Funding commitment helps remove barriers to life-saving technology for Canadians living with type 1 diabetes

TD Bank Group supports JDRF's Access for All program through the TD Ready Commitment May 26, 2021

TORONTO, May 26, 2021 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Each day, as many as 300,000 Canadians living with type 1 diabetes (T1D) will make up to 300 decisions about their care. A wrong decision could mean life or death. T1D is an autoimmune disease that occurs when the body’s immune system attacks and destroys the cells in the pancreas that make insulin. It is not preventable, and its cause is unknown.

Although injecting insulin keeps a person with T1D alive, it is not a cure. Even with insulin therapy, blood sugar levels in a person with T1D can fluctuate to dangerous highs and lows. These swings in blood sugar are life-threatening and can lead to long-term complications such as kidney disease, heart disease and blindness.

Continuous glucose monitoring systems, flash glucose monitoring systems and insulin pumps help keep people out of hospital and reduce long-term complications. JDRF is advocating to break down existing inequalities by making these devices accessible for all Canadians living with T1D through its Access for All initiative, a pillar of its larger $100M Campaign to Accelerate launched earlier this year.

“JDRF believes that no Canadian should have to worry about how they will afford life-changing devices that could prevent dangerous diabetes-related events. We believe in Access for All,” says Dave Prowten, President and CEO of JDRF Canada.

The COVID-19 pandemic has also underscored the need and opportunity for virtual and remote care models.T1D technology allows patients to connect with their health care teams online to remotely share real-time data, fostering better disease management from home, which is a tremendous benefit for those living in rural and remote regions where access to health care services are limited. Virtual care provides access that would otherwise not exist – further removing inequities in care, and can be optimized with the use of the new diabetes technologies.

TD has stepped forward to support Access for All with a goal of improving the lives of those living with T1D.

"We know that many people face barriers to accessing quality and affordable healthcare in our country. Through the TD Ready Commitment, our global corporate citizenship platform, we're proud to continue our longstanding relationship with JDRF and support the Access for All program to ensure more equitable health outcomes for people living with type 1 diabetes and reduce the treatment burden of the disease," said Naki Osutei, Associate Vice President, Social Impact, Canada, TD Bank Group.

“JDRF is extremely grateful for TD’s support. Access for All provides critical support to our type 1 diabetes community with its effort to increase and improve access and improve the lives of Canadians living with T1D,” says Ryan MacDonald, JDRF’s Campaign to Accelerate Co-Chair.

To learn more about JDRF’s #AccessForAllcheck out jdrf.ca/accessforall.

About JDRF

JDRF is the leading global organization funding type 1 diabetes (T1D) research. Our mission is to accelerate life-changing breakthroughs to cure, prevent and treat T1D and its complications. To accomplish this, JDRF has invested more than $2.8 billion in research funding since our inception. We are an organization built on a grassroots model of people connecting in their local communities, collaborating regionally for efficiency and broader fundraising impact, and uniting on a national stage to pool resources, passion, and energy. We collaborate with academic institutions, governments, and corporate and industry partners to develop and deliver a pipeline of innovative therapies to people living with T1D. Our staff and volunteers throughout Canada and six international affiliates are dedicated to advocacy, community engagement and our vision of a world without T1D. For more information, please visit jdrf.ca.

How Classroom Design is Critical to Student Wellbeing in a Post-Pandemic World

Education advocate and Canadian furniture company founder shares ideas for fostering positive change in learning environments

VICTORIA, British Columbia, May 26, 2021 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- During the pandemic, students have experienced emotional and psychological stress of varying degrees resulting in increased reports of depression, challenges to self-esteem, fear, and emotional anxiety. Studies have shown that improvements to the classroom environment can make a difference in supporting the needs of students and how a thoughtfully designed space is critical to help students feel safe, feel respected, show respect to others, create a sense of connection, and realize their potential.

The significance and impact of the classroom environment on student wellbeing is the core value upon which BC-based Natural Pod was founded over a decade ago. The pandemic highlighted for educators and school planners the need for healthy and sustainable learning environments - spaces that parents feel comfortable sending their children to, easily cleaned, and spaces that can adjust and be flexible based on the needs of the students and educators.

“Children’s daily rhythms of home and school life have been dramatically disrupted by the pandemic,” says Natural Pod founder and CEO, Bridgitte Alomes. “By changing even small elements of a classroom environment we can directly address how students feel in a space and provide them with the comfort and connection they need,” she says.

Alomes offers the following suggestions:

Seek opportunities to increase daylighting and make connections to the outdoors
Build projects into the curriculum for outdoor education. If possible, when holding class indoors, open windows so that daylight and fresh air permeate the space and provide vistas of nature outside of windows. If there is no opportunity to view the outdoors in real-time, bring representations of elements of nature into the environment through materials and color.

