$51,300 OTF Grant helped breast cancer patients in Ontario access educational resources during the pandemic
OTTAWA, ON, Jan. 24, 2022 /CNW/ - When the Canadian Breast Cancer Network (CBCN) received a $51,300 Resilient Communities Fund grant from the Ontario Trillium Foundation (OTF) in late 2020, it put it to work, ensuring that breast cancer patients would continue to have access to educational supports throughout the pandemic. The Resilient Communities Fund grant program was developed by OTF to help non-profit organizations rebuild and recover from the impacts of COVID-19.
"The Canadian Breast Cancer Network's commitment to voicing the views and concerns of breast cancer patients through education and advocacy is unmatched," said Ottawa Centre MPP Joel Harden. "The staff and volunteers of this organization have done incredibly important work over the pandemic in supporting breast cancer patients and their families, and I am excited to see how they continue to support their staff and community members with both in-person and online programming with the help from the Ontario Trillium Foundation."
A breast cancer diagnosis brings with it the need for patients and families to quickly learn about a complex disease and make informed decisions about life-saving treatments. The Canadian Breast Cancer Network, Canada's only patient-directed breast cancer health charity, has developed several educational resources to help support patients and families with these important decisions. Funds from this grant helped with staffing costs, creating more information for print and digital resources, and helping with costs involved with virtual workshops and programming.
"The Support of the Ontario Trillium Foundation has allowed us to re-print educational resources and distribute them directly to patients and health centres across Ontario. This funding has also allowed us to host virtual education sessions to ensure that patients continue to have their questions addressed by health care professionals throughout the pandemic," said Cathy Ammendolea, Board Chair of the Canadian Breast Cancer Network.
The Canadian Breast Cancer Network continues to ensure that patients in all regions of Ontario, and Canada, have access to credible and current information to help make informed decisions about their treatments and health. If you or a loved one have been diagnosed with breast cancer visit www.cbcn.ca to access free educational resources and supports to help navigate this diagnosis.
The Ontario Trillium Foundation (OTF) is an agency of the Government of Ontario, and one of Canada's leading granting foundations. Last year, nearly $112M was invested into 1,384 community projects and partnerships to build healthy and vibrant communities and strengthen the impact of Ontario's non-profit sector. In 2020/21, OTF supported Ontario's economic recovery by helping non-profit organizations rebuild and recover from the impacts of COVID-19.
About CBCN The Canadian Breast Cancer Network (CBCN) is Canada's leading patient-directed national health charity. The Canadian Breast Cancer Network is committed to ensuring the best quality of care for all Canadians affected by breast cancer and strives to voice the views and concerns of breast cancer patients through the promotion of information sharing, education, and advocacy activities. To learn more about CBCN, visit www.cbcn.ca.
SOURCE Canadian Breast Cancer Network
Pharmascience Supports C.D. Howe Institute's Policy Work on Pharmaceutical Supply Chain Sustainability
MONTREAL and TORONTO, Jan. 24, 2022 /CNW Telbec/ - Pharmascience Inc., in conjunction with the C.D. Howe Institute, is pleased to announce the release of a policy seminar report on pharmaceutical supply chain sustainability.
The policy seminar brought together leaders in industry, academia and government from across Canada to discuss the challenges facing Canada's pharmaceutical supply chain, exacerbated by the COVID-19 pandemic, and to propose solutions to protect this aspect of the healthcare system.
The report summarizes the challenging questions including:
What was the state of Canadian drug supplies prior to the COVID-19 pandemic?
What changes need to be made to strengthen Canadian pharmaceutical supply chains?
Would Increasing domestic drug manufacturing capacities solve our problems?
Containing policy recommendations to keep Canada's flow of pharmaceutical products strong, the report proposes actions that all stakeholders can take, including industry and governments, to protect Canada's supply of vital medicines.
Founded in 1983, Pharmascience Inc. is the largest pharmaceutical employer in Quebec with 1,500 employees proudly headquartered in Montreal. Pharmascience Inc. is a full-service privately owned pharmaceutical company with strong roots in Canada and a growing global reach with product distribution in over 50 countries. Ranked 47th among Canada's top 100 Research & Development (R&D) investors in 2020, with 40-50 million dollars invested each year, Pharmascience Inc. is among the largest drug manufacturers in Canada.
