002 - Global Heroes - September 2020

THE POWER OF POSITIVE, SOLUTION-BASED JOURNALISM.

Sarain

Fox

TREADRIGHT’S ‘PEOPLE’

AMBASSADOR THE POWER OF STORYTELLING

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Protecting Canada’s Wildlife

SEPTEMBER 2020 VOLUME 1 - ISSUE 3 - $9.99

AUTISM

ONE MOTHER’S

PERSPECTIVE

HOW FARMERS

GIVE BACK IN UNIQUE WAYS

I AM LOVE

Overcoming darkness through empowerment

Through no fault of their own, children and youth involved in the child welfare system have experienced trauma, abuse, and neglect.

By including Children’s Aid Foundation of Canada in your will, your legacy will change theirs. It will help countless children to grow, thrive, and lead happy, healthy lives.

Join us and become part of our Stand Up for Kids Legacy Society.

Learn more at cafdn.org/legacy Charitable Registration Number: 108076480–RR0001 | Pictured: Name and identity protected

TABLE OF CONTENTS

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TreadRight’s ‘People’ Ambassador

SARAIN FOX The Power of Storytelling

CELEBRITY HEROES

12 Champions for Change: Celebrities Give Back

YOUTH HEROES

16 19

With Bike Chains and Car Parts, Afghan Girls Build Ventilators

EVERYDAY HEROES

26 27 28

Through the Eyes of a Caregiver

37 38

Do you bleed too much?

Give Colds the Cold Shoulder

Tejika Chand—From Volunteer to COVID-19 Frontline Hero When Fathers Share the Care

HEALTH & FITNESS

30 31

Top Tips for At-Home Learning Autism: One Mother’s Perspective

#RISINGYOUTH: Responding to Community Needs

CORPORATE RESPONSIBILITY

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Shell’s Commitment to Being a Good Neighbour Maison Tess.: Authenticity Starts at Home It’s TIME: Taking the Plunge for Marine Conservation

The Workout to Help You Ease Back Into Exercise

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Greeniche: Healthy Hands Start Here

40 I Am Love: Overcoming Darkness Through Empowerment

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Human Health Depends on the Health of Our Animals & Environment

We proudly treat: ʶ Arthrogryposis ʶ Club feet

ʶ Hand conditions

ʶ Botox for spasticity

ʶ Chest Wall Anomalies ʶ Hip conditions

ʶ Limb length discrepancy

ʶ Metabolic and heritable bone diseases ʶ Myelodysplasia

ʶ Neuromuscular conditions ʶ Osteogenesis imperfecta

ʶ Plastic reconstruction or correction ʶ Prosthetics

ʶ Rheumatology

ʶ Scoliosis and spinal deformities ʶ Skeletal dysplasia

ʶ Spasticity and cerebral palsy ʶ Upper extremity issues

SHRINERS HOSPITALS FOR CHILDREN is a health care system with locations in the U.S., Canada and Mexico. Our staff is dedicated to improving the lives of children by providing pediatric specialty care, conducting innovative research, and offering outstanding educational programs for medical professionals.

Built in 1925 in Montreal, Quebec, the Canada Shriners Hospital is a bilingual, short term, acute care centre providing pediatric orthopedic ultraspecialized care for complex disorders. Children from across Canada, the U.S. and around the world have benefited from the hospital’s groundbreaking research and innovative treatments. The hospital is committed to excellence and innovation in clinical practice, research and education and to ensuring patients and their families are treated in a caring, family-friendly environment.

1003 Decarie Boulevard, Montreal, QC H4A 0A9 • 514-842-4464 shrinershospitalsforchildren.org/Canada

TABLE OF CONTENTS CLIMATE & WILDLIFE

GLOBAL SUPPORT

62 Outward Bound: Nature, Unplugged

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The TreadRight Foundation Looks Toward the Return to Travel

FOOD & CULTURE

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66

Scientists Harvest More Eggs From Near-Extinct Northern White Rhino

On Common Ground: Joining Forces With Raven for Indigenous Justice

46 48

Protecting Canada’s Wildlife

68 70

Celebrate Cultural Diversity Through Food

ecoTraction: Helping You Win at Winter

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How Farmers Give Back in Unique Ways

Breaking the Poverty Cycle: Matt Damon Talks About the Power of Water

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Food For The Poor Canada: How Canadians Are Answering the Call to Action

50 58

Hope in Haiti Through Microfinance

Getting Ontario Back on Track on Climate

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Heroes Can Still Fly—Even While Grounded

TRAVEL

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Supporting Travellers with Global Medical Solutions

72 Add Anti-Inflammatory Superfoods to Your Diet

With a food supply chain as diverse and plentiful as ours, it really does take a village to produce it.

At Faces Behind Food, we’re introducing you to the essential workers who work day in and day out to ensure you have access to fresh, safe, nutritious and delicious food.

@FacesBehindFood shares the stories of the real people behind the Canadian food that you love, from farmers to food processors, retailers, restauranteurs and more.

Give them a follow on Instagram or Facebook and get to know them. After all, to know them is to know your food.

A project by Farm & Food Care www.FarmFoodCare.org

Letter from the editor

Denise Koprich Shirazi Living in a connected world has created an ever-changing society, one that, for the most part, is evolving for the better. One way to encourage this progress is through storytelling—stories about different cultures, ethnicities, and families. The powerful age-old craft of storytelling has brought people together, offering a window to peer through, teaching us about a world that might otherwise remain foreign.

Our cover hero, TreadRight’s ‘People’ Ambassador, Sarain Fox, understands the power of storytelling. Sarain uses her platform to speak for those who are unheard, fighting for Indigenous voices while advocating for reconciliation. Until recently, the historical truth about Canada’s Indigenous peoples has been unknown. Sarain is doing her part to educate.

In this issue, we are exploring culture and kindness while celebrating our Canadian freedom to embrace both. Canada is known globally for being a welcoming and accepting country and has been recognized as one of the world’s most diverse nations. To properly celebrate our rich culture, we must call on all Canadians - Indigenous, non-Indigenous, and newcomers - to reflect upon and learn the history, sacrifices, cultures, contributions, and strength of all those who call this beautiful land home.

Inspirational everyday heroes share their stories of resilience during difficult times, reminding us that we are not alone as we face our own challenges. We explore one mother’s personal struggle after her son was diagnosed with autism and the journey that led her to start her own foundation. We meet Amy Tung, founder of the I AM LOVE Project, who turned her battle with mental health into a social enterprise supporting others. We also acquaint ourselves with Mahmoud Charary, a dad bravely challenging gender roles in his community by sharing childcare and domestic work with his wife, which have traditionally been maternal responsibilities.

We also look toward our future and the much-needed return to travel. As travellers, full of wanderlust and a desire to connect with people and cultures around the world, we must also consider how many lives have been affected by the disruption of the hospitality industry. The return to exploration abroad is needed for many reasons, but must be done safely. Thankfully, companies like The Travel Corporation have implemented stringent hygiene and cleansing measures ahead of the industries’ full return, ensuring the safety of guests and hospitality workers while providing travellers peace of mind.

Our world has fundamentally changed; tomorrow’s normal will be different from today’s, but with a strong effort to work together, we remain rich in possibility.

Stay safe. Stay well.

Cover Photo © Carrie Cai PUBLISHER Amir Shirazi EDITOR IN CHIEF Denise Koprich Shirazi EDITOR Raye Mocioiu CREATIVE DIRECTOR Sergio D. Spadavecchia FINANCE DIRECTOR Marie Lavoie CONTRIBUTORS Darren Jackson, Alex Carter SALES DIRECTOR Jaqueline Stewart ADVERTISING Adam West Natasha Fardoust Nazeela Ahmed PRODUCTION COORDINATOR Susan Mestchian HEADQUARTERS 2020 Winston Park Drive Suite 200 Oakville, Ontario – L6H 6X7 Office: 905-815-1500 info@globalheroes.com

“May your footsteps leave only friends behind.”

—Frederic M. Perrin, Rella Two Trees - The Money Chiefs 6

A virtual Comic Vision fundraising experience

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OCTOBER 8PM EST COMICVISION.CA FOR DETAILS

HOSTED BY STEVE PATTERSON

© Ratul Debnath.

Sarain

Fox The Power of Storytelling

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Sarain Fox is an Anishinaabe dancer, storyteller, and activist. Born in Batchawana First Nation in Canada, Sarain is one of Canada’s most prominent Indigenous voices. She’s also TreadRight’s ‘People’ Ambassador, and part of TreadRight’s first North American Project, the Manitobah Mukluks Storyboot School.

Storyboot is a TreadRight funded project that shares the art of mukluk and moccasin making. Located in Toronto, Canada, the school teaches the traditional art of mukluk and moccasinmaking in an effort to keep traditions alive and inspire the next generation of Indigenous artists.

Travel is an essential component of Sarain’s activism and storytelling.

Through TreadRight, she uses her passion for representing and lifting up Indigenous people to empower travellers to recognize the impact they have and make that impact a positive one. We virtually sat down with Sarain to discuss the cultural significance of mukluks and how travellers can make Indigenous stories matter.

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WHAT INSPIRED YOUR ACTIVISM? I was born an activist. I come from a family who survived genocide. As an Indigenous person, I carry that truth and advocate for my people wherever I go.

CAN YOU SPEAK ABOUT YOUR EXPERIENCE WORKING WITH TREADRIGHT? I began working with TreadRight as an ambassador for the Manitobah Mukluks Storyboot School (MMSS) at the Bata Shoe Museum in Toronto back in 2018.

We invited students to learn the art of moccasin-making from Indigenous teachers and welcomed visitors to experience that cultural survival in action. The support that TreadRight offers to the Storyboot School helps advance specific United Nations Sustainable Development Goals like no. 10 “reduced inequalities” and no.

11 “sustainable cities and communities.”

Today, I am TreadRight’s official ‘People’ Ambassador, and my work with the organization is critical. We are completely aligned with the importance of promoting sustainable tourism and educating travellers on how to #MakeTravelMatter. After our meaningful collaboration in 2018, I later became TreadRight’s official ‘People’ Ambassador in 2020. Together, we hope to make a difference in the communities we visit, learning from others, and leaving a lasting impression.

TELL US ABOUT YOUR FAVOURITE PAIR OF MOCCASINS—WHAT'S THE MEANING BEHIND THE DESIGN ON THE VAMP? My favourite pair of moccasins are my very first pair of moccasins. They came with the teaching of walking with the knowledge of my ancestors, following the footsteps of those who have so much truth to share and to care for life in my community. They have a single star on the vamp for my name: Morningstar woman.

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YOU'RE ALSO A DANCER AND A CHOREOGRAPHER. HOW DO YOU FEEL DANCING INTERSECTS WITH SHARING INDIGENOUS STORIES? I come from an oral history. My people have been using dance, song, and storytelling to preserve who we are for thousands of years. Settlers knew this, so after contact, they banned all forms of storytelling, dance, and ceremony. I use dance to access blood memory, to reclaim those things that were lost, and reframe the narrative of colonial history that was written for us.

SHARING INDIGENOUS STORIES WITH TRAVELLERS HELPS TO SAFEGUARD THEIR TRADITIONS AND PROTECT THEIR CULTURAL HERITAGE. CAN YOU ELABORATE ON WHY THIS IS SO IMPORTANT AND HOW IT RELATES TO THE TREADRIGHT PLEDGE, “TO MAKE TRAVEL MATTER?" Indigenous people should be the only ones defining our history and sharing our stories. As unique nations, we have different approaches to welcoming visitors and sharing knowledge with them. If we own our narratives, we’re able to preserve our cultures as we need to and for ourselves (not just for cultural and historical consumption). We share in order to connect. That connection has to be mutual and come from a place of respect. Allowing the original peoples of any place to speak from their authentic voice is the only way to stop exploitation and #MakeTravelMatter.

TreadRight is committed to encouraging the cultures, traditions, and arts of the communities visited by travellers to thrive, so together, we are able to make the difference the world needs to see.

WHERE DO YOU PLAN TO TRAVEL TO NEXT? I have been travelling deep into the backcountry of my homelands near Lake Superior. Sometimes the things we search for all over the world are in our own backyard. I’ll anxiously await international travel in the future, but enjoy my own territory in the meantime!

The TreadRight Foundation released a short film about the power of conscious travel and storytelling, featuring The Canadian Museum of History on the banks of the Ottawa River, which was originally a place of trade for hundreds of Indigenous Nations.

The film highlights the critical role that Indigenous stories and knowledge play in truly appreciating a place and its people, and features an interview with Roberta Anderson, a Cree elder and moccasin maker who teaches at the Manitobah Mukluks Storyboot School in Toronto.

“It’s who we are, it’s what we represent,” —Roberta Anderson.

To learn more, visit treadright.org.

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CHAMPIONS FOR CHANGE

CELEBRITIES

GIVE BACK

All over the world, celebrities and everyday heroes alike have been carrying the torch for racial equality, attending protests, and making their voices heard. With sizeable platforms and notoriety, celebrities have the power to inspire positive change and lead the calls for equality - and they’re doing just that. From donating to programs created to help BIPOC students succeed, to supporting under-privileged business owners, these celebrity heroes are using their platforms to champion social justice.

Adriana M. Barraza/WENN.com

BEYONCE’S

BEYGOOD

FOUNDATION TEAMS UP WITH NAACP TO LAUNCH BLACK-OWNED SMALL BUSINESS IMPACT GRANTS Beyonce Knowles’ BeyGOOD foundation is working with the NAACP (National Association for the Advancement of Colored People) to offer grants of $10,000 to small businesses facing difficulties as a result of COVID-19.

The Black-owned Small Business Impact Fund will offer grants of $10,000 to “Black-owned small businesses in select cities to help sustain businesses during this time,” NAACP said.

“The NAACP is proud to partner with BeyGOOD to help strengthen small businesses and to ensure economic empowerment for Black businesses,” the Black-Owned Small Business Impact Fund’s website description reads.

“The challenges of Black business owners navigating in the climate cannot be understated, as the effects of uprisings across the nation have led to many businesses being placed in dire straits due to damages and other small business needs.”

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The Formation icon was recognized for her philanthropy endeavours with this year’s BET Humanitarian Award, which she dedicated to protestors across the country. During her acceptance speech, she encouraged viewers to vote “like our life depends on it” in the upcoming US election, calling on them to “dismantle a racist and unequal system” in the country.

“I want to dedicate this award to all of my brothers out there, all of my sisters out there inspiring me, marching and fighting for change,” Beyonce said, referencing the Black Lives Matter protests sparked by the death of George Floyd at the hands of police officers. “Your voices are being

heard, and you’re proving to our ancestors that their struggles were not in vain.”

Her speech won praise from Barack and Michelle Obama, who applauded her for promoting younger performers and for “calling out sexism and racism when she sees it.”

Beyonce wasn’t the only winning member of her family during the BET Awards. Her tune Brown Skin Girl, which features her daughter Blue Ivy Carter, took home the BET Her Award making the eight-year-old the youngestever BET Award winner.

