SIZE Matters - Heart and Stroke Foundation applauds federal government on renewal of tobacco package health warnings

OTTAWA, December 30, 2010 /Canada NewsWire/ - The Heart and Stroke Foundation of Canada today hailed the federal government's decision to renew tobacco package warnings.

The new warnings will contain many important features that are critical to an effective warning system, including larger warnings, which will increase in size from 50 per cent to 75 per cent of the principal display areas of the tobacco package.

"With warning labels, size matters," says Irfhan Rawji, chair of the board of the Heart and Stroke Foundation of Canada. "Giving Canadians the straight-up goods on the dangers of tobacco industry products in a more prominent and visible way is a significant step in the ongoing battle to reduce tobacco consumption."

Smoking is a significant risk factor for heart disease and stroke.

"Research indicates that larger and more visible warnings are more likely to effectively support efforts against smoking," says Rawji. "This will help encourage Canadians to quit smoking as we enter the New Year."

The warnings will also include strong, emotionally impactful messages, testimonials by real victims of tobacco industry products and a toll-free national smoking cessation telephone number.

"New package warnings, in addition to the government's adoption of legislation in 2009 to ban flavoured tobacco products and its associated marketing, will help support efforts to reduce tobacco consumption in Canada," says Rawji. "Becoming smoke-free not only improves the length and quality of your life, but also the lives of those around you."

Seventeen per cent of Canadians 15 years and older smoke. To continue reducing this rate, the next critical step will be for Canada to adopt plain and standardized tobacco packaging.

The Heart and Stroke Foundation is a member of the Canadian Coalition for Action on Tobacco (CCAT). CCAT member organizations have been actively involved in the renewal of Canada's tobacco package warnings.

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. (heartandstroke.ca)

President's New Year's Message - by Pierre Desmarais

On behalf of the Board of Directors of the Guelph Wellington Seniors Association, I would like to offer our

Best Wishess for Health and Happiness Throughout the Coming Year.

The year 2011 is just around the corner. As we close the door on 2010, we often look on the year gone by in terms of:

...What went right - What didn't go right

...What did I like - What didn't I like

...What would I change

Most of us use this exercise as a starting point to set goals (some people call these Resolutions) for the new year. While I recognise that each person is different, please consider including the following goals in your personal list of goals for 2011:

...Becoming a GWSA volunteer, if you are not currently a GWSA volunteer. There are many ways you can volunteer.

...Becoming a member of a GWSA or City exercise program, if you are not already a member. A number of group programs and an in-home program are available.

...Introducing a friend (non GWSA member) to the GWSA. Studies have shown that this is one of the best ways to recruit new members.

Happy New Year! - and enjoy this short video of our very popular 2010 Vaudeville Revisited show

Canadian Christmas Flash Mob Breaks YouTube Record

NIAGARA FALLS, Ontario, December 23, 2010 /Canada NewsWire/ - Alphabet Photography Inc., based in Niagara Falls, Ontario organized a Flash Mob in Welland, Ontario, Canada on November 13th to simply spread some Christmas cheer and thank its customer base, but it seems to have taken on a life of its own ever since it was uploaded in mid-November.

Only seven weeks after the video was first uploaded to youtube, it has went from a Christmas Video Card produced and created by a small Niagara Falls-based company to send to their clients, to a YouTube record breaker, recently surpassing over 25.4 million views.

Jennifer Blakeley, Founder of AlphabetPhotography.com came up with the idea for the flash mob and organized Chorus Niagara, a non-profit choir of more than 80 singers who went from quietly blending into the busy mall atmosphere to belting out a classic Christmas carol to the shock and amazement of mallgoers. Seaway Mall's Food Court in Welland, Ontario, Canada acted as the backdrop. The Mall's food court has now been labelled "The World's Most Famous Food Court".

