Local Canadian Success Story Introducing
Better-For-You SPOKES Air-Puffed Potato Snacks
Calgary, AB October 18, 2017 Left Field Foods launches naturally simple and delicious SPOKES air-puffed potato snacks. A unique entry into the North American Better-For-You (BFY) snack category which is growing rapidly due to consumer preference for simple ingredients with no preservatives.
A light and crunchy potato snack that is air-puffed {never oil fried}, SPOKES are lightly oil-misted and seasoned for a naturally delicious clean and crisp taste experience. Made with good-for-you simple ingredients, SPOKES are gluten-free, Non GMO Project Verified and have only 40 calories per cup. Free of the 11 major allergens including dairy, gluten, wheat, soy and egg, no artificial preservatives or colours, and no trans fat or cholesterol, SPOKES are a potato snack everyone can love. Plus, theyre made locally in a peanut free facility in Calgary, AB, Canada. Available in nine (9) mouth-watering flavours, there is something for everyone: Sea Salt, Mango Habanero, Sea Salt & Vinegar, Barbecue, Dill Pickle, Salt & Pepper, Fiesta Salsa, Sea Salted Caramel and Simply Bare.
Created by a Canadian Mom who wanted a Better-For-You (BFY) snack for her family, SPOKES was born as a result of many years work refining product development and consumer research. Were naturally curious, and are always experimenting with new things. With an emphasis on wholesome, naturally simple ingredients and great taste, we set out to create a delicious snack the whole family can love. The new brand is quickly gaining traction with extremely positive consumer response so far, and for good reason, says Dave Pullar, CEO of Left Field Foods. Selective about everything we do, we listened carefully to our customer. This is at the heart of our commitment to excellence and the driving force behind what we do every day from sourcing simple, quality ingredients, to our product innovation and production processes, to ensuring consumer satisfaction and above all, creating a naturally delicious taste experience for families to enjoy, without all the bad stuff, says Pullar.
SPOKES air-puffed potato snacks typically retail $3.99 for a regular size bag, and are already available across Canada in most natural, conventional and independent grocery and drugstore retailers including: Whole Foods, Kardish, Goodness Me!, Planet Organic, Blush Lane, Safeway, Sobeys (Western Canada), Thrifty Foods, Metro (Quebec), London Drugs and Bed Bath & Beyond. For more information on where to find SPOKES, please visit spokes.ca
About Left Field Foods
Headquartered in Calgary, Alberta, Canada, Left Field Foods is a high-growth snack food company focused on helping savvy snackers eat and feel better, today and tomorrow. The company develops innovative, naturally delicious products with Great Taste from the Ground UpÔ that appeal to consumers growing preference for great tasting, Better-For-You (BFY) products made with naturally simple ingredients. For additional information, please visit: leftfieldfoods.ca
LOVE YOU BOOK INTERVIEW – PINK PEARL PR
Why I Wrote ‘Love You’ – Lorna Jane Clarkson
Australia's iconic award-winning technical fashion brand designer, Lorna Jane Clarkson, releases her fifth book, Love You.
Fresh from the first leg of her book tour, we sat down with our one and only leading lady and wellness pioneer, Lorna Jane Clarkson, to gain a personal insight into her latest book, ‘Love You’.
Interview Questions:
What is Love You about?
Essentially ‘Love You” is about the incredible power and positivity you can bring in to your life when you decide to love and believe in yourself.
Why did you write Love You?
LOVE YOU is my 5th book and surprisingly not one that I set out to intentionally write.
For the past 18 months I’ve been running an Active Schools program for young girls where we teach the importance of loving and believing in yourself and the more I spoke about this message and saw how much it resonated not only with the students but with their teachers and their parents – I just knew that it was something that ALL women would benefit from.
I wanted to write about self-love because I wanted to inspire women to stop and think about where they are going with their lives, to instil in them the importance of taking care of themselves and to show them that they CAN bring about positive change in their lives.
I believe that self-love is important because everything good in your life starts with how YOU think and feel about yourself and I want to encourage ALL women to invest in themselves, back themselves, challenge themselves and ultimately love and believe in themselves enough to create a life that they love.
In this book, I talk about self-love and self-belief, the importance of authenticity and that making mistakes is inevitable and ultimately how we learn and move forward in life. I share the real stories of my personal journey (warts and all!), the daily rituals that keep me on track despite my busy schedule and what I do to take care of myself both physically and mentally so that I can live my life at 100%.
How did you come up with the title?
Honestly, I’m usually at least half way through a book before the title starts to emerge and it’s not until I begin writing the introduction (which is usually after I have decided on all of the content) that I start to seriously think about what the title should be.
