Experiences reflect unique DNA of Ontario travel destinations

Stratford, Bayfield and Elora & Fergus think outside the box to engage visitors

STRATFORD, Ont. (June 12, 2017) – Picture rappelling down a sheer rock wall to get to your table for a delicious dinner served on a beach beside a gorgeous winding river.

How about taking in a one-of-a-kind concert from world-class musicians playing a bell about the size of a transport truck that replicates the sound of a carillon?

Or maybe you’re the artsy type and want to get inspired by a stunning landscape — how about painting a sunset from a breathtaking perch on a bluff overlooking Lake Huron?

These are just a few of the incredible experiences visitors can enjoy this summer while exploring the tourism hotspot of southwestern Ontario, whether it’s on a day-trip from the Greater Toronto Area or a longer family vacation.

The communities of Stratford, Bayfield and Elora & Fergus have joined with the region’s tourism organization — RTO4 — as well as their local tourism partners to develop more than two dozen new activities designed to engage travellers and highlight the special qualities and attractions that make each of the three destinations unique.

“Today’s visitors are seeking out unique experiences that they want to share – often in real-time – with friends and family,” says David Peacock, RTO4 Chief Executive Officer. “The new experiences supported by the animation fund highlight each community’s unique assets and invite the visitor to participate in telling the story.”

Stratford, picturesque home to the world-renowned Stratford Festival, is hosting 15 new events and activities that capture its growing reputation as a cultural resort town. A small sample of the experiences include:

• The Stratford Summer Music Carillon, organized by Stratford Summer Music. World-class carillon performers will play 14 free concerts from Aug. 5-13 on a massive musical bell.

• Ladies of the CNR, a full-length play presented by the Stratford Perth Museum and Martingale Vintage. The play will be performed at city hall from Sept. 28 to Oct. 4, featuring an interactive photobooth and newly curated CN exhibit.

• Food for Thought Festival, hosted in collaboration by the Stratford Chefs’ School and the Stratford Writers Festival, Oct. 27-29.  The festival creates literary and culinary experiences where food is matched to an author’s readings. There will also be workshops, such as how to write a cookbook and the art of food photography.

About an hour’s drive from the GTA, tourism operators in Elora & Fergus have created several experiences to celebrate the town’s heritage and idyllic natural setting. Among them are:

• River is Calling, an experience hosted by the Elora Centre for the Arts that celebrates the natural beauty of the Grand River through two exhibits during June, July and August, a paddle painting workshop and will end with a collaboration with Riverfest which will see Brad Coppingcarry his mosaic canoe to the Grand River where he will paddle it, take it out of the water and suspend it above the Riverfest stage for an evening concert on Aug. 19.

• Twilight at Templin Gardens, a free musical event at the historical Templin Gardens on Wednesday evenings through July and August, featuring a live musical performance with local artists performing and storytelling about their lives in Elora and Fergus. The finale of the evening will be a Piper piping down the sun on the candle lit Templin Garden Stairs built in 1920.

• Festival Faire, a free family-friendly event to be held on July 8. The new event celebrates Canada's 150th anniversary, showcasing Elora and Fergus’ festivals and events, natural beauty, rich heritage, rural foundations, artists, artisans, entertainers, merchants, and local food and drink.

On the sandy shores of Lake Huron, about an hour’s drive of Stratford, visitors can discover the beautiful beach town of Bayfield. Several new activities developed this summer showcase the trendy town’s artistic side, as well as its incredible waterfront setting and marine heritage. Among them are:

• Paint the Sunset, a way to celebrate the creativity of Bayfield, as well as its world-class sunsets, this experience will offer five activations throughout the summer providing the supplies and instructions for people to paint their own sunset keepsake. Four of the events will be painting on panels or rocks, and the fifth will be edible cookie painting.

• Try #SUPRUNYOGA, a unique one-day event focusing on trying new activities, connecting to nature and growing a sense of a connected shoreline community.  This event will also include local food vendors, product market and an attempt at the Guinness World Record for the world’s largest stand-up paddleboard yoga session.

Projects in all three communities were developed through RTO4’s Destination Animation Fund. The initiative offers business operators matching funds to create new or enhanced tourism offerings that showcase the destination’s agreed-upon core DNA. Visitors are encouraged to share their experiences through social networks.