SOURCE Pharmascience Inc.
Life on the Grocery Line a Powerful Call for Unity and Compassion
Denver, CO, January 24, 2022 — “She just broke … right in front of us,” said Adam Kaat, referring to a grocery store customer who simply buckled under the weight of COVID restrictions. It was just one of many memorable customer encounters Kaat had while working as a cashier at a high-end supermarket in Denver in 2020.
Kaat dealt with the uncertainty of the pandemic, the paranoia, and the angry customers and empty shelves by blogging about his experiences. His blog resonated. Soon, he had amassed 15,000 followers and built a community among those who shared his profoundly human — and humane — perspectives.
“It (the pandemic) taught me that we really need each other — even strangers — more than we think,” Kaat said in a recent interview. “I felt like I went from a cashier to a therapist overnight. People were spilling their hearts out to me.”
Kaat drew upon his blog, as well as stories shared with him in his online community, to build the narrative for his new book, Life on the Grocery Line: A Frontline Experience in a Global Pandemic. This riveting, firsthand account is told through the eyes of a character named Daniel, who watches from the frontlines as the frenzied panic caused by COVID surges like a tidal wave across his home state of Colorado. Now, he's suddenly being called a hero just for showing up at his job, and he isn't sure how to feel about that.
Daniel sees fear in the eyes of some customers and hostility in others, as he does his best to hold his head high and just keep making it from one shift to the next. And along the way, he learns more than he ever expected to about humanity's response to fear, observing most prominently the way in which some people look down on the very workers they deem "essential.”
At its core, Life on the Grocery Line is about a test of the human spirit — a 21st century manifestation of Ernest Hemingway’s The Old Man and The Sea.
Author Adam Jonathan Kaat worked in a grocery store as a cashier and then as a prepared foods supervisor from January 2020 until May 2021. After college, he bounced around through the corporate world until leaving it all behind in the Fall of 2019 to write his first novel. By January 2020, he had taken a job as a cashier to earn money while preserving mental energy for his creative pursuits. He got much more than he bargained for when COVID hit. He began to blog about his experiences as a frontline worker, and 15,000 Facebook followers later, Life on the Grocery Line was born.
For more information and to read Kaat’s blog, please visit www.lifeonthegroceryline.com; or connect with the author on Instagram (@kaatadam), Facebook (@lifeonthegroceryline) or Twitter (lifeonthegroce1).
Life on the Grocery Line: A Frontline Experience in a Global Pandemic
New York, NY, January 24, 2022 — The paradigm has shifted in the world of plastic surgery, with virtual consultations streamlining the process and tightening the timeline between concept and completion. But top New York City plastic surgeon Dr. Richard Westreich cautions that consumers seeking cosmetic enhancements should never skimp on safety or due diligence.
“Your thought process and decision making about what you’re doing and who you’re doing it with should almost be more rigorous,” Dr. Westreich said in a recent interview.
The numbers of cosmetic procedures have hit new highs since 2020 thanks to the "Zoom Boom" and flexible work schedules. Experts fully expect the trend to continue throughout 2022.
Doctors say breast augmentation and Brazilian Butt Lifts are the top surgeries being performed; however, liposuction, rhinoplasty, eyelid surgery and facelifts are also on the rise. Less invasive procedures like Botox injections also are skyrocketing. Experts say the Botulinum Toxin market jumped from a -8.6 percent slump in 2020 to a 4.7 percent increase this year, and it’s still rising at an even faster pace.
Lower facial nonsurgical procedures and lip treatments will continue to rise, and noses will stay strong. Body procedures are booming now that people are going out again.
Dr. Westreich offers the following tips for those considering cosmetic procedures:
Tip 1: Make sure any doctor you schedule through a virtual visit allows you to cancel AFTER an in-person meeting for surgery. There is no substitute for face to face.
Tip 2: Results over name recognition. Your outcome will not be better than what they post online. That's considered their best work.