I decided on LOVE YOU because I wanted the message to be crystal clear to the reader as soon as she saw the book. I also wanted her to feel loved when she received the book – so the title also serves as an “I love you” message from me and the Lorna Jane team.
Why do you think self-love is so important?
I know from my own personal experience just how important self-love is, because how you think and feel about yourself has a direct impact on your life. Without self-love, you can’t have self-belief and without self-belief and self-confidence it’s almost impossible to reach your full potential in anything that you do.
I think right now is the perfect time to focus on YOU and what you are doing with your life instead of getting caught up in what everyone else is doing and comparing their seemingly perfect lives with yours. Social media and our obsession with celebrity is taking our focus away from being WHO we are and taking our attention away from what we want to do with our lives. I think we need to stop seeking likes on social media and start to like ourselves. Spend less time looking at other people’s lives and start working on where we want to go with our own lives instead!
When you decide to love and believe in yourself, your whole world changes for the better and I want every woman to know this and understand how she can take back her power.
Why was this book difficult to write?
Honestly, it was tough to write because it was so personal. It’s a well-known fact that the media can be tough on people in the spotlight and I have certainly felt that over the last few years. There are more and more ‘click-bait’ headlines and they often lead to or report on unfounded and misleading facts. I haven’t spoken about it publicly before, but these were difficult times for me that played havoc with my self-confidence. I felt too scared to do or say anything, especially when I learnt that ‘no comment’ wasn’t really an option either.
I started to doubt myself and what I was doing with my life and had to find a way to re-gain my own self love and self-confidence as well as the fearlessness and ability to be open and honest that I had lost. When I was writing this book I started thinking about all the other women out there that may have gone through something similar in their lives causing them to lose their confidence, and wouldn’t it be great if I could somehow use the stories of my journey to help them overcome their fears, find self-love and get back on track to creating an amazing life for themselves.
Why did you feel the need to share so many personal stories in this book?
I think that it’s important for people to know what it really takes to live with passion and purpose – of course I want to inspire women to follow their dreams like I did, but I also want them to know that it can (and will) be hard sometimes.
I think by telling my ‘own’ personal stories it allows me to share with the reader what I believe are the key ingredients to move forward towards success in their lives. What it actually takes to step out of your comfort zone and make change. And that it’s perfectly okay for people to think that you are crazy!
In this book I also talk about the daily rituals that I know have carried me through the most difficult times. That taking care of your health both physically and mentally is always important, and that anything truly is possible when you make the commitment to LOVE and believe in yourself every day.
My stories teach you that nothing worthwhile is easy. Building something important takes time. That without passion you will never begin, without courage, you will falter and without drive and determination you will never finish.
What is it really like to work with your husband Bill?
Everyone is saying ‘surround yourself with good people’ so it confuses me when they’re surprised that so many of my friends and family work with me at Lorna Jane! I mean why wouldn’t you want to chase your dreams and build something with the people that you love?
Right now, the official count is – one best friend, one brother-in-law, a school friend of Bill’s, two sister-in-law’s, one brother, one husband and one dog … and quite honestly, I wouldn’t want it any other way. I love working with my husband and YES we do argue (a lot!) but it just never seems to affect our personal life or how we feel about each other.
I think that the people you spend time with is important – and It’s nice to know that you can trust each other, that there is a genuine human connection and that we have each other’s best interests at heart. Working with family certainly works for me, but I’m not going to say it will work for everyone!
What is your ultimate dream for females around the world?
I think that right now is an amazing time in history for women, and I want every one of them to know that they have the power to bring positive change into their lives, to reach their full potential, to be fearless and make a difference big or small in the world.
To pre-order your signed copy, visit Lorna Jane.
Lorna Jane is available to buy in stores in Vancouver, Calgary and Toronto, in 45 Sport Chek retail locations across Canada, online at sportchek.ca and online at lornajane.com
Join the conversation!
#movenourishbelieve
#lornajane
Facebook: @lornajaneactivecanada
Twitter: @LornaJaneActive
Instagram: @lornajaneactive
About Lorna Jane
Lorna Jane began in 1989 when Lorna Jane Clarkson sewed her first one-off design
at her home in Brisbane, Australia. Since then, Lorna Jane has transformed her fashion vision into a world-leading activewear brand with over 250 stores worldwide and a connected community of over 3 million women embracing Lorna’s personal philosophy of Active Living.
The technical fashion label designed for women by women provides the perfect mix of fashion and function. Lorna Jane delivers active, innovative and inspirational activewear that aims to inspire all women to lead an active and fulfilling life.