Flexible learning environments that allow for the personalization of space
Flexible learning environments create opportunities to optimize individual choice and autonomy, foster collaboration, and build community. Personalization provides learners with structured decisions of where they work, how they approach the problem/project, and with whom they work – alone or together.

Utilize all areas of the space
Utilize every square foot of assets for learning. Leverage the public spaces of the school to create learning zones that foster large-scale collaboration and community building.

To learn more, visit https://naturalpod.com.

Alberta's Pharmacists Administer 1 Million COVID-19 Shots

EDMONTON, AB, May 26, 2021 /CNW/ - Alberta's community pharmacists have rapidly surpassed One Million COVID-19 vaccinations since the first group of 100 pharmacies began receiving vaccine back in March of this year. Since then, access to COVID-19 vaccine expanded to include over 1200 community pharmacies working as quickly as possible to administer vaccine to as many eligible Albertans as the vaccine supply allows. As of May 23^rd, 2021, Alberta's community pharmacists had administered 1,024,852 doses of COVID-19 vaccine, which is 40% of all COVID-19 vaccines delivered in the province.

Pharmacists participating in Alberta's COVID-19 Pharmacy Immunization Program (ACPIP) have worked incredibly hard these past months to prioritize COVID-19 vaccination as an important part of their day-to-day care for local communities across the province. This is the second time in the last seven months that Alberta community pharmacists have surpassed the million mark for administering a public health vaccine. Last November, pharmacists administered over One Million influenza doses for Albertans helping to effectively eliminate circulating influenza virus this past season. This milestone marks yet another first for pharmacists in Alberta as they continue to support public health by vaccinating Albertans in the convenience of their own local communities.

First province to achieve One Million COVID-19 vaccinations by pharmacists.
First pharmacists in Canada to access and vaccinate with Pfizer-BioNTech vaccine.
First time Alberta pharmacists administered One Million influenza vaccinations in a season.
First community pharmacists in Canada to be authorized to administer publicly funded vaccines in 2009.

Looking ahead, pharmacists recognize that there is still a lot of work to do in the coming months to continue offering first doses and also start administering second doses. Many Albertans are turning to their trusted community pharmacist for advice and guidance about if, when, and how they can get vaccinated.

Pharmacists are hearing many reasons why individuals choose to be vaccinated. For some, it means protection for friends and family. For others, it has been so they can see loved ones again "so I can safely visit my elderly parent in her care facility once more." For another, it means "I can book my vacation without worrying about testing or quarantining when I get there," and for many others, it simply means "I'm glad I don't have to worry about isolating or quarantining from a close contact anymore now that I'm fully vaccinated." If you have questions or want to talk about your "Why" for vaccination, Start the Conversation with your trusted pharmacist.

The Alberta Pharmacists' Association (RxA) is tremendously proud of the continued efforts of all Alberta pharmacists who continue to play an integral role in the safe provision of COVID-19 vaccination as well as safe medication therapy during these challenging times in our healthcare system. RxA recognizes and thanks Alberta Health for its commitment to engaging with our organization towards a collaborative approach to achieving public health goals through community pharmacists for the benefit of all Albertans.

For two decades, the Alberta Pharmacists' Association (RxA) has been a champion for pharmacists in Alberta. We play an integral role in expanding pharmacists' practice, and we continue to advocate on their behalf towards excellence in patient care.

Recent blood donor data suggest that Canadians still remain vulnerable to SARS-CoV-2 infection

Blood donation organizations to provide important assessment of how long immunity lasts

MONTREAL, May 27, 2021 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Results from the latest Canadian Blood Services and Héma-Québec studies, which together cover all 10 provinces, confirm that from coast-to-coast, Canada’s overall levels of seroprevalence due to SARS-CoV-2 infection remained very low earlier this year, as the roll-out of vaccines started ramping up. The Canadian Blood Services study is supported by the Government of Canada, through its COVID-19 Immunity Task Force (CITF), whereas the Héma-Québec study is supported by Quebec’s public health institute, Institut national de santé publique du Québec (INSPQ). All organizations have been working collaboratively to provide Canadians and policymakers with a comprehensive assessment of infection and immunity in Canada and to prepare the groundwork to track how long immunity through vaccination lasts.