The initiative was first launched in 2016, providing $30,000 in matching funds for 10 projects in Stratford. Based on the success of its inaugural run, RTO4 and its tourism partners doubled the size of the fund to $60,000 in 2017 and expanded it to more communities to create experiences that reach an even wider audience. More information is available at www.animationfund.ca

About RTO4:

RTO4, one of 13 regional tourism offices established by the Ministry of Tourism Culture and Sport in the province of Ontario, provides leadership and support to a flourishing tourism economy in Huron, Perth, Waterloo and Wellington. RTO4 has been called the “petri dish of tourism development in North America” by the Canadian Tourism Commission, specifically because of its innovative, analytical and non-traditional approach to growing tourism and economic development.

Steady stream of innovation to attract funding from diverse industries and drive growth opportunities, finds Frost & Sullivan’s TechVision team

London – 31 May, 2017 – Robotic exoskeletons are rapidly breaking out of the realm of sci-fi, finding application across varied industries, including healthcare, military, sports, robotics, construction, logistics, warehouse and industrial automation. Their exceptional ability to rehabilitate patients with physical or neurological disorders, or enhance the wearer’s physical strength, efficiency, performance capability and functionality, is encouraging research institutes and technology developers to constantly innovate solutions and techniques. Exoskeletons can also be integrated with artificial intelligence, predictive analytics, virtual reality and haptics to deliver a truly futuristic solution.

“In addition to medical benefits, robotic exoskeletons augment the wearer’s physical strength and allow them to lift very heavy weights without using machinery,” noted Frost & Sullivan TechVision Research Analyst S. Kasthuri Jagadeesan. “Currently, the industrial automation industry employs back support suits, power gloves and tool holding exoskeletons to improve worker efficiency, as well as reduce fatigue and stress.”

Emerging Robotic Exoskeleton Technologies is part of Frost & Sullivan’s TechVision (Advanced Manufacturing Automation) Growth Partnership Service programme. The study analyzes the present degree of applicability of robotic exoskeletons and the recent innovations that will have a tremendous impact across industries. It presents a technology road map and determines the impact, growth, adoption rate and role of robotic exoskeletons between 2017 and 2022. By 2022, the wide-scale adoption of robotic exoskeleton technologies is anticipated to increase significantly.

Click here for complimentary access to more information on this analysis and to register for a Growth Strategy Dialogue, a free interactive briefing with Frost & Sullivan’s thought leaders.

Robotic exoskeletons have found substantial application in safety and security industries as well, as they can be used by first responders during dangerous evacuation and rescue situations. Due to these advantages, the military and healthcare industries are investing heavily in the research and development (R&D) of this technology.

Despite the interest shown by a few stakeholders, funding is often tight, partly due to the high R&D costs, while the high cost of implementation is proving a deterrent to mainstream adoption. Once the robotic exoskeleton technology stabilizes and more innovative, segmented solutions are introduced, there will be greater industry and academic participation in technology development and adoption.

“Segmented robotic exoskeletons efficiently perform and address the evolving needs of varied industries, as each segment is designed for particular tasks in particular market segments,” noted Jagadeesan. “In the future, there will be new business opportunities for companies to provide service, software support, and even maintenance/service of exoskeleton suits.”

About TechVision

Frost & Sullivan's global TechVision practice is focused on innovation, disruption and convergence, and provides a variety of technology-based alerts, newsletters and research services as well as growth consulting services. Its premier offering, the TechVision program, identifies and evaluates the most valuable emerging and disruptive technologies enabling products with near-term potential. A unique feature of the TechVision program is an annual selection of 50 technologies that can generate convergence scenarios, possibly disrupt the innovation landscape, and drive transformational growth. View a summary of our TechVision program by clicking on the following link: http://ifrost.frost.com/TechVision_Demo.

About Frost & Sullivan

Frost & Sullivan, the Growth Partnership Company, works in collaboration with clients to leverage visionary innovation that addresses the global challenges and related growth opportunities that will make or break today's market participants. For more than 50 years, we have been developing growth strategies for the global 1000, emerging businesses, the public sector and the investment community. Contact us: Start the discussion

Emerging Robotic Exoskeleton Technologies

ProMIS Neurosciences Identifies Novel Therapeutic Epitope Target for ALS and Dementia

Company files United States patent application for novel epitope target identified on misfolded forms of the protein TDP43

TSX: PMN

TORONTO and CAMBRIDGE, MA, May 31, 2017 /CNW/ - ProMIS Neurosciences, Inc., a biotechnology company focused on the discovery and development of precision treatments for neurodegenerative diseases, today announced the identification of a novel therapeutic epitope target on misfolded forms of TDP43, implicated in the development and progression of amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) and frontotemporal dementia (FTD). The Company filed a provisional patent application for this target with the United States Patent Office on May 30, 2017.

