from free tools and resources on the web, he walks you through in a step-by-step fashion a process to learn about yourself and gain clarity on what you want in life and most importantly how to go about getting it. Whether you're a seasoned professional needing a restart, a stay-at-home parent thinking about what's next or a recent college graduate, Craig's Ultimate Manual is for you!”

How to Get Back to the Gym When Suffering from Bronchitis

Bronchitis can be a nasty illness. It can be awful to experience incessant coughing, congestion, and breathing difficulties. If you’re dealing with a bout of bronchitis, your goal should be to get back to normal as soon as possible. If you look after yourself well, you can return to your workout sessions after a reasonable amount of time has passed. Proper healing should always be your number one aim.

Pamper Yourself for a While

Refrain from the urge to hit the gym until you’re recovered fully from bronchitis. Going back to the gym prematurely may actually inhibit the full healing process. If you want to recover perfectly, then you need to pamper yourself for a while. Rest at home. Eat a good and healthy diet. Avoid overexerting yourself and tiring your body out.

Ask Your Doctor for Feedback

If you have bronchitis, then you need to seek treatment from a doctor. Speak with your doctor about your workout objectives. Ask him or her when he thinks you should be able to resume your typical workout duties. Be sure to take his or her guidance, too. Going back to the gym before you’ve healed properly can only be detrimental to you and to your well-being. If you feel awful, your workout sessions won’t be too effective, either.

Get Tips from Other Workout Buffs

Most workout buffs have experienced sicknesses such as bronchitis at some point. If you want to get back on track, you should reach out to a workout enthusiast who truly knows what he or she is doing. Request tips about suitable timelines for getting back to working out. Tried and tested exercise lovers may be able to help you make a timeframe choices that’s sound and that makes complete sense.

Head to an Urgent Care Clinic

Bronchitis symptoms can feel practically unbearable at times. If you want to manage bronchitis discomfort, heading to an urgent care cliniccan give you a lot of relief. It can also give you the opportunity to get suggestions from capable and experienced doctors and healthcare professionals in general. Request counsel from the clinic’s doctors and nurses with regard to suitable exercise options for people who are recovering from bronchitis.

Working out is a vital part of staying healthy. Proper recovery, however, is something that calls for a certain amount of time. Rushing back into workouts is never optimal. Time is an undeniable recovery asset.

Dr. Levi Inspires Audiences To Adopt Fitness As A Lifestyle

Los Angeles, CA, February 6, 2019 ― Dr. Levi Harrison is hoping that people everywhere will resolve to make 2019 their healthiest year yet by incorporating fitness into their daily lives in a way that is both effective and sustainable. True fitness is about much more than a gym membership, Dr. Levi emphasizes. It's about adopting a lifestyle that balances mind, body, soul and spirit.

Dr. Levi is an orthopedic surgeon specializing in hand, wrist and shoulder injuries. He is passionate about overall health and fitness and has developed a multi-faceted, multi-media approach to sharing his healthy lifestyle strategies.

His first book, The Art of Fitness: A Journey to Self Enhancement, is an encyclopedia of core-stabilizing and body-building exercises, with easy-to-follow instructions and photographs. 

The DVD, The Art of Fitness Cardio Core Workout, is a great accompaniment to the book. The DVD demonstrates aerobic, core and abdominal exercises that can elevate and improve any fitness level, with a bonus workout, Perfect Abs, for those who want additional abdominal work.

Dr. Levi also provides ESPORTS coaching, motivational speaking and nutritional counseling. 

Dr. Levi Harrison earned his medical degree at The University of California at Davis School of Medicine and completed his fellowship at the internationally renowned Indiana Hand to Shoulder Center in Indianapolis. His practice in Los Angeles is a center of excellence for sports-related upper extremity and shoulder injuries as well as hand rehabilitation.

He has appeared as a medical authority on The Dr. Oz Show, CNN, Fox TV, Studio 11 LA and the KTLA Morning News. Dr. Levi has also been featured in multiple gaming communities, including Yahoo Games, Kotaku, Geek & Sundry, Vice's Motherboard, Machinima, IGN, XM Radio and countless others for his groundbreaking work in preventing repetitive stress injury in the competitive ESPORTS community.

For videos and more information about Dr. Levi, please visit http://drleviharrison.com/.

