Sunnybrook launches innovative new artificial intelligence research lab with $1-million gift from TD Bank Group
TORONTO, Nov. 25, 2021 /CNW/ - TD Bank Group has donated a $1-million gift to establish the Augmented Precision Medicine Lab at Sunnybrook Health Sciences Centre. The Augmented Precision Medicine Lab will develop cutting-edge artificial intelligence (AI) systems to help improve the clinical care that patients receive in the fields of cardiology, cancer and other chronic diseases. Sunnybrook's rich and complex data stores will be harnessed to develop clinical risk prediction models that will enable physicians to provide personalized care to patients and potentially improve outcomes.
With this investment, Sunnybrook will have the resources it needs to build technological infrastructure, attract more talent, and accelerate a number of innovative projects either planned or underway.
"This generous gift will unite medical experts, computer scientists and industry partners to harness the power of big data and machine learning to drive personalized approaches to medicine," says Kelly Cole, President and CEO, Sunnybrook Foundation. "TD has long been a dedicated supporter of innovation at Sunnybrook and we are delighted to take this next step together."
The Augmented Precision Medicine Lab will work closely with industry partners to develop powerful new diagnostic tools, bring them to communities across Canada, and ultimately improve health outcomes.
"AI in medicine will undoubtedly improve the quality of care that patients receive, and, perhaps more importantly, it will improve health-care equity by dramatically widening access to underserved communities and populations," says Dr. Alexander Bilbily, a physician and computer scientist at Sunnybrook who will serve as the director of the new lab. "And by recognizing the essential role that industry plays in health care, we create a clear path from the lab to the patient where these tools can have a real impact on the patient journey."
The Augmented Precision Medicine Lab's first project aims to leverage Sunnybrook's extensive experience with patients with COVID-19 to create AI tools that can identify which patients are more likely to deteriorate. As a result, doctors will be empowered to closely monitor and improve care for these patients. The tool is being developed for use in smaller community hospitals, which demonstrates how AI can extend the reach of medical knowledge to smaller centres with less experience, thereby improving health-care equity for patients in underserved areas.
"The funding announced today will help Sunnybrook enhance its research and develop AI technologies to advance quality health care for patients who need it most," says Janice Farrell Jones, Senior Vice President, Sustainability and Corporate Citizenship, TD Bank Group. "Through the TD Ready Commitment, the Bank's corporate citizenship platform, we are proud to support this important initiative that will ultimately help patients living with cardiac conditions, cancer and other chronic diseases access equitable and personalized care."
Together, Sunnybrook and TD Bank Group are inventing the future of health care.
About Sunnybrook
Sunnybrook Health Sciences Centre is inventing the future of health care for the 1.3 million patients the hospital cares for each year through the dedication of its more than 10,000 staff and volunteers. An internationally recognized leader in research and education and a full affiliation with the University of Toronto distinguishes Sunnybrook as one of Canada's premier academic health sciences centres. Sunnybrook specializes in caring for high-risk pregnancies, critically ill newborns and adults, offering specialized rehabilitation, and treating and preventing cancer, cardiovascular disease, neurological and psychiatric disorders, orthopaedic and arthritic conditions and traumatic injuries. The hospital also has a unique and national leading program for the care of Canada's war veterans.
SOURCE Sunnybrook Health Sciences Centre
What Type Of Headphones Should You Buy For Exercising?
Whether you are running on a treadmill inside a gym or going down a trail in your local park, it's always great to be able to listen to your favorite tunes along the way. Along with being able to keep you motivated and limit any distracting noises, having music or motivational messages in your ears during your workout can make getting fit more enjoyable. If you're searching for the best headphones to use for your workout, make sure they meet the following criteria.
Comfort and Fit
To begin with, always make sure whatever you select is comfortable and fits securely. While you don't want anything pinching your head or ears, you don't want headphones that will be rattling around or falling off as you exercise.