Overall Canadian Seroprevalence and Regional Differences

Canadian Blood Services data, based on blood donors, show that the seroprevalence due to infection (the number of people who had antibodies to SARS-CoV-2 due to a past infection) in Canadian provinces excluding Quebec was 2.2% in January. In contrast, in Québec, between January and March 2021, Héma-Québec data indicate that seroprevalence from infections was 10.5%. In this province, the roll out of vaccination resulted in an increase of this number of up to 14.7% of the population with some immunity.

“The low rates of seroprevalence across all 10 provinces show Canadians have been doing a great job following public health guidelines,” says CITF Executive Director Dr. Tim Evans. “But they also confirm that without high vaccine uptake, we are far from ending this pandemic.”

“The evolution of the pandemic has differed across the country,” adds Dr. David Buckeridge, Scientific Lead, Data Management and Analysis for the CITF. “That is clear from our statistical model that combines the results from Héma-Québec and Canadian Blood Services with other epidemiological indicators. However, the bottom line is that the level of immunity from infection remains low in Canada.”

“The Atlantic provinces have been doing a tremendous job at protecting people from SARS-CoV-2,” says Dr. Sheila O’Brien, Associate Director of Epidemiology and Surveillance at Canadian Blood Services and the study’s primary investigator. “By January 2021, nearly a year into the pandemic, of those who donated blood, the data still shows an exceptionally low percentage of people with antibodies resulting from SARS-CoV-2 infection: 0% in Prince Edward Island and Newfoundland, 0.18% in New Brunswick, and 0.39% in Nova Scotia.”

The Prairie provinces, in contrast, had the highest seroprevalence with Manitoba at 5.4%, Alberta at 4.0%, and Saskatchewan at 3.5% in January 2021. “If we had looked at the percentage of Quebecers who had antibodies due to infection in January, our numbers might have been similar to the Prairie provinces data from Canadian Blood Services,” says Dr. Marc Germain, Vice-President of Medical Affairs and Innovation at Héma-Québec and the study’s lead researcher.

In Ontario, 1.9% of blood donors had antibodies to SARS-CoV-2 due to a previous infection, and in British Columbia the percentage was 1.6%.

Reports Highlight At-Risk Communities

“These reports also draw attention to the increased risk of infection among racialized communities, those living in poorer neighbourhoods, and young Canadians, aged 17-24, making them high priorities for vaccination and efforts to prevent the spread of infection,” says Dr. Evans.

Increasing racial inequality in infection and vaccination

Data from both Canadian Blood Services and Héma-Québec show the pandemic is affecting racialized Canadians twice as much as self-declared Caucasian Canadians.

“Consistently, from the beginning of the pandemic, seroprevalence rates were higher among racialized populations compared to donors who self-identified as Caucasian. By January 2021, the seroprevalence was about double in racialized donors,” comments Dr. O’Brien.

A similar trend was observed in Quebec although further studies would be needed to get a better understanding of the situation. “Non-vaccinated blood donors self-identifying as non-Caucasian had seroprevalence rates of 19.3%, whereas only 9.5% of non-vaccinated Caucasian blood donors had antibodies to SARS-CoV-2,” states Dr. Germain. “That means twice as many non-Caucasian blood donors had antibodies because of infection compared to Caucasians.”

Increasing risk of infection in poorer neighbourhoods

In wave 1, seroprevalence was similar in neighbourhoods of all socioeconomic indexes. However, donors living in the most materially deprived neighbourhoods (based on postal codes) saw seroprevalence grow much more rapidly over time. In January 2021, seroprevalence among donors living in the most affluent neighbourhoods was 1.2%, while for those living in the most materially deprived areas was 4.0%.

In Quebec, a similar trend, although not as evident, was also observed. Whereas 15.0% of blood donors from the most affluent neighbourhoods had antibodies due to either an infection or vaccination, 17.3% of donors from the poorest neighbourhoods had antibodies.

Increased risk in the 17-24 age group

“Canadian Blood Services found infection rates among donors aged 17-24 years-old increased significantly from 0.8% during wave 1 to 3.0% in November 2020 and to 3.5% in January 2021,” says Dr. O’Brien.

“In Quebec, the 18-24 age group had the highest seroprevalence by far with 19% of blood donors in this age group having antibodies due to infection or vaccination,” says Dr. Germain. “That compares to a seroprevalence of 9.8% for the 60-69 age group.”

“The disproportionate number of infections in young people is likely a product of both their front-line work environments and more at-risk behaviours,” says Dr. Evans. “But this also reflects effective public health efforts to protect seniors in the second wave. The immediate priority is to encourage this younger age group to get vaccinated now that they are eligible in most provinces.”

Serosurveys will help to determine how long immunity lasts

These serosurveys are confirming previous research that vaccines are working and producing antibodies in people. “We’re seeing the number of antibodies rising in people just days after being vaccinated,” says Dr. Germain. Interestingly, both Canadian Blood Services and Héma-Québec found that about 95% of donors who had been vaccinated at least two weeks before donating blood had vaccine-induced antibodies.