Australian Technical Fashion Brand Lorna Jane Now Available at Sport Chek Stores Across Canada
Lorna Jane Expands Across Canadian Market with New Partnership at Sport Chek, Canada’s Largest Sporting Goods Retailer
October 2, 2017 (Vancouver, BC) – Australia's iconic award-winning technical fashion brand, Lorna Jane, has recently launched in Canada and is available for purchase in Sport Chek stores across Canada and online at sportchek.ca
Since opening their first Canadian Lorna Jane store in Calgary in November 2016, the proven demand for fashionable and functional activewear saw the opening of a showroom in Vancouver last December and a second store recently in Toronto.
Less than a year after their Canadian launch, Australian active lifestyle trailblazer, Lorna Jane, has expanded with products now available to purchase at Sport Chek, Canada’s largest retailer of sports clothing and sports equipment. The full range of products including sports bras, leggings, and tanks is now available at 45 Sport Chek stores across Canada.
Founder of Lorna Jane, Lorna Jane Clarkson said, “It’s exciting! We aren’t just onboarding another stockist, we are making the brand accessible to so many more women worldwide and in turn introducing them to our renowned Active Living Philosophy, that continues to inspire women across the globe to constantly strive for more and live at 100%”.
The Lorna Jane brand is widely recognized as an extension of Clarkson’s personal philosophy of active living, achieved through the daily practice of ‘Move, Nourish, Believe’. This philosophy allows Lorna Jane to uphold its brand promise to motivate and inspire women to live their best life.
“It’s humbling and a credit to everyone involved in the brand that we are making such great inroads in challenging times. In tough times, great brands can flourish and that is just what we will continue to do by keeping the customer at the heart of our business,” stated Clarkson.
Lorna Jane is available to buy in stores in Vancouver, Calgary and Toronto, in 45 Sport Chek retail locations across Canada, online at sportchek.ca and online at lornajane.com
Join the conversation!
#movenourishbelieve
#lornajane
Facebook: @lornajaneactivecanada
Twitter: @LornaJaneActive
Instagram: @lornajaneactive
About Lorna Jane
Lorna Jane began in 1989 when Lorna Jane Clarkson sewed her first one-off design
at her home in Brisbane, Australia. Since then, Lorna Jane has transformed her fashion vision into a world-leading activewear brand with over 250 stores worldwide and a connected community of over 3 million women embracing Lorna’s personal philosophy of Active Living.
The technical fashion label designed for women by women provides the perfect mix of fashion and function. Lorna Jane delivers active, innovative and inspirational activewear that aims to inspire all women to lead an active and fulfilling life.
Technical Fashion Brand Designer Lorna Jane Clarkson Releases Fifth Book, Love You
October 2, 2017 (Vancouver, BC) - Australia's iconic award-winning technical fashion brand designer, Lorna Jane Clarkson, is set to release her fifth book, Love You.
The inspiring 22-page handbook will be available through Lorna Jane stores nationwide as well as an exclusive signed edition online. In this heartfelt book, Clarkson opens up about what it takes to run a successful business, how you can master your own potential and how to stay healthy no matter how busy life gets.
Love You is without a doubt Clarkson’s most intimate and compelling work yet. Readers will have the opportunity to delve into the ‘real life’ of the woman behind the brand, Lorna Jane, and experience their very own journey of self-love, self-discovery and self-belief.
“As women, we can be our own worst enemies. We get so caught up in the things we don’t like about ourselves that we forget how amazing we actually are. You can’t have a great relationship with anyone whether it’s a partner, a work colleague or even a family member, if you don’t first and foremost have a good relationship with yourself and that’s exactly what Love You is all about,” said Clarkson.
Learn Clarkson’s secrets to Active Living in a whole new way and uncover some of her most personal untold stories, never before heard.
To pre-order your signed copy, visit Lorna Jane.
Lorna Jane is available to buy in stores in Vancouver, Calgary and Toronto, in 45 Sport Chek retail locations across Canada, online at sportchek.ca and online at lornajane.com
Join the conversation!
#movenourishbelieve
#lornajane
Facebook: @lornajaneactivecanada
Twitter: @LornaJaneActive
Instagram: @lornajaneactive
About Lorna Jane
Lorna Jane began in 1989 when Lorna Jane Clarkson sewed her first one-off design
at her home in Brisbane, Australia. Since then, Lorna Jane has transformed her fashion vision into a world-leading activewear brand with over 250 stores worldwide and a connected community of over 3 million women embracing Lorna’s personal philosophy of Active Living.
The technical fashion label designed for women by women provides the perfect mix of fashion and function. Lorna Jane delivers active, innovative and inspirational activewear that aims to inspire all women to lead an active and fulfilling life.