Ik Aldama/picture-alliance/

from successful women, including U.S. Soccer World Cup champions Christen Press and Tobin Heath.

U.S. WOMEN LEND SUPPORT TO FEMALE BUSINESS START-UPS Members of the U.S. women’s national soccer side are using their experience as female entrepreneurs to lend their support to businesses selling everything from coffee to lingerie, as part of the team’s mission to try to level the playing field for women.

A project called Stacy’s Rise will award 15 female entrepreneurs $10,000 each, as well as advertising services and executive mentorship

STAR ATHLETE

ASH BARTY

PROMOTES TENNIS IN INDIGENOUS COMMUNITIES French Open champion Ash Barty, who is an Indigenous ambassador for Tennis Australia, has spent a week in the tropical north of her home state of Queensland, working with local Aboriginal youngsters.

“It’s all about giving an opportunity to Indigenous youth and providing pathways through tennis to show what our sport can do for our culture,” she said after visiting a Cairns school.

“The exciting part is sharing our experiences as female entrepreneurs with others,” Press said.

“Coming from a sports background, we have amazing access to people and a world-class team. And we’ve had amazing mentors.”

Heath said she felt fortunate to “get to give” back.

“What we’ve gained from mentorship to what we’ll be able to give to these 15 winners is really powerful,” she said.

In August, Tennis Australia announced that they would be spending A$115,000 ($82,788.50) over the next three years to fund Indigenous tennis programs in Queensland.

“It’s a massive stepping stone, it’s a pathway for young kids to see an opportunity, not just in tennis, but in education, in experiences, in all of these different things,” Barty added.

“Tennis brought joy and happiness to my life and to be able to experience that with kids all over the country is incredible.”

Indigenous Australians suffer disproportionately from many debilitating health issues such as type 2 diabetes and heart disease, conditions where regular exercise can make a big difference.

“It’s really special to be able to give young kids, older kids, people of all ages that opportunity to grow and learn about how much sport has to offer in the way of connecting people.”

Corinne Dubreuil/ABACAPRESS.COM

REUTERS/Andrew Kelly

Press and Heath, who launched online clothing retailer Re-Inc last year with teammates Megan Rapinoe and Meghan Klingenberg, said they wanted to impart some of the lessons they learned.

VIRGIL ABLOH RAISES $1M FOR FASHION SCHOLARSHIP Fashion designer Virgil Abloh teamed up with the Fashion Scholarship Fund to launch the Virgil Abloh ‘Post Modern’ Scholarship Fund, in a bid to help talented young Black creatives in the industry.

“As a Black designer, I found my way through school, and a mixture of creative projects, and I had to make a name for myself. That took a lot of years and a lot of meetings and a lot of runway shows and a lot of work, and I wanted to make that door open for a younger generation to sort of have a pathway that stays open,” Abloh said in an interview with WWD. Abloh says this scholarship will offer more than just funds; it will also provide career support and mentoring, with some of his friends in the industry even pledging to give masterclasses.

“I wanted to showcase the future of ‘charity’ or giving back doesn’t have to be like the past,” Abloh said. “There are all sorts of avenues that help erase systemic racism, but also how you can donate time, mentorship, access, Rolodex, advice — you know, being there for a younger generation. I’ve always done lectures at schools, and I think that’s super important.”

The Virgil Abloh ‘Post Modern’ Scholarship Fund will provide scholarships to between 100 and 200 promising fashion students of Black, African American, or African descent.

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REUTERS/Carlo Allegri

RYAN REYNOLDS AND BLAKE LIVELY DONATE $200K TO INDIGENOUS WOMEN'S LEADERSHIP INITIATIVE Ryan Reynolds and Blake Lively have donated $200,000 to a leadership initiative for Indigenous women.

The couple gifted the impressive sum to St. Francis Xavier University’s Coady Institute

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in Nova Scotia, Canada, for their new initiative, the Circle of Abundance, which hopes to amplify Indigenous women’s voices and leadership.

In a statement, the couple said: “We’re so happy to support the incredible work of the Coady Institute’s program with Indigenous Women. We’re blown away by the conversations we’ve had and the work they do and look forward to joining them on this journey.”

Coady Indigenous Program lead and graduate Karri-Lynn Paul added in a separate statement: “These Indigenous leaders inspire renewed energy on how to move forward with our work. Their insights and grounding of our work in the realities of grassroots Indigenous women’s lives is an important piece in our journey. This funding offers the opportunity to make that happen.”

—Reuters

BY STEFANIE GLINSKI

WITH BIKE CHAINS

AND CAR PARTS

AFGHAN GIRLS BUILD VENTILATORS

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All photos © Digital Citizen Fund

In the eastern Afghan city of Herat, 18-year-old high school student Somaya Faruqi adjusts a suction cap as she puts the finishing touches on the lightweight ventilator created by her and six other young women.

With pliers in hand, the group of five fashion ventilators from car parts, bike chains, and machine sensors, an imperfect solution to the country's looming coronavirus crisis.

The all-female Afghan Robotics Team, which has won international awards for its robots, started work in March on an open-source, low-cost ventilator as the coronavirus pandemic hit the war-torn nation.

It took the team almost four months to finalize the ventilator, partly based on a Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT) design. They received guidance from experts at Harvard University.

The device is easy to carry, can run on battery power for 10 hours, and costs roughly $700 to produce, compared with the $20,000 price of a traditional ventilator.

"We had to be creative when it came to sourcing material," said Somaya Faruqi, the team's 17-year-old captain.

"Our machines are built out of a combination of a Toyota Corolla motor, chains from motorcycles, and separate pressure, heat and

humidity sensors," she told the Thomson Reuters Foundation.

While the devices cannot replace medical ventilators, they should bring temporary relief to coronavirus patients.

"We are delighted that we were able to take our first step in the field of medicine and to be able to serve the people in this area as well. All members of our team feel happy because, after months of hard work, we were able to achieve this result," Faruqi told Reuters.

"It's not a perfect device, but it can do two things: control the volume of oxygen entering the body, and count and control the number of breaths per minute," said Faruqi.

For two months, Faruqi's team - wearing masks and gloves - has worked five long days a week to complete their prototype.

"We were quite scared by the prospects of the pandemic, so we decided to try to do our part," said Faruqi.

Before the outbreak, the girls built robots, studied programming, and prepared for their final year of school under an initiative set up in 2015 to teach girls tech skills and instill confidence through science.

The team - who wear long black dresses and headscarves along with their anti-virus masks and gloves - has been celebrated across Afghanistan and won prizes in the West.

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TOUGH FIGHT According to the United Nations, Afghanistan's literacy rate for women remains low at about 30 percent, with many girls in rural, conservative communities unable to attend school.

However, in Herat, the city's university now has its largest body of women pursuing computer science, topping 500.

were approved, they would be rolled out in Afghan hospitals and the design shared with the World Health Organization.

"In a country where medical supply is largely lacking, we are prepared to look into such alternative options," Qadir Qadir, general director of the Ministry of Public Health, told the Thomson Reuters Foundation.

"It's slowly changing," said Faruqi, but only for some.

He said Afghanistan had about 480 ventilators available, but about 40 belonged to the military and dozens to non-profits.

She said that families like hers are more liberal; otherwise, it would have been impossible to leave the house and work on the breathing machines.

"Whether the girls' product can be used is yet to be determined. It would need to be tested and can't immediately be used in patient care," said Qadir.

The girls hope to finish their device by mid-month and sell them for about $600 - 50 times cheaper than medical ventilators - as a stopgap for Herat's main COVID-19 hospital, a government facility.

Faruqi is undaunted, her team working all out to finish their low-cost, low-tech prototype.

Although the ventilator must still undergo final testing from health authorities before it can be used, it is a welcome invention.

Health Ministry spokesman Akmal Samsor said once the ventilators

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"We've seen a lot of encouragement from people, but our biggest drive is the current situation. Afghanistan is in crisis, and we want to do what we can to help," she said. —Reuters

#RISINGYOUTH: RESPONDING TO COMMUNITY NEEDS DURING COVID-19 TakingITGlobal is one of the world's leading networks of young people learning about, engaging with, and working towards tackling global challenges.

We are looking for young people who are inspired and ready to take action in their local community. Through the #RisingYouth Community Service Grants program, young Canadians, ages 15-30, are able to support their local community, through grants of $250, $750, or $1500.

DO YOU HAVE A SIMPLE PROJECT IDEA TO SUPPORT YOUR COMMUNITY? We have three levels of grants available at www.risingyouth.ca $250

$750

$1,500

At the start of the pandemic, #RisingYouth Pooyan Sekhavati quickly noticed a clear Personal Protective Equipment gap in his hometown and began 3D printing ear savers for masks and giving them to frontline workers.

Pooyan Sekhavati / London, Ontario / $1,500

In an effort to support frontline workers and encourage local business owners, #RisingYouth Pauline Brayet created the ‘’Alimenter la première ligne ‘’ project in Ville de Québec. Her concept was to buy meals from local restaurants and offer them to frontline workers, expressing gratitude while also supporting the local economy. With the help of over twelve volunteers and the #RisingYouth grant, Pauline delivered over 800 meals to healthcare workers and made a much-appreciated difference.

Christy Davis Sydney / Nova Scotia / $750

When he realized that other students wanted to help, he expanded his project and founded the London Student Relief Team. Over 150 students joined him in addressing the many challenges posed by the COVID-19 outbreak, ranging from mental wellness to peer support.

Now leading the largest student relief association in London, Pooyan and his team can offer support to the entire Greater Toronto Area.

Pooyan’s initiative also supported the Black Lives Matter protests, by distributing masks to ensure safety of all involved.

Pauline Brayet / Ville de Quebec, Quebec / $1,500

In the midst of the COVID-19 pandemic, #RisingYouth Christy Davis launched a community response project to give seniors a pleasant environment in the safety of their homes. With the help of over 30 volunteers, Christy built and seeded flower pots for three long term care facilities in her hometown; a little encouragement and reminder of life as the seniors watched the seedlings grow into beautiful flowers. The #RisingYouth grant she received allowed her to kickstart a continual project that brings her community together and brings joy to the senior residents still in isolation.

Shell Canada believes social investments are key in helping build capacity and long-term, societal benefits to the communities within which the company operates. At times, these efforts include providing critical support during unexpected emergencies, such as the COVID-19 public health crisis.

As the coronavirus pandemic struck Canada, and cities across the nation scrambled to provide assistance to people within their communities, Shell Canada sprang into action. The company donated hundreds of thousands of dollars to emergency relief funds throughout the country, including a corporate employee matching program which raised $250,000 for local foodbanks across Canada.

Over the last 30 years, Shell and its employees have donated $100 million to local United Ways to help improve the lives of individuals and families across Canada. The company's core values—honesty, integrity, and respect for people—are at the forefront of what drives both their business and social investments.

Every year, Shell Canada runs an impressive campaign, matching employee and retiree donations, and running multiple activities and events to drive their fundraising and volunteer efforts. Michael Crothers, President and Country Chair of Shell Canada, says he is continuously humbled by the generosity and kindness of his team.

"You wouldn't believe the pride it gives our people to see the impact they're having and to say 'I'm a part of that.'"

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According to Crothers, investing in initiatives that have the power to transform communities is something the company strives to do in all the places it operates in. “There is an underlying determination to make our nation a place of hope, a place where every Canadian can truly fulfill their potential. If our employees can help make that happen in some way—it’s all we could ever hope for, and why we are so committed to United Way.” United Way of Calgary and Area would like to thank Shell Canada Limited and its employees and retirees for their unwavering support and commitment to our community and other communities across our country.

MAISON TESS:

Authenticity

Starts at Home

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Why compromise style for comfort when you can have both?

Maison Tess., named for founder Laura Nezri’s family, believes that your home should reflect your true self! That’s why their products are designed and developed for the couples and families of today.

With linens that do better for you and for the planet, your rooms will come to life as an extension of you.

“The beauty is in the mess. Our fabrics all have rich wrinkles, and we like to keep it that way. We embrace it.”

—Laura, Maison Tess. Founder

With the environment and a low carbon footprint in mind, Maison Tess. works on a pre-order basis, so that they can have products shipped to their warehouse twice a year only.

“Bringing meaning and purpose to our products is a value we cultivate each day.”

CULTIVATING MEANING

Maison Tess. products are designed in Montreal, and are then produced by a 4th generation family-owned manufacturer. As firm believers in the direct-to-consumer approach, Maison Tess. strives to provide shoppers with premium-quality products, complete transparency, and no middleman. That’s why they work with the most unique and high-end fabrics, using biodegradable dyes and ecofriendly, plastic-free packaging.

Maison Tess. works closely with local charities in the Montreal area, like Chez Doris, a women’s day shelter. Chez Doris provides women with essential services, like food, medical attention, mental health aid, and linens donated by Maison Tess.

In a commitment to keep their carbon footprint low, Maison Tess. makes environmentally-friendly choices on a daily basis. Their manufacturers use solar panels that produce a percentage of their energy and re-use water and heat produced in a natural gas plant.

For the launch of the Baby Tess. collection in 2019, Maison Tess. teamed up with Petites Mains, a Montreal-based shelter focused on helping women and children in need. With their help, Maison Tess. was able to produce crib sheets and pillowcases, recycling their washed linen fabric, and making a valuable contribution to women in need.

Embrace the practicality that lies in the beauty of the mess - after all, your home should be a reflection of who you are, no filter needed.

Maison Tess. is also proud to be part of the Better Cotton Initiative, which exists to make global cotton production better for the people who produce it, better for the environment it grows in, and better for the sector’s future. As well, Maison Tess. products are OEKO-TEX® Certified, free from harmful chemicals and safe for human use.

“We don’t let anything go to waste; every sheet produced is given a purpose.”

Learn more about Maison Tess. and shop the collection at maisontess.com

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©Justin Lewis ©Picasa

It’s TIME: Taking the Plunge for Marine Conservation The story of Seiko began in 1881, when entrepreneur Kintaro Hattori opened a shop selling and repairing watches and clocks in central Tokyo. In 1965, Seiko produced its first Japanmade diver's watch, a milestone model. Waterproof to a depth of 150 meters, the watch was designed to withstand high water pressure.

leading scuba diver training organization.

The partnership aims to spread awareness about ocean conservation efforts and teach valuable lessons about marine health.

Ten years later, in 1975, Seiko released another milestone model, the world’s firstever Diver’s Watch with a titanium case.

Upon receiving a letter from a professional diver, Seiko engineers were shocked to hear how much strain was put on a watch by the athletes, diving to depths of 350 meters. Seiko took on the challenge, crafting the world's first diver's watch that would be resistant to helium and legible at great depths.

To celebrate and promote this partnership, Seiko has crafted a PADI diver’s watch with the PADI logo on the dial and the red and blue PADI colours on the case.

Now, Seiko is taking on a new challenge: saving the oceans. Seiko has partnered with PADI, the world’s largest diving network and

“One single person can make a difference, and that person is you.”

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There are PADI diver courses and scuba diving services nearly everywhere, with more than 6,300 PADI Dive Centers and Resorts, and more than 136,000 individual PADI Professionals who have issued over 25 million certifications worldwide.