"Never in our wildest imagination did we think our Christmas video would create so much buzz and attention all across the world; it was really meant to just act as a Christmas card as part of our monthly newsletter to our customers," said Jennifer Blakeley, Founder and President of Alphabet Photography. "Words cannot describe how touched we are by the fact that we've reached so many people across the world. It's an absolute honour to lay claim to the world's most-watched Flash Mob of all time," she added.

To date, the Christmas Food Court Flash Mob garnered over 26 million views. Other flash mobs that have been uploaded to YouTube and have went viral have taken months and years to reach the million mark; Alphabet Photography's took only seven weeks to beat the record. Notables include "Freeze" in New York's Grand Central with 24.3 million views; Sound of Music at Central Station Antwerp (Belgium) with 23.8 million views and the T-Mobile Dance and Liverpool Street Station with 25.2 million views, which has now been bumped to the second most-watched flash mob.

"The Christmas Food Court Flash Mob video was all about the message of Christmas getting out there. The fact that it is now the most-watched in the world is just a bonus."

As of December 23rd, the video is rated the #1 Most Viewed, Top Favourited and Top Rated Video of All-Time in Canada in the People & Blogs category. The video has been featured by hundreds of major media outlets including: CNN, Good Morning America, The View, Inside Edition, eTalk and ABC World News, to name a few.

The video can be viewed by visiting www.alphabetphotography.com or by searching Christmas Food Court Flash Mob on YouTube.com

Great-Grandmother Gets a Priceless Gift for Christmas

TORONTO, December 21, 2010 /Canada NewsWire/ - Increasing awareness about the urgent need for organ and tissue donation became a family effort this year for 87 year-old Honoria Groves. Her great-grand daughter, Alexandria, had a life-saving liver transplant this summer when she was five-months old. Now that Honoria knows how important organ and tissue donation is, she and her family hope their story will inspire others to register their consent this holiday season.

"There are no words to describe our feelings of gratitude. We realize that without the liver transplant, we might not be enjoying Alexandria's beautiful and healthy presence with us this Christmas," says Groves.

In a poem she wrote while waiting for the transplant surgery to be completed, Honoria Groves encourages others to participate in what she calls a very worthwhile endeavour:

The loss of one precious life
Causes agony and strife,
But it should mitigate the pain
By offering someone health again.
When it is possible to provide
Life for one who would have died.
- Honoria Groves

Alexandria received her donated liver at The Hospital for Sick Children this summer, after attempts when she was only a month old to repair a rare condition failed.

Robert Gold, Alexandria's father, defines organ and tissue donation as: "Something that starts as a choice, becomes a gift - a gift that cannot be purchased, and ends as a miracle."

Today, approximately 1,550 people in Ontario are waiting for a life-saving organ transplant, and thousands more wait for life-enhancing tissue. One organ and tissue donor can save up to eight lives and enhance as many as 75 others.

"There is nothing more extraordinary than giving the gift of life. We all have the power to save lives by registering our consent to organ and tissue donation. There is no better time to talk about organ and tissue donation than when families are together during the holidays," says Frank Markel, President and CEO of Trillium Gift of Life Network.

You can register your consent to donate your organs and tissue by visiting your local ServiceOntario centre where you register or renew your health card. You can also register by downloading and filling out a Gift of Life Consent Form from www.giftoflife.on.ca and mailing it to the address on the form.

Even if you've already signed your donor card, please also register your decision so that this information is accessible when needed, and talk to your family about your decision.

For more details on Trillium Gift of Life Network, please visit our website or call (416) 363-4001 or toll free 1-800-263-2833.

Trillium Gift of Life Network is a not-for-profit agency of the Government of Ontario and is responsible for planning, promoting, coordinating and supporting organ and tissue donation across Ontario and improving the system so that more lives can be saved.

Project Unites Teens and Seniors in Fight Against Elder Abuse

GUELPH, Ontario December 16, 2010 - University of Guelph News Release

It's not often that you see seniors and teenagers hanging out together, let alone teaming up to create a rap video. But a unique project involving a University of Guelph researcher has brought together these two groups to fight elder abuse.