VAPING – E-CIGS HAVE RISKS OF THEIR OWN, SAYS VASCULAR SURGEON
Vascular patients should not use electronic cigarettes
CHICAGO, Illinois, Oct. 17, 2017 – Are electronic cigarettes, which have been booming in popularity over the past 10 years, safer than regular cigarettes?
Like so many things, it’s complicated. Most research looks at whether vaping helps people quit smoking better than nicotine patches (inconclusive) and at the effect of vapor on the lungs (no tar is delivered by e-cigarettes, but plenty of chemicals are).
Vascular surgeons see vaping from a different angle; they are concerned about its effect on the body’s veins and arteries. With e-cigarettes, it’s easy for vapers to inhale an unhealthy amount of nicotine, or even accidentally give themselves a sky-high dose. Several recent studies have found that nicotine contributes to hardening of the arteries. It also constricts the blood vessels, which causes the heart rate to go up and blood pressure to rise. Together it’s possible that those symptoms could cause a dangerous heart arrhythmia.
People who have any kind of vascular disease should avoid tobacco and e-cigarettes with nicotine, said Dr. Jeb Hallett, a vascular surgeon at the Medical University of South Carolina and a board member of the Society for Vascular Surgery. Because vascular surgeons treat diseases of the circulatory system, it is common to see patients whose arteries are severely compromised, due in large part to a lifetime of smoking.
“Not only can vaping nicotine fluids be toxic,” Hallett noted, “just getting the liquid on your skin is also dangerous, because nicotine can be absorbed through the skin and cause abnormal rapid heartbeat, which can sometimes lead to heart failure.”
The liquid is especially dangerous for children. The liquids are sometimes manufactured to smell like candy or food, and just skin contact with the liquid can cause children to overdose on nicotine. According to an article in the journal Pediatrics, roughly seven children a day are poisoned by vaping fluid.
Nicotine is not usually a problem at low doses, but causes trouble at high doses, particularly for women. Women have more nicotine receptors in the brain than men, Hallett said. “They are more susceptible to the effects of nicotine, and if they are vaping continually over a long evening, for example, it could mean they are taking in a very high dose of nicotine.”
Electronic devices are filled with a flavored vaping fluid that is sold in different concentrations of nicotine. This ranges from zero to 36 milligrams per milliliter, and sometimes higher. (Traditional cigarettes also vary in nicotine content, from 6 to 16 mg per cigarette, according to the National Institutes of Health.)
While vaping is most popular with smokers who are hoping to break their addiction to cigarettes, a recent study reported in the Journal of Vascular Surgery found “a very modest effect on abstinence rates through the use of electronic cigarettes.”
If someone is committed to trying vaping to get off cigarettes, Hallett might agree that for some people, it’s the lesser of two evils.
“If you are determined to quit smoking and vaping eventually, vaping can be a temporary solution,” he thinks. “But you should have a plan for reducing your nicotine over time – and be very skilled at filling and not spilling the device.”
For smokers who are serious about quitting, he said, more reliable options would be to ask their physician for a prescription such as Chantix SP or to call the 800-QUITNOW hotline for assistance.
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The Society for Vascular Surgery® (SVS) is a 5,800-plus member, not-for-profit professional medical society, composed primarily of specialty-trained vascular surgeons, which seeks to advance excellence and innovation in vascular health through education, advocacy, research and public awareness.
Resources:
http://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1002/14651858.CD010216.pub3/full "Electronic cigarettes for smoking cessation"
http://www.jvascsurg.org/article/S0741-5214(96)70038-1/fulltext "Nicotine... smooth muscle cell"
http://www.jvascsurg.org/article/0741-5214(87)90132-7/fulltext “Prostacyclin… Effect of nicotine…”
Torontonians Get Physical at Rethink Breast Cancer’s 16th annual Boobyball soiree
Toronto, ON – On Friday, Oct. 13, REBEL (11 Polson St.) was full of Torontonians dressed in their best 80s and 90s apparel to celebrate the 16th edition of Rethink Breast Cancer’s Boobyball fundraiser. Themed Get Physical, the annual bash promoted regular physical activity as a means to reduce a woman’s lifetime risk of developing breast cancer.
Notable celebrities, television personalities and YouTube stars including Amanda Brugel, Cabbie Richards, Chloe Wilde, Karl Wolf and Tara Spencer-Nairn were in attendance to celebrate Boobyball: Get Physical, raising money and awareness for breast cancer support and education. Partygoers were seen shimmying in lycra, legwarmers and shoulder pads, while several aerobic dance-offs took place.