PADI’s mission is to create a community that cares deeply about healing the planet above and below the surface. PADI inspires others to bring about meaningful change by turning passion into a billion torchbearers that explore and protect our ocean.

A STEWARD FOR THE SEA Growing up surfing, swimming, and snorkelling the southern California coast instilled a deep love of the ocean in Emily, and an even stronger desire to protect it.

The natural beauty and marine life she encountered at the surface – dolphins, sea lions, and kelp beds – piqued her curiosity about what could be at deeper depths.

This curiosity not only propelled Emily to become a certified diver, but it inspired her to make diving a career. As part of the PADI marketing team, Emily is committed to ensuring divers are continuing their dive education and aware of the opportunities available to them so that there are more and more stewards for the sea.

“The hope is that if we can get people passionate about diving, we can inspire people to care about the ocean.”

—Emily Krak, PADI Open Water Diver

www.seikowatches.com

SPB143J1 The 1965 Diver’s Modern Re-interpretation 6R Automatic Mechanical Movement 70hours Power Reserve

Through the Eyes of a

HOSPICE VOLUNTEER “It is difficult to understand what it feels like when parents lose a child.

Ben, a little boy whose life started like any other, began to have physical difficulties and stopped meeting specific milestones. Ben’s parents became concerned. After much testing, Ben was diagnosed with Battens Disease.

Battens Disease is a rare progressive degenerative disease that causes blindness, seizures, loss of motor skills, and is always fatal. Not only did his parents know their child would die, but they were watching his death happen in stages before their eyes. There were community support services involved, but when Huron Hospice services were offered, the parents were forever changed.

As the volunteer coordinator, I first visited with Ben’s mom when Ben was three years old. Throughout the remainder of Ben’s illness, a hospice volunteer was part of the team that helped this family cope.

The volunteer, a mother of young children herself, became a friend, especially for Mom. Ben died a few months after his eighth birthday. The hospice volunteer was there to support the parents through their grief.

Life and death are different for everyone, but Hospice Palliative Care Volunteers help make a difference during the dying process.”

– Anonymous Testimonial from Huron Hospice

DEMYSTIFYING HOSPICE MYTH: I can only get palliative care in hospitals.

FACT: Palliative care services are offered in many places, including hospitals, hospices, and in your own home.

MYTH: Having hospice and palliative care means you will die soon.

FACT: Hospice and palliative care is not just for the end of life. It is a holistic approach that includes caregiver support, spiritual care, bereavement, and much more.

MYTH: Hospices are generally just for old people.

FACT: Hospice and palliative care is provided to people of all ages – from infancy to adulthood.

Hospice Palliative Care Ontario (HPCO) is a provincial association of hospices and palliative care providers, professionals, and volunteers in over 450 communities in Ontario. More than 16,000 hospice volunteers support over 30,000 clients each year.

The organization focuses on improving the quality of life for patients and families living with chronic illnesses and bereavement.

The HPCO Online Hospice Volunteer Training Program provides hospice volunteers across Ontario with standardized training.

To donate, visit www.hpco.ca/donate Learn more about becoming a hospice volunteer at www.hpco.ca/volunteer

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TEJIKA CHAND

FROM VOLUNTEER TO COVID-19 FRONTLINE HERO

Tejika Chand is a youth worker and shift coordinator at Covenant House Toronto, the largest agency in Canada serving youth who are homeless, trafficked, or at risk.

Tejika started as a volunteer who helped youth at Covenant House explore their artistic capabilities while completing her Bachelor of Psychology at York University. After graduation, she was hired as a part-time youth worker and then moved to full-time in March 2018.

Tejika is a tireless worker who always has the best interests of the youth at Covenant House in mind. She is a very well-rounded employee who is passionate about helping youth experiencing homelessness with the issues they face, such as mental health.

From the start of the COVID-19 outbreak, Tejika has stepped up by taking on more shifts and working doubles. The outbreak has increased the need for her to check in on those who struggle with depression and anxiety. It’s such a challenging time for the youth, especially due to the isolation they’re experiencing.

Everyone who comes to Covenant House has experienced some trauma, and because of COVID-19, the need to keep physically distant from others can be extra tricky for young people who were already experiencing challenges. So, Tejika has come up with creative art-based wellness programs, such as slime-making (to help youth de-stress), sand mosaics, and colouring exercises designed to engage youth and help them spend their time in meaningful ways.

Although COVID-19 has made her work more challenging, she wouldn’t trade it for anything else, because she loves making a difference in the lives of youth experiencing homelessness.

These are extraordinary times. Youth who are homeless or trafficked need your support now more than ever.

Donate today at CovenantHouseToronto.ca

About Covenant House Covenant House is Canada’s largest agency, serving youth who are homeless, trafficked, or at risk. Covenant House helps youth ignite their potential and reclaim their lives by offering the widest range of 24-7 services, and life-changing, unconditional care. They offer housing options, health and well-being support, training and skill development, and ongoing care once youth move into the community. Since 1982, Covenant House has supported more than 95,000 young people.

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All photos: Ramzi Haidar/Dar Al Mussawir for UN Women

When fathers share the care As COVID-19 impacts parents around the world, sharing the care work is critical.

This Palestinian couple living in a refugee camp in Lebanon shows how it’s done.

MAHMOUD CHARARY ENJOYS PLAYTIME WITH HIS ONE-YEAR-OLD DAUGHTER, JOURI.

In a community that views men who share domestic and care work as a sign of weakness, even emasculating, Mahmoud Charary stands out as an exception. But not for too long, he hopes.

Malak and Mahmoud Charary are a young Palestinian couple living in a refugee camp in

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Lebanon and parents to a one-year-old girl.

“Women should not only be perceived as mothers and responsible for the home; they are an integral part of the community who have demands, needs, and likes and dislikes of their own,” says Mahmoud Charary.

“My wife and I share responsibility in everything at home, and I am proud of it. I cook, clean, do the laundry, care for my baby

daughter and wife, which grants Malak time for herself and for her work. I don’t expect to be awarded for it, rather I believe it is my responsibility,” he adds.

Both parents consider themselves as primary caregivers of Jouri, their joyful daughter.

Their 90-year-old great aunt who lives with them also cares for her, and Mahmoud’s mother helps when she can.

MAHMOUD CLEANS THE KITCHEN FLOOR WHILE HIS SPOUSE, MALAK, IS AT WORK

MAHMOUD BECAME A STRONG BELIEVER IN THE IMPORTANCE OF CHANGING ATTITUDES TOWARDS GENDER NORMS IN HIS OWN COMMUNITY

Malak Charary appreciates her husband’s involvement with her daughter’s care.

She lost her father at the age of 10 and was raised by her uncle. Determined to complete her education, she took on a three-hour commute to the university every day to graduate with a degree in Pharmacy. Palestinian refugees are not allowed to work as pharmacists in Lebanon, but Malak found work as a local pharmacist within the UN clinics at refugee camps. As the COVID-19 pandemic reached Lebanon, she worked long hours on the front line of the crisis during the lockdown, leaving Mahmoud to care for their daughter.

Gender Equality” regional program. The program, funded by the Government of Sweden, works with local communities as well as governments to promote positive masculinity and gender equality in six Arab States countries.

Having lived in Al Rashidieh camp all their lives, the second most populous Palestinian refugee camp in Lebanon, the couple have endured a lot of insecurity, including the prevalence of arms, drugs, and restrictive social norms that discriminate against women and girls.

Initially, his egalitarian views about childcare and housework were not wellreceived by the community members.

Community leaders within the Al Rashidieh camp had criticized several organizations for challenging traditional gender roles, but Al-Jalil eventually improved the relationship with community leaders, and is slowly building consensus that gender equality at home makes for better homes and healthier communities.

“The involvement of Mahmoud with childcare and house chores allowed me to go back to work when my daughter was only one month old,” shared Malak.

“My job is very important to me, not only for the financial security it gives us as a family, but also because I value my independence”.

Mahmoud credits some of his values to his involvement as a volunteer with Al-Jalil Organization for Development, a community-based organization supported

by UN Women’s “Men and Women for

Mahmoud became a strong believer in the importance of changing attitudes towards gender norms in his own community and kept going back for more training.

Today, the 27-year-old leads youth-led activities in the camp, including football and basketball training for young girls and boys as entry points to integrate genderequitable attitudes.

“Mahmoud’s positive influence on his peers, his young trainees and his family has become obvious since he joined our programmes.

His own personality and views on gender equality have also changed,” said Hussein Charary, the Managing Director of Al-Jalil Organization. Over the years, Mahmoud has inspired many other men and women to practice equality within their homes, including his own father and sister.

“Only 12 per cent of men in Lebanon say they perform routine care and supervision of their children. This means that most of the childcare work is done by women,” said Rachel Dore-Weeks, Head of UN Women office in Lebanon. “Fathers that share the care work enable their wives to join the labor market and keep their jobs. Having both parents working is especially important under the current economic downturn brought on by COVID-19. We are running an awareness and behaviour change campaign, ‘Because I am a man’, to promote positive masculinity and men’s engagement to achieve that.”

“Men sharing house chores doesn’t make them less of a man. On the contrary, it creates a great sense of achievement,” says Mahmoud Charary. “Women’s role goes way beyond the home. Women can be creative and successful in every job they perform.”

From domestic chores to caring for loved ones, people around the world collectively spend 16 billion hours on unpaid care work every day. The backbone of thriving families, communities, and economies, this work largely falls on women—and increases in times of crisis. As some countries are still battling COVID-19, while others are putting in motion recovery plans, valuing and redistributing unpaid care work must be part of building back better.

Originally published: UN Women

FOR MORE INFORMATION PLEASE VISIT UNWOMEN.ORG

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TOP TIPS FOR AT-HOME LEARNING Although kids are now slowly returning to school, learning doesn’t have to be restricted to the classroom. In fact, a survey completed in the spring found that parents were spending two to three hours a day of educational time with their children.

Whether your kids are heading back to classes or staying home for virtual school this semester, check out these helpful tips for integrating independent learning and maintaining the positive habits established through physical distancing: CREATE A ROUTINE Make sure you create an after-school routine to ensure your child is finishing their homework and not completely turning off their brain. It’s up to you and your family to find what schedule works best for you, but make sure you’re also dedicating some time for play and fun every night.

DESIGN A DEDICATED SPACE One way to help your child focus on work at home is to create a specific area meant only for learning. Kids associate rooms in the home with certain activities, like the kitchen for eating and the bedroom for sleeping. By

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making an area for work, you help prep your child mentally for focusing on learning.

USE PLAY THROUGH LEARNING TOOLS Who says learning can’t be fun? Using educational computer programs, games, and toys can help kids learn through play and expand their minds outside of school time. For example, the Osmo Genius Starter Kit uses tablets to merge tactile exploration with technology, allowing your child to explore STEAM topics in an engaging way.

KEEP THEM MOTIVATED You can encourage your child by making learning fun and meaningful to them. Help them explore their interests with a little guidance to support their natural curiosity and creativity. For example, if your child shows interest in dinosaurs, share facts and history, along with a fun activity like a Jurassic Park movie.

With these tips, you can help set your kids up for success this school year.

—NC

AUTISM ONE MOTHER’S PE R S PE CT IVE The Canadian National Autism Foundation promotes the positive enhancement and quality of life for people with autism in Canada. We are a foundation of volunteers that was formed in June 2000 by parents and caregivers of people with autism.

CNAF President and Founder Christine Fougere is a mother of twins. Her son, Nathan, was diagnosed at 3 ½ with mild borderline PDD. Nathan was in a regular class with modified programming until 2013, when he was aged out of school. Learning the struggles and the ins and outs of having a son with a diagnosis of autism showed Christine how to advocate for parents, and is what led her to start a foundation in 2000.

Her twins, Nathan and Tasha, have had a research study done on them from all the documentation and medical reports, from the day she found out that she was pregnant until they were 5 years old. This helped make a medical history breakthrough in the Early Detection of Autism.

Following the publication of the twins’ study (Rutherford, 2005), Dr. Rutherford began a longitudinal study following infants with or without a sibling with ASD as they grow into adolescence.

This project aims to use eye-tracking technology to measure early social interests in the first year of life and compare early development to later social-cognitive development and ASD diagnostic information. The study is designed to test whether early interest in social information predicts later development of ASD or autistic characteristics.

For more information visit http://cnaf.net/TwinAutismStudy.html

DEBUNKING MYTHS ABOUT AUTISM MYTH: Everyone diagnosed with autism is the same.

TRUTH: There are varying degrees of autism - no two people

MYTH: You can only have a diagnosis of autism, nothing more.

TRUTH: Many with an autism diagnosis also have a

MYTH: If seizures are not present in someone with autism as a

TRUTH: Approximately 40% of people with autism eventually

MYTH: Parents who have been making decisions for their child

TRUTH: Once their child reaches 18, parents lose the legal

young child, they will not develop seizures.

think that once the child turns 18, they still have the legal authority to make decisions for them because they have special needs.

are alike.

secondary diagnosis, a comorbid. It could be ADD, ADHD, OCD, language delay, depression, anxiety, sleep disorder, seizures, or intellectual disability. Some could even have a dual diagnosis, like Down Syndrome. develop seizures. If they do not develop seizures in the first 3 years of life, there is a second spike in seizures from 13-17, during puberty. authority to keep making financial and personal care decisions for their adult son or daughter with special needs. Parents need to obtain guardianship of Personal Care and Continuing Guardianship for property.

For more information, or to volunteer, sponsor, or donate, visit WWW.CNAF.NET

© Unsplash/Bruce Mars © Reuters

Brie Larson

© Reuters

Jason Walsh

THE WORKOUT TO HELP YOU EASE BACK INTO EXERCISE 32

Celebrity trainer Jason Walsh devised a workout routine to help Brie Larson get back into it.

Haven't done a workout since quarantine began? Don't worry; you’re not alone.

Captain Marvel actress Brie Larson posted a video on her YouTube channel in which she revealed she hadn't done a workout since quarantine began in March, so she called up her personal trainer Jason Walsh, and he devised a routine to help her get back into it.

"I put together a workout based on the fact that I haven't seen you in months," he said in a virtual chat. "This is just a reintroduction; I want to wake the body up, we're gonna exploit these movements and slow the tempo down, you don't need weights, we're going to move through these exercises pretty quickly... We're gonna innovate the muscles. We’re gonna turn them back on."

Below is a range of core strengthening and toning moves Jason got Brie to do during their session:

Sumo stance with a lateral shift Get into a sumo squat, with feet straight ahead and parallel, and then shift your weight onto your right side, bending the knee to squat down near the floor, with the left leg out straight. Then switch sides, using your right foot to push your body across to the other side. Keep low and make sure your hips and butt are still pushed out.

Lateral roll to straight leg

Then extend your legs and flex the feet before bringing the knees in, returning to the center, and doing the same on the other side.

Body saw In a forearm plank, with your body in a straight line close to the floor, take baby steps backward as far as you can, and then baby steps forward as far as you can.