Tip 3: Don't rush. COVID-19 won't last forever, and you will have opportunities in the future that are different but workable. Make sure you're solid before moving on.
Dr. Westreich says it’s also very important that patients are vaccinated to stay healthy pre- and post-operation. “The average daily new COVID cases and deaths are increasing once again, and new variants are surfacing like Omicron. These mutations have proven to be more contagious and in many cases far more dangerous. This has caused a recent uptick in test positivity rates and virus-related hospitalizations for the first time in months. Despite these alarming statistics, many are still opting to have these elective medical procedures and must take all of the necessary precautions.”
More on Dr. Richard Westreich
Dr. Richard Westreich graduated Magna Cum Laude with a B.A. in Biological Basis of Behavior, Neuroscience concentration in 1995 from the University of Pennsylvania. He completed his medical school training at the New York University School of Medicine in 1999 with an M.D. and Honors in Cell Biology Research. Dr. Westreich then did his post-graduate training in Facial Plastic Surgery and Otolaryngology at the prestigious Mount Sinai Hospital in New York City.
He has been selected multiple times by Castle Connolly and New York magazine as one of the top doctors in facial plastic surgery. He is an assistant professor at SUNY Downstate Medical Center and is on staff at Lenox Hill and Mount Sinai Hospitals. He is a faculty member and teacher at a fellowship in Facial Plastic Surgery at Mount Sinai. His private practice is located on the Upper East Side of Manhattan, where he specializes in rhinoplasty, septoplasty, secondary and reconstructive rhinoplasty, facelifts, eyelid surgery and nonsurgical procedures.
He can be seen regularly on several national news programs, including ABC, CBS, FOX and Newsmax.
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FROM TRAUMA TO TRIUMPH: NEW MEMOIR SHARES HOW TO BECOME YOUR OWN HEALER IN TIMES OF DARKNESS
The Unspoken:
A Soul’s Reflection on Healing from Abuse, Neglect, and Chronic Pain
Greek philosopher Epictetus once said, “It's not what happens to you, but how you react to it that matters.” This adage perfectly exemplifies how Ashley Haseotes has dealt with her past trauma, abuse and neglect. Now an intuitive energy healer, entrepreneur and meditation coach, Ashley's inspiring story of pain, loss and self-healing is showcased in the new memoir The Unspoken.The Unspoken is a highly personal, transformative story of Ashley Haseotes after her troubling encounter with childhood abuse and neglect, coping with her son’s cancer diagnosis and living with chronic pain. ABOUT THE BOOK:"Yeah, I've gone through some rough times in my life, but was it really trauma?"You may have found yourself thinking something along these lines, and you wouldn’t be alone. Trauma comes in many shapes and sizes, and on some level, we have all experienced it. The unfortunate reality is that many of us pass off or downplay situations or circumstances in our lives that are, in fact, emotionally traumatic. Left unattended, this trauma can wreak havoc on our minds and bodies, bringing about physical symptoms of pain and rendering us unsafe, anxious, and feeling unfulfilled.In The Unspoken, author Ashley Haseotes shares her story of hitting rock bottom and finally coming to grips with the reality of her trauma. Suffering deeply and feeling overwhelmed, she becomes debilitatingly ill with chronic migraines and vertigo that leave her confined to her bed for months. Unable to work and take care of her children, lost and disconnected from her life purpose, she stares down feelings of unbridled failure and unsurmountable stress.Through Ashley’s journey of chronic pain, a breathtaking spiritual healing is catalyzed. Her memoir is a story of walking through the storm to emerge reborn—to be healed. And if you are willing to do the work, you’ll find an opportunity for your own healing woven into each page.-Release Date: February 8, 2022 -Publisher: Made for Success Publishing -ISBN-10: 1641466774 -ISBN-13: 978-1641466776 -Details: The Unspoken is available for Pre-Order on Amazon."The Unspoken transforms the meaning of "suffering" from a detrimental emotion into a necessary (albeit unwelcome) step to overcoming the roadblocks hindering success in one's personal and professional life. Kudos to Ashley for this achievement and for having the courage to share her story." -DOMINIQUE EASLEY (Former NFL Player, SuperBowl Champion and Mental Health and Wellness Advocate) “The Unspoken is a powerful example of self-healing in action. Ashley shows us how chronic physical pain and crippling anxiety can be rooted in unresolved psychological trauma. Her journey to wellness will inspire and empower you to do your own work." —DR. NICOLE LEPERA (Author of How To Do The Work, Founder of the SelfHealers Circle and @the.holistic.psychologist) ABOUT THE AUTHOR, ASHLEY HASEOTES:
Ashley Haseotes is an intuitive energy healer and Chopra Center certified meditation coach, as well as the author of The Unspoken. After collapsing into chronic pain from both excessive overworking and suppressed childhood trauma, Ashley underwent a transformative spiritual healing. In recounting this experience, her memoir emerged.
