Canadian Diabetes Association Celebrates 90th Anniversary of Canada's Greatest Gift to the World

Twenty-five words changed the fate of millions

LONDON, Ontario, October 29, 2010 /Canada NewsWire/ - One of the greatest gifts Canada has given the world will be celebrated this Sunday at Banting House National Historic Site of Canada located in London, Ont. with the unveiling of a three-metre high sculpture to commemorate the birth of Sir Frederick Banting's brilliant idea that led to the discovery of insulin. Banting House National Historic Site of Canada is a public site dedicated to the historic significance of Sir Frederick Banting.

"The Canadian Diabetes Association is at the forefront of the effort to improve the quality of life for the millions of Canadians and people around the world living with diabetes, and to ultimately find a cure," said Michael Cloutier, president and CEO of the Canadian Diabetes Association. "We wouldn't be where we're at had it not been for Banting's miraculous idea and one of the greatest gifts Canada has given the world."

Designed by local artist Daniel Castillo, the sculpture will be unveiled in Sir Frederick G. Banting Square at Banting House National Historic Site of Canada.

"The sculpture will serve as a symbol of the ongoing research conducted around the world in search of a cure for diabetes, and how the world continues to look to Canada and the Canadian Diabetes Association as world class experts in the field of diabetes management and research," added Cloutier.

Banting's idea came to him in the middle of the night on Oct. 31, 1920. At that time, diabetes was a slow but sure death sentence that generally affected people under the age of 30 and resulted in very high levels of glucose in the bloodstream.

Banting had been reading up on the pancreas - something about which he admittedly knew very little - in preparation for a lecture he had been asked to deliver. He had also recently reviewed literature which proved that diabetes could be artificially caused in dogs by removing the pancreas. Contemplating these thoughts while on the verge of sleep, Banting suddenly sat bolt upright in bed with an idea. In his bedside notebook, he wrote down words that suggested a connection between the hormone produced by the pancreas and the body's ability to process sugar. Those 25 words changed the world, leading to the most important medical discovery of the 20th century - the discovery of insulin.

This Sunday's historic milestone celebration also marks the beginning of Diabetes Awareness Month, held every November internationally. Visit diabetes.ca to see the stories of incredible supporters across Canada - who are living healthy with diabetes, advocating for the cause and breaking ground towards a cure.

Interesting facts about Sir Frederick Banting

...Sir Frederick Banting and Dr. Charles Best recently received Maclean's magazine's prestigious title of greatest Canadian innovators for discovering insulin - delivering hope to millions
Recently voted the fourth greatest Canadian of all time in CBC's The Greatest Canadian Contest.

...Was the youngest person in the history of the world to receive the Nobel Prize in Physiology or Medicine in 1923.

...An accomplished artist, Banting was best friends with the Group of Seven's A.Y. Jackson.

...Was a decorated hero in World War I.

...Had Canada's first man-rated centrifuge built in Ontario.

...Had first decompression chamber built in Toronto, second one in London - this is the technology that to this day allows for the pressurization of cockpits in airplanes.

About the Canadian Diabetes Association

Today, more than nine million Canadians live with diabetes or prediabetes. Across the country, the Canadian Diabetes Association is leading the fight against diabetes by helping people with diabetes live healthy lives while we work to find a cure. Our community-based network of supporters help us provide education and services to people living with diabetes, advocate for our cause, break ground towards a cure and translate research into practical applications. For more information, please visit diabetes.ca or call 1-800-BANTING (226-8464).

Live Well - On the Road to Managing your Chronic Health Condition

Are you living with a chronic health condition such as arthritis, asthma, diabetes, chronic pain, lung and heart disease?

Live Well is a six week workshop for people living with a chronic health condition. The goal of the program is to help you improve the quality of your life. People with different chronic health problems attend the program together.


Get the support you need!

...Dealing with pain and fatique

...Nutrition and excercise choices

...How to talk with your doctor and family about your health


Classes are held once a week for 2 1/2 hours. Each class has 10-15 participants Caregivers are also welcome.

The program cost is $35.00 and includes the textbook "Living a Healthy Life with Chronic Conditions".

A six week session will begin on Thursday, November 11, 2010 1:00 - 3:30 p.m.

All sessions will be held at:

Talisman Square Apartments (Social Room)
467 Edinburgh Road South
Guelph, Ontario
(Northeast side of Stone Road Mall parking lot)

To register, please contact:

Pat Gage, Services Intake Co-ordinator,
Make Yourself at Home Program

519-837-5696

Important diabetes information: GlucaGen Hypokit being recalled in Canada - Some glass vials have been found to be cracked or broken

October 28, 2010 - Health Canada is informing Canadians that Novo Nordisk Canada Inc. is voluntarily recalling one lot of the GlucaGen Hypokit after a quality issue was identified that may affect a small number of kits in the affected lot. This recall is in addition to the two lots recalled in August due to a separate manufacturing concern.

GlucaGen Hypokits are an injection kit used in emergency situations to treat severe low blood-sugar reactions in insulin-dependant diabetic patients who are unconscious and therefore unable to take sugar by mouth.

In the affected lot, some of the glass vials, which contain the active ingredient glucagon, have been found to be cracked or broken. Use of a cracked vial may result in glucagon fluid leakage and may make the product unusable, which could result in treatment delays if no back-up kit is readily available, and potential health risks.

Canadians with questions or concerns about these products should speak to a physician or pharmacist, or contact Novo Nordisk Canada Inc. at 1-800-465-4334.

Canadians are also reminded of the importance of visually inspecting their GlucaGen Hypokits before use.

Consumers and health professionals wanting more information about this advisory from Health Canada can contact the Public Enquiries Line at 613-957-2991, or toll free at 1-866-225-0709.

Health care spending to reach $192 billion this year

Growth slows to lowest rate since 1997;
share of spending on seniors stable

OTTAWA, October 28, 2010 /Canada NewsWire/ - Total spending on health care in Canada is expected to reach $191.6 billion this year, growing an estimated $9.5 billion, or 5.2%, since 2009, according to new figures released today by the Canadian Institute for Health Information (CIHI). This represents an increase of $216 per Canadian, bringing total health expenditure per capita to an estimated $5,614. After removing the effects of inflation and population growth, health care spending per person is expected to increase by 1.4% in 2010, the lowest annual growth rate seen in 13 years.

When examined as a share of Canada's overall economy, health care spending is expected to reach 11.7% of the gross domestic product (GDP) in 2010, a decline from the estimated share of 11.9% in 2009, but still higher than it was in 2008, at 10.7%. The figures released today are from CIHI's annual report, National Health Expenditure Trends, 1975 to 2010, Canada's most up-to-date and comprehensive source of information tracking how dollars are spent on health care in this country.

"Jurisdictions have been working to control rising costs, and the slowdown in the growth in health care spending may be, in part, a reflection of that," says John Wright, CIHI's President and CEO. "However, health care remains a priority for Canadians, and we continue to see investment in the system, with health spending growing at a faster rate than population growth. It also continues to represent an important share of our overall economic activity."