Plank with a knee to elbow From your forearm plank, lift your right knee and bring it around the side of your body, shifting your weight forwards to help it touch the right elbow. Return your leg back to the plank and do the same on the left.

Plank to Lateral Hip Drop In the forearm plank position, drop your right hip to the mat, bring it back up and do the same on the left side.

Pike to half-moon extension From a downward-facing dog position, raise up your right leg and carve a crescent-shaped line with the leg by bringing it down to the floor on one side of your mat and then back to the other. Repeat with the left leg.

"Squeezing the butt, go as far as you can, touch, come back up, keep the glute firing the whole time, exploiting and milking this movement for everything," says Jason.

—Reuters

© Unsplash/Bruce Mars

Lay on your back and hug your knees into your chest and roll onto your right side.

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HEALTHY HANDS START HERE Since the advent of COVID-19, it seems as if there are germs everywhere! They can get onto hands and items we touch during daily activities and make us sick. Cleaning hands at key times with soap and water or hand sanitizer that contains at least 60% alcohol is one of the most important steps you can take to avoid getting sick and spreading germs to those around you.

There are important differences between washing hands with soap and water and using hand sanitizer. Soap and water work to remove all types of germs from hands, while sanitizer acts by killing certain germs on the skin.

Hand sanitizers also may not remove harmful chemicals, such as pesticides, and heavy metals like lead.

In view of the growing health concerns, hand sanitizers have become extremely important in our daily life. However, with the increased demand, there has been an influx of sub-standard products, many of which are formulated with technical-grade alcohol, which is not permissible for human use. Many are oily and sticky with poor absorption, while some have as low a viscosity as water. Health Canada has already taken notice of these quality issues and has advised pulling more than 50 brands of hand sanitizers from the market.

Across the border, the FDA has taken similar action against more than 100 brands. The situation warrants exercising caution while picking up a sanitizer off the shelf.

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Greeniche Natural Health, one of the most trusted brands in consumer healthcare across Canada, has introduced a hand sanitizer which: สถ is approved by Health Canada and conforms to all quality standards สถ is made with 75% food-grade ethyl alcohol สถ has a balanced pH formula สถ absorbs rapidly & completely, leaving the skin soft & supple สถ kills 99.9% of common germs

Whether for home use, or for the safety of staff at workplaces, Greeniche Hand Sanitizer has suitable options in 300ml pump-action bottles, 60ml fit for use while on the move, and 1L/4L sizes for commercial establishments and other institutions.

For more information, visit your neighbourhood pharmacy or www.greeniche.com

16 YEARS

Average time it can take a woman to know that she has a

bleeding disorder.

Do you bleed seven days or more during your period? Do you change your pad or tampon every hour? Do you soak through your pants?

Do you bruise easily? Do you suffer from frequent nosebleeds or prolonged bleeding after dental procedures?

In short, do you bleed too much?

If you answer yes to one or more of these questions, you may have a bleeding disorder. From the day a girl starts her period, it takes, on average, up to 16 years before she finally gets a proper diagnosis.

Aside from hemophilia, women with bleeding disorders tend to have more symptoms than men because of menstruation and childbirth. The most common inherited bleeding disorder is von Willebrand disease. This disorder is all too often undiagnosed or misdiagnosed, and the symptoms of heavy or prolonged menstrual periods are ignored.

Women with an undiagnosed and untreated bleeding disorder risk serious complications that may even lead to unnecessary hysterectomies. Many of them may not understand if their bleeding is normal or abnormal and therefore do not seek help.

After years of suffering, once diagnosed, effective treatment is available and a woman’s quality of life improves dramatically. It is therefore critical to raise awareness about bleeding disorders so that accurate and timely diagnoses are provided to affected women.

Information and help can be found through the coderouge initiative of the Canadian Hemophilia Society at HEMOPHILIA.CA/NEXT-STEPS

s d l o c e v i G d l o c the der l u o h s

YOUR WELLNESS KIT Round out your family’s wellness routine with a few key herbs, vitamins, and minerals that help promote a healthy immune system and keep your body in battle-ready form!

Astragalus is a powerful adaptogen that helps to protect and

© Can Stock Ph

oto Inc. / [koles

nikovserg]

Don’t let colds and flus get you down! Beat the viruses that the season brings before they take hold by strengthening your family’s immune systems. With a little bit of knowledge, some simple lifestyle changes, and a few immune boosters at the ready, you can enjoy the weather without the extra challenge of illness!

Regular hand washing is a simple and effective way of

preventing colds and flus. Teach kids proper handwashing technique: wet hands, apply soap, lather for 15 seconds while rubbing fingertips, between fingers, under nails, and back of hands, then rinse and dry.

Also, make sure to wash hands after sneezing, coughing, or blowing your nose.

Getting your zzz's isn’t just to make sure you don’t fall

asleep during class, it's key for good health and immunity. Create the perfect sleep space by providing a cool, dark, quiet room that’s technology-free.

Ditching the sugar gives our immune systems the chance to fight off bacteria and viruses. Indulging in processed foods and any one of the over 50 forms of sugar available negatively impacts our health. Load up on whole foods, fruits, and veggies instead!

Be food-focused by making the most of what you eat and

choosing nutrient-dense produce, proteins, and healthy fats, adding in seasonal supplements if necessary (see the toolkit for more!).

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support the immune system, including infection prevention. Avoid if an active infection is occurring.

Echinacea possesses antimicrobial properties that support the immune system. It’s especially good at targeting upper and lower respiratory conditions like coughs and colds.

Elderberry is an antiviral that enhances the immune system, and

is great for fighting colds and other acute viral infections. This tasty botanical is popular with kids and can be given as a syrup, tincture, or DIY gummies!

Probiotics can support our bodies by making sure our gut, the

home of 75 percent of our immune system, is full of the right bugs.

Probiotic-rich foods like kimchi, sauerkraut, kefir, and yogurt are all great add-ins to your family’s diet. If supplementation is needed, talk to your naturopathic doctor to find out which strain is best for you.

Vitamin C is a natural antioxidant that helps your blood cells

fight off bacteria and viruses. If you become deficient, it may make you more vulnerable to colds and flus. Foods like citrus, peppers, and broccoli are all rich in Vitamin C.

Vitamin D helps keep your immune system at its best. Make sure

to add egg yolks, fatty fish, fish liver oils, and/or a quality supplement to make sure your family stays healthy!

Zinc is naturally found in the body and is involved in immune

cell production and function. A powerful anti-inflammatory, zinc can also be found in seafood, animal products, legumes, leafy greens, and root vegetables.

Before adding herbs or supplements to your wellness kit, speak with your naturopathic doctor to determine if they’re right for you.

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BY RAYE MOCIOIU

I AM LOVE Overcoming

darkness through empowerment “‘I AM’.... a positive affirmation.

What follows those two simple words will determine what kind of life you will live,” says Amy Tung, CEO and Founder of the I AM LOVE Project.

By the age of 40, 1 in 2 people have experienced a mental health challenge.

Evidence from the Mental Health Commission of Canada shows that effective community programs can make a significant difference to not only the economy but also to the health of the population.

“There are many social determinants that have an impact on our health and wellbeing,” Amy says. “From employment to relationships, status, finances, education, housing, gender...I’ve been there.”

AMY TUNG,

CEO and Founder of the I AM LOVE Project.

Amy found her calling through that same darkness. Between wrestling with feelings of hopelessness and overwhelm, she was suddenly struck with a realization that she was meant to be an instrument of love. She started the I AM LOVE Project, a social enterprise that supports individuals to overcome physical barriers and reach their potential.

“That’s why we choose to support a smaller charity every month through a variety of fundraising models that comprise supporting mental wellness, cultivated through the support of the community, and backed up with heart.”

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I AM LOVE aims to be the leading wholesaler of jewelry for a good cause.

Their collection of charity bracelets are all handmade by student volunteers. The fine jewelry and women/men’s bracelet collections are handmade by individuals with addictions and mental health issues, who are working to overcome their struggles.

Over the next three years, I AM LOVE will be focusing on creating employment for those with disabilities and those overcoming mental health and addictions. People undergoing recovery treatment greatly benefit from employment - it is instrumental in helping them transition back into the community, cultivating a sense of purpose.

Since their inception in 2018, I AM LOVE has raised over $45,000 for various nonprofits and charities. Their team continues to grow and create more impact. Their efforts will continue with greater impact through their Mind|BODY pop-up events, which will happen quarterly. When you purchase a bracelet or attend a fundraising Mind|BODY event, you’re directly helping a local non-profit to continue providing the essential services and assistance to the most deserving Canadians.

Learn more about I AM LOVE, and shop the bracelet collections here.

IAMLOVEPROJECT.CA

Safe water improves health and saves lives.

Access to safe water directly helps families in need prepare and protect themselves from COVID-19, because they can wash their hands and don’t have to leave their homes to collect water.

Today, 785 million people lack access to safe water.

You can help change this.

Give water today at Water.org/donate

HUMAN HEALTH DEPENDS ON THE HEALTH OF OUR ANIMALS & ENVIRONMENT CAHI is committed to providing veterinarians and farmers with innovative medications to help keep our animals healthy, while promoting public understanding of how animal medicines are used to ensure a safe, affordable, and sustainable food supply. Veterinary oversight means all animal protein offered for sale in Canada is antibiotic-free because farmers work with their veterinarians to ensure proper medication use.

Given the importance of responsible antibiotic use, on December 1, 2018, Canada’s veterinary drug manufacturers voluntarily removed growth promotion claims from those products, which are also important to human medicine. These antibiotics now only list prevention, control, and treatment claims on their labels, and must be prescribed by a veterinarian.

CAHI is supportive of the use of best practices by farmers to minimize the need for antibiotics in the raising of animals. This includes things like barn design, nutrition, and vaccination programs. But despite everyone’s best efforts, bacterial infections will still occur from time to time, and the only treatment is an antibiotic. There is no alternative. “Raised without antibiotics” (RWA) programs have been created to meet market demand, but they often mean that veterinarians cannot use life-saving antibiotics to treat animals that

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People and animals need access to safe and effective medications to treat infections and other serious diseases. Ensuring that the medicines we use to keep our animals healthy do not inadvertently harm our environment is equally important. These values lie at the heart of the work of the Canadian Animal Health Institute (CAHI). become sick. This can lead to poorer animal health and can significantly compromise animal welfare.

Responsible use of all animal medicines means as little as possible is used and farmers may have left over expired or unwanted medications. Environmental stewardship is a CAHI priority. To ensure these medications can be disposed of safely, since 2014 CAHI has partnered with Cleanfarms to offer Canadian livestock and horse owners a national collection program. Collections are offered in each province once every three years. In 2019, 5,518 kg of obsolete or unwanted animal health products were collected at 79 sites in Northern Alberta, Manitoba, and Ontario.

ABOUT THE CAHI As the not-for-profit trade association representing the developers, manufacturers, and distributors of animal pharmaceuticals, biologics, feed additives, veterinary health products, and animal pesticides in Canada, CAHI is the unified voice and information source for the animal health industry in Canada. CAHI is a national association, whose members are responsible for the sales of approximately 95% of the animal health product market in Canada.

FOR MORE INFORMATION, VISIT: CAHI-ICSA.CA

Dedicated to preserving animal health Because animal health affects us all 160 Research Lane, Suite 102 - Guelph, Ontario, Canada N1G 5B2 - 519-763-7777 - www.cahi-icsa.ca

BY NAZANINE MOSHIRI

Scientists harvest more eggs from near-extinct northern white

rhino Scientists racing to save the northern white rhino from extinction have harvested 10 more eggs from the last two females alive, which they hope will help create viable embryos that can be incubated by other rhinos acting as surrogates.

Neither of the remaining northern white rhinos on Earth - a mother and her daughter - can carry a baby to term, so scientists want to implant the embryos into southern white rhinos instead.

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Ol Pajeta Conservancy/Rio - The Photographer/Handout via REUTERS

The last male northern white rhino, named Sudan, died in Kenya's Ol Pejeta Conservancy in 2018.

The northern white rhino once wandered through east and central Africa, but as with other rhino species, its numbers plummeted due to heavy poaching.

Northern white rhinos - now the world's most endangered mammal - have hairier ears and tails, are shorter and stockier, and have different genes than their southern cousins.

Scientists first harvested eggs from the females a year ago, as part of a team from the Ol Pejeta Conservancy, Kenya Wildlife Service, Italianbased Avantea Lab, the Czech Republic's Dvůr Králové Zoo, and the Germany-based Leibniz Institute for Zoo & Wildlife Research.

They produced three pure northern white rhino embryos that are now frozen. But the scientists realized they must synchronize implanting embryos with the reproductive cycle of the surrogate mothers. The more embryos they have, the better.

One potential snag is that humans do not know how to detect when the time to insert the embryo is right.

ENTER THE ROMANTIC DECOY. A southern white rhino bull will be sterilized, transported to Ol Pejeta, and set loose among potential surrogate mothers. His response will signal when they are in heat.

"Thanks to his activities, we would be able to identify the right time for inserting the embryo," team coordinator Jan Stejskal, from Dvůr Králové Zoo, told Reuters.

"We start early in the morning, the first female is immobilized, and then the procedure lasts for about two hours," Stejskal said of the egg harvest.

The eggs are so delicate they must be immediately flown to a laboratory in Europe in an incubator hand-carried by a scientist.

"If you want to start a population of the northern white rhino, one baby is not enough. You need as many babies as possible," Stejskal said.

—Reuters

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Protecting

Canada’s

Wildlife How do you ensure the future of Canadian wildlife conservation is in good hands?

Engaging young Canadians in outdoor adventure, immersive field learning, and conservation project development is one way. That’s been the goal of the Canadian Conservation Corps (CCC), a barrier-free and inclusive program for youth ages 18 to 30, developed by the Canadian Wildlife Federation (CWF) and funded by the Government of Canada through the Canada Service Corps initiative. Established in 2018, the CCC program continues to inspire participants to develop conservation leadership skills through the creation and implementation of community projects. Here are a few shining examples of the innovative projects being delivered by CCC members across Canada.

CAITLIN BRANT - NIAGARA FALLS, ONTARIO A passion for pollinators inspired Caitlin’s idea to develop a program to aid in pollinator species recovery. The Niagara Falls, Ontario native’s new “Monarch Mayhem” program targets teachers of students in elementary and high schools and is being made available this October to help raise awareness of the annual fall migration of Monarch butterflies from Canada to Mexico. On October 6th, 2020, teachers are encouraged to

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implement the “Monarch Mayhem” initiative, which includes in-class lessons for grades 1 through 12, a schoolyard “bioblitz,” pollinator-friendly gardening, and the “Monarch March,” an interactive activity that encourages students to run or walk in support of Monarch awareness.

Caitlin’s goal is to get students to march a cumulative 4,000km, the same distance monarchs travel from southern Canada to their overwintering grounds in Mexico.