This year, TOPSHOP once again returned to Boobyball as the lead sponsor and wowed the crowd with their Get Physical Lounge. Once inside guests had the opportunity to sweat for a good cause - for every 50m cycled on their 80s retro bike, TOPSHOP would donate an additional $1 to Rethink. Additionally, Toronto kicked off Booyball with a Facebook Live segment from the TOPSHOP Canada Stage showcasing this year's retro-themed bash and hosting interviews with MJ DeCoteau, Founder of Rethink Breast Cancer and Canadian actresses, Natasha Negovanlis, Sarah Fisher and more! Watch the full video here.
Amanda Brugel, The Handmaid's Tale
Photo Credit: Ryan Emberley
Craig McKinnon, The Bachelorette and Cabbie Richards, Sportscentre
Photo Credit: Ryan Emberley
Chloe Wilde, reporter and host, eTALK and E! Canada
Photo Credit: Ryan Emberley
Karl Wolf, Canadian Singer & Songwriter
Photo Credit: Ryan Emberley
Torri Webster, Life with Boys
Photo Credit: Ryan Emberley
Since 2002, Boobyball has raised over $4.2 million dollars for Rethink Breast Cancer’s work for young women concerned about and affected by breast cancer, with this year’s Toronto event raising more than $185,000.
Images from the event are available for download here.
Photo credit: Ryan Emberley
Toronto’s fetch activations included:
- TOPSHOP Get Physical Lounge invited guests to sweat for a good cause. For every 50m cycled on their 80s retro bike, TOPSHOP would donate an additional $1 to Rethink
- Yummy cocktails by teapigs and Tito’s Handmade vodka
- Oxygen Bar, courtesy of Medreleaf
- Tasty treats from Sweet Jesus
- Retro-hair touch-ups and mini manis by Her Majesty’s Pleasure
- VIP eats by STK and Hickory Farms
- Shwinging Suds by Beau’s
- A sweet ride home courtesy of Beck Taxi
- Retro photos by The Kit
- Old school beats by DJ Brains4brkfst
- Like, totally major gift bags
In addition to the Calgary event on October 14, three additional Boobyball events will be hosted nationwide including Vancouver (Oct. 21), Ottawa (Oct. 27) and Halifax (Oct. 28).
Boobyball was launched in 2002 by a group of dedicated young women in support of their friend Sarah O’Regan who, at just 23 years old, was diagnosed with aggressive, advanced breast cancer. Fast forward 16 years, and Boobyball is now one of the most coveted and high profile fundraising events for young philanthropists in Toronto, Calgary, Ottawa and Winnipeg, and Sarah is a thriving mother of three. Since 2002, Boobyball has raised over $4.2 million dollars for Rethink Breast Cancer’s work for young women concerned about and affected by breast cancer. For more about Boobyball, visit
www.boobyball.com.
About Rethink Breast CancerTM
Rethink Breast Cancer’s mission is to empower young people worldwide who are concerned about and affected by breast cancer. Rethink is the first ever Canadian charity to bring bold, relevant awareness to the 40s and under crowd; foster a new generation of young and influential breast cancer supporters; infuse sass and style into the cause; and, most importantly, respond to the unique needs of young women going through it. By taking a breakthrough approach to all aspects of breast cancer – education, resources, advocacy, community building, and fundraising – Rethink is thinking differently about breast cancer. To find out more about Rethink Breast Cancer, visit
rethinkbreastcancer.com.
Sodexo and the University of Ottawa Make Sense of Seniors' Quality of Life
New audit tool paired with real-world solutions gathered by researchers helps long-term care communities create "sense-sensitive" environments for seniors with hearing, vision, smell, taste and touch impairments
OTTAWA, Oct. 16, 2017 /CNW/ - Sodexo, world leader in quality of life services, and the University of Ottawa Life Research Institute today released the first comprehensive study of how the five senses impact quality of life for those living in long-term care communities. All five senses can diminish as we age, and "How and Why the Five Sense Matter for Quality of Life: A Guide for Long-Term Care Communities" reveals the importance of understanding sensory impairments when creating environments for seniors, whether at-home or in a long-term care community.
Research in the Journal of the American Geriatrics Society shows that the rapid growth of the world's senior population, minimal awareness exists regarding the negative effects sensory impairments have on seniors living in long-term care communities. In fact, 94 percent of people will experience diminishment of at least one of their senses as they age.
With this reality in mind, the Sodexo-uOttawa study presented strategies for creating "sense-sensitive" environments that will facilitate person-centered care for seniors. For example:
- Seniors with low vision may have difficulty distinguishing between similar colors, so long-term care communities might use high-contrast colors to help them see different items and areas.