Easy to Use
When you are ready to begin your workout, the last thing you want to be doing is fiddling around with your headphones. Whether it's trying to figure out if they are fully charged or how you can link them to your smartphone's Bluetooth capabilities, you may find yourself losing valuable time and becoming more and more frustrated if you don't have headphones that are very easy to use.
Good Sound Quality
Since you've probably had other types of headphones in the past, you know how much the sound quality can vary from one pair to the next. Thus, before you purchase a new pair, check the sound quality to make sure you like what you hear. From the volume fluctuating between loud and soft to ensuring your headphones have excellent volume control features, play different types of music you'll be listening to so that you're satisfied with their sound quality.
Sweat Resistant
Needless to say, you expect to work up quite a sweat during your workout. After all, if you don't, getting fit will probably not happen anytime soon. When selecting your headphones for working out, always buy some that specifically say they are sweat-resistant. Otherwise, you may discover your headphones die on you in the middle of your workout.
Safety Features
Finally, remember that your workout headphones do not have to be the type that cancels out all the noise around you. In fact, you'll be much safer if you buy headphones that have a "hear-through mode" as one of their main safety features. With this feature, you'll be able to hear traffic and other people around you just enough to alert you to any possible problems.
Once you get workout headphones that have these and other great features, your workout will be more enjoyable as well as more productive.
Pfizer and BioNTech Receive Health Canada Authorization of COVID-19 Vaccine COMIRNATY in Children Ages 5 Through <12 Years
With this authorization, COMIRNATY is currently the only COVID-19 vaccine available in Canada for use in this age group
Authorization represents an important milestone with the potential to help protect school-aged children from COVID-19 infection
KIRKLAND, QC and MAINZ, Germany, Nov. 19, 2021 /CNW/ - Pfizer Canada ULC and BioNTech SE today announced that Health Canada has authorized COMIRNATY, the companies' COVID-19 vaccine for children 5 to under 12 years of age . For this age group, the vaccine is to be administered in a two-dose regimen of 10-μg doses given three weeks apart. The 10-μg dose level was carefully selected based on safety, tolerability and immunogenicity data. This is the first COVID-19 vaccine authorized in Canada for individuals 5 to under 12 years of age.
"We are very proud to share this news with Canadians today. This is a day so many parents, eager to protect their young children from this virus, have been waiting for," said Fabien Paquette, Vaccines Lead, Pfizer Canada. "With this Health Canada authorization, we have achieved another key milestone in our ongoing effort to help protect families and communities, and to get this disease under control."
"Today's authorization is supported by clinical data showing a positive benefit risk profile and high vaccine efficacy in children, underlining its potential to address a current public health need," said Ugur Sahin, M.D., CEO and Co-founder of BioNTech. "As children 5 to 12 years are approaching the end of the year, both in and out of the classroom, our goal is offer a vaccine to help keep them safe and protected. We will continue to work towards broadening the access to our vaccine, also for younger age groups."
Health Canada based its decision on data from a Phase 2/3 randomized, controlled trial that included ~4600 children 5 to under 12 years of age (2,268 from the original group and 2,379 from the supplemental safety group).
Shipping of 10-μg pediatric doses to Canadian immunization sites in partnership with the Public Health Agency of Canada will begin imminently (ages referred to as 5y to <12y on the vial and 5 years to <12 years on the carton).
COMIRNATY (also referred to as Pfizer-BioNTech COVID-19 Vaccine), which is based on BioNTech's proprietary mRNA technology, was developed by both BioNTech and Pfizer. BioNTech is the Marketing Authorization Holder in Canada, the United States, the European Union, and the United Kingdom, and the holder of emergency use authorizations or equivalents in the United States (jointly with Pfizer) and other countries. Submissions to pursue regulatory approvals in those countries where emergency use authorizations or equivalent were initially granted are planned or ongoing.
AUTHORIZED USE IN CANADA: COMIRNATY is indicated for active immunization to prevent coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) caused by severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) in individuals 5 years of age and older. COMIRNATY must be injected intramuscularly only.