“What we do not yet know is how long immunity from infection or from vaccines lasts,” says Dr. Evans. “Continuing these serosurveys of blood donors will signal when people in different age groups start to show less immunity, which may help to inform the best timing of the possible need for a booster vaccination.”

In effect, Héma-Québec’s data shows antibodies are waning. “Of the 109 people who tested positive for antibodies in wave 1, 32 of them no longer tested positive for antibodies 7-10 months later,” says Dr. Germain. “That’s a seroreversion rate of 29%. If we look at people who had more severe cases of COVID-19 and therefore likely had more antibodies at the time of infection, 14% lost their antibodies within a year. This shows that antibodies from infection do not necessarily remain in people’s blood forever and suggests boosters might be needed.”

Blood donors as a measure of overall seroprevalence

“These studies can play a pivotal role in helping public health authorities assess policies,” says Dr. Evans. “They allow us to see the real picture of the epidemic on a continuous basis. They are also useful in that they point to policy blind spots such as faster growth in infection in racialized communities.”

“Our serosurveys offer important insight into the effects of the pandemic in Canada,” says Dr. Graham Sher, CEO of Canadian Blood Services. “It is important to acknowledge that serosurveys based on blood donors do have limitations. Blood donors self-select to be blood donors and donation selection criteria ensure blood donors are healthy, so caution should be exercised in extrapolating findings to all adult Canadians.” Other factors include that in some areas, access to a donation clinic or time to donate blood may be limited. There are also fewer young or elderly blood donors compared to the general population.

“That said, since extra blood samples are systematically collected from each donation, as blood collection activities are held in most regions and as we have the laboratories to carry out tests, we are uniquely positioned to help inform public health authorities as they plan the next steps and phases of the pandemic,” says Nathalie Fagnan, President and Chief Executive Officer of Héma-Québec.

“Indeed, when we use statistical modelling to triangulate across available data, the estimates of seroprevalence from blood donors are consistent with other epidemiological indicators such as deaths,” adds Dr. David Buckeridge. “The blood bank estimates are extremely valuable for monitoring the overall seroprevalence in Canada.”

About the Partnership

When the Government of Canada established the CITF in late April 2020, Canadian Blood Services and Héma-Québec reached out to offer their assistance. Canadian Blood Services and Héma-Québec routinely test blood donations and both organizations also regularly contribute to ethics-approved research studies like this one.

While the donation selection criteria ensure blood donors are healthy, caution should be exercised in extrapolating findings to all healthy adult Canadians because blood donors self-select to be blood donors, in some areas access to a donation clinic may be limited, and there are fewer elderly donors who donate blood compared to the general population.

About Canadian Blood Services

Canadian Blood Services is a not-for-profit charitable organization. Regulated by Health Canada as a biologics manufacturer and primarily funded by the provincial and territorial ministries of health, Canadian Blood Services operates with a national scope, infrastructure and governance that make it unique within Canadian healthcare. In the domain of blood, plasma, and stem cells, Canadian Blood Services provides services for patients on behalf of all provincial and territorial governments, except Quebec. The national transplant registry for interprovincial organ sharing and related programs reaches into all provinces and territories, as a biological lifeline for Canadians. For more information visit: blood.ca

About Héma-Québec

Héma-Québec acts as a supplier of human tissues intended for transplants (including cutaneous tissues, heart valves, and musculoskeletal tissues, such as tendons and bones), and makes them available to Québec hospitals. Héma-Québec retrieves and prepares eye tissues for use in cornea transplants.

Héma-Québec’s mission is to efficiently meet the needs of the Québec population for quality blood and other biological products of human origin. Héma-Québec encompasses 1,500 employees and nearly 255,000 blood, stem cell, mother’s milk and human tissue donors, in addition to thousands of blood drive volunteers. Each year, Héma-Québec delivers some 820,000 human biological products to Québec hospitals to meet the needs of patients. For more information visit: hema-quebec.qc.ca