Under the project, Ontario seniors and local high school students are creating awareness of ageism and elder abuse, said Gillian Joseph, a research associate with U of G’s Centre for Families, Work and Well-Being.

"It’s estimated that more than 10 percent of Canadian older adults have experienced abuse, and that number is expected to significantly increase as our population continues to age," said Joseph.

Funded by the federal government’s New Horizons for Seniors program, the project involved 14 high school students and 14 seniors, ranging in age from 14 to 87. Meeting three times over the past year, they developed tool kits, including a rap video, to help teach high school students about respecting seniors.

"There are very few opportunities for seniors and high school students to interact,” said Joseph, who worked on the initiative with Prof. Paulette Padanyi, Marketing and Consumer Studies, and Sheli O’Connor from Trellis Mental Health and Development Services based in Fergus, Ont. “We found these two age groups really hit it off. It was like someone opened a door and now they could see from the other group’s perspective.”

Student and senior participants are currently presenting the tool kits to high school students across Wellington County and to teachers for inclusion in lesson plans.

"Developing the tool kits was an equal partnership where the seniors indicated the messages they wanted to convey and the teenagers determined the most effective way to communicate these messages to their age group," said Joseph.

Participants created a Facebook page called the Intergenerational Project – STOP AGEISM; purple bracelets and T-shirts bearing the logo “Age Strong – Respecting Seniors is Respecting Yourself”; and a rap DVD.

Trey Russell, a student at St. James High School in Guelph, wrote and performed the rap about ageism and respecting seniors. Filmed on the University of Guelph campus, the video shows positive interactions between students and seniors, as well as examples of ageism stereotypes.

"Ageism is when we discriminate against someone because of their age rather than looking at their abilities and skills,” said Joseph. “This essentially excludes seniors from making a contribution, and this lack of respect can put them at risk for elder abuse."

The video has logged more than 2,000 hits on YouTube since its launch in October.

This fall, it was shown at a conference of the Older Adult Centres’ Association of Ontario, at which Sophia Aggelonitis, Minister Responsible for Seniors, requested a copy to post on the government website. The video has also been posted on websites of the International Federation on Aging and the Canadian i2i Intergenerational Society.

"The project has been enthusiastically received. Plans are now under way to develop a proposal for a new project that will bring seniors and younger age groups together on the same theme in several cities across the province," said Joseph.

For more information about the tool kit or the project, contact gjoseph@uoguelph.ca.

Media Release at: http://www.uoguelph.ca/news/2010/12/project_unites.html

For media questions, contact Communications and Public Affairs: Lori Bona Hunt, 519-824-4120, Ext. 53338, or lhunt@uoguelph.ca, or Deirdre Healey, Ext. 56982 or dhealey@uoguelph.ca.

More than Half of Canadians Trust their Pets more than People

TORONTO, December 15, 2010 /Canada NewsWire/ - A recent Harris/Decima study1 reveals that more than half (53%) of Canadian pet owners think animals are more reliable than people. Pets offer us unconditional love and acceptance, which feeds our psychological needs as a species. It is not uncommon for people to become deeply attached to the companionship that pets provide, looking to them as confidantes, matchmakers, personal trainers or even therapists. In fact, statistics show that nearly all Canadians (90%) talk to their pets, and close to a third confide in Milo or Fido - even confessing their biggest secrets.

Shiri Joshua, a Canadian Psychotherapist, speaker and educator who specializes in the animal-human relationship, agrees:

"There are many reasons why people trust their pets, but what's really important is that we learn from their behaviour," says Joshua. "We can honour what they teach us by offering the same gifts to the people in our lives; namely, by being kinder as human beings towards one another."

So does our love of pets mean we are becoming less people positive as a society? Joshua says no.