- Sense of smell can diminish with age and impact the ability to taste. Creating an open kitchen area helps residents better smell food—which can stimulate appetite.
- Hearing impairment can make participating in conversations difficult. Minimizing background noise from heating and cooling systems, equipment and cleaning services to may make it easier for seniors to hear others.
"Good care must begin with empathy," said Marc Plumart, Sodexo CEO of Healthcare & Seniors Worldwide. "This study helps senior-care managers put themselves in the shoes of their residents to understand how they experience the world—which is different for those with diminished senses. By understanding their needs, they can design services and environments to improve quality of life."
In addition to the guide, the research team developed an audit tool to help long-term care communities assess and improve their level of sense-sensitivity. This tool is a useful, practical way to gauge quality of life through resident perceptions, physical environment, and existing policies and procedures. The audit includes a series of questions targeting residents, family members, clinical, technical and administrative staff.
"Healthcare today is complex, but many answers lie in taking care of people's needs—and how these are affected by their diminishing senses," said Hélène Perrault, Professor and Dean of Faculty of Health Sciences at University of Ottawa. "This guide and audit tool will give users benchmarks and a strategy to track the impact of sensory loss on quality of life."
"The guide and audit tool produced by our research collaboration demonstrate clearly the value of genuine engagement between Sodexo and leading researchers." said Thomas Jelley, Vice President of the Sodexo Institute for Quality of Life. "It's been a privilege to broker and support this partnership with the University of Ottawa."
To download the study "How and Why the Five Sense Matter for Quality of Life: A Guide for Long-Term Care Communities" visit www.qualityoflifeobserver.com.
About Sodexo
Sodexo Canada delivers on-site services at nearly 750 locations for more than 230 clients in the Healthcare, Education, Business & Industry and Energy & Resource sectors. The company's 10,000 employees work together to improve the Quality of Life for their customers by designing, managing and delivering a wide range of solutions—from project management to energy planning, from technical building maintenance to concierge services, from housekeeping to fitness centre management, and from catering and food services to clinical technology management. Sodexo has been operating in Canada for over 40 years.
The Sodexo STOP HUNGER Foundation is an independent charitable organization that has donated more than 1,000,000 meals to at-risk youth in Canada since it was founded in 2001. Globally, Sodexo operates in 80 countries and serves 75 million consumers each day. Follow us on Twitter @SodexoCanada
Key figures (as of August 31, 2016)
20.2 billion euro consolidated revenue
425,000 employees
19th largest employer worldwide
80 countries 75 million consumers served daily
17.1 billion euro in market capitalization (as of July 5, 2017)
About The University of Ottawa—A crossroads of cultures and ideas
The University of Ottawa is home to over 50,000 students, faculty and staff, who live, work and study in both French and English. Our campus is a crossroads of cultures and ideas, where bold minds come together to inspire game-changing ideas. We are one of Canada's top 10 research universities—our professors and researchers explore new approaches to today's challenges. One of a handful of Canadian universities ranked among the top 200 in the world, we attract exceptional thinkers and welcome diverse perspectives from across the globe.
SOURCE Sodexo Canada
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PUR ATTITUDE™ SUPPORTS
NATIONAL BREAST CANCER FOUNDATION, INC.®
BOCA RATON, FL (October 2017)—Today, PUR attitude™ announced that it will donate 50% of proceeds for its HA85 PUR Relief Lotion (MSRP $45) and HA85 PUR Relief Spray (MSRP $45), advanced therapeutic topicals designed to be safe for use by cancer patients, to the National Breast Cancer Foundation, Inc.® (NBCF) during the month of October. The brand also will donate 25% of proceeds for items in the rest of the PUR attitude collection to the charity during Breast Cancer Awareness Month. NBCF is an organization dedicated as much to the prevention of the disease, as it is to the cure, and holds excellent ratings with independent charity reviewers. PUR attitude chose to work with NBCF due to its alignment with PUR attitude’s own core mission to carry out responsible industry practices by providing carcinogen-free skincare.
“PUR attitude is vigilant in its pursuit of high-performing skincare ingredients that are noncarcinogenic. We believe that by creating greater awareness and integrity in our industry, we can go a long way in providing safe topical therapeutics with outstanding performance,” said Jerry Rayman, President of PUR attitude. “We appreciate that, in addition to funding research, NBCF promotes early detection, as well as care for women who are undergoing treatment for breast cancer.”