About the COVID-19 Immunity Task Force
The Government of Canada established the COVID-19 Immunity Task Force in late April 2020. The Task Force is overseen by a Leadership Group of volunteers that includes leading Canadian scientists and experts from universities and healthcare homes across Canada who are focused on understanding the nature of immunity arising from the novel coronavirus that causes COVID-19. To that end, the CITF is supporting numerous studies to determine the extent of SARS-CoV-2 infection in Canada (in the general population as well as in specific communities and priority populations), understand the nature of immunity following infection, develop improved antibody testing methods, and help monitor the effectiveness and safety of vaccines as they are rolled out across Canada. The Task Force and its Secretariat accordingly work closely with a range of partners, including governments, public health agencies, institutions, health organizations, research teams, other task forces, and engages communities and stakeholders. Most recently, the Task Force has been asked to support vaccine surveillance, effectiveness and safety as part of its overall objective to generate data and ideas that inform interventions aimed at slowing—and ultimately stopping—the spread of SARS-CoV-2 in Canada. For more information visit: www.covid19immunitytaskforce.ca

Skylight Health Group Announces Expected Date of NASDAQ Exchange Listing

TORONTO, May 27, 2021 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Skylight Health Group Inc. (TSXV:SHG; OTCQX: SHGFF) (“Skylight Health” or the “Company”), a multi-state primary care management group in the United States, is pleased to announce that further to its press release dated May 13, 2021, it has received confirmation from The Nasdaq Stock Market LLC (“Nasdaq”) that its common shares will be able to commence trading on the Nasdaq Capital Market during the week of June 7, 2021 under the symbol “SLHG”, subject to the Company meeting the applicable bid price requirement for listing during the period beginning on the date of the Company’s share consolidation on May 28, 2021 through the initial listing date.

Skylight Health will retain its listing on The TSX Venture Exchange under the symbol “SHG”. The Company will continue to trade to trade on the OTCQX under the symbol “SGHFF” until trading on the Nasdaq commences.

ABOUT SKYLIGHT HEALTH GROUP INC.

Skylight Health Group (TSXV:SHG; OTCQX:SHGFF) is a healthcare services and technology company, working to positively impact patient health outcomes. The Company operates a US multi-state primary care health network comprised of physical practices providing a range of services from primary care, sub-specialty, allied health, and laboratory/diagnostic testing. The Company is focused on helping small and independent practices shift from a traditional fee-for-service (FFS) model to value-based care (VBC) through tools including proprietary technology, data analytics and infrastructure. In a FFS model, payors (commercial and government insurers) reimburse on an encounter-based approach. This puts a focus on volume of patients per day. In a VBC model, payors reimburse typically on a capitation (fixed fee per member per month) basis. This places an emphasis on quality over volume. VBC will lead to improved patient outcomes, reduced cost of delivery and drive stronger financial performance from existing practices.

For more information, please visit www.skylighthealthgroup.com or contact:

Investor Relations:

Jackie Kelly
investors@skylighthealthgroup.com
416-301-2949

Currency Usage, Cautionary and Forward-Looking Statements

All currency contained in this Press Release represent Canadian Dollars unless otherwise stated.

Cautionary Statement Regarding Forward Looking Information

Statements in this news release that are forward-looking statements are subject to various risks and uncertainties concerning the specific factors disclosed here and elsewhere in Skylight Health's filings with Canadian and United States securities regulators. When used in this news release, words such as "will, could, plan, estimate, expect, intend, may, potential, believe, should," and similar expressions, are forward-looking statements.

Forward-looking statements may include, without limitation, statements regarding the listing of our common shares on Nasdaq.

Although Skylight Health has attempted to identify important factors that could cause actual results, performance or achievements to differ materially from those contained in the forward-looking statements, there can be other factors that cause results, performance or achievements not to be as anticipated, estimated or intended, including, but not limited to: the ability of Skylight Health to execute on its business strategy, continued revenue growth in accordance with management's expectations, operating expenses continuing in accordance with management expectations, dependence on obtaining regulatory approvals; Skylight Health being able to find, complete and effectively integrate target acquisitions; change in laws relating to health care regulation; reliance on management; requirements for additional financing; competition; hindering market growth or other factors that may not currently be known by the Company.

There can be no assurance that such information will prove to be accurate or that management's expectations or estimates of future developments, circumstances or results will materialize. As a result of these risks and uncertainties, the results or events predicted in these forward-looking statements may differ materially from actual results or events.

Accordingly, readers should not place undue reliance on forward-looking statements. The forward-looking statements in this news release are made as of the date of this release. Skylight Health disclaims any intention or obligation to update or revise such information, except as required by applicable law, and Skylight Health does not assume any liability for disclosure relating to any other company mentioned herein.

Neither the TSX Venture Exchange nor its Regulation Services Provider (as that term is defined in the policies of the TSX Venture Exchange) accepts responsibility for the adequacy or accuracy of this release.