Commenting on today's announcement, Dr. Neil Cashman, ProMIS Chief Scientific Officer, stated: "Using our proprietary discovery engine, scientists at UBC and ProMIS identified both the sequence and conformational shape of this novel epitope target on misfolded TDP43 that plays a key role in ALS and frontotemporal dementia."

TDP43 is present in every cell, and plays a critical role in the response of cells to oxidative stress. However, in ALS, FTD and other neurodegenerative diseases, TDP43 can lose its normal function, forming intracellular aggregates of misfolded TDP43 that disrupt cellular energy generation and normal protein degradation.

"Our goal is to selectively target misfolded TDP43 without disrupting the critical role that normally-folded TDP43 plays in cell biology," stated Dr. Elliot Goldstein, ProMIS President and CEO. "We plan to create and validate monoclonal antibodies against misfolded TDP43 to select optimal therapeutic candidates for advancement into the clinic."

Pursuant to its expanded license agreement with the University of British Columbia, ProMIS holds exclusive, worldwide license to this novel therapeutic target.

About ProMIS Neurosciences, Inc.

ProMIS Neurosciences is a TSX listed biotech company (trading symbol: PMN.TO), headquartered in Toronto, Ontario and with offices in Cambridge, Massachusetts. The mission of ProMIS is to discover and develop precision medicine therapeutics for effective treatment of neurodegenerative diseases, in particular Alzheimer's disease and ALS.

ProMIS Neurosciences' proprietary target discovery engine is based on the use of two, complementary techniques. The Company applies its thermodynamic, computational discovery platform—ProMIS^™ and Collective Coordinates — to predict novel targets known as Disease Specific Epitopes (DSEs) on the molecular surface of misfolded proteins. Using this unique "precision medicine" approach, ProMIS Neurosciences is developing novel antibody therapeutics and specific companion diagnostics for Alzheimer's disease and ALS. The company has also developed two proprietary technologies to specifically identify very low levels of misfolded proteins in a biological sample. In addition, ProMIS Neurosciences owns a portfolio of therapeutic and diagnostic patents relating to misfolded SOD1 in ALS, and currently has a preclinical monoclonal antibody therapeutic against this target.

The TSX has not reviewed and does not accept responsibility for the adequacy or accuracy of this release. This information release may contain certain forward-looking information. Such information involves known and unknown risks, uncertainties and other factors that may cause actual results, performance or achievements to be materially different from those implied by statements herein, and therefore these statements should not be read as guarantees of future performance or results. All forward-looking statements are based on the Company's current beliefs as well as assumptions made by and information currently available to it as well as other factors. Readers are cautioned not to place undue reliance on these forward-looking statements, which speak only as of the date of this press release. Due to risks and uncertainties, including the risks and uncertainties identified by the Company in its public securities filings, actual events may differ materially from current expectations. The Company disclaims any intention or obligation to update or revise any forward-looking statements, whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise.

For further information please consult the Company's website at:
www.promisneurosciences.com

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SOURCE ProMIS Neurosciences Inc.

Autism Speaks Canada Announces Their Annual Fundraising Walk Comes to Toronto

SOURCE Autism Speaks Canada

THE GOOD GEISHA OPENS SHOP IN PACIFIC MALL

TORONTO, ON – Wednesday, May 17^th, 2017 – When The Good Geisha first opened their shop last year in Kensington Market, owners Anna Chow and Amber Gotzmeister never imaged they would be opening a second location so soon before their one-year anniversary. The overwhelming demand for microblading has given them the confidence in expanding their niche beauty business of cosmetic tattooing across the GTA.

“Balancing eyebrows are big business,” says business owner, Gotzmeister. “We once held a promotional event and had customers lined up outside for hours, just to get our microblading deal. We tattooed 46 eyebrows in ten hours that day. After market research, the opening of the second location in Pacific Mall just made sense to us.”