About Pfizer Canada Pfizer Canada ULC is the Canadian operation of Pfizer Inc., one of the world's leading biopharmaceutical companies. Our diversified healthcare portfolio includes some of the world's best known and most prescribed medicines and vaccines. We apply science and our global resources to improve the health and well-being of Canadians at every stage of life. Our commitment is reflected in everything we do, from our disease awareness initiatives to our community partnerships. To learn more about Pfizer Canada, visit pfizer.ca or you can follow us on LinkedIn, Facebook, Twitter or YouTube.
About BioNTech Biopharmaceutical New Technologies is a next generation immunotherapy company pioneering novel therapies for cancer and other serious diseases. The Company exploits a wide array of computational discovery and therapeutic drug platforms for the rapid development of novel biopharmaceuticals. Its broad portfolio of oncology product candidates includes individualized and off-the-shelf mRNA-based therapies, innovative chimeric antigen receptor T cells, bi-specific checkpoint immuno-modulators, targeted cancer antibodies and small molecules. Based on its deep expertise in mRNA vaccine development and in-house manufacturing capabilities, BioNTech and its collaborators are developing multiple mRNA vaccine candidates for a range of infectious diseases alongside its diverse oncology pipeline. BioNTech has established a broad set of relationships with multiple global pharmaceutical collaborators, including Genmab, Sanofi, Bayer Animal Health, Genentech, a member of the Roche Group, Regeneron, Genevant, Fosun Pharma, and Pfizer. For more information, please visit www.BioNTech.de.
SOURCE Pfizer Canada Inc.
Lift&Co. Expo 2021 Delivers Exciting, High-Energy Opening Day
Toronto’s must-go show runs through Nov. 21 with the new Lift Psychedelics Business Summit & more still to come!
Toronto, Ontario, Nov. 19, 2021 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Lift&Co. Expo debuted a whiz-bang opening day at the Metro Toronto Convention Centre on November 18, 2021. After an anticipation-building hiatus, Canada’s no. 1 cannabis conference and trade show did not disappoint on Day 1 of its triumphant return. In addition to an exceptional, forward-thinking conference, hundreds of attendees were treated to many of the signature surprises hinted in pre-show announcements.
Highlights included:
Lift Cannabis Business Conference Day 1 of Lift&Co. Expo 2021 featured the event’s exclusive, fan favorite full-day conference, which gathered Canada’s top cannabis business leaders, innovators, and policymakers. Topics added up to a veritable master class in the modern cannabis industry: Economics, Regulations & Legislation, Marketing, Retail, Risk Management, Testing, Financials, and Fundraising.
High Profile Speakers Following opening remarks from Shawn Pierce (President, MCI Group) and conference chair Trina Fraser (Partner, Brazeau Seller Law), industry leaders filled the packed Lift Cannabis Business Conference agenda, including Alison Gordon (founder 48North), Bruce Linton (Chair, Advisory Board, Red Light Holland) Mark Ware (Chief Medical Officer, Canopy Growth Corp), Ross Lipson (CEO, Dutchie), Ashley Chui (Strategy and Transactions, EY-Partheon), John Fowler (President, Muskoka Grown), Abi Roach (Senior Category Manager, OCS), and Nathaniel Erskine-Smith MP (Beaches-East York), and so many more.
Prize Giveaways & Live Entertainment - Several attendees were the lucky winners of coveted Golden Tickets to the Lift After Party at El Mocambo, and as guests posed and snapped at irresistible photo opps throughout the venue, they enjoyed energizing music by Corporation Vibrations!
Missed Day 1? Never fear. There’s plenty of excitement still to come!
Day 2 | Lift Psychedelics Business Summit How can you not be curious? Feed that need with fascinating speakers from the world of today’s modern psychedelics renaissance.
Day 2 | Lift&Co. Expo Industry Day Trust us to serve up a day of totally-not-stuffy networking and learning opportunities exclusive to the cannabis and psychedelics industries.
Days 3 - 4 | Lift&Co. Expo Consumer Days Two full days for recreational and medical consumers to connect with over 200+ cannabis and psychedelics exhibitors from Canada and around the world.