In 2010, government spending on health care is expected to reach $135.1 billion, while private-sector spending, which includes both private insurance and out-of-pocket expenses, will reach an estimated $56.6 billion. For more than a decade, public- and private-sector health spending in Canada has been growing at about the same rate, with the public sector accounting for about 70% of the total health care bill and the private sector for 30%.

Spending highest on seniors, but impact of population aging minimal over time

While Canadians older than age 65 account for less than 14% of the Canadian population, they consume nearly 44% of all health care dollars spent by provincial and territorial governments. In 2008, the latest available year for data broken down by age group, provincial and territorial governments spent an average of $10,742 per Canadian age 65 and older, compared to $2,097 on those between age 1 and 64. Within the senior population, spending varies widely by age group, with health care expenditure on seniors age 80 and older, at an average of $18,160 per capita, more than three times higher than for seniors younger than age 70 ($5,828 per person on average).

However, CIHI figures show that the share spent on Canadian seniors has not changed significantly over the past decade—from 43.6% in 1998 to 43.8% in 2008.

"While it is true that care is costlier for people who are 65 and older, we have not seen a rise in the proportion we spend on seniors," says Jean-Marie Berthelot, Vice President, Programs, at CIHI. "An aging population may have an impact on health care spending, but so far the average expenditure on seniors has not risen faster than for younger Canadians."

Variations in provincial/territorial spending on health

Total health care spending continues to vary by province, with spending per person expected to be highest in Alberta and Manitoba at $6,266 and $6,249, respectively. British Columbia and Quebec are forecast to have the lowest health expenditure per capita at $5,355 and $5,096, respectively.

Health care continues to represent one of the most important budget items for provinces and territories, representing an average of 39.2% of total provincial and territorial government program spending in 2009, the latest data available. Ontario and Manitoba spent the highest proportion of their budgets on health in 2009 (45.7% and 43.7%, respectively) while Newfoundland and Labrador and Quebec spent the lowest (33.8% and 33.1%, respectively). While health care spending as a share of total program spending grew across Canada between 2000 and 2004, it has remained stable on average for the past four years.

"Health care remains the single largest program administered by provincial and territorial governments," explains Wright. "Although health care spending has been on the rise for the past ten years, the share of government budgets devoted to health care appears to have stabilized overall, though the situation may vary by province."

Physicians account for rising share of health dollars

Hospitals, drugs and physician services, in that order, continue to account for the largest share of health dollars. In 2010, spending on hospitals is expected to reach $55.3 billion, spending on drugs will grow to an estimated $31.1 billion and spending on physicians is forecast at $26.3 billion. For the past two decades, there has been an increase in the share of spending on drugs and a decrease in the share of spending on hospitals. However, more recent trends show spending patterns may be shifting.

For the fourth year in a row, growth in physician spending has outpaced growth in hospital and drug spending; it is expected to grow by an estimated 6.9% this year. Spending on hospitals in 2010 is estimated to grow by 6.2%, while drug spending growth is forecast at 4.8%. As a result, the share of total health dollars spent on physicians is forecast to increase this year (up 1.5%) while the share spent on drugs is expected to decrease (down 0.4% this year).

International comparisons

In 2008, the latest year for which data is available, per capita spending on health care remained highest in the United States (US$7,538), when comparing 26 countries with similar accounting systems in the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD). The U.S. was followed by Norway (US$5,003), Switzerland (US$4,627) and Luxembourg (US$4,210). At around US$4,079 per capita, Canada was in the top fifth, with spending similar to several other OECD countries, including the Netherlands (US$4,063), Austria (US$3,970), Germany (US$3,737) and France (US$3,696).

Quick facts on spending

....Canada is expected to spend $191.6 billion on health care in 2010, up from an estimated $182.1 billion in 2009 and $171.8 billion in 2008.

...Health care spending is forecast to reach $5,614 per Canadian in 2010, up from an estimated $5,397 in 2009 and $5,154 in 2008.

...Spending on health care is expected to account for 11.7% of Canada's gross domestic product (GDP) in 2010, a slight decline from the estimated share of 11.9% in 2009.

...Since 1997, the public/private split of total health expenditure has remained stable, with governments spending 70% of the total health care bill and the private sector spending 30%.

...Total health care spending continues to vary by province, with spending per person expected to be highest in Alberta and Manitoba at $6,266 and $6,249, respectively. British Columbia and Quebec are forecast to have the lowest health expenditure per capita at $5,355 and $5,096, respectively.

...Spending on seniors has remained relatively stable for the last decade, accounting for 44% of all provincial and territorial government health care spending.

The report and the following figures and tables are available from CIHI's website, at www.cihi.ca.

Arthritis Consumers Launch Novel Research Resource

GATINEAU, Quebec, October 28, 2010 /Canada NewsWire/ - Over 4 million Canadians suffer from arthritis, but only a tiny percentage of them are involved in influencing arthritis research in Canada. The Consumer Advisory Council (CAC) of the Canadian Arthritis Network (CAN) hopes to change that by launching a Highly Qualified Consumer (HQC) Database that will store information about Canadians willing to volunteer as consultants or collaborators to arthritis researchers.

"As a person with arthritis, I want to have a say in how arthritis research is conducted, but I can't be a collaborator on every project taking place in the country," says John Coderre, a member of CAN's Consumer Advisory Council and HQC Database project leader. "If this succeeds, it will be a model for other countries to follow."

The HQC Database is a natural extension of the work the CAC does. These 10 volunteers, along with three allied members, serve as volunteers on research projects and help guide the direction of research within CAN. The HQC Database will allow other people living with arthritis to share this important role.

"The economic burden of arthritis was estimated to be $6.4 billion in 2000 and arthritis research receives far less funding than other chronic diseases," explains Dr. Claire Bombardier, Co-Scientific Director of the Canadian Arthritis Network. "Creating a resource for investigators to help them conduct research that is relevant and meets unmet needs will help ensure that grant money is well spent."

10th Annual Scientific Conference

Potential users of the HQC Database are being introduced to it at CAN's Annual Scientific Conference in Gatineau, Quebec. Over 250 basic scientists, clinical investigators, researchers, members of industry and government, and people with arthritis are experiencing a full agenda of scientific presentations and networking opportunities to encourage research collaborations between investigators from different institutions across the country.

This year's conference is being held in partnership with CAPRI (Canadian Alliance for Pediatric Rheumatology Investigators) and features sessions on the following topics: Joint Pain Across the Lifespan; Patient Oriented Research - Outcomes that Matter; and, Stem Cell and Regenerative Medicine: Hype, Hope and Help for those with Joint Disease.

About the Canadian Arthritis Network

The Canadian Arthritis Network (CAN) (www.arthritisnetwork.ca) is a not-for-profit organization, funded by the Government of Canada's Networks of Centres of Excellence (www.nce.gc.ca), to support arthritis research and development and to facilitate the commercialization of its Network Investigators' discoveries. CAN is the single point of contact that links over 200 leading Canadian arthritis researchers and clinicians, 45 Canadian academic institutions, The Arthritis Society, pharmaceutical and biotechnology companies, and government.