Neuroscientist from Université Laval, Dr. Steve Lacroix, wins prestigious award for spinal cord injury research

MONTREAL, May 27, 2021 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Brain Canada and the Barbara Turnbull Foundation for Spinal Cord Research are pleased to announce that Dr. Steve Lacroix has been selected by an international panel to receive the 2020 Turnbull-Tator Award in Spinal Cord Injury and Concussion Research. Dr. Lacroix is being recognized for his publication “Microglia are an essential component of the neuroprotective scar that forms after spinal cord injury,” published in Nature Communications in 2019.

Since 2001, in honour of Barbara Turnbull, Brain Canada and the Barbara Turnbull Foundation have been partnering to support the need for exceptional research in the area of spinal cord and/or brain injury to improve the lives of those affected. Co-sponsored by the foundations, the Turnbull-Tator Award recognizes an outstanding publication by a Canadian researcher in the field. Selected based on the innovation and impact of the research and its findings, the recipient of the Award is provided with a $50,000 grant to continue their research and contribute towards advancing the research area.

“Barbara was a dedicated advocate for raising awareness and drawing public attention to the importance of recognizing and supporting excellence in Canadian-based research in areas relevant to spinal cord injury remediation and concussion assessment and treatment,” says Gary Goldberg, a director of the Barbara Turnbull Foundation for Spinal Cord Research. “It is a privilege to carry out her legacy through the Barbara Turnbull Foundation as she continues to be an inspiration for those working to make a difference in this field.”

Nominated by Dr. Serge Rivest, Dr. Lacroix is a leading Canadian neuroscientist with more than 15 years of experience in spinal cord research. His work focuses on protecting neurons following injury and promoting spinal cord regeneration and repair.

“I am humbled and grateful to accept this award in honour of pioneers who have dedicated their lives to research in the field of spinal cord injury,” says Dr. Lacroix, Professor in the Department of Molecular Medicine, Faculty of Medicine at Université Laval and Director of the Neurosciences Axis at the CHU de Quebec–Université Laval Research Center. “Collaboration has been a huge factor in this achievement, as I would not have been able to publish on my own. I consider myself lucky to have worked with brilliant Canadian colleagues Dr. Molly Shoichet at the University of Toronto, Dr. Marie-Ève Tremblay now at the University of Victoria, and a team of great students and research assistants who all played important roles.”

In the award-winning publication, Dr. Lacroix and his team use animal models to better understand the role of microglia – a type of immune cell found in the brain and spinal cord. They outline its effects in preventing neuronal death after a spinal cord injury and containing the spread of injury, thanks to what they have coined as the microglial scar. In addition, this paper has shown that a boost in the protective function of microglia could lead to improved recovery following injury.

“Our sincere congratulations to Dr. Lacroix and his team,” says Dr. Viviane Poupon, Brain Canada President and CEO. “This publication is transformative for the research community and is the kind of high-quality and rigorous research that will change how spinal cord injury is studied while accelerating discoveries for treatments and recovery.”

“The research that Dr. Lacroix and his team are conducting bring us all one step closer to achieving Barbara’s dream of improving the lives of people affected by life-altering injuries,” says Dr. Charles Tator, Professor of Neurosurgery at the University of Toronto and Scientist at the Krembil Brain Institute, University Health Network in Toronto. “I feel very privileged to have known Barbara and witnessed her infectious positivity and advocacy. She believed that people’s lives could be made better by science, and this is the essence of the award in our names.”

It is currently estimated that there are 85,000 people with spinal cord injury in Canada, with 4,500 new cases each year. These numbers are expected to rise over the next two decades due to Canada’s aging population.

“This funding from Brain Canada and the Barbara Turnbull Foundation is really essential for us to remain competitive internationally and develop innovative ways to understand something as complex as spinal cord repair,” said Dr. Lacroix. “My goal is to deliver the best research possible and hopefully inspire the next generation of Canadian scientists so they can shape the future of spinal cord injury research.”

This project has been made possible with the financial support of Health Canada, through the Canada Brain Research Fund, an innovative partnership between the Government of Canada (through Health Canada) and Brain Canada, and the Barbara Turnbull Foundation for Spinal Cord Research.

About the Barbara Turnbull Foundation for Spinal Cord Research

The initial purpose of the Foundation was to encourage the public to recognize and financially support internationally esteemed research being done in Canada in the field of neuroscience, particularly as it relates to the remediation of spinal cord injuries. More recently, the Foundation has expanded its area of interest to include both spinal cord and brain injuries, including concussions. Great advances have been made in neuroscience, and the driving force that encouraged Barbara Turnbull to write her autobiography Looking in the Mirror was the realization that these advances may make the goal of regaining function in the damaged nervous system attainable. Through continued research, there is the possibility of new discoveries which may result in repair or regeneration of the spinal cord and brain after injury. Successful remediation will improve the quality of life of those who have been affected by neurotrauma, as well as reduce the ongoing costs of providing associated care and support.