Each product in the PUR attitude line is dermatologist tested and approved, backed by independent clinical studies, and follows the brand’s philosophy of “Safe Beauty,” avoiding harsh chemicals and known carcinogens, parabens, PEG’s, glycols, sulfates, petro-chemicals, synthetic fragrances and artificial dyes. Further details and samples available upon request.
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About the National Breast Cancer Foundation, Inc.®
Recognized as one of the leading breast cancer organizations in the world, the National Breast Cancer Foundation’s (NBCF) mission is to save lives through early detection and to provide mammograms for those in need. A recipient of Charity Navigator’s highest 4-star rating for nine years, NBCF provides women Help for Today…Hope for Tomorrow® through its National Mammography Program, Beyond The Shock®, Early Detection Plan, MyNBCF online support community, and breast cancer research programs. For more information, please visit www.nbcf.org.
About PUR attitude
Based in Boca Raton, Fla., PUR attitude was created by a team dedicated to the research, development and manufacturing of advanced therapeutic topicals and skin care. All PUR attitude products contain only safe beauty ingredients. More than 1,300 chemicals have been banned from the company’s lab, which adheres to strict EU standards. Additionally, all PUR attitude products are created with 100 percent pure, active ingredients, and are not diluted with water. |
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Pioneering Digital Mental Health Solution Bridges the Care Gap for Sufferers
Inspired by a serial entrepreneur's personal experience and proven through clinical testing, digital solution BEACON gives Canadians affordable access to CBT-based treatment for mental illness
TORONTO, Oct. 10, 2017 /CNW/ - A leading cause of suffering and disability in Canada, mental illness is truly non-discriminatory. It affects people of all ages, cultures and socio-economic backgrounds and comes at tremendous cost to individuals, employers and the economy. In fact, according to the Mental Health Commission of Canada (MHCC), it is the number one cause of disability claims in Canada.1
The statistics are staggering.
In the last year alone, 7.5 million Canadians struggled with a mental health or addiction problem.2 In any given week, 500,000 Canadians miss work due to a mental health problem or illness,3 while the estimated combined cost of absenteeism and presenteeism on the Canadian economy is more than 50 billion dollars annually.4
Witnessing these challenges first-hand, BDC Chairperson Sam Duboc (Air Miles, EdgeStone Capital, Pathways to Education Canada) and his wife Claire Duboc (Trustee, SickKids Hospital) decided it was time to make a change. Having experienced the impact of mental illness in their home and on their friends, they sought out and partnered with Dr. Peter Farvolden and Dr. Eilenna Denisoff – who ran a leading Cognitive Behavioural Therapy clinic in Toronto, called CBT Associates.
The result? BEACON. A brand new digitally delivered solution aimed at helping Canadians improve their mental and emotional well-being through timely and affordable support. Using the proven principles of Cognitive Behavioural Therapy (CBT) and a therapist relationship, BEACON delivers high-quality, consistent, evidence-based treatment via highly trained clinicians. Utilizing a diagnostic assessment, core components of in-clinic best practices and the flexibility associated with innovative digital delivery, BEACON reduces the cost of treatment by up to 75 per cent, eliminates barriers of geography and time, significantly reduces the barrier of stigma and ensures the delivery of evidence-based personalized care.
"There's an urgent need to make mental healthcare solutions accessible and affordable in this country," says Sam Duboc, BEACON Executive Chair. "With provincial health agencies covering only a small portion of these costs, Canadians are left with hefty bills, incredibly long wait lists and the task of navigating a system of barriers to care."
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CBT is a psychotherapy treatment that helps change negative and anxious thoughts, as well as behaviours, so a person can feel and function better to improve his or her quality of life. Numerous clinical trials over many years prove CBT's effectiveness for treating the most common mental health problems, including mood and anxiety disorders. Of significance to the development of BEACON, research has demonstrated that digitally delivered therapist-assisted CBT (or TAiCBT) for common conditions, such as depression and anxiety, is equally beneficial as traditional in-person CBT.1 In fact, studies show that TAiCBT results in significant reductions in depression, anxiety, and improvements in quality of life.2 TAiCBT with therapist guidance – which is what BEACON delivers – consistently results in better treatment outcomes compared to self-guided iCBT.3 For example, iCBT for depression has been found to be twice as effective when supported by a therapist compared to when it is self-guided.4
"Through outcome data and patient experience, we've seen first-hand the difference BEACON can make in the lives of those in need of mental health treatment," says Dr. Peter Farvolden, BEACON Lead at CBT Associates. "Technology has changed the way we live our daily lives, so why shouldn't this also include the way we access mental health treatment? Offering CBT methodology through digital means is an effective way to provide sufferers with not only an immediate channel to their e-therapist, but also accessibility to their individual treatment plan and subsequent tools. Many of our clients, who have tried both, strongly prefer BEACON TAiCBT to traditional face-to-face therapy."