Canadian project showing improved care for people with dementia published in the Journal of the American Geriatric Society

"This first published study validates an innovative concept for providing comprehensive quality dementia diagnosis and care within primary care." -Dr. Michael Borrie, Director of the Aging Brain and Memory Clinic in London, Ontario

KITCHENER, Ontario, October 26, 2010 /Canada NewsWire/ - A made-in-Canada method of offering people with memory difficulties helpful care and supports without heavy dependence on scarce specialists is garnering interest from the medical community, including a nod from the November 2010 edition of the prestigious Journal of the American Geriatric Society, released today.

"Recognizing memory difficulties and seeking help as early as possible is a key step in living well with dementia," says David Harvey, Chief of Member Services at the Alzheimer Society of Ontario and one of the article's authors. "It is a hurdle that is hard to overcome for the person experiencing the problem, sometimes because help is hard to find. Yet unrecognized dementia can quickly spiral out of control, causing a host of other problems such as driving safety, financial difficulties and medication errors."

Memory clinic project in Kitchener, Ontario demonstrates high quality care and high level of patient and family satisfaction

The Journal's article profiles a unique interdisciplinary memory clinic project in the Centre for Family Medicine Family Health Team in Kitchener, Ontario. The project goal was to build capacity at a primary level of health care that would ensure quality assessment, diagnosis and management of dementia.

"Dementia is the chronic disease that is most difficult to diagnose and manage," says Dr. Michael Borrie, Director of the Aging Brain and Memory Clinic in London, Ontario. "It also has the most serious future cost implications for our health care system. This collaborative model of care between a Family Health Team (FHT)-based memory clinic, a lead family physician and supporting specialists is delivering timely patient-centred dementia care. It builds the necessary capacity for dementia diagnosis and management within FHTs as they become increasingly prevalent in Ontario. At the same time, this model utilizes limited specialist resources wisely and in a complementary manner. This first published study validates an innovative concept for providing comprehensive quality dementia diagnosis and care within primary care. I look forward to further evaluations as this model is more widely disseminated and integrated within the Ontario Health Care System."

Referrals to specialists reduced from 100% to 8%

Using a collaborative approach with family doctors, nurses, social workers, pharmacists, geriatricians and other specialists, the research project showed impressive results. Between July 2006 and September 2009, 151 high-risk patients were assessed in the clinic and almost 75% were diagnosed with some form of memory disorder. The clinic team was also able to offer treatment interventions and recommendations including social worker outreach, long-term care planning, coordination of home safety and driving assessments and community resource referrals, and periodic follow-up and monitoring. Referrals to specialists for more complex or unique cases were reduced from 100% to an appropriate 8%.

"Widespread adoption of this model of care has the potential to improve the quality of lives of these patients and their family members and offers a sustainable solution to the urgent need to increase our capacity for care for our aging Canadian population," comments Janet Kasperski, CEO of the Ontario College of Family Physicians. "The Ontario College of Family Physicians has worked with the Centre for Family Medicine Memory Clinic to develop an accredited inter-professional training program that has been used to establish primary care Memory Clinics in 12 other locations in Ontario."

The clinic was the brainchild of Dr. Linda Lee, a family physician in Kitchener, Ontario, Director of the Centre for Family Medicine Memory Clinic and assistant professor of Family Medicine at McMaster University. With an increasing number of people with signs of dementia, and an unacceptably long wait time to for specialist referrals, she recognized a need for change in the way these persons were cared for. The statistics were astonishing. An estimated two out of three people with dementia in the community were not being properly diagnosed and were therefore not receiving adequate care.

"The study is also a good example of what we call Knowledge Translation," says Dr. Micheline Gagnon, Head of Geriatric Services for McMaster University in Hamilton. "We have a growing body of research about the disease and disease management, but the stumbling block has been to get the diagnosis. This study shows that we can make use of the research by supporting family doctors to administer the tests and access appropriate treatments."

Dr. Gagnon also pointed out that patients who have been with their family doctors for years have a measure of comfort and confidence in being able to stay connected with that medical professional.

Homewood Health Centre honoured with Canada Awards for Excellence

- Order of Excellence Award in Quality and Healthy Workplace -

GUELPH, Ontario, October 25, 2101 /Canada NewsWire/ - The National Quality Institute (NQI) has bestowed its highest honour - the Canada Awards for Excellence Order of Excellence Award - in Quality and Healthy Workplace categories, to Homewood Health Centre, of Guelph, Ontario, one of the leading mental health and addictions treatment facilities in Canada.

Edgardo Pérez, MD, CEO and President, and Joe Power, Manager, Special Projects, attended the 26th Annual Canada Awards for Excellence Celebration, held October 20 at the Westin Harbour Castle in Toronto.

"We are delighted that Homewood has again been honoured as one of the top organizations in Canada," said Dr. Pérez. "Homewood has created a culture of excellence and we are committed to continuous quality improvement. But excellence is more than policies and procedures. In a facility such as Homewood, our staff breathe life into those policies, each day, in their interactions with patients, in the caring and compassion they bring to their jobs and in their commitment to improving lives. This is a proud moment for Homewood, but this achievement belongs to the people of Homewood, who help us achieve excellence at all levels of the organization."

"Excellence is not achieved overnight, but often takes a long time to bring to maturity," said Joe Power. "Homewood is fortunate to have had 127 years to set the standard for excellence, supported by a group of caring, compassionate staff."

The Canada Awards for Excellence (CAE) recognize Canadian organizations that have demonstrated sustainable measures of continuous improvement through innovation, productivity, healthy workplace and ethics. The awards are based on the National Quality Institute's Framework for Organizational Excellence, which is used by numerous organizations as a management model for continuous improvement and the achievement of significant operational results. The Order of Excellence Award - Quality and Healthy Workplace recognizes organizations that have successfully maintained a focus on excellence over the long term and have previously received the CAE Gold Trophy. In the past 26 years, NQI has honoured 370 public, private and not-for-profit organizations.

The National Quality Institute is a not-for-profit, independent organization whose goal is to help Canadian private and public sector organizations implement programs of excellence. The National Quality Institute works with organizations to manage self-assessment activities, review business processes, and develop improvement programs. For more information on the Canada Awards for Excellence, go to NQI's web site www.nqi.ca.

Homewood Health Centre is a leader in mental health and addiction treatment, providing specialized psychiatric services to all Canadians. Located in Guelph, Ontario, in a beautiful setting on the banks of the Speed River, Homewood has been improving lives since 1883. Unique in Canadian health care, Homewood is a highly specialized provincial and national resource. A fully accredited facility, Homewood has always achieved the highest standards of care.

2011 Federal Budget Can Accomplish More for Housing Without Increasing Spending

OTTAWA, October 25, 2010 /Canada NewsWire/ - The federal government can make better use of taxpayers' dollars in the 2011 budget without increasing spending by adopting practical policy measures to address the lack of affordable housing options for low-income Canadians in housing need, said Nicholas Gazzard, Executive Director of the Co-operative Housing Federation of Canada (CHF Canada).