Based on a synergistic approach that recognizes excellence in collaborative research in Canada in the field of neuroscience, the mission of the Foundation is to enhance public awareness of the need to financially support this vision, to develop strategic cooperative initiatives with other institutions and foundations with similar interest, such as Brain Canada, and to fund the highest quality research in spinal cord and brain injury being conducted in Canada.

About Brain Canada

Brain Canada is a national non-profit organization that enables and supports excellent, innovative, paradigm-changing brain research in Canada. It plays a unique and invaluable role as the national convener of the brain research community. Brain Canada understands that better insight into how the brain works contributes to the prevention, diagnosis, treatment and cure of disorders of the brain, thereby improving the health outcomes and quality of life of all Canadians. To learn more, please visit braincanada.ca.

About the Turnbull-Tator Award

In 2001, the Barbara Turnbull Foundation, Brain Canada, and CIHR’s Institute of Neurosciences, Mental Health and Addiction established a partnership to recognize and support excellent brain research in the area of spinal cord injury. In 2019, the Barbara Turnbull Foundation for Spinal Cord Research and Brain Canada expanded the scope of the Award to include traumatic brain injury and concussion research, and to reposition the award to recognize a recent publication that significantly impacts those fields. Accordingly, the name of the Award was changed to reflect the close relationship, sense of common purpose, and aligned missions of both Barbara Turnbull and her neurosurgeon, Dr. Charles Tator, to promote awareness of the impact of spinal cord injury and its prevention, research into its treatment, and a better understanding of the nature, diagnosis, and treatment of concussion and traumatic brain injury. To learn more about the history of the Turnbull-Tator Award, click here.

Applications for the Turnbull-Tator Award were reviewed by members of an international peer review panel chaired by Dr. Charles Tator and composed of experts with experience in the relevant field(s) of spinal cord and/or brain injury research. Based on the reviewers' scores and panel discussion, the review panel recommended to the Barbara Turnbull Foundation and Brain Canada the top-ranked publication to receive the Award.

During the pandemic, online health coaching from medical students helped Veterans and Canadians improve their physical and mental health

MONTREAL, May 27, 2021 /CNW Telbec/ - Isolation measures for Canadians during the pandemic have been shown to reduce healthy eating, regular physical activity, and sleep quality while increasing mental stress and weight gain. In response to this deterioration in physical and mental health, an online health promotion program developed at the McGill Comprehensive Health Improvement Program (CHIP) and funded by Veterans Affairs Canada was made freely available to over 1,600 Canadians during the pandemic. The primary beneficiaries of the program were Canadian Veterans and their families. The clinical impact on physical and mental health was recently presented to the faculty and staff at Department of Medicine rounds, McGill University Health Center (https://youtu.be/Z-3koUZ-nzc).

Medical students will provide online health coaching (CNW Group/McGill Comprehensive Health Improvement Program (CHIP))

Medical students provide online health coaching to Canadians during the pandemic with excellent results.

A total of 9 Health Missions, each lasting 6-10 weeks, were completed using the MissionVAV platform. Overall, participants were very physically active, exercising, on average, the equivalent of walking 5 miles daily. During the DROP-5 Healthy Weight Mission, over 40% of overweight participants lost at least ½ pound each week (minimum of 5 lbs over 10 weeks). Throughout the program, participants also shared their experiences with teammates and rival teams, received daily health tips, and learned strategies to manage stress, sleep better and eat healthier. Overall, mental health indicators including, high stress levels and poor sleep quality, improved by at least 20% in nearly half of all participants.

During the past 8 months, medical students from McGill's Faculty of Medicine volunteered to act as online health coaches after they received training from faculty health professionals. These weekly email contacts, customized to the needs of each participant, further improved the positive impact of the Health Missions. With the addition of health coaching, early drop-outs declined significantly (from 19% to 7%) while participants remained in the Mission 36% longer. Daily exercise levels also increased by nearly 20%. The medical students also benefited from the experience as they learned first-hand the challenges surrounding adopting and maintaining healthy lifestyle habits known to improve both physical and mental health.

The upcoming "Mission Zen" will focus on finding balance in one's life as we emerge from the pandemic.

The medical students will once again be on board to help participants in their journey to master their health. Registration on missionvav.com is free.

Cision is the exclusive distribution partner of the McGill Comprehensive Health Improvement Program

SOURCE McGill Comprehensive Health Improvement Program (CHIP)

Media Release - Revera offering virtual tours to support older adults exploring retirement living

Virtual tours assist seniors preparing for their next chapter amid the pandemic

Mississauga, Ontario, May 27, 2021 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- With more older adults exploring retirement living and assisted living options, Revera is proud to offer virtual tours of its many Revera residences across Canada.