Drawing upon her own experience, Ashley is devoted to helping others work through difficult experiences and deep trauma. As a personal coach, Ashley helps clients who are feeling stuck, struggling, or undergoing any major life shift. And through the charity she founded, One Mission, Ashley helps children and families navigate pediatric cancer and heal after treatment. FOR MORE INFORMATION VISIT:https://www.theunspokenbook.com/
Numbers Reveal COVID Lockdown’s Human Toll
St. Paul, MN, January 24, 2022 — How does a nation, and a world, respond to one of the greatest public health crises of our times? And at what cost?
With the logic of a lawyer and the scientific expertise of an immunologist, Hugh McTavish, J.D., Ph.D., walks readers through the COVID-19 pandemic and the policy decisions that were made to keep the virus in check in his eye-opening book, COVID Lockdown Insanity. Dr. McTavish’s fact-filled exploration reaches beyond the simple metrics of case and death counts and reveals the unsettling consequences of society’s responses to this disease. His careful examination of the scientific evidence related to COVID-19 transmission and his analyses of both the human and economic costs of the lockdown strategy illuminate the dysfunctionality of the government’s policy response. In the end, he lights a path toward making more enlightened decisions that offer hope of real solutions.
In the book, Dr. McTavish dissects the data that shows:
- The COVID lockdowns threw 63 million Americans into major depression.
- All evidence suggests that the lockdown response to COVID failed to decrease COVID deaths at all.
- Even if the lockdowns prevented 200,000 COVID deaths, which they probably did not, the lockdowns caused more loss of life in increased suicides, drug overdose deaths, cancer deaths and heart disease deaths than they saved in prevented COVID deaths.
- For every 1 COVID death prevented, the lockdowns caused these harms: 1/3 of a death of despair (suicide or drug overdose); 316 people thrown into major depression; 127 people out of work; 350 students out of school; 1,640 people denied the right to live their lives as they wish.
- Mask wearing has “little or no effect” on COVID cases or deaths.
- Hand washing and hand sanitizer use is the best intervention and could dramatically reduce COVID deaths, but this was underemphasized.
- Asymptomatic people very rarely spread COVID.
- Children do not spread COVID, and closing schools had no effect on COVID spread at all, and we knew that by the summer of 2020, and CDC staff wrote a paper saying so in January 2021.
In conclusion, Dr. McTavish says, “Lockdowns have no advantage at all. If you think life is better than death, a long life is better than a shorter life, happiness is better than depression, more money is better than less, education is better than ignorance, child abuse and domestic abuse are bad things, and more personal freedom is better than less, then you agree the lockdowns were a mistake.”
Hugh McTavish is a Ph.D. biochemist and immunologist and a patent attorney. He has authored 18 refereed scientific journal articles and is the inventor of 21 U.S. patents. He has also written two prior books on public policy and nature. He has started two pharmaceutical companies off his own inventions. He lives near St. Paul, Minnesota.