"Sharing a life with a companion animal actually acts as a catalyst for human-to-human interaction; by observation alone, it's quite obvious that people talk to one another, laugh, and smile more if there is a pet involved."

Research shows that children tend to confide in pets first, over their mother, father or siblings. This tendency attests to the human need for companionship that is judgment-free, which pets offer naturally. The relationships that they provide act as a jumping-off point from which people can form meaningful human relationships.

Simply put, experts support what Canadian pet owners have innately known all along: our lives are much richer with pets in it.

Pets: The original social network

In western society, people struggle to find ways to connect with one another. Schedules are packed, demands seem never-ending and, unfortunately, social lives often take a hit. But pets help us stay connected to others, maintain a sense of community and can even help our social circle grow.

The majority of Canadian pet owners say their neighbours talk to them more when they're with their pet (61%), and two-in-five (41%) say their pets have helped them initiate a new relationship with someone they otherwise would never have met. It's natural that pet lovers want to meet like-minded people, since everyone naturally gravitates towards those with whom they share common interests. What easier way to spot a connection than with a visual cue (like a furry companion by one's side)?

"I once spoke with a woman who was quite depressed before she adopted her puppy," says Joshua. "Her dog helped her open up to the world and she met her husband shortly after - she says if it wasn't for her pet, she never would have learned how to trust others and build strong relationships. Her pet helped her connect with people."

Animal Intuition

Many pet owners have described their cats or dogs as having an underlying "sixth sense" or ability to pick up on cues that go unnoticed by people. Tales of animals saving human lives or responding to earthquakes before they hit are not unheard of.

"Companion animals are very sensitive to their owner's emotions and energy because they share their space," says Joshua. "They are able to sense when things are not right and respond accordingly - they often pick up on our moods and even physical illness before we are aware of it ourselves."

This helps explain why close to three-quarters of Canadians say that their pets behave differently when they're sick. But this isn't the only way that pets offer comfort; 61 per cent say that when they're feeling low, their pet lifts their spirits. More and more studies show that when we interact with pets, our brains produce chemicals that fill us with a sense of well-being that is enormously beneficial to our health. With these kinds of benefits, it's not unrealistic to think of pets as Mother Nature's anti-depressant.

In addition, the human-animal bond is reciprocal: people want to support their pets as much as their pets support them. A third (30%) of pet owners say that, if permitted, they would bring their pets to work with them. And the reasons they provide carry a common sentiment: they feel their pets enrich their lives and don't like to think of them being left alone all day long.

How's that for puppy love?

PawsWay.ca connects Canadian pet-lovers from coast to coast

It's common knowledge that social media has greatly changed the way we talk to one another. Thanks to websites specifically designed to connect people, today's conversations are inexpensive, instant, and visual. Friendships are no longer limited by geography. We can build relationships with people from across the country as easily as we can meet a neighbour at the dog park.

This truth, coupled with the fact that pets enhance our social experiences, has inspired Purina to create PawsWay.ca: a free, virtual community where potential and current owners can connect, educate themselves, tell stories, build relationships, tap into expert advice, and share their love of pets 24 hours a day, 7 days a week. Registrants can also create a profile for themselves and their pet, take part in various discussion forums, and post personal pictures to the online gallery.

"Pets are powerful; research shows us that the bond we share with them spills over into other areas of our lives, and greately enhances our connections with people," says Karen Kuwahara, President at Nestlé Purina PetCare Canada. "At Purina, we believe that life is richer with pets, so it only makes sense for us to give Canadian pet lovers a vehicle through which they can share this truth with one another - PawsWay.ca is that vehicle."

To experience how life is richer with pets visit www.PawsWay.ca.

Canadians to Get Their Say on Their Health Care System

OTTAWA, December 13, 2010 /Canada NewsWire/ - The Canadian Medical Association (CMA) today launched a national dialogue on the future of the health care system with the unveiling of healthcaretransformation.ca, where Canadians can go online to share their views on health care. The initiative will also include a series of consultations across the country beginning in the new year and an expert committee to examine options for resourcing a transformed health care system.