“It is important, especially with the events of 2020, for young people to have something to look forward to, celebrate and to connect with nature,” said Caitlin. “My hope is that teachers across the country incorporate the Monarch Mayhem program into their fall curriculum. Anything we can do to help Monarch populations recover is a step in the right direction for the species.”

Visit www.monarchmayhem.ca to register your classroom.

© PEXELS JAMES WHEELER

ISABELLE BUJOLD - SHERBROOKE, QUEBEC

Educating individuals about Canadian wildlife and the importance of conservation is the primary driver of Isabelle’s CCC project. Working with her collaborator from the Ocean Bridge organization, Sarah Dubord-Fortin, Isabelle has created a YouTube channel called "Les Natur'elles.” The channel includes a series of short videos the pair has produced, designed to teach people proper use of iNaturalist Canada, an online platform that encourages people across the country to help track biodiversity through use of the free iNaturalist app. Isabelle’s hope for the project is to increase iNaturalist exposure, especially with Francophones in Quebec and across Canada. “We underestimate the power of connecting people with nature,” says Isabelle, who is currently working on her Master Degree in Climate Change Impacts and Adaptation at the University of Toronto. “When you make people fall in love with nature, they will want to protect it. This is exactly what we wanted to achieve with our videos.”

JAMES PINTO - TORONTO, ONTARIO

While working in Toronto’s landscaping industry, James noticed a lack of native plant diversity in many of the city’s urban spaces. That inspired this recent CCC participant to develop a collaborative project with local property and commercial business owners. The goal is to encourage property managers to plant native plants and pollinator-friendly gardens in commercial spaces in order to qualify for certification through CWF’s Garden Habitat Certification initiative. “I am excited and grateful for the opportunity to do my small part to help pollinators and wildlife in my community,” said James. “My experience with the CCC program has been life changing. It has given me the skills, knowledge and resources to be an activist for conservation.”

NICOLE WEBSTER - WINNIPEG, MANITOBA

Nicole’s CCC experience began with a winter snowshoeing adventure through Algonquin Park, followed by field work with CWF’s turtle conservation program in Muskoka. Once back home in Winnipeg, Nicole recognized the need to enhance Winnipeg’s green spaces with native plants. That lead her to organize the Winnipeg Wildflower Project. “I started my work with the Winnipeg Flower Project because I was interested in urban prairie restoration and wanted to see community spaces be restored to habitat for pollinators,” says Nicole. The initiative included the planting of native wildflower and grasses in seed plots to establish a source for harvesting native seed. The goal is to harvest this seed and make it available to community members through seed starting and planting workshops. With the help of volunteers and project partners, the seeds will also be used in prairie restoration projects around the city.

To learn more and register to become part of the CCC program, visit CanadianConservationCorps.ca. #LeadersToday

HELPING YOU

WIN AT WINTER Not to alarm you, but winter is on its way. When the snow starts to fall, out come the salt trucks to provide extra traction on slippery winter surfaces.

There’s just one problem: deicing salt is corrosive and harmful to our environment, our roads, and even our pets. Scientists are raising the alarm that salt run-off from the roads pollutes groundwater and soil, which impacts aquatic life, vegetation, trees, and water sources.

Earth Innovations believes that we must embrace not just environmentally “friendly” but also environmentally “beneficial” products, all year long. That’s why they created ecoTraction, a safety product used as an environmentally responsible alternative to salt and ice melters by providing instant traction on slippery winter surfaces.

Created in 2005, ecoTraction is made from a unique volcanic mineral that is safe for pets and can be used as a green alternative to ice melters. It is able to provide highly effective traction for pedestrians and vehicles without damaging property or the environment.

and better than any other products in its category. It has sharp micro edges, multiple contact points, and a rigid structure, making it the ultimate traction agent for slippery winter conditions. ecoTraction keeps its spiny structure on ice and snow, lasting much longer than any ice melter to help prevent slips & falls. Unlike deicing salt, ecoTraction doesn’t melt away by leaching into the ground, which contaminates soil and groundwater. Instead, it crushes underfoot on hard surfaces, breaks down, and can be safely swept away onto lawns and gardens. While salt contaminates the soil and kills plants, ecoTraction retains and slowly releases nutrients and minerals like potassium, calcium, and magnesium to keep lawns healthy.

Among its many eco-friendly applications, this mineral can be used as an odour control product. Unlike traditional air fresheners that contain unhealthy chemicals, the Earth Innovations Inc. Smell Grabber is chemical-free and can naturally eliminate odours like mildew, pet odours, outhouses, and more.

The naturally occurring volcanic mineral is a porous, relatively soft honeycomb-structured stone. This cage-like structure acts as a ‘sponge’ and makes it useful in all sorts of ways.

Earth Innovations Inc is committed to providing high-quality, sustainable eco-products offering reduced environmental impacts and exceptional value. We must consume, reuse, and recycle products that take care of our planet, and make our world a better place for future generations.

Each granule has microscopic channels that absorb the thin slippery layer of water found on ice, helping it to grip on ice & snow faster

“We don’t inherit the earth from our ancestors, we borrow it from our children.” – David Brower

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IT'S NOT AN ICE MELTER

IT'S SAFER

A NATURAL AND SAFE ALTERNATIVE TO TOXIC ICE MELTERS

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GETTING ONTARIO BACK ON

TRACK ON

CLIMATE

IN

1997, Ontario’s five dirty coal-fired power plants produced a noxious stew of air pollutants and massive amounts of greenhouse gas. But few people knew that this huge contributor to air quality problems and the climate crisis even existed.

The Ontario Clean Air Alliance (OCAA) changed that forever by relentlessly focusing public attention on how coal burning threatened our health and environment. It wasn’t easy, but by building an effective coalition with health organizations, community groups, and municipalities, OCAA convinced all of the province’s political leaders to support phasing out coal.

The result was a huge win for Ontario and the planet. In terms of climate pollution, ending coal burning was equal to taking 7 million cars off our roads.

While phasing out coal was a huge step forward, our climate crisis is still accelerating. And worryingly, the Ford government’s current plans for the electricity sector could see us throw away more than a third of the climate gains we achieved by eliminating coal. A planned >300% increase in the use of gas to generate electricity will make it impossible for this province to reach its modest climate targets.

“Why would we return to fossil fuel when we have low cost, cleaner options to keep our lights on?” asks Angela Bischoff, OCAA’s Campaigns Director.

Nanticoke Coal Fired Generating Station, closed in 2013

www.OntarioClimateAction.ca

The group has launched a new campaign to persuade the provincial government to phase-out—not ramp up—Ontario’s gas-fired power plants by 2030. So far, more than 35 organizations have signed onto the campaign’s goals.

Ontario can protect our climate and lower electricity bills by phasing out gas-fired power plants and embracing low cost, cleaner ways to keep our lights on.

The OCAA is calling on the province to:

ʶ Reverse its short-sighted cuts to energy efficiency programs ʶ Invest in sun and wind now that they are among the cheapest new electricity generation options available

ʶ Accept Quebec’s offer of low-cost 24/7 electricity from its

massive waterpower system. Quebec’s reservoirs can also be used as a giant battery to backstop made-in-Ontario renewable power

Ontario can show bold leadership on climate again by phasing out gas generation and turning to conservation and renewable sources instead.

Learn more: www.OntarioClimateAction.ca ANGELA BISCHOFF OCAA’s Campaigns Director.

HEROES CAN STILL FLY EVEN WHILE

GROUNDED

When the Orbis Flying Eye Hospital touches down, it’s an incredible sight. A plane unlike any other, it has flown training to eye care professionals in places with the greatest need for nearly forty years, giving them the skills to save and restore vision in their communities.

This state-of-the-art facility has an operating room, classroom, simulation room, and recovery room, and has become a highly visible symbol for Orbis, an international nonprofit.

“This work is essential,” says Orbis Canada CEO Lisa McKeen.

“Many of us cannot imagine losing our sight because we couldn’t access a routine operation or a pair of glasses. But globally, at least 1 in 7 people live with blindness or vision impairment that could be prevented or addressed.”

Orbis is committed to using the plane and other advanced technology to prevent and treat avoidable blindness. With more than 400 Volunteer Faculty (medical experts) from over 30 countries, Orbis provides training across the globe. Per capita, Canada boasts the largest number of Volunteer Faculty, a talented group of ophthalmologists, nurses, anesthesiologists, and other eye health professionals who donate their time to the cause. Now, with

“The ability to provide remote training during the pandemic ensures important skill-acquisition continues,” says Dr. Peter Kertes, a Toronto VR surgeon at Sunnybrook Health Sciences Centre, who recently gave a presentation on Cybersight. “The platform Orbis has developed is world-class and provides a means to reach and impact thousands of professionals - perhaps never needed more than now as COVID-19 alters the way we learn and work.”

COVID-19 restricting travel and the Flying Eye Hospital temporarily grounded, Orbis’s investment in technology has proven essential in allowing this work to continue safely.

For nearly two decades, Cybersight, Orbis’s telemedicine platform, has connected eye care teams to expert mentors, often in remote and conflict-affected areas where the plane could not travel. Now, it’s a lifeline, allowing education programs to continue in a time when in-person training often isn’t possible due to the need for social distancing. Amid the pandemic, Orbis has seen record-breaking growth on Cybersight, which now has 30,000 registered eye care professionals from 200 countries and regions, eager to learn and acquire new skills to advance patient care.

The team at Orbis proves superheroes can still fly – even while their plane is temporarily grounded.

Learn more about the work of Orbis Canada at Orbis.org.

Changing the way the world sees.

Breaking the poverty cycle!

Water.org

Co-Founder, Matt Damon talks about the

power of

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Matt Damon’s

global perspective was formed years before his movie career began. During a trip with his mother in the early 1980s, Damon saw what life was like for people living in developing countries - how they lacked the basic necessities that he was so used to. Those experiences followed him through his early life, leading him to Sub-Saharan Africa, where, while filming a movie, he spent time with families in a Zambian village. He saw the same reality that he recognized so many years ago, inspiring his commitment to helping solve the global water crisis.

In 2006, he founded H20 Africa Foundation to raise awareness about safe water initiatives on the continent. Three years later, Matt Damon met Gary White, an engineer and water and sanitation expert from Kansas City. White was the founder of WaterPartners International, an American non-profit organization that aimed to provide safe water and sanitation to people in developing countries. Realizing the incredible impact the two could make, H20 Africa and WaterPartners merged to create Water.org. Now, Water.org empowers people around the world with access to safe water and sanitation. To date, they’ve helped change more than 29 million lives.

“Access to water is access to education, access to work, access above all to the kind of future we want for our own families and all the members of our human family.”

—Matt Damon Co-founder, Water.org

We virtually sat down with Matt to ask him what inspired his passion to ensure access to clean water for all, how the COVID-19 pandemic has affected the progress of solving the water crisis, and what we can do to help.

TRAVELLING WITH YOUR MOTHER IN THE LATE ’80S, YOU WERE EXPOSED TO POVERTY IN DEVELOPING COUNTRIES, WHICH LED TO YOUR COMMITMENT TO HELP SOLVE THE GLOBAL WATER CRISIS. WHY WATER? WHY GARY WHITE? MATT: I couldn’t ignore the fact that, in the villages I visited,

most of the families lacked the same basic necessity—water. The lack of it dictated how people spent their days. Time spent finding and collecting it determined what else they could or could not do. Access to water is something we can easily take for granted in the States. To see people living in the water crisis at such a young age really impacted the way I came to view the world and helped me see the role I wanted to play in changing it.

When I heard about how Gary White was working to empower people in need with safe water and sanitation through small, affordable loans, I was interested. After meeting him, I saw for myself how powerful this was for people living in poverty, and I knew this innovation, this solution Gary came up with was going to scale...and it has. We have reached more than 29 million people to date with access to safe water or sanitation, and each year this approach proves its efficiency as we change more lives, faster.

WATER.ORG CO-FOUNDERS MATT DAMON AND GARY WHITE VISIT WITH A FAMILY WHO TOOK A SMALL LOAN THROUGH WATER.ORG’S PARTNER BANK IN THE PHILIPPINES TO GET A SAFE WATER CONNECTION AT HOME.

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SINCE THE INCEPTION OF WATER.ORG, YOU AND YOUR CO-FOUNDER GARY WHITE'S SOLUTION TO THE WATER CRISIS HAS EVOLVED WITH A FOCUS ON SUSTAINABLE ACTIONS LIKE WATERCREDIT. CAN YOU ELABORATE ON THE EFFECTIVENESS OF THIS APPROACH?

SARIATI IN INDONESIA USES WATER FROM HER NEW TAP FOR CLEANING, COOKING, AND BATHING.

MATT: We’ve found that millions of people in poverty are already

paying high prices for water – in time spent collecting it or money to pay for temporary access. They do this because they can’t pay for a water connection or toilet all at once, but, if given the opportunity, they can afford to finance the solutions. That’s why we created WaterCredit. WaterCredit makes small loans for water and sanitation possible for these families. Rather than coming up with, say, $150 at once, they’re able to make small, affordable loan payments over time, giving their families the taps and toilets they need immediately. And the repayment rate is incredible. The people we serve are repaying their loans at a 99% repayment rate.

With millions affected across the world, there isn’t a one-size-fits-all solution to the global water crisis. Our approach is market-driven and people-driven. It’s why and how we’ve reached more than 29 million people with access to water or sanitation, 8 million in the last year alone.

THE NEW WATER CONNECTION AT THE HOME OF THIS FAMILY IN THE PHILIPPINES MEANS LESS TIME SPENT COLLECTING WATER.

THE COVID-19 PANDEMIC HAS FURTHER WORSENED THE LIVING CONDITIONS AND HEALTH OF MILLIONS OF PEOPLE IN BOTH DEVELOPED AND DEVELOPING COUNTRIES, WITH NO CLEAR END IN SIGHT. WHAT IS NEEDED TO ENSURE THE UNITED NATIONS' SUSTAINABLE DEVELOPMENT GOAL 6, CALL FOR CLEAN WATER AND SANITATION FOR ALL BY 2030, IS MET? IS IT STILL POSSIBLE? MATT: Water makes handwashing and hygiene possible, and

washing your hands, as we’ve all been told, is a first line of defence against viruses like COVID-19. The problem is that not everyone everywhere has access to the water needed for this simple and powerful act. Even before this pandemic, we knew achieving Sustainable Development Goal 6 would take more than the amount of funding the world is currently contributing to solving the global water crisis. Closing this financing gap and achieving safe water and sanitation for all is possible, and I think Water.org is well-poised to help the global community get there, especially in a time when access to water is needed more than ever.

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YOU HAVE SEEN FIRST-HAND HOW ACCESS TO CLEAN WATER CHANGES LIVES. IS THERE ONE MOMENT OR ONE PERSON WHO AFFIRMED YOUR PASSION TO PROVIDE EVERYONE WITH ACCESS TO CLEAN WATER IN YOUR LIFETIME? MATT: While I was filming a movie in Sub-Saharan Africa, I spent time with families in a Zambian village. They lacked access to water and toilets. I was reminded of what I saw as a kid in Guatemala—like the families in Guatemala, the entire days’ activities of the women and children in Zambia were dictated by the water crisis. From waking early to walk to find water, to spending hours carrying it back home—the multiple trips, the daily struggle, the illnesses—I knew I had to do something meaningful to help end the water crisis for these families and families around the world.