Gazzard made the economic case for affordable housing investment and transparency on behalf of Canada's 2,200 non-profit housing co-operatives to the federal Standing Committee on Finance as part of its annual pre-budget consultations. CHF Canada called for:
A transparent accountability framework linking federal housing spending to measurable outcomes helping Canadians in housing need;

A study on the consequences of the steady erosion of $1.7 billion in federal assistance for low-income families living in social housing and the impact this will have on the affordability of this housing;

Support for two co-operative legacy projects as part of the International Year of Co-operatives in 2012.

Gazzard recognized that the federal government made significant investments for social housing in the 2009 and 2010 budgets: namely $1 billion through Canada's Economic Action Plan and $1.9 billion over a five-year period announced in 2008 to fund the Affordable Housing Initiative (AHI).

"Canada's housing co-ops hope that the federal government can build on these significant investments," said Gazzard. "Co-ops are ready to work with governments at all levels to build on these successes by implementing CHF Canada's key proposals to safeguard Canada's aging social housing stock."

In its brief to the Committee, CHF Canada argued that Canadian taxpayers deserve to see better value for their hard earned dollars for the benefit of nearly four million Canadians in housing need. The federal government has the right to ask for transparency for AHI transfers to provincial and territorial governments, and future AHI transfers should require matching, long-term and predictable funding from provincial and territorial counterparts for the development of new affordable housing, including housing co-ops.

CHF Canada is the national voice of the Canadian co-operative housing movement. Its members include over 900 non-profit housing co-operatives and other organizations across Canada. More than a quarter of a million Canadians live in housing co-ops, in every province and territory.

Stroke Expert: Upcoming Burden Tsunami of Vascular Diseases Can Be Prevented

Suggests multidisciplinary approaches in vascular health

MONTREAL, October 24, 2010 /Canada NewsWire/ - Canada urgently needs to focus on prevention of vascular diseases to avoid the burden from the expected tsunami of cases, says noted stroke expert Dr. Robert Côté, delivering the Heart and Stroke Foundation of Canada (HSFC) Lecture at the Canadian Cardiovascular Congress 2010.

"Vascular diseases could be considered Canada's biggest health problem," say Dr. Côté. "All of us will feel the impact in our lifetime."

Vascular diseases include many types of dementia under the term vascular cognitive impairment (VCI) as well as Alzheimer's disease, diabetes, atherosclerosis, heart attack, and stroke.

The most common vascular disease, atherosclerosis or hardening of the arteries, accounts for more than a third of deaths in Canada each year.

Things are likely to get worse. Canadians are becoming less fit and more overweight and obese. We'll see more diabetes, more high blood pressure, more abnormal cholesterol levels in the blood - all resulting in more heart attacks and strokes.

"Vascular disease isn't just targeting our major blood vessels," says Dr. Côté. "In the brain, disease in the small blood vessels leads to tiny areas of damage that are associated with dementia, including Alzheimer's disease. The prevalence of these small, undetected strokes increases with age, as does the damage that they cause to the brain over time."

Each of these diseases is a significant health burden, affecting millions of Canadians, but it is the increasing prevalence of dementia, especially as our population ages, which is most alarming.

"A specific challenge is the link between dementia and vascular disease of the brain, which is related to stroke," says Dr. Côté "The brain is a vascular organ, as much as the heart, if not more."

Recent reports estimate that the number of Canadians with dementia will increase from the current half million to over 1.1 million by 2038, resulting in costs to the Canadian economy of $153 billion per year.

"We need improved screening to better manage vascular risk factors," warns Dr. Côté, a professor of neurology at McGill University and a senior physician at the Montreal General Hospital. He says the best thing Canadians can do to reduce the burden of cognitive decline is to manage their vascular risk factors, especially high blood pressure, and diabetes.

"The risk factors are the same for all vascular diseases, including Alzheimer's," he says. "Simple measures such as smoking cessation, following a healthy diet, and physical activity will have the biggest impact in protecting the hearts and minds of our aging population."

Need for a comprehensive approach

We do not know enough about the causes of small blood vessel disease, so we know little about how to prevent it, detect it early or effectively treat it. Research in this area is limited and currently organized, like the healthcare system, around the different organs of the body - the heart, the brain, the kidneys.

"We urgently need to link researchers of these different diseases," says Dr. Côté. "By connecting the dots and developing a comprehensive approach that will help us understand more about the causal links between the various vascular diseases, this knowledge could inform health policies and practice."

The Canadian Heart Health Action Plan - supported by the Heart and Stroke Foundation - recommends investment in the creation of a multi-site network in vascular health that would link expertise in centres across the country and improve our knowledge of the broad spectrum of vascular diseases.

The cost to forge this critical link between researchers and clinicians is approximately $8 million per year over five years.

"This investment would be an opportunity for Canada to lead in international research while protecting the health of Canadians," says Linda Piazza, HSFC director of research and health policy. "The problem is urgent and growing. Canada has the talent and a plan. We can't afford to wait any longer."

Dr. Côté also calls on all cardiovascular professionals - including cardiac surgeons, neurologists, cardiologists, and nurses - to recognize the connection between areas of vascular health.

"We want to build bridges and plant the seeds of vascular health to forge a path together towards the future."

Co-hosted by the Canadian Cardiovascular Society and the Heart and Stroke Foundation of Canada, the Canadian Cardiovascular Congress is Canada's largest scientific conference, attracting close to 4,000 heart-health professionals from across the country.

Attendees representing 18 different organizations, including surgeons, pediatric specialists, cardiologists, nurses, rehab professionals, and others learn about the latest science and cutting-edge research. The congress runs from October 23 to 27 in Montreal.

Statements and conclusions of study authors are solely those of the study authors and do not necessarily reflect Foundation or CCS policy or position. The Heart and Stroke Foundation of Canada and the Canadian Cardiovascular Society make no representation or warranty as to their accuracy or reliability.

The Heart and Stroke Foundation (heartandstroke.ca), a volunteer-based health charity, leads in eliminating heart disease and stroke and reducing their impact through the advancement of research and its application, the promotion of healthy living, and advocacy.

Canadian Snowbird Association Supports Health Benefit Reform for Those Who Enter Canada Illegally

TORONTO, October 22, 2010 /Canada NewsWire/ - The Canadian Snowbird Association supports the federal government's plan to ensure that those who come to Canada by way of illegal human smuggling operations do not receive health benefits that are more generous than those received by members of the Canadian public.

"Many snowbirds are seniors who embark on long-term travel and who have paid their taxes and played by the rules all their lives", said Michael MacKenzie, Executive Director of the Canadian Snowbird Association. "The majority of government health benefits don't follow Canadian travellers when they have a legitimate health emergency in another country."

Most provincial governments do not reimburse emergency in-patient and out-patient services required by Canadian travellers at the same rate per day as that paid for similar services within the respective province.

"Everyone deserves emergency medical care, the issue is one of equity", said MacKenzie. "It's simply unreasonable that those who jump the queue and enter Canada illegally could potentially receive more generous taxpayer funded health benefits than Canadian citizens and those who have immigrated to or are in the process of immigrating to Canada legally."