Lift&Co. Expo After Party Saturday night’s celebration will be presented by Hawthorne™ at Toronto’s iconic El Mocambo. The twist? Only those with a Golden Ticket may attend the After Party; Golden Tickets will be given away and raffled off on Friday and Saturday at Lift&Co. Expo by exhibitors, ambassadors, and event staff.
A full agenda, speakers, and exhibitors can be found here.
ABOUT MCI
MCI is the global leader in engaging and activating audiences. Our business is founded on a simple human insight: When people come together, magic happens. Since 1987, we have been bringing people together through inspiring meetings, events, congresses and association or community management. MCI helps organizations harness the power of community by applying our strategic engagement and activation solutions to build unforgettable online and offline experiences that foster change, inspire, educate and enhance business performance. MCI is an independently owned company headquartered in Geneva, Switzerland, and boasts a global presence with 2,500+ professionals in 61 offices and 31 countries, who work with clients across Europe, the Americas, Asia-Pacific, India, and the Middle East. Visit us at http://www.mci-group.com or Twitter,LinkedIn, Facebook.
ABOUT MVP EDUCATION, LLC
MVP Education, LLC is an equity investor who partners with associations, event owners and license owners to accelerate the growth, innovation, and impact of your events.
Athleta Opens Second Company-Operated Canadian Store in Toronto
Reinforces commitment to empowerment with sponsorship of the Toronto Six, Canada’s only professional women’s sports team
Toronto, Nov. 19, 2021 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Athleta, part of San Francisco-based Gap Inc. (NYSE: GPS), opened a new 4,800-square-foot retail store today at Yorkdale Shopping Centre in Toronto. The new Yorkdale store is Athleta’s second company-operated Canadian location opened over the past two months, advancing the brand towards its goal to reach two billion dollars in net sales by 2023.
Athleta first expanded into Canada with the launch of e-commerce in August, followed by the debut of its first company-operated store outside of the United States in September at Park Royal Shopping Centre in West Vancouver, British Columbia.
“As part of our strategic growth plan, Athleta is investing in new access points to reach new customers and expand our community of empowered women and girls,” said Mary Beth Laughton, president and CEO, Athleta. “We know Canadian women are engaging with our brand, with results showing high in-store traffic and strong demand for our versatile lifestyle product since launching e-commerce and our first store earlier this year. This underscores our continued commitment to prioritizing growth in the Canadian market.”
Stores remain an important part of the customer journey and serve as a stop on her path as she completes her daily activities, like going to a workout class or shopping for groceries. The brand has a fleet of approximately 200 stores throughout North America and is on track to open 20-30 additional stores by the end of 2021.
Athleta’s new Yorkdale store features 3,000 square feet of dedicated retail space, showcasing the brand’s full selection of versatile, on-trend performance lifestyle products, including its Athleta Girl and sleep collections. The store will also feature size-inclusive mannequins and inclusive sizing in more than 500 styles ranging from XXS-3X, in-store styling appointments, free alterations and wellness-focused community events.
In support of the brand’s commitment to the empowerment of women and girls, Athleta is partnering with the Toronto Six hockey team, Canada’s only women’s professional sports team, marking the team’s largest sponsorship to date.
“Our brand is driven by our mission to empower women and girls in every community we serve,” said Kyle Andrew, Chief Brand Officer, Athleta. “Athleta is proud to continue building our Canadian community through our new partnership with the Toronto Six, Canada’s only professional women’s sports team. We were inspired by the team’s dedication, their vision of a platform for gender equity in sports and beyond and creating opportunity for the next generation of athletes on and off the ice, and we look forward to bringing more visibility to these role models through this new partnership.”
“Our mission at the Toronto Six is to drive change for women in professional sports by fostering an environment where our players are supported holistically as players and role models for the community. Athleta and the Toronto Six share the same values rooted in empowering women and girls at the community level, and we could not be more excited to partner with them,” said Digit Murphy, President, Toronto Six. “We are thrilled to include the Athleta logo on our team jerseys and look forward to a prosperous season with Athleta by our side.”