Retirement living is recommended for people considering a lifestyle change to a more active and social environment or those looking for assistance with housekeeping or personal care in a safe, secure environment. From personal services and unique amenities to healthy meal plans, Revera offers a variety of independent and assisted living options.

“With the population of older Canadians continuing to increase, more adults than ever will be exploring retirement living options,” says John Beaney, Senior Vice President – Retirement, Revera. “With so many options, it’s important to be educated, especially in light of the pandemic, and our team is here to help.”

From customized programs and events, to healthy meals and services that meet unique needs, care is at the heart of Revera. Virtual tours connect prospective residents and their loved ones with local Revera team members to show visitors around the community safely, answer questions, and showcase what life at the residence is like. Whether people are looking for a new home in their neighbourhood or thinking of relocating to be nearer to their children and grandchildren, virtual tours are a convenient, timesaving way to plan and explore options without leaving home.

“A tour is an important first step in understanding your options and making the choice that’s right for you or your loved one,” says Beaney. “Our virtual tours provide a special opportunity to meet our knowledgeable and respectful team to give you peace of mind as you explore retirement living. No question is too big or too small.”

Revera’s active retirement communities provide a range of amenities, including games and activity rooms, salons and spas, landscaped grounds and paths, as well as a range of accommodations and personalized health and wellness services designed to be flexible and cater to evolving needs.

To learn more about life at Revera, including retirement living options, visit reveraliving.com/en/live-with-us.

More information about the virtual tours at Revera can be found at reveraliving.com/virtualtour.

About Revera

Revera is a leading Canadian-owned and -headquartered, owner, investor, developer and operator in the senior living sector. Through its portfolio of partnerships, Revera owns or operates more than 500 properties across Canada, the United States and the United Kingdom serving more than 55,000 seniors. The company offers seniors’ apartments, independent living, assisted living, memory care and long term care. With approximately 50,000 employees dedicated to providing exceptional care and service, Revera is helping seniors live life to the fullest. Through Age is More, Revera is committed to challenging ageism, the company’s social cause of choice. Find out more at ReveraLiving.com, Facebook.com/ReveraInc or on Twitter @Revera_Inc.

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The Canadian Vaping Association urges New Brunswick to preserve adult access to flavoured vape products

Beamsville, ON, May 27, 2021 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- An opposition bill that would ban flavoured vape products has passed second reading with unanimous support in the New Brunswick Legislature. Health Minister Dorothy Shephard has said that the Progressive Conservatives plan to support the bill through committee. The Canadian Vaping Association (CVA) has previously cautioned New Brunswick that banning flavours will increase smoking rates and urges the Government of New Brunswick to change course before it is too late.

Recently, vapour advocates launched a campaign to save flavours. Over 90,000 emails have been sent nationally by vapers and harm reduction supporters to Members of Parliament. While the campaign is a federal initiative, it highlights the importance of flavours for harm reduction. Tens of thousands of Canadian have now told the government that they need flavours to remain smoke-free.

Historically, flavour bans have had little impact on youth use and have resulted in increased smoking rates among adults. Recent data from San Francisco shows that the same is true for youth. Following a flavour ban, San Francisco had an increase in youth smoking rates. Of course, youth and non-smokers should not vape, but good policy balances youth protection with harm reduction.

“Some governments view Nova Scotia as a leader in youth protection, but Nova Scotia is an example of well intentioned but failed policy. Following Nova Scotia’s flavour ban, the Atlantic Convenience Store Association said they experienced an unprecedented increase in cigarettes sales and urged regulators to reconsider the ban. Additionally, Nova Scotia has not produced any data to suggest that the ban had any effect on youth vaping rates. Nova Scotia failed to protect youth and has jeopardized the health of thousands of adults. No government should seek to emulate Nova Scotia’s failure,” said Darryl Tempest, Executive Director of the CVA.

Moreover, flavour bans benefit big tobacco by wiping out the age-restricted specialty vape shops sending ex-smokers back to combustible tobacco. With specialty vape shops closed, all vaping related sales will be driven through the convenience and gas station channels where tobacco companies have financial influence over retailers. This policy is a win-win for Big Tobacco, because vapers either revert to smoking or adopt the only remaining Big Tobacco owned products.

There is still time for New Brunswick to follow the science and support vaping for adult harm reduction. Increased education, consistent enforcement and restricting flavoured products to age-restricted specialty stores is a more effective pathway that balances youth protection with adult harm reduction.