The Canadian Snowbird Association (CSA) is a national non-partisan, not-for-profit advocacy organization dedicated to actively defending and improving the rights and privileges of travelling Canadians. It is a grassroots association whose board of directors is comprised of unpaid, elected volunteers, representing all the provinces and territories of Canada, and whose 70,000 members are comprised primarily of senior citizens, many of whom are on fixed or limited incomes.

Community Diabetes Health Series - Coping with Diabetes

The Canadian Diabetes Association invites you to the…

Community Diabetes Health Series

~ Coping with Diabetes ~

Join Dr. Amish Parikh, Endocrinologist of Trillium Healthcare in Mississauga & learn...

- the impact diabetes can have on your emotional and mental well-being

- the warning signs

- coping strategies and how to find support

This videoconference series is broadcast live via the Ontario Telemedicine Network.

Where:

Guelph Family Health Team,
219 - 55 Wyndham St. N., Guelph

When:

Wednesday, October 27, 2010; 6:30 PM - 8:30 PM

Who:

Those living with diabetes or supporting someone with diabetes

Cost: FREE

For more information or to Register call:

(519) 837-9455 x 221

*Space limited. Pre-registration requested by Oct. 25th*

Brought to you by:

- Canadian Diabetes Association

- Ontario Telemedicine Network

- Guelph Family Health Team

Echo Supports Innovation to Improve Cardiac and Stroke Rehab for Ontario Women

TORONTO, October 20, 2010 /Canada NewsWire/ - Toronto Rehab and the London Health Sciences Centre are receiving $66,000 in funding to examine best practices in cardiac and stroke rehabilitation in Ontario women. In partnership with Heart and Stroke Foundation of Ontario, Cardiac Care Network and Ontario Stroke System, the project is funded by Echo: Improving Women's Health in Ontario, an agency of the Ministry of Health and Long-Term Care.

"Women tend to underutilize rehabilitation services and are less likely to get a referral," says Pat Campbell, Chief Executive Officer, Echo. "We need to close these gaps in care to support women to regain maximum health and support functional independence. This project will help inform future work in cardiac and stroke rehabilitation in Ontario."

"The Heart and Stroke Foundation of Ontario (HSFO) welcomes this initiative and applauds Echo for its leadership," says Mary Lewis, Director of Government Relations and Partner Programs, HSFO. "The Foundation is pleased to partner in this worthwhile study to deliver timely research to close the gender gap and enhance stroke and cardiac rehabilitation for women in Ontario."

Cardiovascular disease (CVD) is a leading cause of death and disability among Canadian women. Despite the fact that there are Canadian guidelines on Cardiac and Stroke rehabilitation, most research demonstrates low enrolment in rehabilitation. In particular, researchers have also found that women tend to underutilize rehabilitation services.

Lead investigator, Dr. Tracey Colella and Dr. Judith Francis, with their teams at Toronto Rehab and London Health Sciences Centre will:

...Highlight differences between what is recommended for women and men with respect to cardiac rehabilitation (CR) and stroke rehabilitation (SR);

...Examine the potential benefits and opportunities for the integration of CR and SR activities for women;

...Assess the current gaps by examining differences between best practises and current practises;

...and Identify barriers to implementation and sustainability of best practice of CR/SR for women and identify solutions to close these gaps.

The project team is made up of key opinion leaders, researchers, clinicians, best practise guideline developers and care providers.

Set to commence this fall the project will wrap up in summer 2011.

"The benefits of cardiac and stroke rehabilitation are well established," says Kori Kingsbury, Chief Executive Officer, Cardiac Care Network of Ontario. "This research will help us better understand the opportunities to create programs that will help to address the unique needs of women and close the participation gap in rehabilitation services."

"The Ontario Stroke Network is pleased to partner with Echo on this important research," says Christina O'Callaghan, Executive Director, Ontario Stroke Network. The research will provide new knowledge that will assist health care decision makers in addressing the current gaps and barriers to women accessing cardiac and stroke rehabilitation services."

"We are very excited to be a part of this important initiative that will provide us with the knowledge and evidence for optimizing cardiac and stroke rehab care for women in Ontario," says Dr. Tracey Colella, Advanced Practice Leader, Cardiac and Secondary Prevention Program, Toronto Rehab.

QUICK FACTS

...21% and 23% of men and women, respectively, are projected to die within a year of their stroke;

...Without rehabilitation services, 18% of men and 23% of women may die within one year following their heart attack;

...Approximately 50% of survivors (men and women) experience paralysis, 30% cannot walk unassisted, 26% cannot complete activities of daily living on their own;

LEARN MORE

The POWER Study - Cardiovascular Disease chapter

Heart and Stroke Foundation of Ontario. 2007. Consensus Panel on the Stroke Rehabilitation System "Time is Function."

Statistics Canada. 2004..
Mortality, summary list of causes.

Most Ontarians Believe Arts are Important to Quality of Life Says Survey

TORONTO, October 20, 2010 /Canada NewsWire/ - The Ontario Arts Council (OAC) has released the findings of The Arts And The Quality Of Life: The Attitudes Of Ontarians, a commissioned survey conducted by Environics Research Group.

The findings show that a large majority of Ontarians believe that the arts are important to the quality of life in their community and to their own personal lives. The research also demonstrated how strongly these positive attitudes are held by Ontarians.

This is the first provincial survey of its kind since 1994, when a similar survey was commissioned by OAC. A comparison of responses across questions asked in both surveys found that the proportion of Ontarians with positive views on the arts and the quality of life has generally increased since 1994.

QUICK FACTS

...95 percent of Ontarians said that the arts enrich the quality of our lives;
...89 percent believe that if their community lost its arts activities, people living there would lose something of value;
...81 percent of Ontarians think that the arts are important to their own quality of life;
...95 percent of Ontarians believe that the success of Canadian artists like singers, writers, actors and painters, gives people a sense of pride in Canadian achievement;
...81 percent of Ontarians agree that the government should spend public dollars to support the arts.

"This research shows that even if the arts are not as important personally to an individual, these people recognize that the arts are important to their community," says Kathryn Townshend, OAC's Director of Research, Policy and Evaluation.

The arts as a public good

When asked who benefits more from the presence of the arts in their community, a large majority of Ontarians (64 percent) believe that it's the community as a whole, rather than just those who attend arts activities.

Positive attitudes toward the arts across all regions and demographic groups
The survey also shows that a majority of Ontarians across all regions and demographic groups hold positive attitudes about the arts and the quality of personal and community lives. For example, large majorities of Ontarians living in each region of the province, and across all levels of education, agree that the arts are important to the quality of their own lives.

LEARN MORE

Click here to access the Executive Summary and the full Environics report. For more details or to speak to Kathryn Townshend, Director of Research, Policy and Evaluation, please contact Geneviève Vallerand at info below.

The report was based on the results of an omnibus survey conducted by Environics Research Group on behalf of the Ontarian Arts Council. The survey was conducted by telephone between February 22 and 28, and March 4 and 10, 2010. It examines the opinions of a probability sample of 1,000 adult residents of Ontario (aged 18 or older). The sample, which was stratified by gender, region and community size, is estimated to be accurate within approximately 3.1 percentage points, 19 times out of 20.