To celebrate the brand’s first international partnership and Yorkdale store opening, Athleta invited hockey lovers to the Toronto Six’s first home game by offering complimentary tickets to the sold-out game on Saturday, Nov. 20. For more information on the Toronto Six 2021-2022 season and schedule, please visit https://toronto.premierhockeyfederation.com/.
Athleta at Yorkdale Shopping Centre is located at 3401 Dufferin Street in Toronto, Ontario. For updated store hours, please visit athleta.ca/stores.
For Athleta media materials, including images and b-roll, please contact press@gap.com or visit their media center here.
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Forward-Looking Statements This press release contains forward-looking statements within the "safe harbor" provisions of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. All statements other than those that are purely historical are forward-looking statements. Words such as "expect," "anticipate," "believe," "estimate," "intend," "plan," "project," and similar expressions also identify forward-looking statements. Forward-looking statements include statements regarding store openings in Canada and across North America, and growing sales to two billion dollars by 2023.
Because these forward-looking statements involve risks and uncertainties, there are important factors that could cause the company's actual results to differ materially from those in the forward-looking statements. Information regarding factors that could cause results to differ can be found in the company's Annual Report on Form 10-K filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission on March 16, 2021, as well as the company's subsequent filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission. These forward-looking statements are based on information as of August 31, 2021. The company assumes no obligation to publicly update or revise its forward-looking statements even if experience or future changes make it clear that any projected results expressed or implied therein will not be realized.
About Athleta A certified B Corporation, Athleta is a performance lifestyle brand with a mission of empowering a community of active women and girls. Athleta's versatile premium performance lifestyle apparel is designed by women for women with inclusivity at its core. Founded in 1998, Athleta integrates performance and technical features across its collection to support women across their entire lifestyle – from yoga and training to travel and sleep. In 2016, the company launched Athleta Girl mirroring its signature performance in styles for the next generation. Based in San Francisco, CA and a Gap Inc. brand (NYSE: GPS), Athleta apparel is available at its over 200 retail stores across the United States, through its catalog, and at Athleta.com.
About Gap Inc. Gap Inc., a collection of purpose-led lifestyle brands, is the largest American specialty apparel company offering clothing, accessories, and personal care products for men, women, and children under the Old Navy, Gap, Banana Republic and Athleta brands. The company uses omni-channel capabilities to bridge the digital world and physical stores to further enhance its shopping experience. Gap Inc. is guided by its purpose, Inclusive, by Design, and takes pride in creating products and experiences its customers love while doing right by its employees, communities, and planet. Gap Inc. products are available for purchase worldwide through company-operated stores, franchise stores, and e-commerce sites. Fiscal year 2020 net sales were $13.8 billion. For more information, please visit www.gapinc.com.
Tis the Season to Overcome Crises of Faith
Tacoma, WA, November 19, 2021 — Is Jesus a man or a god? Did God create us? Is it true that we evolved? These uncertainties, among many others, plagued a young Roland G. Williams. When it came to spirituality, he had more questions than answers — a common denominator among those struggling with crises of faith.
“We have five major religions (Trinitarians, Unitarians, Oneness, Muslims and Jews) that set up a wall between one another, with all reading the same bible and coming up with five different gods,” Williams said.
In his quest to bring clarity, Williams spent 23 years researching and documenting the powerful messages he shares in his new book, God's Me, Myself, and I: The Truth and Ultimate Truth about the Trinity Conspiracy (written under the penname God’s Sheepdog). In it,Williams delivers a spectrum of insights, aimed at explaining — and thereby conferring a deeper understanding — of many often-questioned biblical concepts.
In this book, Williams presents:
• Some of his own crises of faith. • The prevalent theme of faith in the One God, from Genesis to Revelation. • Scientific proof that God created prehistoric man, albeit not “in the likeness or image of God.”
• Compelling biblical reasons why keeping one’s faith is so difficult — yet so imperative. • Compelling proof of the many major differences between God’s Spirit
Produced Son and God’s Begotten Son. • That God is male and female, as referenced multiple times throughout scripture.