WHY SHOULD WATER FOR ALL BE EVERYONE'S BUSINESS? MATT: Through my work as an actor and my work as a co-founder

of Water.org, I’ve travelled around the world and have seen firsthand the critical role water can play in improving lives. Water is everyone’s business because it underpins so many social issues. Whether you care about children’s health, women’s empowerment, the education of girls, or improving economies – access to safe water is the answer.

Women, children, economies, and the health of our world rely on access to safe water. By giving to Water.org, people can help prevent the spread of diseases today and support the health of our world tomorrow.

WHAT HAS BEEN THE MOST GRATIFYING MOMENT THROUGHOUT YOUR WORK WITH WATER.ORG? MATT: Every time I meet the people we serve, and they share

how their lives have changed since getting access to safe water or a toilet at home is gratifying. Their stories motivate and inspire me.

For example, when I was in the Philippines last year, I met a woman named Zeny. Zeny finds scrap metal and wood and sells it, and her husband is a moto-taxi driver. Together, they make less than $3 a day.

They used to spend more than 15% of their income to buy water from a neighbor because they couldn’t afford to pay for their own water connection. Families like this are why we do what we do at Water.org. They work so hard, and they have so much potential. We make small, affordable loans possible for people like Zeny and her husband so they can give their families a lasting safe water solution at home. When you empower families in need with access to safe water, you empower them to break their cycle of poverty.

SOLVING THE GLOBAL WATER CRISIS IS NOT A ONE-PERSON JOB. WHAT CAN EACH OF US DO TO HELP? MATT: Donate to Water.org. Our organization is reaching families in poverty with access to safe water and sanitation every day, and our solutions are smart, lasting, and cost-efficient. For a donation of $12.50, you can help give one person access to safe water and the health, hope, and resilience that comes with it.

TO MAKE A DONATION THAT WILL CHANGE LIVES FOREVER, VISIT WATER.ORG/DONATE

FOOD FOR THE POOR CANADA:

HOW CANADIANS ARE ANSWERING THE CALL TO ACTION

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People the world over have lost friends, family, and jobs due to the coronavirus pandemic. In countries like Haiti, where people already face incredible challenges accessing affordable food, individuals and communities are being pushed to the brink. They are confined to their homes and unable to work, which leaves them unable to feed their families.

underserved communities in Haiti, Jamaica, Honduras and Guyana. They need essential food, like soup, rice and beans.

“What we are witnessing in Haiti right now is a deadly combination of COVID-19 and a shortage of food,” explains Bishop Oge of Food For The Poor Haiti.

Since the onset of the pandemic and despite their own financial hardship, Canadians have answered FFPC’s call. The kind support of Canadians helped FFPC deliver 100 new Jamaican-manufactured hospital mattresses to clinics in Jamaica and a shipment of medical inhalers to support people with respiratory illnesses in their homes.

FFPC has reluctantly paused school and housing construction in Latin America and the Caribbean until it is safe to resume such projects; instead, they are leading the charge to address the urgent need for food.

“We have changed our focus from development and sustainability to aid and food relief,” announced Samantha Mahfood, FFPC Executive Director. “We can’t solve this food shortage alone. And we can’t solve it without you.”

As of writing, FFPC urgently needs funds to provide meals for children and families in

Canadian farmers have donated surplus food, and volunteers from Gleaners’ Food Bank groups from Ontario to British Columbia have processed these foods into dried soup mix. To stimulate and support struggling local economies, FFPC also uses donated funds whenever possible to purchase food locally, such as rice, from Guyana and beans from Brazil.

Canadians have sent 4.4 million meals to vulnerable communities in Haiti, Jamaica, Honduras, and Guyana, helping to feed 50,000 people since April. Now, your help is needed to continue to support 50,000 people with food through the pandemic.

“If you can find it in your heart to give, make no mistake, you can have an immediate effect,” adds Samantha Mahfood.

You can help by donating and asking your friends, families, and neighbours to make a big difference with a small contribution – because Together, We Can. Please keep those affected by COVID-19 in your thoughts and prayers.

Food For The Poor Canada empowers communities in Latin America and the Caribbean through five areas of programming: food, housing, education, health, and income-generating projects.

FFPC responds to urgent needs while building community and social infrastructure. FFPC utilizes the preexisting networks of local affiliated organizations to better sustain and grow the communities they serve and responds effectively to emergencies and natural disasters when they occur. Over the last 12 years, FFPC and its Canadian donors have built 124 homes, 32 schools, as well as shipped and distributed $32,000,000 in food, educational and medical supplies to communities in Latin America and the Caribbean.

To find out how you can support Food For The Poor Canada, visit

FOODFORTHEPOOR.CA

Institution Les Freres Aristild (Note all photos were taken pre COVID-19)

HOPE IN HAITI

THROUGH MICROFINANCE As the pandemic takes hold in the developing world, devastating consequences for the world’s poor are becoming more apparent by the week. When markets contract, society’s poorest members, especially women, are the most vulnerable to job and income loss.

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Research suggests up to 60% of small businesses, the backbone of local economies employing millions of people, will require support to survive mandatory business closures.

FINCA alone projects that 120,000 small and microbusinesses of its female entrepreneurs that we

support with micro-loans will be destroyed without assistance. The World Bank estimates that COVID-19 will push 71 million to 100 million people into extreme poverty, wiping out the last 5-10 years of progress and signalling the first increase in extreme poverty since 1998.

While those staggering figures may shock us all, it also inspires us to work harder to equip those in need with tools and resources that will help them become and remain resilient.

To support recovery efforts, FINCA Impact Finance – FINCA’s global network of 20 community-based microfinance institutions and banks – is working to restructure existing loans of its low-income entrepreneurs, so they do not have to choose between feeding their family and paying off their loan.

Using technology and digital finance tools, FINCA Impact Finance is also ensuring customers can have safe access to financial services without the need to visit branches. When the economy restarts, FINCA will provide as many of them as possible with emergency loans to re-open, pivot, or scale-up their small businesses. That way, people like Anne Rose will be able to provide for their families with pride.

You can see in her eyes that life has not been easy for Anne Rose Dorval.

But that’s not unusual in Haiti, the poorest country in the western hemisphere.

Anne Rose

Despite Anne Rose never making it past primary school, she overcame life’s hardships to build a small but thriving business selling homemade jewelry out of a street-side stall in her hometown of Gonaives, Haiti – all thanks to her talent, grit, and determination.

When her son and his girlfriend became seriously ill, Anne Rose took in her grandson and knew she needed to increase her income to provide for him properly. That’s when she began working with FINCA. With loans from FINCA, she was able to travel to the Dominican Republic several times a year to buy wholesale sunglasses and other fashion accessories that have allowed her to build a larger clientele and earn more profits.

Other FINCA Haiti clients are facing similar challenges. Kerlande Toussaint and her husband Annesse Aristild settled in Gonaives, Haiti, after the devastating effects of the earthquake in 2010 levelled their school in Port-Au-Prince. They debated moving away but decided they wanted to stay and educate Haitian children.

They applied for and received their first loan from FINCA in 2014. As Annesse notes, ever since then, “the school has grown thanks to FINCA loans.” The money to pay teacher salaries and other operating expenses comes from tuition, a tiny bit of government money, and donations that allow them to offer scholarships to some of the most impoverished families. But to build a new classroom or buy books and equipment, Kerlande and Annesse need cash upfront.

That’s where FINCA loans have helped out time and time again, allowing them to add a new grade every year since.

“We really trust FINCA,” says Kerlande.

“And we’re glad that FINCA trusts us. We used our loans to invest in the school. We know other people who get loans from big banks to buy cars or a motorbike. That’s not a good investment.”

Everything was looking up, with a staff of 30 and more than 600 children enrolled from kindergarten through 10th grade. However, in March, COVID-19 forced school closures, putting the school’s staff out of work. Thankfully, with schools scheduled to open in late August for the first time in five months, they are busily preparing to make sure their students can safely learn without spreading the virus. Her staff are desperate to come back to work, not only to support their families but to make sure Haitian children have the tools for life-long success.

That was before the coronavirus pandemic shut things down this spring.

Now that the country is reopening, FINCA Canada is helping hardworking women like Anne Rose get their businesses back up to full speed—something that is urgently needed, now more than ever.

To learn more about how FINCA Canada and microfinance is helping the poorest of the poor in developing countries create long-term, sustainable incomes, please visit www.FINCACanada.org or email info@FINCACanada.org.

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GLOBALHEROES.COM

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SUPPORTING TRAVELLERS

WITH GLOBAL MEDICAL SOLUTIONS Medical emergencies are unpredictable and can happen to anyone, anywhere and anytime! We are here 24/7 to bring you home or to another healthcare facility. When the unexpected occurs while you are far from home, you or your family must navigate all the complexities of repatriation to home or an appropriate hospital for ongoing care.

impacts the need to make critical, timely decisions.

Whether within Canada or abroad, travel has changed significantly with the onset of the COVID-19 Pandemic. Today, travellers are confronted with health and transportation concerns in a world with travel and border restrictions. Angels of Flight Canada Inc., provides guidance, support, and solutions for travellers, no matter where they are in the world. The available medical resources, treatment available, and the costs associated

As a healthcare-based company for more than 30 years, Angels of Flight Canada has focused on appropriate medical flights, along with physician and hospital coordination.

To better prepare travellers, we implemented a solution for individuals, businesses, and travel groups with the introduction of the HALO MEDCard membership program in 2015, providing secure HIPPA compliant storage of vital data required for a medical

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Language barriers are just one of the obstacles. However, with Angels of Flight Canada resources, we are able to translate medical reports and other vital information in over 200 languages, so that decisions can be made effortlessly.

The Importance of Access to Medical and Vital Travel Information

flight available to our nurse-led teams to expedite your return home. Our phone app., Global 911 International, establishes a direct connection to our specialized nurse case managers, regardless of time zones.

Whether your travel is for Business, Recreation, or Medical Tourism, include a plan for a medical crisis away from home for only $125.00 CDN per year.

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NATURE. UNPLUGGED. OUTWARD BOUND CANADA IS EQUIPPING YOUTH FOR THE FUTURE THROUGH AUTHENTIC OUTDOOR ADVENTURES

“We’re not meant to spend all day in front of screens,” says Andrew Young, Executive Director of Outward Bound Canada. “It’s important for everyone, particularly youth, to get outside and into nature, as this positively impacts our physical and emotional well-being.”

donors and corporate partners. Whether featuring exciting activities such as sea kayaking around Vancouver Island, hiking through the Rocky Mountains, or white-water paddling in Northern Ontario, every Outward Bound course is focused on building resilience, greater leadership skills and social connectedness, and a stronger connection with nature.

Due to the COVID-19 pandemic, Canadian youth are facing significant disruptions to their personal lives, education, and careers.

They’re also spending increasing amounts of time indoors and connected to technology, which makes it difficult for them to develop the critical, social, and emotional skills needed to thrive at school, at work, and in their communities.

In addition to courses available for individual registration, Outward Bound partners with Indigenous Nations, schools, universities, community groups, government agencies, corporate groups, and learning institutes across Canada to provide a wide range of programs so that youth from diverse backgrounds can explore nature with the support of highly skilled instructors who ensure that these authentic adventures happen in a safe, challenging, and supportive manner.

“That’s why Outward Bound is even more relevant today,” says Young, “as we have a rich history of helping young people gain skills in problem-solving, teamwork, communication, leadership, and compassion so they can navigate life’s challenges and opportunities with confidence.”

A registered charity, Outward Bound Canada operates its transformational programs across the country, with a particular emphasis on providing greater access to those facing socioeconomic barriers, which is made possible through the generous support of its

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“[Outward Bound] allowed me to expand my connection to people as well as nature,” says Helen, who recently participated in an Outward Bound course. “I continue to use the skills and confidence I took away from this course in my life. I continue to practice patience, acceptance, and compassion, as well as remaining resilient in harsh situations and having more tolerance for adversity.”

To donate, register, or learn more, please visit OUTWARDBOUND.CA

Get out. Look in.

No matter what challenges you face, there’s always more in you than you think. Outward Bound Canada offers authentic adventures in nature that develop confidence, leadership, resilience and social connectedness. Gain the skills and experience you need to thrive in an unpredictable and changing world.

Register or learn more at > OutwardBound.ca

THE TREADRIGHT FOUNDATION LOOKS TOWARD THE RETURN TO TRAVEL Planet, People, and Wildlife; these are the three pillars that uphold The TreadRight Foundation’s mission to develop sustainable tourism.

TreadRight, The Travel Corporation’s (TTC) not-forprofit, also sets the direction for sustainability within TTC and its 40 award-winning travel brands. According to the World Travel and Tourism Council, one in ten jobs worldwide are supported by the travel and tourism industry. The current pause in global travel, due to COVID-19, has directly impacted millions of people in its workforce, with 75.2 million job losses projected. TTC’s Travel Directors see the impact that the travel industry has on people, the environment, and wildlife, and are passionate about upholding the TreadRight pledge to “make travel matter.”

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In March, The TreadRight Foundation chose four organizations to receive the Tread the Pledge Fund, as nominated

by TTC’s Travel Director community in November of 2019. The Tread the Pledge Fund recipients have been awarded a $2,500 USD grant to help them continue their efforts in supporting local communities around the world.

The inaugural fund recipients are spread out globally, with some on the frontlines of the COVID-19 response. TreadRight and TTC were thrilled to award the 2020 Tread the Pledge Fund to:

In preparation for a return to global travel, TTC has also introduced stringent hygiene and well-being measures for the safety and peace of mind of all travellers. ʶ Expertly Trained Travel Directors ʶ A Full Team of Support 24/7 ʶ Stringent On-the-Road Protocols

3. Clean and Proud, in Mzuzu,

Malawi collects and upcycles singleuse plastic waste into handicrafts along with unique, locally-sourced fabrics, which are then distributed to tourists in Malawi and wholesalers in Europe. In response to COVID-19, they’ve developed hygiene packs that include face masks. They are also investigating potential solutions to the challenge of accessing reliable and clean electricity in Malawi’s rural communities.

ʶ

ʶ ʶ ʶ

(Including sanitized coaches, expertly trained drivers, and freely available hand sanitizer) Trusted Partners, Exceptional Partners (TTC will try hard to only work with establishments that they are confident will consistently adhere to our standards) Physical Distancing Smaller Groups, More Personal Space Face Masks, Rubber Gloves, Antiviral Sprays and Wipes on Hand

1. RPJ Helping Hands in Cape Town,

a not-for-profit dedicated to feeding the homeless and hungry twice a week, averaging 2,000 meals per month. Due to COVID-19, their beneficiaries have increased. They’re on the frontlines to ensure more than 3,000 meals are being served at a time.

Please visit TreadRight.org to hear more about these projects.

To learn more about The Travel Corporation’s COVID-19 Well-Being Protocols visit ttc.com/comfort.