COVID Lockdown Insanity: The COVID Deaths It Prevented, the Depression and Suicides it Caused, What We Should Have Done, and What It Shows We Could Do Now to Address Real Crises
LifeLabs partners with UBC on Drone Transport Initiative to support access to essential health services for BC First Nations communities
Burnaby, British Columbia, Jan. 24, 2022 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- LifeLabs is pleased to share it has partnered with the Stellat’en First Nation, Village of Fraser Lake, the First Nations Health Authority (FHNA), the Rural Coordination Centre of BC (RCCbc), University of British Columbia’s Faculty of Medicine and Faculty of Pharmaceutical Sciences, and Drone Delivery Canada (DDC) in a study investigating how drone technology can be used to improve health care for rural and remote First Nations communities.
“This type of project here is unique. As a Native community, we’re at the forefront of the technology,” says Chief Robert Michell of Stellat’en First Nation. “It would be amazing in 10 years’ time to see where this goes. This is definitely a first step, and we’re proud to be a part of it.”
“We’re proud to support such an important initiative that will help provide greater access to essential health care services for First Nations communities,” said Charles Brown, President and CEO of LifeLabs. “New technologies such as drones can present opportunities to deliver health services closer to home, improving accessibility to certain medical support for people in remote and rural communities.”
The Drone Transport Initiative (DTI) is nearing completion of its first phase of testing drone flights carrying supplies and mock samples between Stellat’en First Nations and Fraser Lake, so that eventually real test samples can reach testing laboratories in a timely manner.
Many rural and remote First Nations communities have unequal access to health care due to factors such as transportation constraints and challenges with recruiting and retaining health care providers. The COVID-19 pandemic exacerbated many of these accessibility issues, especially with regards to transportation and testing of patient samples.
“Technology can be a game-changer and transform access and delivery for citizens who live in these communities. That’s not going to happen overnight—there’s going to be a lot of hard work over many years to continue to refine what we understand to be possible with this technology,” says Dr. John Pawlovich, Rural Doctors’ UBC Chair in Rural Health. “The Drone Transport Initiative is our opportunity to start that journey with drone technology. The initiative cannot be done without the leadership and partnership of the two communities.”
Through this partnership, LifeLabs is also contributing to the development of standard operating procedures and ensuring an end-to-end solution by participating in data evaluations, sample logistics, and training. What's more, this will support important community engagement efforts with Stellat’en First Nation, which will assist in identifying lessons learned and factors supportive of cultural safety and humility in our planning, implementation, and engagement practices.
LifeLabs is proud to support the Drone Transport Initiative, which will help advance our knowledge for the future use of drone technology to transport clinical materials and samples for lab testing. It will also enable improved delivery times of essential supplies to remote locations to positively impact health outcomes.
The DTI initiative’s drone technology and service are provided by Drone Delivery Canada (DDC), and funding is provided through a grant from the TD Ready Challenge.
About LifeLabs
LifeLabs is Canada’s leader in laboratory diagnostic information and health connectivity solutions, leveraging innovative and personalized digital tools that empower customers to live their best life. Our dedicated and talented team of 6,000 employees supports 20 million lab visits and conducts over 100 million laboratory tests annually. LifeLabs is 100% Canadian-owned by OMERS Infrastructure, the infrastructure investment manager of one of Canada’s largest defined benefit pension plans. Learn more at www.lifelabs.com
About Stellat’en First Nation
The Stellat’en First Nation (No. 613), has its main office located on the Stellat’en Reserve on the banks of the Nadleh Bun (Fraser Lake) near Fort Fraser. The community of Stellako is located 160 kilometres west of Prince George, B.C. Stellat’en (people of Stella) has existed since time immemorial. The fertile land between Fraser Lake and Vanderhoof is the basin of a glacial Lake. Stellaquo is located at the confluence of two rivers: the Stellaquo and Endako. Stellaquo River is a world-renowned trout fishing location.
Ranked among the world’s top medical schools with the fifth-largest MD enrollment in North America, the UBC Faculty of Medicine is a leader in both the science and the practice of medicine. Guided by our vision—to transform health for everyone—our faculty members, learners, staff and alumni are accelerating discovery and creating pathways to better health for communities at home and around the world. Through collaboration with our partners, we strive to meet the demands of today and tomorrow, bringing real and lasting hope to people everywhere. Learn more at med.ubc.ca
Founded in 1946, the Faculty of Pharmaceutical Sciences at UBC enjoys an international reputation in pharmacy education, innovation in pharmacy practice, and research in the pharmaceutical sciences. Each year, we educate close to 900 undergraduate students and train more than 50 graduate students. Our alumni, numbering close to 6,000, have established themselves as successful pharmacists, scientists, teachers, entrepreneurs, leaders and innovators the world over. Learn more at: https://pharmsci.ubc.ca/
About Drone Delivery Canada Corp.