The Ontario Arts Council (OAC) is the province of Ontario's primary funding body for professional arts activity. Since 1963, the OAC has played a vital role in promoting and assisting the development of the arts and artists for the enjoyment and benefit of Ontarians.

HSF survey finds that only 40 per cent of Canadians trained in CPR would try to revive someone who has had a cardiac arrest

Heart and Stroke Foundation stresses one size doesn't fit all when it comes to resuscitation - Changes to new 2010 CPR & ECC Guidelines make it easier to save a life

OTTAWA, October 18, 2010 /Canada NewsWire/ - New emergency care guidelines simplify performing cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR) and highlight the need for high quality CPR by addressing some of the barriers to performing CPR. The Heart and Stroke Foundation of Canada, co-author of the 2010 Guidelines for Cardiopulmonary Resuscitation (CPR) and Emergency Cardiovascular Care (ECC), released the guidelines today.

The updated resuscitation guidelines have effectively mapped out a process of care based on the skill set of the rescuer, the situation and the resources available to respond. "In the past we limited ourselves by making the approach to resuscitation the same across all types of patients, all types of settings, and all types of rescuers," says Dr. Andrew Travers, chair of the Heart and Stroke Foundation of Canada's policy advisory committee on resuscitation and one of the expert co-authors of the 2010 guidelines "We recognize that one size no longer fits all when it comes to CPR."

The new guidelines stress early recognition, urging people to call 9-1-1 or their local emergency number if they ever find someone collapsed and unresponsive, and not to delay by 'looking, listening and feeling' for breathing or pulse. They also recommend that instead of trying to remember how many compressions and how many breaths, bystanders doing CPR are urged simply to "push fast and push hard."

"Many people hold back from doing CPR because they are afraid they may do it wrong or that they may hurt the person," says Dr. Andrew Travers. "We want to make it clear that technique is less important than doing chest compressions quickly and firmly.

"Think of the '70s Bee Gees song Stayin' Alive and that will give you an idea of how fast compressions should be done."

The 2010 guidelines also note that to effectively move blood in the victim, compressions need to be fairly forceful. "Think about moving the heel of your hands up and down about two inches into the chest - or the height of your pinky finger," says Dr. Travers. "We want people to know that they can make a difference, even just by taking these simple actions. But doing something - including making that 9-1-1 call immediately - is crucially important."

The guidelines are reviewed every five years, and updated only when evidence is clear that changes will improve survival rates. The 2010 guidelines are based on input from 356 resuscitation experts from 29 countries, Heart and Stroke Foundation of Canada International Liaison Committee on Resuscitation (ILCOR) representatives and representatives of the American Heart Association and resuscitation councils of other countries. Hundreds of scientific evidence reviews were rigorously examined and resulted in the guidelines being updated in key areas.

The biggest update for healthcare providers and emergency medical services personnel involves changes to the order in which CPR skills are used: the first step should be chest compressions, followed by airway check then rescue breathing. This is a major change from previous guidelines which recommended compression as the third step, after an airway check and rescue breathing had been performed. This shortens the time to the first compression, a significant factor in reducing brain and heart damage following cardiac arrest.

"We recognize that compressions are fundamental key building blocks - other things are important, but not as important as compression, and that is why we changed the order," says Travers.

"These changes will help break down some of the barriers that keep people from doing CPR if they are faced with a cardiac emergency," says Linda Piazza, director of health policy and research with the Heart and Stroke Foundation of Canada.

"Many Canadians want to help if they are ever faced with this type of situation, especially given the fact that four out of five cardiac arrests occur at home or in public places," she notes. "The changes announced today make CPR easier to learn, easier to do and we believe will make Canadians more likely to step in and respond to a cardiac emergency."

Only 40 per cent of Canadians would try to revive victim of Cardiac arrest

Currently, most victims of out-of-hospital sudden cardiac arrest do not receive any bystander CPR. To learn what barriers keep people from providing CPR, the Heart and Stroke Foundation recently surveyed Canadians on their willingness to act. The national survey found that while 62 per cent of Canadians said they had taken a CPR class, almost three-quarters reported that it was more than a year ago. And when asked what they would do if they saw someone having a cardiac arrest, just 40 per cent said they would try to revive the person.

Overall, the odds of surviving a cardiac arrest are almost four times greater if someone performs CPR right away. When CPR is combined with an Automated External Defibrillator (AED), survival rates soar to 50 per cent and even greater, according to the Heart and Stroke Foundation. Without CPR and defibrillation, fewer than 5 per cent of people who have a cardiac arrest outside of a hospital survive.

"Although barriers cited include lack of confidence, fear of failure and potentially injuring the victim, the reality is, that you can't help if you don't try - you can't hurt the cardiac arrest victim, if they don't live to see another day - and without CPR, that is the likely outcome," says Travers.

The Foundation recommends that all Canadians learn the life-saving skills of CPR and review this knowledge often. Learning and reviewing CPR skills has been made much easier with an at-home video kit, the Heart and Stroke CPR Anytime(TM) for Family and Friends(TM). The kit teaches the basic skills of CPR in as little as 22 minutes. People can review it at their leisure and share it with their families so that the skills can stay top-of-mind in case they are ever needed.

The 2010 resuscitation guidelines are available at www.heartandstroke.ca/CPRguidelines. Resuscitation and health care providers will be trained with the new guidelines in a series of sessions in the coming months.

The Heart and Stroke Foundation of Canada (www.heartandstroke.ca) is an international leader in developing the science behind CPR and emergency cardiac care, and a leading funder of heart and stroke research in Canada. The Heart and Stroke Foundation, a volunteer-based health charity, leads in eliminating heart disease and stroke and reducing their impact through the advancement of research and its application, the promotion of healthy living and advocacy.

"See Everything, Ask for a Licensed Optician"

WINNIPEG, October 15, 2010 /Canada NewsWire/ - The Opticians Council of Canada (OCC) has launched a national public awareness campaign to educate consumers about the importance of asking for a Licensed Optician to maintain eye health and safe vision. Although there are many avenues available to consumers in purchasing vision products, there can be unanticipated pitfalls associated with ordering from unregulated persons or online.

National television advertisements appearing on major networks such as the CBC group, HGTV and Bravo will help consumers identify properly trained Licensed Opticians. Consumers can also learn more about protecting their eyesight and find local Licensed Opticians on their website at www.licensedoptician.ca.

Licensed Opticians are professionals, well educated and trained, who must meet exacting standards and who are held accountable by their profession. The OCC is recommending that consumers ensure they consult a Licensed Optician whenever they choose an eye product, whether it be contact lenses, eyeglasses or low vision aids to help improve their eyesight. You can trust your vision to a Licensed Optician; it's the safe choice.

The Opticians Council of Canada is a partnership of Opticianry provincial regulatory bodies, associations and education institutions across Canada. The OCC provides national leadership on Canada's vision health issues and in the development of related public policy that affect the eye health of the Canadian consumer.

Ontario Public School Boards' Association - Student Vote - Lessons in Local Democracy

TORONTO, October 14, 2010 /Canada NewsWire/ - Canadians have been electing their peers to local school boards for more than two hundred years. Local school trustees are our neighbours. They come from all walks of life. They are parents, business people, professionals, tradespeople, and homemakers. They have, without exception, taken on the role because they want to make a positive difference for students in our schools. And their record is good.