4. Walkers4Water/Charity Water

helps bring clean water to thousands of people in remote communities by raising funds, 100% of which go to the project which donors can then directly track online. Their most recent project was in Mali.

2. Smiling Children Italia sponsors

children in Kenya, allowing them to attend primary and secondary school.

Lorena Schiavon, a Travel Director for Insight Vacations, began this charity and personally contributes much of her free time to provide the children with school materials, clothing, books, and transportation during the holidays.

“Our resilient and vibrant tourism industry will recover, though we can’t be sure of precisely when. Our efforts at TreadRight, both through the support of our projects and through our strategic efforts to operate as responsibly as we can, will be proven as no longer “nice to haves,” but rather “need to haves.” When we return to travel, we must be better, stronger, and more aware of the world and the planet we call home.”

- Brett Tollman, TreadRight Founder & Chief Executive of TTC

Join them as they #MakeTravelMatter by signing The Pledge (treadright.org/pledge).

ABOUT THE TRAVEL CORPORATION: The Travel Corporation (TTC) is a highly successful, family-owned, and passionately run international group of 40 awardwinning brands.

Our exceptional portfolio of brands spans across 70 countries and offers an extensive selection of international travel and tourism companies, encompassing a variety of guided travel experiences, independent holiday packages, boutique river cruising, luxury hotels, and safaris.

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On Common Ground: joining forces with RAVEN

for Indigenous justice

When JESS HOUSTY was coming of age in Bella Bella, the coastal B.C. town was experiencing a cultural resurgence. The community was emerging from decades of chaos following the attempted cultural erasure of Indigenous Peoples and the devastation caused by residential schools.

Kids in Housty’s generation were taught by elders who were determined to instill in them a sense of honour in their Indigenous identity.

Heiltsuk are mariners who depend on generations-old knowledge to preserve and steward life-giving ecosystems. Their territory is a coastal archipelago that is home to humpback whales, wild salmon, and tangled rainforests roamed by iconic white Kermode or ‘spirit bears’.

“Our culture and our identity as a community is rooted in respect, reciprocity and taking care of each other and the land and waters,” Housty explains. “One of the really beautiful things that's starting to coalesce now is relationships pulling together in a way that's really giving traction to the goals and ideas that are rooted in those strong Heiltsuk values.”

RAVEN is an organization dedicated to fostering such relationships.

By providing ways Canadians can stand together with Indigenous Peoples, RAVEN offers a substantial pathway for people to put reconciliation into meaningful action.

As a student at the University of Victoria, Housty learned of a project that would put all of that at risk. The Enbridge Northern Gateway pipeline project would export bitumen from Alberta and open up a corridor for fossil fuel exports in one of the most richly biodiverse areas on the planet.

The Heiltsuk joined an alliance of seven First Nations who took to the courts, fought the project — and against all odds — won. The legal victory empowered communities who had not been properly consulted by project proponents: the case set an important legal precedent that guides policymakers today.

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The victory was achieved thanks in large part to thousands of people who donated, fundraised, and organized to raise nearly a million dollars for legal costs. The mass fundraising campaign was run by RAVEN (Respecting Aboriginal Values and Environmental Needs) in collaboration with Sierra Club BC. The Nations’ resounding victory in court has reshaped the legal - and ecological - landscape.

“Working together, we’ve raised millions of dollars over the last decade to back some of the most groundbreaking legal challenges of our time,” says Indigenous lawyer and RAVEN Board President Jeffrey Nicholls. “Supporting the assertion of the inherent and constitutionally protected rights of Indigenous people is a powerful pathway towards reconciliation and environmental justice.”

The Heiltsuk’s struggle to protect their homeland continues. In 2016, a devastating oil spill in their fishing grounds triggered another legal battle. This time, the case seeks recognition of Aboriginal title to the foreshore — the marine breadbasket that has sustained the Heiltsuk since time immemorial. With support from RAVEN, the Heiltsuk have pledged to fight for justice on behalf of all communities that could face the consequences of an oil spill.

Housty appreciates that Nations need allies who are willing to donate, fundraise, and organize on behalf of communities like hers which simply don’t have the resources to pursue strategic legal challenges on their own. “We understand in a really intimate way what we love. But we often feel really remote. So, to have people, citizens, just standing up and saying ‘we trust your position on these issues, and we’re going to put our money where our mouth is’ really expanded our sense of community nationwide and globally, as we saw those donations coming in. It was so empowering.”

Ready to stand with Indigenous peoples to protect land, air, and water for future generations? Join RAVEN: raventrust.com

“As a passionate organizer with deep community roots, let me say this: RAVEN is making a difference.

There is no force in the country more powerful than the movement we are building together.”

—Jess Housty, Heiltsuk Nation

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CELEBRATE CULTURAL DIVERSITY THROUGH FOOD

Part of the enjoyment of eating is choosing healthy foods that reflect your preferences.

Culture and food traditions play a role in shaping these preferences, including what you eat and how you prepare your food.

Keep cultural roots and food traditions alive by sharing them across generations and with friends! Trying new recipes that explore different ways to prepare foods can be a great way to learn about other cultures and discover new flavours.

Eating foods you enjoy with others fosters connections and builds communities. Celebrate special occasions and holidays with cultural food traditions, or attend a community event featuring cultural food.

Every culture has traditional bread, and bannock is a unique food to North America. This popular treat isn’t just an Indigenous food — it also has European roots.

As a unifier between all people, bannock crosses cultures and generations — elders often teach young people how to make it.

Baking this delicious bread is a great starting point for learning more about the contributions and culture of Indigenous peoples and working towards our collective journey on the path of reconciliation. It’s easy to make in your oven and it’s also delicious over the grill or campfire.

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© BIGSTOCK/BADMANPRODUCTION

Bannock PREP TIME: 10 MINUTES

COOK TIME: 45 MINUTES SERVES: 6-8

INGREDIENTS: ʶ 1 L (4 cups) all-purpose flour ʶ 25 mL (2 tbsp) baking powder ʶ 5 mL (1 tsp) sugar ʶ 2 mL (1/2 tsp) salt ʶ 2 mL (1/2 tsp) bacon fat or lard ʶ 500 mL (2 cups) water or milk

DIRECTIONS: 1. In a large bowl, mix flour, baking powder, sugar, and salt.

4. Turn dough out onto a floured surface on the kitchen counter.

Knead it for at least 3 minutes until it feels firm and the fat is evenly blended.

5. Transfer the dough to the frying pan and pat it out to about 2 cm (3/4”) thickness. Poke it all over with a fork.

6. Place the frying pan in the oven and bake the bannock at 180°C (350°F) for 45 minutes to an hour, until it is golden brown.

Serve hot. Spread with butter or strawberry jam and eat warm.

2. In a medium cast-iron frying pan, melt the fat and add water or

Did you know that Canada’s food guide snapshot is available in 31 languages, including nine Indigenous languages?

3. Pour the water (or milk) and fat into the flour mixture

Find more information and subscribe to Canada’s food guide at canada.ca/foodguide.

milk, combining them.

and mix thoroughly with a fork. If the dough is too dry, add more liquid.

—NC

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HOW FARMERS GIVE

BACK IN UNIQUE WAYS We all want to feed our

families nutritious meals that are simple to make and affordable. Bonus points if the dish is fun to prepare and environmentally friendly.

When preparing meals the whole family will love, a great option is using Canadian eggs. They are a fresh, local, high-quality ingredient available in all grocery stores and produced by more than 1,100 family farms from coast to coast.

Working under the system of supply management, egg farmers have invested in new technologies and innovative farming practices over the last decade to reduce their environmental footprint by 50 percent, while increasing their production to meet Canadian demand. Talk about a green source of high-quality protein!

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Farmers are an essential part of ensuring a strong, diverse food supply across the country. And in every region, farmers work to contribute to the fabric of communities like yours. Here are four unique benefits Canadian farmers offer: Nutritious food: A balanced diet is made up of a variety of protein sources, healthy fats, and grains. Canadian farmers take great pride in delivering the fresh, local, and highquality products that we want and expect.

Product variety: In Canada, the diversity of our climate and robust farming operations means we can enjoy a wide variety of locally grown fruits and vegetables. From delicious berries to vegetables, we’re rich in homegrown selections. When it comes to eggs — from classic white and brown eggs to enriched free-range, free-run, organic, and vitamin-enhanced eggs — the choice is yours.

Local supply: Enjoying local foods supports our economy and is better for the environment, since products don’t have to travel as far to reach you. There are over 1,100 egg-farming families across Canada in every province and the Northwest Territories — so you know your eggs are always fresh and local.

Community support: Many farmers go above and beyond to lend a helping hand by donating food and funds to local charities and food banks. For example, every year, Egg Farmers of Canada donates millions of eggs to local food banks, school breakfast programs, and other organizations.

Looking for new recipe inspiration? Try eggs in this delicious pizza recipe that’s simple enough to get the kids involved. To make the dough easy to roll, remove from the fridge and allow it to rest for 30 minutes. For a thin crust, use a lower amount of pizza dough.

Hand-Tossed Pizza with Eggs

PREP TIME: 15 MINUTES COOK TIME: 10 MINUTES SERVES: 2 INGREDIENTS: • 1 lb (0.5 kg) store-bought pizza dough • 2 tbsp (30 mL) olive oil, divided • ½ cup (125 mL) pizza or marinara sauce • 1 ½ cups (375 mL) shredded Italian blend cheese • 1/2 cup (125 mL) pitted Kalamata olives, chopped • 4 eggs • ½ cup (125 mL) arugula • All-purpose flour for rolling

DIRECTIONS: Lightly coat a 12-inch (30 cm) pizza pan with cooking spray. Place pan in an oven preheated to 500°F (260°C).

On a well-floured surface, roll dough into a 12-inch (30 cm) circle.

Remove hot pan from the oven. Carefully arrange dough to the edges of the pan. Pierce dough all over with a fork, then lightly brush with some olive oil. Evenly spread pizza sauce over the top. Sprinkle cheese over dough and top with olives. Crack eggs over top of the pizza.

Place pizza in the oven and bake until crust is browned and crisp; 8 to 10 minutes.

Serve topped with arugula and a drizzle of remaining olive oil.

Learn more at eggfarmers.ca.

—NC

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Add ANTI-INFLAMMATORY superfoods to your diet The word “superfood” gets tossed around a lot these days, but when it comes to helping with arthritis, avocados and edamame beans may actually fit the bill. Research shows they have anti-inflammatory benefits similar to olive oil that could help manage the symptoms of arthritis.

Enjoy their taste and health benefits with these easy recipes from dietitians at the Arthritis Society. Edamame & Avocado Spread will provide a great boost of energy when spread on whole-grain toast.

Edamame and Avocado Spread INGREDIENTS: ʶ ¼ cup cooked edamame beans ʶ 1 tbsp extra virgin olive oil ʶ 1 tbsp tahini paste ʶ Juice of 1 lime ʶ 1 tsp minced garlic ʶ 2 tbsp chopped cilantro ʶ ½ avocado ʶ 1 green onion, chopped ʶ Salt and pepper to taste

DIRECTIONS: 1. Cook edamame beans as per package instructions. If using

whole edamame pods, cook for 5 minutes in salted boiling water then remove beans from pods once cooled.

2. In a food processor, mix edamame, avocado, tahini, olive oil,

lime juice, cilantro, green onions, salt and pepper until smooth.

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PREP TIME: 15 MINUTES COOK TIME: 10 MINUTES SERVES: 2

3. Divide spread between two slices of whole-grain toast.

TIPS: ʶ If you’re unable to find edamame in your area, you can use peas as

a replacement.

ʶ Try pan-frying the edamame beans with seasoning, instead of

boiling them.

ʶ Place a sunny-side up egg cooked in olive oil on top of the toast

for a balanced breakfast or light lunch.

Nutritional information (per serving): Calories: 200; Protein 5g; Total Fat 19g; Saturated Fat 3g; Monounsaturated Fat 9; Carbohydrates 6g; Fibre 1g; Sodium 22mg FIND MORE ARTHRITIS-FRIENDLY RECIPES AT

ARTHRITIS.CA.

—NC

Add ANTI-INFLAMMATORY superfoods to your diet The word “superfood” gets tossed around a lot these days, but when it comes to helping with arthritis, avocados and edamame beans may actually fit the bill. Research shows they have anti-inflammatory benefits similar to olive oil that could help manage the symptoms of arthritis.

Enjoy their taste and health benefits with these easy recipes from dietitians at the Arthritis Society. Baked Avocado and Feta Eggs can be a very satisfying breakfast that keeps you full until lunchtime and the Edamame & Avocado Spread will provide a great boost of energy when spread on whole-grain toast.

Edamame and Avocado Spread INGREDIENTS: ʶ ʶ ʶ ʶ ʶ ʶ ʶ ʶ ʶ

¼ cup cooked edamame beans 1 tbsp extra virgin olive oil 1 tbsp tahini paste Juice of 1 lime 1 tsp minced garlic 2 tbsp chopped cilantro ½ avocado 1 green onion, chopped Salt and pepper to taste

DIRECTIONS: 1. Cook edamame beans as per package instructions. If using

whole edamame pods, cook for 5 minutes in salted boiling water then remove beans from pods once cooled.

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PREP TIME: 15 MINUTES COOK TIME: 10 MINUTES SERVES: 2

2. In a food processor, mix edamame, avocado, tahini, olive oil,

lime juice, cilantro, green onions, salt and pepper until smooth.

3. Divide spread between two slices of whole-grain toast.

TIPS: ʶ If you’re unable to find edamame in your area, you can use peas as

a replacement.

ʶ Try pan-frying the edamame beans with seasoning, instead of

boiling them. ʶ Place a sunny-side up egg cooked in olive oil on top of the toast for a balanced breakfast or light lunch.

Nutritional information (per serving): Calories: 200; protein 5g; total fat 19g; saturated fat 3g; monounsaturated fat 9; carbohydrates 6g; fibre 1g; sodium 22mg.

Baked Avocado and Feta Eggs PREP TIME: 5 MINUTES COOK TIME: 15-20 MINUTES SERVES: 4 (half avocado and one egg per serving)

INGREDIENTS: ʶ 2 avocados (large work best) ʶ 4 eggs ʶ 1-2 green onions, chopped ʶ 4 tbsp feta cheese, shredded (can be purchased pre-shredded) ʶ Paprika, dried basil, salt and pepper, sprinkled to taste ʶ 2 tbsp extra virgin olive oil ʶ Fresh parsley

DIRECTIONS:

3. Add green onions, paprika, salt, pepper and basil to taste, then drizzle with olive oil.

4. Bake in the oven for 15 to 20 minutes, depending on how firm you like your egg yolks.

5. Sprinkle feta cheese over each egg, then top with parsley and serve immediately.

Nutritional information (per serving): Calories: 271; Total Fat 24g; Saturated fat 5g; Monounsaturated Fat 12g; Carbohydrates 7g; Fibre 6g; Sodium 154mg.