Drone Delivery Canada Corp. is an ISO 9001 certified, award-winning drone technology company focused on the design, development, and implementation of its proprietary logistics software platform, using drones. The Company’s platform is used as a Software as a Service (SaaS) model for government and corporate organizations globally.
Drone Delivery Canada Corp. is a publicly listed company trading on the TSX.V Exchange under the symbol FLT, on the U.S. OTC QX market under the symbol TAKOF and on the Frankfurt exchange in Germany under the symbol A2AMGZ or ABB.F.
Plastic Surgeries Boom as Variants Surge
New York, NY, January 21, 2022 — The paradigm has shifted in the world of plastic surgery, with virtual consultations streamlining the process and tightening the timeline between concept and completion. But top New York City plastic surgeon Dr. Richard Westreich cautions that consumers seeking cosmetic enhancements should never skimp on safety or due diligence.
“Your thought process and decision making about what you’re doing and who you’re doing it with should almost be more rigorous,” Dr. Westreich said in a recent interview.
The numbers of cosmetic procedures have hit new highs since 2020 thanks to the "Zoom Boom" and flexible work schedules. Experts fully expect the trend to continue throughout 2022.
Doctors say breast augmentation and Brazilian Butt Lifts are the top surgeries being performed; however, liposuction, rhinoplasty, eyelid surgery and facelifts are also on the rise. Less invasive procedures like Botox injections also are skyrocketing. Experts say the Botulinum Toxin market jumped from a -8.6 percent slump in 2020 to a 4.7 percent increase this year, and it’s still rising at an even faster pace.
Lower facial nonsurgical procedures and lip treatments will continue to rise, and noses will stay strong. Body procedures are booming now that people are going out again.
Dr. Westreich offers the following tips for those considering cosmetic procedures:
Tip 1: Make sure any doctor you schedule through a virtual visit allows you to cancel AFTER an in-person meeting for surgery. There is no substitute for face to face.
Tip 2: Results over name recognition. Your outcome will not be better than what they post online. That's considered their best work.
Tip 3: Don't rush. COVID-19 won't last forever, and you will have opportunities in the future that are different but workable. Make sure you're solid before moving on.
Dr. Westreich says it’s also very important that patients are vaccinated to stay healthy pre- and post-operation. “The average daily new COVID cases and deaths are increasing once again, and new variants are surfacing like Omicron. These mutations have proven to be more contagious and in many cases far more dangerous. This has caused a recent uptick in test positivity rates and virus-related hospitalizations for the first time in months. Despite these alarming statistics, many are still opting to have these elective medical procedures and must take all of the necessary precautions.”
More on Dr. Richard Westreich
Dr. Richard Westreich graduated Magna Cum Laude with a B.A. in Biological Basis of Behavior, Neuroscience concentration in 1995 from the University of Pennsylvania. He completed his medical school training at the New York University School of Medicine in 1999 with an M.D. and Honors in Cell Biology Research. Dr. Westreich then did his post-graduate training in Facial Plastic Surgery and Otolaryngology at the prestigious Mount Sinai Hospital in New York City.
He has been selected multiple times by Castle Connolly and New York magazine as one of the top doctors in facial plastic surgery. He is an assistant professor at SUNY Downstate Medical Center and is on staff at Lenox Hill and Mount Sinai Hospitals. He is a faculty member and teacher at a fellowship in Facial Plastic Surgery at Mount Sinai. His private practice is located on the Upper East Side of Manhattan, where he specializes in rhinoplasty, septoplasty, secondary and reconstructive rhinoplasty, facelifts, eyelid surgery and nonsurgical procedures.
He can be seen regularly on several national news programs, including ABC, CBS, FOX and Newsmax.