In the past year, The Good Geisha has created a training program for people interested in working in the cosmetic tattoo industry and recently finished a textbook setting a microblading standard. They have been featured in The Toronto Star, The Marilyn Denis Show, and Flare Magazine. Style Democracy ranked them one of the best beauty salons in 2016.

“We first opened our shop as an answer to consumers looking for a reputable and legitimate business that holds the highest standards in experience, health and safety, and knowledge,” says co-owner, Chow. “The cosmetic tattoo industry is completely unlicensed and unregulated, creating a blackmarket of inexperienced and undertrained ‘microbladers’ cashing in on the lucrative business. Our goal is to help get this high-risk procedure out of basement setups and budget hair and nail salons.”

The Good Geisha uses only 100% disposable tools, and is fully certified in bloodborne pathogens, trained as a distributor for the highest level surface and instrument disinfectants and sterilants, and disposes all contaminated waste through a licensed biohazard waste disposal service. They use full personal protection, such as, gloves, arm barriers, aprons, masks, and eye protection for all procedures.  Watch Toronto woman getting faux freckles in this video.

The Good Geisha is the GTA’s only cosmetic tattoo shop with two locations specializing exclusively in custom cosmetic tattooing and colour correction. They have ten years of experience in cosmetic, reconstructive, and corrective tattooing. Watch their welcome video. FOR A GLIMPSE INTO THE WORLD OF THE GOOD GEISHA CLICK HERE - 9, 347 Followers and GROWING!

Ener-C Announces NSF Non-GMO True North Certification

VANCOUVER, British Columbia, May 15, 2017 /PRNewswire/ -- Pauling Labs, the maker of Ener-C multivitamin drink mix, is extremely proud to announce that Ener-C has achieved NSF Non-GMO True North certification of all ingredients.

Since the birth of the brand in 2013, their goal has always been to attain third party certification of Ener-C's non-GMO status. Although Ener-C has always been non-GMO, they hold a firm belief that if you claim it you need to verify it by a respected third party. Pauling Labs chose to work with NSF True North because they are an internationally recognized verification and testing organization.

Since 1955, NSF has been committed to protecting human health and safety worldwide.  Athletes who wish to compete in the Olympics and world sporting events can only take NSF certified supplements.  "NSF is the gold standard for all supplement testing worldwide, which is why we decided to go with NSF's True North Non-GMO testing regime for Ener-C," said Richard Pollock, President, Pauling Labs.

Pollock and his team believe that consumers have the right to know what's in their products and have the right to make the healthiest decisions when purchasing those products.  Although there continues to be a debate over the health effects of GMO ingredients, Pollock believes there should be no question as to who owns the seeds and plants: Mother Earth, not corporations.  "Pauling Labs and Ener-C are committed to continually doing better and improving the lives of our consumers, our employees, and our communities," said Pollock.

About Ener-C and Pauling Labs: 
Ener-C is a multivitamin drink mix made with real fruit powders that was created to address two important basic human truths.  The first truth is that we are all, by nature, thirsty creatures.  The second is that we all could do with more energy.

There were very few choices out there when it came to finding a product that was healthy, natural, non-GMO,  caffeine and stimulant free, low in sugar, and made by companies consumers could trust and respect. Pauling Labs saw this as an opportunity to create a product people could enjoy taking and feel good about. Pollock stated, "Everything we do at Pauling Labs is based around the belief that we can all be better, do better, and feel better."

Pain Relief Technology Inventor Inducted into MM&M “Top 40 Healthcare Transformers”

Dr. Amy Baxter of MMJ Labs recognized for advancing drug-free pain relief

ATLANTA--Amy Baxter MD, chief executive officer and founder of MMJ Labs, the industry leader in noninvasive pain relief, was awarded a 2017 Top 40 Healthcare Transformer designation by MM&M magazine.  Baxter was recognized at the MM&M Top 40 Healthcare Transformers dinner and awards in New York City on May 10, 2017.  The dinner followed a full-day conference devoted to helping the biopharma industry go “beyond the pill.”

“Innovation goes beyond invention,” noted Baxter in her acceptance remarks during the dinner. “An invention is a solution, but innovation requires persistent persuasion to implement solutions.”