The academic performance of Canadian students ranks among the best in the world on international student assessment measures. We spend less and achieve higher outcomes than many other countries, including France, the United States and Korea. On these same measures, the consistency of student achievement remains high from region to region in Canada. For parents this means that, despite the challenges of program delivery in remote areas, despite the challenges in classrooms in dense urban areas where a hundred languages are spoken, and despite variations in socio-economic conditions, they can be sure that the local school board offers their children a comparably high level of education no matter where they live in Canada.

A school board reflects society's belief that a small group of caring citizens will be responsive to the needs of the local community and make sound policy decisions that put students first. Locally elected school trustees put the "public" in public education. They work with the community to create a vision for local education that has a global reach. The goal is to positively influence children's experiences today and open wide their opportunities for the future.

Trustees have a direct and personal relationship with their communities - unique in all political life. Unlike many members of parliament who may, to a great extent, be invisible outside of election campaigns and constituency days, trustees come face to face with their constituents every day - on the street, in the grocery store, at the hockey arena and in the boardroom. They are directly accountable and they bring that accountability to the communities in which they live and to the families they serve.

On October 25, the citizens of Ontario will once again have an opportunity to elect trustees to their local school board.

It is a challenging fact that municipal elections suffer from the lowest voter turnout in any democratic jurisdiction within Canada. It's common for mayoral elections to engage only 40 per cent of the electorate, and even fewer votes are cast for councillors or trustees.

So, what do trustees do? They make sure that school systems are run well. They are responsible for long-term planning that is focussed on continuous improvement for the students in their care. In setting goals and directions they work with their communities to make sure that local education dollars are being spent on local priorities. On top of the work they do directly with their constituencies, trustees deal with, program delivery, budget, building issues and policies affecting school and workplace environments. They represent the concerns of children, families and their local board in meetings with other levels of government and community forums. They also represent the full range of constituents who do not have children in school through the contribution schools make to a vibrant community. In all their work they advocate for the connection between effective public education and the future strength, not just of the economy, but of the social fabric of our province and our country.

This is the work of community cohesion and nation-building and it is worth it to Ontario citizens to re-engage in local politics.

When democratic institutions are eroded by apathy and ignorance, the distance between the individual and the influence they can exert on what matters to them is diminished and everyone loses. That is why the Ontario Public School Boards' Association is partnering with Student Vote to empower the next generation to take back their place in local democracy.

Student Vote offers a relevant and powerful way for young people to kick-start their citizenship through practice at an early age. Student Vote is coordinating a parallel election for students under the voting age. This fall, Ontario's elementary and secondary students will experience the democratic process by participating in a local government election simulation and cast ballots for the official candidates running for mayor, councillor and school trustee.

Student Vote aims to build a direct experience of democratic participation among students. Ontario students have voted in the 2003 and 2007 parallel provincial elections, and the last 3 federal elections. In the last 2007 Ontario provincial election, 2,100 elementary and secondary schools registered to participate and approximately 300,000 students cast a Student Vote ballot. 1,500 Ontario schools have registered to participate in this fall's campaign. The program has now coordinated nine parallel election programs across Canada with millions of Student Vote ballots cast.

Student Vote is a winner. Everywhere that students participate, their teachers report that they are more engaged, knowledgeable and experienced in the democratic process. And now they are taking it to where it all began - to school boards and municipalities.

Are you still unclear about the importance of the Municipal elections? Ask a student to explain.

Catherine Fife
President of the Ontario Public School Boards' Association

Taylor Gunn
Chief Election Officer of Student Vote

Focus on Fractures: Osteoporosis Canada Launches New Clinical Practice Guidelines

Osteoporosis Canada announces new 2010 clinical practice guidelines for the diagnosis and management of osteoporosis in Canada

TORONTO, October 12, 2010 /Canada NewsWire/ - Today, Osteoporosis Canada released its 2010 Clinical Practice Guidelines for the Diagnosis and Management of Osteoporosis in Canada, published in the Canadian Medical Association Journal (www.cmaj.ca). The new guidelines represent a paradigm shift in the prevention and treatment of osteoporotic fractures, moving the focus from treating low bone mineral density (BMD) to better identifying fractures caused by weakened bones (fragility fractures).

Despite the high prevalence of fragility fractures, current data indicate that they are not appropriately assessed or treated. Someone who has experienced a fragility fracture is likely to experience another, yet fewer than 20 per cent of women and 10 per cent of men who have sustained fragility fractures receive therapies to prevent their bones from breaking in the future. Fractures can have a devastating impact on a person's quality of life, leading to chronic pain, further illness or even death. The appropriate identification of those at high fracture risk is essential; Osteoporosis Canada's new guidelines help physicians and patients better identify the risk of fracture, resulting in better fracture prevention and better management of osteoporosis overall.

"There have been many advances in the study of osteoporosis since we launched the last guidelines in 2002," said Dr. Alexandra Papaioannou, lead author and Professor of Medicine, Division of Geriatric Medicine, McMaster University. "We now recognize that BMD is only one of many risk factors for fracture, and so it is important for physicians to take an integrated approach to the assessment of fracture risk and use the new tools available to better manage osteoporosis."

"The new guidelines provide guidance to doctors and the general public on how to prevent fractures and maintain strong bones for life," said Dr. William Leslie, co-lead author, chair of Osteoporosis Canada's Scientific Advisory Council and Professor of Medicine and Radiology at the University of Manitoba. "The guidelines introduce tools for physicians and patients, including a new 10-year fracture risk assessment tool that will guide physicians in the comprehensive management of patients at high risk for fracture."

"Osteoporosis Canada is delighted to launch these new guidelines, which provide guidance for patients and physicians alike on how to best manage osteoporosis," said Dr. Famida Jiwa, acting President & CEO, Osteoporosis Canada. "The impact of fragility fractures can be devastating for a patient, which is why all Canadians over the age of 50 who have had a fracture should discuss osteoporosis and fracture risk factors with their doctor."

The guidelines recommend that patients at risk for fracture incorporate changes into their lifestyle to prevent bones from breaking. Regular physical exercise that includes weight-bearing activities along with adequate intake of calcium and vitamin D are important to building bone strength and balance. For some, medication may be needed to prevent fractures.

While osteoporosis often goes unnoticed and without symptoms, common signs of osteoporosis include hip or spinal fractures in the absence of significant trauma to the bone. For many Canadians over the age of 50, a hip fracture due to osteoporosis usually occurs after a fall. A major risk factor for osteoporosis is family history of fragility fractures, and a hunched upper back or loss of height commonly signify possibility of spinal fractures. For those at high risk of fracture, early intervention is key to the prevention of fractures; those who have experienced these symptoms should speak to their doctor.

About Osteoporosis Canada

Osteoporosis Canada, a registered charity, is the only national organization serving people who have or are at risk for osteoporosis. In keeping with our vision of a Canada without osteoporotic fractures, the organization works to educate, empower and support individuals and communities in the risk-reduction and treatment of osteoporosis by providing medically accurate information to patients, health professionals and the public.