"Health care consistently ranks among Canadians' top public policy concerns," said CMA President Dr. Jeff Turnbull. "Until now, governments have determined what kind of health care Canadians receive. This initiative is a unique opportunity for Canadians to let governments know what they expect from their health care system."

The CMA believes it is imperative that Canadians engage in a full and open dialogue now, well before the current agreement on federal health transfers to the provinces and territories expires in 2014, with a view to guiding governments in their deliberations on health care.

"Canada's physicians are pressing for nothing less than transformational change," said Turnbull. "First and foremost, Canadians deserve a health care system that puts patients first and that will be sustainable over the long term. Their voices need to be heard."

Representing 74,000 physicians in every province and territory, the CMA set the stage for the national dialogue last summer with the release of Health Care Transformation: Change that Works. Care that Lasts. It was based on broad consultation with other health care providers, as well as research on the principles of the Canada Health Act and whether the current health care system lives up to them.

"We are grateful for the input of stakeholders and other health care providers in developing this policy. We now look to them to fully participate in the national dialogue," Turnbull said.

Another common starting point for the discussions is the Charter for Patient-Centred Care, a vision for a health care system that puts patients first and that was developed with the help of patient organizations from across the country.

"No one is more vital than the patient in the dialogue on health care transformation," said Durhane Wong-Rieger, President and CEO, Institute for Optimizing Health Outcomes and a leading patient advocate. "We are encouraged by this CMA initiative. Having called for patients to be at the centre of the health care system, the CMA is creating opportunities for meaningful patient and public engagement in the consultation process. Driving change through patient-physician collaboration is an important step toward achieving sustainable health services. We urge all patients to take part in these discussions."

The following are questions for Canadians to consider:

1. The law underpinning our system - the Canada Health Act - dates back to the 1980s. It covers only doctor and hospital care. Do you think it should be broadened to include things like pharmacare and long-term care?

2. It is important for citizens to feel they are receiving good value for their health care. What would you consider good value?

3. Patients and their families play an important part in their health care. What do you think Canadians' responsibilities are, now and in the future, in regards to their health?

The answers to these questions, coupled with those gathered during the public consultations, will provide critical direction for building a sustainable health care system that puts patients first.

Important Canadian passport information: New birth certificate requirements for general passport applications for Canadians born in Canada

GATINEAU, Quebec, December 8, 2010 /Canada NewsWire/ - To further enhance the integrity of the passport issuance process, Passport Canada is implementing changes to its birth certificate requirements for general passport applications.

As of February 1, 2011, for Canadians born in Canada, Passport Canada will only accept birth certificates issued by a provincial or territorial vital statistics agency to support a general or a child's passport application, entitled "Birth certificate," "Certificate of birth" or "Certificat de naissance" or a "Certificate of citizenship" issued by Citizenship and Immigration Canada. Some exceptions apply for certain provinces and territories. More information is available online at passportcanada.gc.ca.

Passport Canada wants to ensure that Canadian travellers are aware of these upcoming changes well in advance of the implementation date and encourages Canadians to initiate their passport application process as soon as they intend to travel to ensure that the proper documentation is obtained in time for a trip abroad.

It is important that individuals factor in the time required to obtain proper documentation prior to submitting a passport application. The changes outlined above are reflected in the passport application forms. Failure to provide the proper documentation will result in the passport application being rejected.

Canadians requiring a new birth certificate must contact the vital statistics agency of the province or territory of their birth.

Simplified renewal applications are not impacted by this requirement.

These requirements apply only to the Canadian passport program. This policy does not invalidate other birth documents which may be accepted for purposes other than passport issuance.

For more information, please consult the Passport Canada website at passportcanada.gc.ca or contact Passport Canada by telephone at 1-800-567-6868.