Baxter’s FDA cleared Cool-Pulse™ technology invention Buzzy® blocks needle pain, and VibraCool® Massaging Ice therapy was launched to reduce opioid use.

The award recognized the former emergency physician’s contributions in pain relief using a neuromodulation technology platform rather than pharmaceutical solutions.  MMJ Labs has created devices that are FDA cleared and clinically proven to block needle, IV access, and plantar fasciitis pain.  The new VibraCool line combines cold and vibratory massage for tendinitis and knee injuries and pain.

“The Buzzy device has been proven equivalent to topical anesthetics for pain relief,” states Baxter.  “The exciting thing about VibraCool is that vibration speeds healing and improves blood flow, while ice can reduce inflammation as well as pain.  We are excited for patients using the device to ‘go beyond the pill,’ and reduce the need for medications to combat pain.”

MM&M honors 40 new and established innovators yearly, identifying those who are leading the pharmaceutical industry’s transformation in significant ways.  “Healthcare Transformers” are innovators using technology to reinvent the industry.

“The 2017 Transformers class—our third—has certainly solidified its place alongside the earlier two, blending their indomitable spirit to disrupt and desire to prove that medicines and related technologies benefit patients with a collective acknowledgment that doing so is not a solo effort,” wrote Marc Iskowitz, editor in chief of MM&M.

About MMJ Labs, LLC.

MMJ Labs is a woman owned and operated business headquartered at their Hive in Atlanta, Ga. Established in 2006 by Dr. Amy Baxter, a pediatrician and pain researcher, MMJ Labs develops reusable, inexpensive physiologic products for personal pain control. Over a quarter million people have used the flagship product Buzzy®, a bee-shaped palm-sized device combining cold and vibration to combat needle pain. When placed between the brain and the pain, the competing stimulus controls or inhibits sharp pain. Additional products include DistrACTION® cards that reduce pain through distraction, and VibraCool® Massaging Ice Therapy.

ESPGHAN: Consumers Misled by Gluten-free Foods, Study Finds

Gluten-free products cannot be considered as sufficient substitutes for their gluten-containing counterparts, prompting scientists to call for the reformulation of gluten free foods with healthier raw materials to ensure healthy childhood nutrition.

The outcomes of the study, presented today at the 50th Annual Congress of the European Society for Paediatric Gastroenterology Hepatology and Nutrition, show that gluten-free items have a significantly higher energy content and a different nutritional composition to their gluten-containing counterparts. Many of the gluten-containing products - especially breads, pastas, pizzas and flours - also contained up to three times more protein than their gluten free substitutes.

The imbalances highlighted in the study could impact children's growth and increase the risk of childhood obesity.

The study assessed over 1,300 products, finding:

• Gluten-free breads had significantly higher content of lipids and saturated fatty acids
• Gluten-free pasta had significantly lower content of sugar and protein
• Gluten-free biscuits had significantly lower content of protein and significantly higher content of lipids

ESPGHAN expert and lead researcher, Dr Joaquim Calvo Lerma, explains "As more and more people are following a gluten-free diet to effectively manage coeliac disease, it is imperative that foods marketed as substitutes are reformulated to ensure that they truly do have similar nutritional values. This is especially important for children, as a well-balanced diet is essential to healthy growth and development."

Experts are also warning that consumers may not be aware of these unhealthy variances due to poor nutritional labelling.

Dr Martinez-Barona, fellow lead researcher comments "Where nutritional values of gluten-free products do vary significantly from their gluten-containing counterparts, labelling needs to clearly indicate this. Consumers should also be provided with guidance to enhance their understanding of the nutritional compositions of products to allow them to make more informed purchases and ensure a healthier diet is followed."

Daciana Sarbu MEP, Vice-Chair of the Committee on the Environment, Public Health and Food Safety, adds "Gluten-free products that are not pre-packed are not subject to the same labelling requirements as pre-packed products. In this case, consumers could be less aware of important nutritional differences with potentially significant health impacts. I have always supported so-called 'traffic light' labelling to facilitate easy comparison between products for key nutrients including protein, fat and sugars."

Infoway Selects TELUS Health for PrescribeIT™

SOURCE Canada Health Infoway

Richard Crenian joins 12th Annual Scotiabank Pro Am Alzheimer's Tournament in support of Baycrest

SOURCE ReDev Properties Ltd