'Changing the complexion of the industry': Publicis Groupe Canada launches bold DE&I, mental health mandate
Canada's largest and leading communications group has launched an ambitious workplace and industry Diversity, Equity & Inclusion mandate under four pillars: Education, Outreach, Talent Management and Giving Back
TORONTO, Jan. 21, 2022 /CNW/ - As part of a commitment to diversity, equity and inclusion not only in its offices but the communications industry more broadly, Publicis Groupe Canada has launched a series of new DE&I initiatives for 2022, including an educational outreach program for young, racialized Canadians, and bold partnerships that aim to have a meaningful impact on the wellbeing of its people, communities, and business.
A Groupe task force developed the mandate under four key pillars: Education, Outreach, Talent Management and Giving Back, each with its own partners and programs to foster growth, support and understanding within and outside the Groupe. Formed as a myriad of industries reckon with the state of work, mental health and racial inequality, the Groupe mandate boldly sets a new standard for human resources and professional development.
"As we reflected on the state of our industry, and so many others, it became clear that more needed to be done internally, but also that our actions could serve as a catalyst for the wider advertising industry," said Stephanie McRae, Head of Diversity & Inclusion for Publicis Groupe Canada, and Vice-President Human Resources for Leo Burnett and Saatchi & Saatchi. "Since the preliminary launch of the mandate, our efforts have already proven successful, with exciting new long-term partnerships in development and positive feedback related to swift policy changes and updates that speak to the needs of our people today when they need it."
Support for Publicis Groupe Canada Employees
Among the range of pressing needs addressed by the Groupe mandate is enhanced mental health supports, as the risk of burnout during the pandemic restrictions has been well documented over the last two years. In 2021, the Groupe increased access to mental health benefits to $5,000 annually across the board. Plus, to acknowledge the diverse health needs of our employees, the Groupe added more targeted supports, including up to $50,000 per lifetime in support of gender affirmation care for transgender employees, and increased fertility treatment supports.
As families across Canada navigate shifting safety protocols that have closed, reopened and re-closed schools and daycares, the Groupe continued to enhance its commitment to supporting parents at home. In 2021, the Groupe audited its health benefits policies to include a 100 per cent salary top up for the first six weeks of parental and instituted flexible meeting policies that factor in the varying responsibilities of employees' home lives. In coordination with the U.S. team, the Groupe ran "Publicis School" sessions, including after-school programming, featuring video sessions with families to read stories, cook, dance, learn magic and participate in science workshops to allow a pause for Groupe parents.
"As part of our Talent Management pillar, support for employees through boosted mental health policies was a no-brainer," added McRae. "Managing talent cannot be a siloed effort, but instead has to account for the needs of employees in their roles and in their homes – especially today. We're proud to have made industry-leading mental health progress over the last year, from education and training to access to vital supports."
Support for Young, Black, Indigenous and Racialized Canadians
Among the Groupe's boldest new programs is This Is The Job (thisisthejob.org), an outreach initiative for Black, Indigenous and racialized teens and young adults to educate, inspire and encourage them to consider a career in advertising. During the development process, the Groupe and its partners identified a lack of diversity within the industry, marked by an absence of diverse decision-makers, plus a knowledge gap among leadership and among underrepresented racialized groups. Through This Is The Job, the Groupe aims to close that gap.
"These jobs are invisible to so many racialized Canadians, especially first-generation Canadians whose career options can often feel limited by circumstance," said Scott Pinkney, Vice-President, Executive Creative Director of Publicis Hawkeye and one of the founders of This Is The Job. "Without proper education and awareness, the advertising industry risks falling short on being a diverse and inclusive workforce unless we ourselves take action to improve it. This Is The Job is not about recruitment, it's about outreach, knowledge sharing, and changing the complexion of the industry."
Officially launched in Dec. 2021, This Is The Job leverages the designing, writing, and programming talents of the Groupe to highlight 25 possible job types within the industry, and match students to the optimal opportunity for them based on a questionnaire. The Groupe has already partnered with multiple school boards in Ontario to bring This Is The Job into focus with a planned series of career sessions for Ontario students, and the goal of launching a robust mentorship program.