At least 2 million Canadians are affected by osteoporosis. One in four women and many men over the age of 50 have osteoporosis. However, the disease can occur at any age. There are approximately 30,000 hip fractures per year in Canada; data on spinal fractures is limited, but it is estimated that 65 per cent of vertebral fractures go undetected. For more information, visit www.osteoporois.ca.

Reminding Canadians of Turkey Safety This Thanksgiving

Health Canada - Ottawa, October 6, 2010 - Cooked turkey is a central part of many holiday celebrations in Canada - especially Thanksgiving. Health Canada would like to remind all Canadians of some steps they can take to help ensure their turkey feast is a safe one.

Adopting standard safe cooking and safe handling practices (clean, separate, cook and chill) reduces the risk to yourself and your family of getting sick from undercooked turkey and stuffing and from cross-contamination during preparation.

To reduce your risk:

...Store your turkey in the refrigerator or freezer immediately after you buy it.

...Thawing your turkey at room temperature is discouraged. It's better to thaw turkey in the refrigerator or in cold water.

...If you thaw your turkey in cold water, keep the turkey in its original wrapping and change the cold water regularly to ensure that the water remains cold.

...Don't rinse raw turkey. This can spread bacteria everywhere the water splashes, creating a safety hazard.

...Clean and disinfect surfaces and kitchen utensils touched by raw turkey or drippings from thawing turkey.

...Use a digital food thermometer, and cook turkey until the temperature of the thickest part of the breast or thigh is at least 85ºC (185ºF).

...Cook stuffing separately in its own oven dish or on the stove top. If you do stuff your turkey, stuff loosely just prior to roasting, and remove all stuffing immediately after cooking. Cook stuffing to a minimum internal temperature of 74ºC (165ºF).

...Refrigerate all leftovers within two hours of cooking.

Turkey poses particular food safety challenges because it can be contaminated with bacteria such as Salmonella, which can cause diarrhea, vomiting and stomach cramps.

It's estimated that there are approximately 11 million cases of food-related illnesses in Canada every year. Many of these illnesses could be prevented by following proper food handling and preparation techniques.

More information about safe food preparation is available from:

The Government of Canada's Turkey Food Safety Tip Sheet

It's Your Health on Let's Talk Turkey

It's Your Health on Holiday Food Safety

Canadian Partnership for Consumer Food Safety Education website

Cougar Annie: An UnSung Eco-Heroine

from TreeHugger.com
by Bonnie Alter, London

Gather 'round the campfire and we will tell you a story of a real-life cowgirl who lived in the wilds of British Columbia until she was 97 years old. She was Ada Annie Rae-Arthur, known as Cougar Annie because she was so good at shooting and trapping cougars. It was said that she could fell a cougar while holding a lantern in one hand and her shotgun in the other.

Bought in 1915, now her beautiful cottage and garden is falling into the ground and is about to be sold. Reachable only by boat or plane, it is a place of peace and solitude. The Temperate Rainforest Field Study Centre which ran it can no longer pay the mortgage.

The garden has to be one of the last pioneer homesteads in private hands. It consists of a five-acre clearing, which she started working on when she arrived in 1915.

According to legend, she raised her family here and gradually established her nursery business. She opened a tiny general store in her house, catering to the sparse population of Hesquiaht Harbour, and later a post office which she kept going for 50 years. Cougar Annie had four husbands and gave birth to 11 children during her lifetime.

"She loved the garden the most; it was her passion for almost 70 years. She planted anything and everything she could obtain. To this day, over a hundred species of imported trees and shrubs survive, many unusual and exotic species, and a vast array of perennials and bulbs continue to bloom. She was famed for her dahlias, her gladioli and her day lilies."

For decades she advertised for her wares (and occasionally for husbands) in the Western Producer and in the Winnipeg Free Press. Plants were regularly rowed ashore that she had ordered from all over the world: rhododendrons, azaleas, fruit trees, perennials, bulbs, dahlias, and countless varieties of shrubs arrived for propagation. By the 1920s, plants began to be shipped out on the Princess Maquinnai, the very boat that she had arrived on.

The garden has been reclaimed and preserved by dint of the efforts of one man, Peter Buckland. When she was 92 years old, she offered the land to him for sale, with the understanding that she could stay there until she died. When she passed away in 1985, he donated the property to the Temperate Rainforest Field Study Centre and Cougar Annie's Garden Club. The Centre and Foundation are dedicated to promoting education and understanding of this remote part of the West Coast, as well as preserving the garden for future generations.

However they can no longer afford to keep it up and now it is for sale for $2.2M. The Hesquiaht First Nation, whose traditional territory includes Cougar Annie's are opposed to the sale and may take legal steps to block any proposed purchase... read more story at TreeHugger.com

Fire Prevention Week is Here

Smoke Alarms - A Sound You Can Live With the theme for 2010

TORONTO, October 1, 2010 /Canada NewsWire/ - Fire Prevention Week is October 3 to 9 and this year's theme is Smoke Alarms - A Sound You Can Live With.

The Office of the Fire Marshal wants everyone to participate in this year's campaign by testing all the smoke alarms at home to ensure they work.

"Fire Prevention Week is a reminder that we all must make sure our homes are safe and families protected. Smoke alarms save lives. I hope every household is equipped with working smoke alarms, and that these devices are checked regularly. That is not just the law, it is plain common sense." — Jim Bradley, Minister of Community Safety and Correctional Services

All too often the fire service in Ontario responds to fires in homes with no working smoke alarms. In many cases these fires often result in serious injuries and death that could have been prevented if smoke alarms were present and working.

Here are recent examples that clearly demonstrate how working smoke alarms can make a difference in surviving a fire:

...A kitchen fire in Bowmanville resulted when a pot of oil was left unattended on the stove. A working smoke alarm alerted the sleeping father who was able to grab his one-year-old son and escape the fire.

...A family of six in South Frontenac Township was alerted to a fire in their home at 1:00 a.m. by working smoke alarms. The smoke alarms gave the family enough time to get out safely. The battery in one of the smoke alarms had recently been replaced.

...Three young people sleeping in a house in Severn Township were awakened by the sound of a smoke alarm. The fire spread so quickly that it completely destroyed the house, but everyone managed to escape unharmed.

Install smoke alarms - it's the law! Every home in Ontario must have a working smoke alarm on every storey and outside all sleeping areas. Smoke Alarms - A Sound You Can Live With.

"Most fatal fires occur at night when everyone is asleep. In many cases the occupants were never alerted to the fire because there were no smoke alarms or the smoke alarms were inoperative. Many occupants in these homes just never wake up or when they are finally aware of the fire, there is no time to escape. Working smoke alarms can give you and your family early warning of fire and enough time to get out safely. Smoke alarms can truly provide a sound you can live with. — Pat Burke, Ontario Fire Marshal

An annual public education event, Fire Prevention Week enables fire departments across the province to organize a variety of educational fire safety activities within their communities. It also commemorates the Great Chicago Fire of 1871 in which an estimated 300 people tragically perished and some 18,000 buildings were destroyed. For more information about activities in your area, contact your local fire department.