• That many bibles have changed and/or omitted God’s Word.
• How to genuinely increase one’s faith … for life.
Everyone has or will face crises of life and faith, Williams adds. These pivotal times are part of everyone’s spiritual journey. Why then do some people emerge from the crisis with their faith intact while others give up on God, the church and holy living?
“Walking through each crisis — while purposefully maintaining our faith — is the key to emerging from the crisis with our faith still vibrant and alive,” Williams said. “God’s Me, Myself, and I offers the key components to maintain one’s faith when going through crises.”
Roland Williams is originally from Mississippi. He is a former Trinitarian pastor, adult Sunday school teacher, retired chef, abstract artist, publisher and author. He believes in the Father, The Word, the Holy Spirit and the Begotten Son, but through research, understands that God is not a Triune God as the Trinity theology teaches Him to be.
He has studied scholars from Theophilus of Antioch to Tertullian; the Christian Theology of Dr. R. C. Sproul to Dr. James White; and Dr. David Bernard to Dr. Nathaniel Urshan; as well as Dr. Shabir Ally to Dr. Zakir Naik and others.
The University of Chicago History of Religions Journal Scholars Paul Copp, Matthew T. Kapstein and Christian Wedemeyer called Williams’ book “a solid piece of scholarship.”
Connect with Williams on LinkedIn @Roland Williams; Facebook (@Roland Williams) or Twitter (@rwilliams548).
God’s Me, Myself, and I: The Truth and Ultimate Truth about the Trinity Conspiracy
Toronto, Canada/Boca Raton, FL, Nov. 19, 2021 — Like a fragile flower emerging from a crack in the sidewalk, professor and trained psychotherapist Laura Berg pushed aside personal setbacks and found a way to be better in spite of them — or maybe even because of them.
In her new book, Thriving Life: How to Live Your Best Life No Matter the Cards You’re Dealt, Berg blends the knowledge she gained from her own experiences with her education in psychotherapy to build strategies that she hopes will resonate and help heal.
“For most of my life I felt stuck, as though I was just trying to survive life one day at a time,” Berg said. “I found it difficult to move beyond the traumas in my past to live the life I deserved. I wrote this book to share with others my experiences and the lessons I learned that helped me overcome the obstacles in my life that were holding me back. I’m hoping that these stories and the advice I share in this book will help the reader live a more joyful and thriving life.”
Chapter by chapter, Berg takes a deep dive into specific issues that many people struggle with, such as defining your own happiness, making good relationships last, dealing with toxic relationships, how to stop comparing yourself to others and overcoming rejection. With practical tips and a step-by-step approach to help you find what makes you happy, Berg teaches readers how to stop victimizing themselves and find strength in asking for help.
About the Author Laura Berg is a professor, author, entrepreneur, trained therapist and award-winning parenting expert. Among her many accolades, she has been named one of the Top 10 Mom Entrepreneurs, Savvy Mom of the Year, and was awarded YouTube’s Silver Play Button.
For more information, please visit her website: lauraberginc.com.
Thriving Life: How to Live Your Best Life No Matter the Cards You’re Dealt Publisher: HCI Books Release Date: November 2, 2021 ISBN-10: 0757323960 ISBN-13: 978-0757323966 Trade Paperback, 256 pages Available for pre-order wherever books are sold
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PHOTO RELEASE: ATHLETA OPENS SECOND COMPANY-OPERATED CANADIAN STORE IN TORONTO
BRAND ANNOUNCES TORONTO SIX AS FIRST TEAM SPONSORSHIP IN CANADA
Toronto, Nov. 19, 2021 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- WHAT:Athleta, part of San Francisco-based Gap Inc.(NYSE: GPS), held a ribbon cutting ceremony to unveil its new 4,800-square-foot retail store at Yorkdale Shopping Centre in Toronto. The new Yorkdale store is Athleta’s second company-operated Canadian location opened over the past two months, advancing the brand towards its goal to reach two billion dollars in net sales by 2023.