The Art of Fitness: A Journey to Self Enhancement
Publisher: Brio Press 
ISBN-10: 1937061825 
ISBN-13: 978-1937061821
Available from Amazon.com.
Available from http://drleviharrison.com/.

Growing up Different
By Celia Belt

We all grow up differently.  For some of us it’s the home we live in and the circle of friends we associate with.  For others—those in the military world—it’s constant moving and adjustments. Some of us grow up rich, while others struggle financially.  None of us is alike, yet each of us forges his or her way through this world.

For me, different was being the little burned kid. Each morning I stood motionless as my mother lathered Dermablend on my scars in an attempt to cover them up.  After that came the careful selection of clothing; it was important to choose just the right items that might hide the frightening burn scars my body carried. When spring arrived, things became more difficult.  With the warmer weather, I knew I would be forced to wear clothing that allowed a greater view of my scars. Summer for me was nearly nonexistent—the thought of joining in on the fun at the local pool, in a swimsuit, was beyond any of my wildest dreams. It was not my reality and never would be. 

The scenario went on, year after year. This was in addition to the yearly surgeries I underwent to correct the scarring.  The simple fact that I was absent from school yearly and would arrive back in bandages and casts gave way to me once again being an outcast. There was no escape; I was different, and to most, I was disfigured and frightening.

Children at school were cruel. I was ostracized for my burned body and had not a friend in the world. I was beaten and humiliated because I was different. I did not choose to be different and all I could do was live with it and pray that one day it would get better. I spent countless hours on my porch, dreaming of a world that was different from the one I knew, a world where people were kind and I was invited to be a part of the games and activities. I found solace in books and the occasional teacher who took interest in me and recognized that beyond the scars lay a child with a hunger for learning and acceptance. I excelled in all the work they gave me, which offered me the confidence to know that I was more than the little burned kid.  I was somebody—with a good mind and a work ethic to match.

Through all of this I developed a strength that I would not fully understand until later in life. The beatings, comments, and sneers only made me stronger. I became forged of steel, unstoppable in the business world, empathetic to all those I came across who were a bit “different,” and kind to all those I knew. Eventually, those scars led me to a higher purpose, and in 1998 I founded the Moonlight Fund, a 501c3 nonprofit for burn survivors and their families that has served nearly 12,000 people in its first twenty-one years. There exists very little nonprofit support for burn survivors and Moonlight Fund leads the way in providing support coast to coast.

As I reflect on the torment I endured in my young life, what those scars represented and how they made my life a living hell, I am grateful. There would have never been a Moonlight Fund without the pain and sacrifices I endured as a child and young adult.

I’ve found it much easier to find the humor in my experiences than to dwell on the negative. I’ve lived much of my life by my friend’s words, “laugh you live, cry you die.” My path to a life of meaning may not have been straight or easy, but I am fortunate to have found my personal stepping stones, laid out before me like a masterpiece. There is not one stone, not one memory or one experience that I would have changed. I am grateful for the good and the bad, for I am the sum of all my experiences.

For many years, I avoided becoming close to those I assisted through my work with the Moonlight Fund. Yet, eventually they would and have become so dear to me and occupy a place in my heart and my life that can be shared with no other. I’m extremely blessed to walk that path among my family. No, not my blood family, but my burn family. In them I have found the love and acceptance that had always eluded me. My time spent with them, even during times of my own turmoil, brings me back to the center and reminds me of just how powerful survival and love can be. I will be forever grateful to them, for they have provided me a life of servitude and meaning. For in the end, kindness is all that matters, and it is through our selfless acts and kind ways, that each of us will remain . . . Remarkably Intact.

###

Celia Belt, a burn survivor, is the founder of the award-winning Moonlight Fund Inc., a non-profit organization that provides financial and emotional assistance to burn survivors and their families.  She 

New Healthcare Clients Drive SCI Growth

SCI Launches New Healthcare Facility in Mississauga

TORONTO, Feb. 5, 2019 /CNW/ - SCI (www.sci.ca), a leading Canadian 3PL logistics company, has announced the launch of its new healthcare-dedicated facility in Mississauga, Ontario, Canada.

The 150,000-ft² fully-licensed distribution centre (DC) represents SCI's latest investment in healthcare logistics aimed at helping over-the-counter healthcare product and medical device companies manage their omni-channel supply chains within Canada. This latest facility increases SCI's overall footprint to over 4 million square feet across Canada with a total of 30 distribution centres.