Recommendations will Prevent Stroke Patients from Falling Through Cracks

New website provides accessible information on optimal stroke care

OTTAWA, December 8, 2010 /Canada NewsWire/ - The 2010 Canadian Best Practice Recommendations for Stroke Care emphasize the need to prevent stroke patients from falling through the cracks as they move from the ER to in-hospital care to rehabilitation therapy and back to the community. The recommendations were released today by the Canadian Stroke Network and the Heart and Stroke Foundation of Canada.

"The adoption of these best practices will ensure stroke patients and families have rapid and seamless access to appropriate stroke services across the continuum and that they are well supported through these transitions," says Patrice Lindsay, PhD, Director of Performance and Evaluation at the Canadian Stroke Network and one of the project leaders.

Among new recommendations:

...Blood pressure should be maintained at a level that is consistently lower than 140/90;

...Because atrial fibrillation (irregular heartbeat) increases stroke risk, patients with this condition should be closely monitored and the use of new drug therapies should be considered;

...Patients who have a mini-stroke (transient ischemic attack) should be referred immediately to a stroke specialist at a prevention clinic or to an emergency department due to increased risk of a major stroke;

...There should be more widespread use of telestroke - long-distance video and data hookups - between stroke specialists and communities where on-site stroke care does not exist; and
Improved hospital discharge programs are needed, as well as better community services to enable people to return home sooner from hospital.

Thanks to earlier guidelines released in 2006 and 2008, more communities in Canada have an organized emergency response to stroke, stroke prevention clinics, specialized hospital stroke units, and improved rehabilitation services, all of which have been shown to save lives and reduce disability.

This is first time that this information has been pulled together in an easy-to-search and smart-phone friendly website - www.strokebestpractices.ca. The website includes resources to improve stroke and emergency services and to measure their effectiveness. It also includes a patient's guide to optimal stroke care.

"Stroke is the third leading cause of death in Canada yet most strokes are preventable and treatable," says Bobbe Wood, CEO of the Heart and Stroke Foundation of Canada. "Increasing awareness is a key part of the Canadian Stroke Strategy. The best practices website will provide optimal stroke resources and tools to the public and professionals such as physicians, emergency personnel, nurses, rehabilitation specialists and health policymakers."

The Canadian Best Practice Recommendations for Stroke Care was developed as part of the Canadian Stroke Strategy, an initiative of the Canadian Stroke Network and Heart and Stroke Foundation of Canada to improve stroke care for people across the country. There are about 50,000 new strokes in Canada each year and 315,000 Canadians living with the after-effects of a stroke.

The Canadian Stroke Network (canadianstrokenetwork.ca) brings together Canada's leading scientists and clinicians to reduce the physical, social and economic impact of stroke on the lives of individual Canadians and on society as a whole. Headquartered at the University of Ottawa, the Canadian Stroke Network is one of Canada's Networks of Centres of Excellence.

The Heart and Stroke Foundation of Canada (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.

The Canadian Stroke Strategy (www.canadianstrokestrategy.ca) is a joint initiative of the Canadian Stroke Network and the Heart and Stroke Foundation of Canada. The goal of the Canadian Stroke Strategy is to help support an integrated approach to stroke prevention, treatment and rehabilitation in every province and territory by 2010.

Schlegel Health Care and Homewood Announce Successful Transaction and Intention to Proceed with Subsequent Acquisition Transaction

KITCHENER, Ontario, December 2, 2010 /Canada NewsWire/ - Schlegel Health Care Inc. ("Schlegel Health Care"), a wholly owned indirect subsidiary of RBJ Schlegel Holdings Inc. announced the final results of its offer to purchase (the "Offer") all of the outstanding common shares of The Homewood Corporation ("Homewood'), other than shares beneficially owned or over which control or direction is exercised by Schlegel Health Care or its affiliates, for $68.00 in cash per common share, which expired at 5:00 p.m. (Toronto time) on December 1, 2010.