In alignment with the brand’s mission to empower women and girls, Athleta will also announce its new partnership with the Toronto Six, Canada’s only professional women’s sports team, at the grand opening event.
WHO: The grand opening was hosted by:
MB Laughton, Athleta President & CEO
Kyle Andrew, Athleta Chief Brand Officer
Digit Murphy, Toronto Six President
Saroya Tinker & Taylor Woods, Toronto Six players
Jane McKenna, MPP, Associate Minister of Children and Women’s Issues
WHEN: Occurred Friday, Nov. 19, 2021, 10:00 a.m. ET
WHERE: Athleta, Yorkdale Shopping Centre, 3401 Dufferin St., Toronto
ABOUT ATHLETA: A certified B Corporation, Athleta is a performance lifestyle brand with a mission of empowering a community of active women and girls. Athleta's versatile premium performance lifestyle apparel is designed by women for women with inclusivity at its core. Founded in 1998, Athleta integrates performance and technical features across its collection to support women across their entire lifestyle – from yoga and training to travel and sleep. In 2016, the company launched Athleta Girl mirroring its signature performance in styles for the next generation. Based in San Francisco, CA and a Gap Inc. brand (NYSE: GPS), Athleta apparel is available at its over 200 retail stores across the United States, through its catalog, and at Athleta.com.
Sun Life donates $1 million to Kids Help Phone to support Indigenous youth mental health
Funding will help bring life-saving mental health programming to Indigenous youth
TORONTO, Nov. 18, 2021 /CNW/ - To combat the growing mental health crisis and challenges young people face, Sun Life is donating $1 million to Kids Help Phone. This milestone investment will bring life-saving mental health support to Indigenous youth across Canada. Together, Sun Life and Kids Help Phone will expand Brighter Days, an Indigenous Wellness Program, across the country. Over the next three years, Sun Life's support of the Brighter Days Program will help reach 4,500 youth through the delivery of 300 mental health sessions. The sessions aim to empower youth with skills, tools and resources to support their mental health and well-being.
"At Sun Life, we believe mental health is health. Our goal is to ensure every person has access to the resources and support they need to live their healthiest life," said Jacques Goulet, President, Sun Life Canada. "Funding mental health programs designed with Indigenous youth, for Indigenous youth, is an important step to ensure everyone who lives in Canada has access to the support they need. We are committed to building a more resilient country."
Access to mental health support can be the difference between life and death. For Indigenous youth, the need is critical, and services are limited and underfunded. Brighter Days: An Indigenous Wellness Program by Kids Help Phone, teaches youth how to manage mental health and wellness. It aims to destigmatize conversations around mental health and encourage youth to ask for help.
"As we reflect on the past, present and future experiences, challenges and opportunities of Indigenous youth in this country, Sun Life's immense support will drive transformational change for how we are able to create impact with purpose," said Katherine Hay, President and CEO, Kids Help Phone. "We are incredibly grateful for Sun Life's donation, which continues to support our commitment to reaching more Indigenous youth by investing in the accessibility of our Brighter Days Program across Canada."
Brighter Days Program supported by Sun Life Kids Help Phone launched Brighter Days: An Indigenous Wellness Program in early 2021. It equips youth with skills, tools and resources to support their mental health and well-being. It begins with a session to increase awareness of Kids Help Phone services. Then through a series of modules participants learn about wellness and self-care, healthy domestic relationships, and managing stress and anxiety. With Sun Life's support, the program will:
Expand nationally to deliver 300 sessions to 4,500 youth, ages 6-29. Sessions will be offered in schools, group homes, youth and community centres.
Recruit and train 60 community-based youth and adult volunteers into the Weaving Threads: An Indigenous Engagement Program across Canada. These trusted leaders will promote the Brighter Days Program and support the mental, emotional, and spiritual well-being of the community.
Increase awareness and access to Kids Help Phone's life-saving mental health supports, including phone counselling, texting support, and local mental health resources.