The multi-client DC is equipped with state-of-the-art technology for storing temperature-sensitive healthcare products such as drugs and natural health products; as well as offering a high throughput automated order-to-kit operation designed for the OTC and Consumer Packaged Goods industries. In addition, SCI can provide distribution services, warehouse management, transportation management and late-stage customization solutions such as labeling, product kitting and configuration, and repackaging. 

This new distribution centre will be managed under SCI's Quality Management System, which operates rigid process controls through all areas of the supply chain. This ensures healthcare clients will effectively comply with Canadian regulatory standards and safety protocols. Sensitivity and security of the customer product and reputation are paramount to SCI.  

"This announcement demonstrates SCI's continued investment in the integrated healthcare network. Our goal is to help manufacturers lower costs, streamline inventory, and meet increasing demands posed by ecommerce, trading partners and Health Canada" says Peter Tostevin, Vice President Healthcare, SCI. "This investment comes on the heels of a year of significant growth in our healthcare logistics division."

"We're thrilled to be opening our brand new Healthcare facility", says Chris Galindo, President and CEO of the SCI Group. "This is a continuation of our strategy to invest in leading technology, resources and infrastructure to support client growth." As more healthcare companies diversify into new markets, we can play a significant role in the evolution of this important sector.

About SCI
SCI is one of Canada's leading providers of supply chain solutions that go beyond traditional logistics services. SCI's tagline "We'll make you even better" is a commitment today from a business that's leading clients into tomorrow. 

Trusted by clients in the retail, e-commerce, technology, and healthcare sectors, SCI operates the most extensive national distribution and transportation network in Canada, consisting of 30 distribution centres coast to coast along with over 40 critical parts stocking locations and specialized white glove shipping hubs.  

SCI shares the learnings from the sectors they operate in, providing the audience with information to guide their supply chain to success through blog posts, case studies and white papers.

SOURCE SCI Group Inc.

Record Breaking Year for Donation and Transplant in Ontario

TORONTO, Feb. 5, 2019 /CNW/ - New data released by Trillium Gift of Life Network, Ontario's organ and tissue donation and transplant agency, reveals that last year in Ontario, more people than ever before gave the gift of tissue. In 2018, there were 2,413 tissue donors, an increase of 85 per cent over the last 10 years.

Trillium Gift of Life Network credits this improvement to the expansion of routine notification to more hospitals, requiring the hospitals to notify Trillium Gift of Life Network when a patient has died.

A single tissue donor has the potential to help up to 75 people: a cornea transplant can restore sight, a skin graft can help burn patients, and a heart valve replacement can help a child with a congenital heart condition play and thrive.

In 2018, Ontario also set a record for the most organ donors after death by circulatory determination (DCD) with 118 giving the gift of life. Donation after DCD is an option when a patient has a severe illness, with no chance of recovery, and the family has decided to withdraw life-sustaining treatment. Over the last 10 years, the number of DCD donors has increased by 219 per cent, which has transformed the lives of patients waiting for an organ transplant in Ontario.

Last year similarly marked a banner year for transplantation in Ontario. Heart transplant patients waited, on average, fewer days than ever before; experiencing a 42 per cent decrease in the average wait time in one year alone (from 214 days in 2017 to 120 days in 2018). And lung transplants saved an unprecedented number of lives, with 195 patients receiving the gift of life, a 75 per cent increase in the last five years.  

"Because someone took two minutes to register as a donor, and because a family made the selfless decision to donate their loved one's organs and tissues, the lives of many Ontarians were forever changed in 2018," says Ronnie Gavsie, President and CEO, Trillium Gift of Life Network. "But despite all the progress, it is not enough.  Every three days someone dies waiting for an organ transplant."

As of December 31, 2018, 4.2 million Ontarians have registered their consent to organ and tissue donation. To register or learn more, visit www.BeADonor.ca.

2018 by the numbers:

• 333 deceased organ donors and 2,413 tissue donors 
• 1,236 organ transplants 
• 1,630 people on the transplant waitlist (as of December 31, 2018) 
• 252,581 new registered organ and tissue donors

Trillium Gift of Life Network is the Government of Ontario agency responsible for planning, promoting, coordinating and supporting organ and tissue donation and transplantation across the province and for continually improving the system so that more lives can be saved.

SOURCE Trillium Gift of Life Network

For further information:

Jennifer Allan, Communications Advisor, 416-619-2327, JAllan@giftoflife.on.ca