Based on the final report of the depository, 1,898,264 common shares were properly tendered to the Offer. The shares deposited to the Offer represent 94.9% of the outstanding shares of Homewood not already owned by Schlegel Health Care or its affiliates. As all conditions to the Offer have been satisfied or waived, Schlegel Health Care has taken up and accepted for payment all of the shares validly deposited. Schlegel Health Care and its affiliates now own 1,924,564 shares of Homewood or approximately 96.2% of the outstanding shares of Homewood. Payment will be made on or before December 6, 2010, to CIBC Mellon Trust Company, as depository, for payment to Homewood shareholders who have validly deposited their shares under the Offer.

Homewood also announced today that it plans to convene a shareholders' meeting of Homewood as soon as practicable to approve a Subsequent Acquisition Transaction as described in the Take-Over Bid Circular dated October 26, 2010, to enable Schlegel Health Care to acquire the remainder of the shares not tendered to the Offer. With the completed purchase of all shares, the total purchase price will be $136-million for Homewood including all of its subsidiaries.

The Homewood Corporation includes both Homewood Health Centre and Homewood Human Solutions. Homewood Health Centre is a nationally renowned mental health and addiction facility founded in 1883. The health centre provides highly specialized psychiatric and addiction treatment for all Canadians. Homewood Human Solutions is a nationwide EAP/disability company, formerly Wilson-Banwell based in Vancouver. Human Solutions has experienced rapid growth in recent years and now has offices in most major cities from Vancouver to Halifax. Its head office will remain in Vancouver under the new ownership. The expertise and core strength of mental health and addiction treatment of both organizations has led to the creation of the Homewood Disability Treatment Program, providing in-patient and out-patient assessment and treatment for addictions and mood disorders. The Schlegels are pleased with all these components of the acquisition as it represents significant growth potential. These services are treatment based and designed to get employees back to work more quickly, thereby improving Canadian productivity and competitiveness.

"We are truly excited about joining with the Homewood group of companies and continuing the tradition of excellence in improving the lives of Canadians," said Dr. Ron Schlegel, Chairman of RBJ Schlegel Holdings Inc. "We respect Homewood's national reputation and dedication to mental health and addiction treatment. This is a case of two strong organizations joining and emerging with greater strengths."

The Homewood Board, with the advice of its financial and legal advisors, voted to support Schlegel Health Care's offer and recommend that shareholders tender their shares to the Offer. The Homewood Board noted that it had considered a variety of strategic alternatives and the Schlegel Health Care offer was the most attractive and best alternative for all stakeholders available at the time.

"The Schlegel family has clearly demonstrated a passion for and commitment to health care," said Dr. Edgardo Pérez, MD, CEO and President of Homewood Corporation. "The Schlegel family also has a strong devotion to research, which will be a benefit to Homewood. We will continue to deliver our unique services and follow the 127-year tradition of delivering excellent health care to all Canadians."

"Our organizations share compatible values and have mutual respect for each other," added James Schlegel, President and CEO of Schlegel Health Care. "This purchase made a great deal of sense because we see a synergistic business model that will result in the ability to carry out our collective mission with greater effectiveness. In fact, we think this model will be unique in Canada and the world."

Schlegel Health Care is a three-generation family company, fully Canadian and based in Kitchener, Ontario. Another subsidiary of Homewood is Oakwood Retirement Communities which already is a partnership with the Schlegels. Adding Oakwood to Schlegel's other seniors care facilities in Ontario will create a strong, unified presence with the full acquisition of Oakwood as well. Schlegel and Homewood have been partners in Oakwood for some 14 years and have worked together both positively and productively. This existing partnership gives the Schlegel family great confidence that this acquisition already has a strong base with good relationships formed over the 14 years. The Schlegel family sees a strong overall set of related companies with the Health Centre, Human Solutions and the Seniors Care business. All three divisions are serving areas of growing public need.