Investing in mental health programming for Indigenous youth supports Sun Life's Purpose of helping people in Canada live healthier lives and its Diversity, Equity and Inclusion commitments. This partnership is aligned to Sun Life's increased focus on physical and mental health with the creation of Sun Life Health. To learn more about how Sun Life is making a difference in the community, read their 2020 Sustainability Report.
Sun Life in the community Sun Life is committed to building sustainable, healthier communities for life. Community wellness is an important part of its sustainability commitment. By actively supporting the communities in which Sun Life lives and works, the organization can help build a positive environment for Clients, employees, advisors and shareholders. Its philanthropic support focuses on health, with an emphasis on diabetes awareness, prevention, and care initiatives. Mental health is also a key priority, with support for programs and organizations with an emphasis on building resilience and coping skills.
Sun Life also partners with sports properties in key markets to further its commitment to healthy and active living. Its employees and advisors take great pride in volunteering close to 12,000 hours each year and contribute to making life brighter for individuals and families across Canada.
Kids Help Phone Kids Help Phone is Canada's only 24/7 e-mental health service offering free, confidential support in English, French and Arabic to young people. As the country's virtual care expert, we give millions of youth a safe, trusted space to talk over phone or through text or in self-directed supports in any moment of crisis or need. Through our digital transformation, we envision a future where every person in Canada is able to get the support they need, when they need it most, however they need it. Kids Help Phone gratefully relies on the generosity of donors, volunteers, stakeholder partners, corporate partners and governments to fuel and fund our programs. Learn more at KidsHelpPhone.ca.
How to Know if You Have ED and When You Should Tell Your Doctor
If you’re experiencing erectile dysfunction, it can be hard to know whether you should tell your doctor or not. On one hand, it’s important to seek help if you suspect an underlying medical issue, but on the other hand, there’s no guarantee that your doctor will be able to help or that they’ll find anything wrong with you at all. When should you tell your doctor about erectile dysfunction? Let’s take a look at some of the common causes of ED and when they should be addressed by your doctor.
Has It Lasted Longer Than Four Months?
It's tough to say for sure how long erectile dysfunction lasts without visiting a doctor, but most sources agree that it can last anywhere from one month to forever. ED doesn't have to be a permanent problem, though. If you have gone longer than four months without any improvement, there is still hope for you. Talk with your doctor about what steps you can take to start having a fulfilling sex life again. They will have some ideas about what could be causing your ED and ways you can work on improving it.
Is Your Penis Plumping Up Less Than Usual?
According to a study in The Journal of Sexual Medicine, nearly half of men with erectile dysfunction report experiencing premature ejaculation. This makes sense: premature ejaculation often stems from anxiety or emotional issues, and many people see their penises as a reflection of their sexual confidence. If you notice that your penis isn’t plumping up quite like it used to, visit your doctor to get a proper diagnosis—and be sure to ask about other possible causes for your symptoms.
Are You Experiencing Slower Or Fewer Orgasms?
Another important question to ask yourself is if you are experiencing slower or fewer orgasms than usual. If so, you might need to get checked out by a doctor. If things really aren’t feeling right, you might be suffering from some kind of medical condition that is causing your orgasm difficulty. Examples of conditions that could cause you to lose your orgasmic mojo include hypothyroidism and diabetes. Get an evaluation with your doctor to find out if there’s an underlying reason for your sexual difficulties.
Have you had Four Or Less Sexual Encounters Over the Past Three Months?
If you’re hoping to be sexually active and can’t remember the last time you could perform during sex, chances are good that you might have a problem. It can be hard to admit that you need help, but it’s important to take these things seriously, especially since erectile dysfunction is often tied to heart disease. If your doctor does recommend that you seek help for your ED, they should also discuss ways for you to reduce your risk of heart problems. There are many types of effective treatments for erectile dysfunction available today, so if you find yourself in need of them don’t feel ashamed or embarrassed about asking your doctor about what’s best for your health.
Erectile dysfunction can be an embarrassing topic to discuss with your doctor, but if you’re experiencing issues in the bedroom, it’s important to talk to your physician about how to treat ED. Keep these signs in mind if you think it might be time to talk to your doctor about ED.
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