"This isn't a momentary campaign, it's a long-term platform for change and we can't wait to see where This Is The Job takes us," added Pinkney. Since launch, several other organizations have reached out to bring the outreach program to their communities.
Support via Education, Giving Back
The broader mandate seeks to educate and enrich the Groupe network through a speaker series and educational programs, building on the success of the more than 20 sessions in 2021, including a talk with the Hon. Dr. Jean Augustine, the first Black Canadian woman to serve as a federal Minister of the Crown and Member of Parliament in Canada. Other guests included: Agapi Gessesse, Executive Director at the Careers Education Empowerment (CEE) Centre For Young Black Professionals; Dr. David S. Goldbloom, Senior Medical Advisor at the Centre for Addiction and Mental Health; and Chrystal Tabobandung, founder of RAISE, an Indigenous cultural awareness and competency training program.
Efforts to make real change must also go beyond the walls of the Groupe, as demonstrated by This Is The Job as well as the mandate's Giving Back endeavours that focus on charitable partnerships. In 2021, the Groupe offered its services pro bono to the aforementioned CEE, which will continue in 2022, and instituted an employee volunteer day policy. Next, the Groupe will launch an innovative skills development program for young BIPOC creatives interested in the advertising industry in collaboration with the key training partners POV, and the Miami Ad School Canada.
"This mandate is about the Groupe holding ourselves accountable for systemic failures, encouraging transparency, and inspiring our colleagues in the industry to do the same," said Andrew Bruce, CEO of Publicis Groupe Canada. "An inclusive workplace is not only more inviting and supportive, but it encourages diversity of perspective and stimulate new ideas. In an industry that thrives on new ideas and innovation, that's an exciting prospect. I'm thrilled to back our bold mandate and inspiring team as we move forward to strengthen support and create opportunities for all."
But…Why? PodcastPrompts Listeners to Tap Into Resiliency and Find a Growth-Oriented Mindset
Sacramento, CA, January 21, 2022 —Listeners can jointop iTunes podcaster, licensed psychotherapist and bestselling author Michaela Renee Johnson as she dives into misconceptions, curiosities and concepts worth questioning in her brand new, narrative-shattering podcast, But…Why?
After 150 episodes of her Be You Find Happy podcast, and on the heels of the pandemic, Johnson started to research root causes of unhappiness. Her findings? That more growth actually stems from what is not making us happy. Johnson is kicking off 2022 by challenging listeners to dive deeper into creating a fulfilling life. Her But…Why? podcast pushes the envelope on how we look at our lives and tap into resiliency.
“Often times we find ourselves in situations where questions are formulated as a statement. Which creates an against the wall response,” Johnson said. “In this podcast, we challenge blasé responses to questions, we dive a little deeper and come at concepts of success in life and happiness from different angles.”
The But…Why? podcast launches January 2022 with the first episode, “Why resolutions are a waste of time,” and continues to feature celebrity guests like New York Times bestselling author Frank Schaeffer and History Channel biblical scholar Dr. Joye Pugh, who challenge ideas of putting career before relationships, loss of spirituality and more.
“Growth comes from what’s not serving us,” Johnson added. “What’s not bringing you happiness? But…why?”
Michaela Renee Johnson is the bestselling author of Empowered: A Motivational Journal for Women, a licensed psychotherapist and a counselor at the prestigious Couples Institute of San Francisco. She has an undergraduate degree in Journalism/Communication and a master’s degree in Psychology. An avid adventurer and aviator, Johnson has traveled to more than 20 countries. Her popular Be You Find Happy podcast was put on pause in December after 150 episodes. She lives with her familyand a homestead full of furred and feathered creatures in Northern California, where she enjoyshiking, gardening, creating pottery and reading.
But…Why? is now available on every major podcast platform. Watch for Johnson’s upcoming book, Growth Mindset Workbook for Adults: Empowering Insights and Exercises to Turn Challenges Into Opportunities and Achieve Your Full Potential. For more information, please visit www.michaelarenee.com.
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-Release Date: February 8, 2022