Proven through rigorous testing in a clinical environment, BEACON is available both as a digital support to traditional CBT as well as a standalone, fully digital CBT solution, with therapist support delivered via the platform and accessible by mobile or desktop. An individual's journey begins with either a rigorous self-assessment or full diagnosis (with the addition of a call with a registered Clinical Psychologist). Users are then guided by a credentialed e-therapist to ensure patients achieve comparable outcomes to traditional treatment – something that is out of reach for so many Canadians. BEACON ensures continuous care delivery by allowing patients to complete the readings, worksheets and outcome measures that are part of a typical CBT treatment plan, on both mobile and desktop. BEACON is also available as a digital adjunct, complementing traditional in-person psychologist sessions at CBT Associate offices.
Some of the forward-thinking organizations partnering with BEACON to develop innovative mental health programs for Canadians include Carrot Insights, Cossette, Deloitte, League, Manulife Financial, Medisys Health Group, Porter Airlines, Public Services Health and Safety Association, Sun Life Financial, and Wilfrid Laurier University.
Physicians interested in referring a patient, can do so via the website at www.mindbeacon.com. Patients interested in signing up for BEACON can do so by visiting the website to complete the rigorous online self-assessment or diagnostic assessment.
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| 1 |
Hedman, E., Ljotsson, B., & Lindefors, N. (2012). Cognitive Behaviour Therapy Via The Internet: A Systematic Review of Applications, Clinical Efficacy and Cost-Effectiveness. Expert Review of Pharmacoeconomics & Outcomes Research, 12 (6), 745-64. http://dx.doi.org./10.1586/erp.12.67 |
| 2 |
Hadjistavropoulos, H.D., Pugh, N.E., Nugent, M., Hesser, H., Andersson, G., Marchildon, G.P., et al. (2014). Therapist-Assisted Internet-Delivered Cognitive Behaviour Therapy for Depression and Anxiety: Evidence to Practice. Journal of Anxiety Disorders, 28, 884-893. |
| 3 |
Richards, D. and Richardson, T. (2012). Computer-Based Psychological Treatments for Depression: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis. Clinical Psychology Review, 32 (4), 329-42. doi:10.1016/j.cpr.2012.02.004, 329-342. |
| 4 |
Andersson, G. and Cuijpers, P. (2009) Internet-Based and Other Computerized Psychological Treatments for Adult Depression: A meta Analysis. Cognitive Behaviour Therapy, 38(4), 196-205. |
BEACON
Developed by CBT Associates, BEACON is a digitally delivered solution using the proven principles of Cognitive Behavioural Therapy (CBT) and therapist relationship to treat mental illness. Utilizing validated core components of in-clinic best practices, BEACON eliminates the barriers of cost, geography and time, reduces the barrier of stigma and ensures the delivery of evidence-based personalized care to those suffering with mental health issues across Canada. www.mindbeacon.com
SOURCE Beacon
SPINCO SUPPORTS BREAST CANCER AWARENESS MONTH
Throughout the month of October, SPINCO will be supporting Breast Cancer Awareness with the below initiatives, and welcomes the local community to join them and get involved!
BREAST CANCER AWARENESS MONTH CHARITY RIDE
On Sunday, October 29that 1:00pm, SPINCO is hosting a charity ride at their studio with all proceeds going towards Breast Cancer research. There will be a donation fee of $25 per person.
SPIN-IT-FORWARD
For the month of October, all proceeds from SPINCO's Spin-it-Forward classes every Monday at 6:30pm will be going towards Breast Cancer research via the Canadian Cancer Society.
SPINCO X PEACE COLLECTIVE
In light of Breast Cancer month, SPINCO and Peace Collective have partnered on a limited-edition Breast Cancer Awareness t-shirt collection. All proceeds from sales will be donated to the Canadian Breast Cancer Foundation.
SCOTIABANK TORONTO WATERFRONT MARATHON
On Sunday, October 22nd, team SPINCO will be running in the 5km race at the Scotiabank Toronto Waterfront Marathon in support of the Canadian Breast Cancer Foundation. The 5km race will kick off at Exhibition Place at 8:15am. SPINCO will also have a cheer station located at Cherry St. and Eastern Ave., where they will be cheering on all marathon runners from the side lines!
The SPINCO race package includes the STWM technical t-shirt, registration for the 5km run/walk, a SPINCO x Peace Collective limited-edition tee and a generous donation towards Breast Cancer research. This can be purchased in-store and online [https://www.spinco.ca/pricing-toronto]