1. Preheat over to 425°F (218°C).

2. Cut each avocado in half and remove pit. Fill each half with an egg. It might be easier to pour the egg into a bowl first, then into the avocado.

Find more arthritis-friendly recipes at arthritis.ca.

—NC

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BY RAYE MOCIOIU

Inspiring Positive Change: Starbucks Sets Planet-Friendly Targets WHEN they’re not

providing coffee lovers with artfully-crafted drinks, Starbucks is working to become more environmentally f riendly! Since 2015, Starbucks has taken great strides to improve the sustainability behind their business processes - and they’ve been completely transparent about how they plan to continue making positive changes.

In a public letter explaining the Starbucks’ mission to inspire positive change, chief executive officer Kevin Johnson announced a “multi-decade commitment to be a resourcepositive company.” Through sustainable

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and climate-friendly initiatives like targets for reducing carbon emissions and waste, Starbucks aspires to give more than it takes from the planet.

Starbucks has already taken strides to make its processes more environmentally friendly and ethical. In partnership with Conservation International, they achieved the milestone of sourcing 99 percent of their coffee through C.A.F.E. (Coffee and Farmer Equity) practices. By implementing those standards, they effectively halved their carbon footprint!

Starbucks is also part of the L.E.E.D. program (Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design), partnering with experts at the U.S. Green Building Council to bring sustainable practices to life in their stores. As well, Starbucks has been

publishing its Global Social Impact Reports since 2001, “one of the longest-running and most transparent reporting commitments of any public company.” These public reports show that Starbucks is committed to upholding their promises, and allows the public to hold them accountable as well.

The letter also outlined five major ways that Starbucks plans to achieve its climatefriendly goals.

Starbucks plans to expand its plant-based menu options, migrating toward an environmentally friendly menu. They also plan to shift to reusable packaging, removing single-use plastic from their stores.

Starbucks also intends to invest in innovative and regenerative agricultural practices, including reforestation, forest conservation,

©REUTERS/JOSHUA TRUJILLO;

and water replenishment. As well, their investments will go towards finding better ways to manage waste and ensure more recycling to eliminate food waste - making stores more eco-friendly, to boot.

In his letter, Johnson also detailed the preliminary targets that Starbucks has set for 2030; A 50 percent reduction in carbon emissions in direct operations and supply chain.

50 percent of water withdrawal for direct operations and coffee production will be conserved or replenished with a focus on communities and basins with high water risk.

A 50 percent reduction in waste sent to landfill from stores and manufacturing, driven by a broader shift towards a circular economy.

STARBUCKS FOODSHARE For years, Starbucks has successfully donated pastries - but fresh food poses a bigger challenge. By investing in research and quality assurance testing, Starbucks launched the FoodShare program in 2016, in partnership with Feeding America. The goal is to donate healthy, nourishing, and readyto-eat meals to the 1 in 8 Americans who struggle with hunger and food insecurity.

Dedicated drivers are sent to each store to collect food that is ready for donation, providing nutritious meals for those in need,

and minimizing food waste.

In 2019, the Starbucks FoodShare program expanded to Canada, partnering with Second Harvest. Over 1,100 Starbucks locations in Canada are now committing to send 100 percent of the food available for donation to those in need. To date, Starbucks has donated more than 25 million nourishing meals to those in need across the U.S. and Canada.

“A lot of people don’t realize that hunger is an issue in our country every day,” said Matt Knott, president of Feeding America. “One in six children in our school classrooms may not have enough to eat. It’s a hidden issue for many.”

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BY RAYE MOCIOIU

GOING GREEN(HOUSE): The Canadian Beverage Company Promoting Healthy Living Through Bottled Greens Co-owners Emma Knight, Anthony Green, and Hana James

G

reenhouse is a Canadian organic beverage company that’s making it easier to get your daily dose of healthy greens.

In the midst of living a busy life, drinking a big bottle of fruits and vegetables is an easy and efficient way to soak up nutritious, plantbased energy. Greenhouse aims to make it easier to access sustainable, highquality plant-based nutrition.

Founded in 2014 by co-owners Emma Knight, Anthony Green, and Hana James, Greenhouse quickly gained a following of juice-lovers 42

that were also looking for an efficient and sustainable way to get in their greens!

Greenhouse offers a wide variety of plant-based food and drinks, all made with love in Canada. Their range includes cold-pressed juices, plant milks, lemonades, kombuchas, and more, all packaged in sustainable glass bottles, ensuring healthy products of the highest quality.

Cold-pressed juice is made by using hydraulic pressure to extract liquid from plants, without denaturing enzymes or damaging nutrients with

heat or oxidation. Using this method, Greenhouse can squeeze out every healthy drop from its organic ingredients, keeping nutritious properties intact.

Now, Greenhouse operates a Safe Quality Foods (SQF)-, organic-, kosher-, and HAACPcertified production facility, with multiple store locations in Toronto and juices distributed throughout hundreds of grocery stores nationwide.

They’ve received numerous brand awards, including DesignThinker of the Year in 2019, and Strategy Brand of the Year in 2018.

A Commitment

to Green As part of their support for sustainable, non-toxic growing practices, Greenhouse juices are made from organic produce, meaning they use plants that are grown without the use of chemicals, pesticides, or herbicides.

Much of the produce used in Greenhouse juices are purchased directly from local, organic farms. They also prioritize “seconds,” which are the misshapen fruits and vegetables that often end up in landfills. During Canada’s growing season, Greenhouse sends the fibrous byproducts of their fruit and vegetable juices back to local farms, where it is used as compost to help new crops grow.

It’s a well-known fact that much of the ocean is polluted with humanmade garbage. Beneath the surface of the North Pacific Ocean, just between California and Hawaii, is enough garbage to cover the surface of Quebec.

This is one of the reasons why Greenhouse chooses to bottle their delicious drinks in sustainable glass bottles over plastic ones. Aside from being recyclable, glass bottles also last far longer than plastic and can be reused over and over without absorbing colors and odors the way plastic bottles do.

Studies have also shown that chemicals used in plastic bottles (even the safest ones) can break down and filter into whatever liquid is being carried - especially when the bottle is exposed to heat or sunlight. When producing drinks filled with healthy greens, as Greenhouse does, it just makes sense to package them in the healthiest way possible.

The Future of Green

Now, Greenhouse is looking into partnering with other planetfriendly businesses to upcycle their organic fibres and pulp byproduct.

They currently work with plant-based brand Heal Doggy, which makes sustainable, allergen-free dog treats. Just recently, Greenhouse partnered with Canadian wellness company Outcast Foods, to upcycle pulp byproduct from Greenhouse’s juice processing operation into dried fruit and vegetable powders. These powders can be used to create sustainable new products, saving the pulp that would otherwise end up in landfills. Ultimately, this partnership will eliminate millions of pounds of surplus food byproducts and create valuable materials for innovative projects.

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Plant-Based Recipes to Fuel Your Summer Grapefruit Kombucha Float “This tangy, sparkly, nostalgic treat tastes like a creamsicle and takes all of two minutes to make. Add a shot of vodka or gin to turn it into a cocktail. Makes 2 floats.”

INGREDIENTS: 2 scoops vanilla ice cream of choice 1 bottle Grapefruit Kombucha Fresh herbs for garnish Vodka or gin, to make it boozy (optional)

STEPS: 1. Scoop ice cream into tall glasses.

2. Top with kombucha (and optional shot).

3. Garnish, and float away on a cloud of joy.

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©ELENA MARI AND NATHAN LEGIEHN FOR GREENHOUSE

Roasted Beet Salad with Herb and Garlic Cheese (V, GF) “One of the wonderful things about this salad is that it can be served warm, at room temperature, or even cold out of the fridge. So it works equally well as a last-minute, healthy supper and as a makeahead lunch. You can use any cheese that tickles your fancy, but we are quite jazzed about this local, organic, plant-based option from Toronto alt dairy company Culcherd, which is now available in our Plant Pantry. It has so much flavour that you don’t need to add much else to make every bite of this simple salad flavourful and exciting.

Serve with a glass of Blue Lemonade.”

INGREDIENTS: Serves 1-2 2 beets, halved ¼ wheel Plant-Based Herb and Garlic Cheese, cubed Drizzle of olive oil Juice from a quarter of a lemon Salt and pepper to taste Fresh dill

STEPS: Preheat your oven to 425 F. Place your halved beets in a rimmed baking dish with a quarter cup of water. Wrap aluminum foil tightly over top of the baking vessel to seal it (this will simultaneously roast and steam the beet. Roast until soft—around 25 minutes.

Remove from the oven and set aside to cool Slice the beets into bite-sized wedges, and assemble cheese overtop.

Drizzle with olive oil and lemon juice and season with salt and pepper.

Garnish with fresh dill and serve.

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The Spirit of Community: How

Dixon’s Distilled Spirits is Making a

DIFFERENCE The on-going coronavirus pandemic has sent normalcy into a whirlwind, with usually-accessible hygiene products like hand sanitizer in short supply as the virus continues to spike the demand. As a result, some Canadian distilleries, like Guelph-based Dixon’s Distilled Spirits, have started producing hand sanitizers alongside their regular alcoholic drinks.

Founded in 2013 by husband-and-wife team, JD and Vicky Dixon, with the help of Kevin (Chevy) Patterson, Dixon’s Distilled Spirits was the first craft distillery in Guelph, Ontario, locally famed for their high-quality spirits and sustainable distilling process.

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©RICK CHARD

BY RAYE MOCIOIU

©RICK CHARD

Despite the potential for high profits, Dixon’s Distilled Spirits has decided to donate hand sanitizers and disinfectants made at the facility to front-line healthcare workers.

©RICK CHARD

KEEPING SPIRITS HIGH:

Co-owner Vicky Dixon has worked parttime as a lab technician at Guelph General Hospital for 20 years. “I see the demand. I realize that if front-line workers don’t have it, the general public is probably screwed,” she told Reuters in March.

“We had the resources to adapt our business to incorporate the production of sanitizer and felt pulled to do what we can, with what we have, to help in a time of need.”

Now, Dixon’s is distributing across Guelph and surrounding areas, even as far as Toronto. They’ve made about 50,000 liters of sanitizer, and have donated 20,000 liters to local doctors’ offices, first responders, fire departments, police departments, and hospitals.

They also acknowledge how important community is, especially during times like these. The process of producing hand sanitizer in-house is not an easy one, and Dixon’s praises the community members in Guelph who have donated their time, resources, and support.

GRAIN TO BOTTLE, AND BACK TO FARM: Dixon’s prides themselves on their remarkable grain-to-bottle-back-to-farm process. It starts with spirits fermented from locally-grown Ontario corn, which gets distilled 18 times (that’s 6x the industry average!). It then gets carbon filtered for 30 hours, to remove the harsh tones, while leaving some of the corn’s sweetness behind, and mixed with Guelph’s famously pure water. The result is crystal clear, smooth-as-silk spirits that go into all of Dixon’s premium gin, vodka, and whiskey. The remaining grains, once fermented and distilled, make for clean feed for pigs and cows. Dixon’s also donates their spent grains back to local farmers, making a sustainable, full-circle process. It’s a win-win for spirit-lovers and local farmers!

Producing hand sanitizer for the public was a lengthy process, with plenty of ups and downs. Dixon’s told us that finding the resources needed to bottle the sanitizer was often difficult, as a variety of bottles, caps, and jugs were needed. Amid coronavirus fears, they had to keep their team small to ensure everyone’s safety - which meant that scheduling production would often be difficult as well. Between the tireless efforts of the Dixon’s team and the support of the community, Dixon’s local sanitizer has been hugely successful and helpful in maintaining the safety of frontline workers and community members alike.

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THE SPIRITS OF SUMMER

DIXON’S WICKED ROOT BEER

BLUEBERRY GIN FIZZY LEMONADE:

ADD TO GLASS:

1.

Cubed ice 1 ½ oz. Dixon’s Wicked Licorice Gin 3. Top with your favorite root beer 4. Quick stir until wicked smooth 5. Serve in a highball glass 1.

2.

ADD TO GLASS: Lots of ice 2. 1 ½ oz. Blueberry Gin 3. 1 wedge of fresh lemon squeezed 4. 1 slice of lemon 5. Soda water 6. Fresh blueberries as a garnish Mix it up by swapping soda water for sparkling lemonade, tonic water, iced tea, or Sprite!

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CITRUS GIN ELDERFLOWER TONIC

SILVERCREEK VODKA: CRYSTAL-CLEAR AND SUPER SMOOTH.

ADD TO GLASS: 1 ½ oz. Citrus Gin 2. Elderflower Tonic

ADD TO GLASS:

1.

1.

1 ½ oz Silvercreek Vodka

1.

Mix it with cranberry, lemonade, and a splash of soda water for a refreshing summer soda.

Mix it up by swapping Elderflower Tonic for lemonade or citrus soda water!

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BY RAYE MOCIOIU

COBS Bread

©POLINA RYTOVA

The International Community Bakery

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Being a community bakery is about more than just making delicious, fresh baked goods - it’s about showing up and giving back. No one understands that better than the international-but-still-local bakery, COBS Bread.

Founded in 1980 by Roger and Lesley Gillespie, COBS Bread is part of Bakers Delight, an Australian bakery franchise. Since its inception, COBS has grown exponentially, with over 700 bakeries internationally, including 125 bakeries in Canada.

COBS knows that real change starts from within - that’s why they work hard to hold themselves accountable to their customers and employees, by always working to find better solutions and innovating opportunities to improve. COBS makes a true effort to ensure their business practices are sustainable, ethically sourced, and environmentally friendly.

The flour used to bake the famed COBS bread is grown on farms in Southern Alberta and milled by P&H Milling in Lethbridge. The blueberries come from local Canadian farms, and the feta and aged white cheddar cheeses are made from 100% Canadian milk.

This year, as part of their effort to implement ways to reduce their carbon footprint on the environment and create positive change, COBS plans to introduce reusable bread bags to their stores, to encourage customers to use their own clean bags, or purchase one from the bakery. They have stated that their goal is to provide only recyclable packaging in all COBS bakeries by 2025. Currently, the environmentally-friendly materials used in COBS bakeries include 100% recycled fiber kraft boxes and compostable wax paper.

COBS is also working to increase energy efficiency in its storefronts and equipment by constantly researching equipment that is more environmentally-friendly. They are currently working on converting all lighting in every COBS Bread Bakery into LED lighting. They plan to use LED in all new bakeries as they open and renovate, aiming for 100% of COBS bakeries to be fully converted by 2025.

The COBS Community COBS proudly shares their hand-crafted, freshly baked bread, and delicious treats all over the world, from artisanal loaves to traditional sandwiches. However, it doesn’t end there - the COBS experience goes beyond delightful baked goods.

At the end of each day, all leftover product is donated to local charities. Dedicated volunteers visit COBS bakeries to pick up unsold bread and baked goods at the end of each workday, and distribute the donations through charitable food programs. In 2019, COBS Bread bakeries donated a total retail value of over $40 million in bread and baked goods through their End of Day Giving program.

One such charitable organization is the Kerr Street Mission, in Oakville, Ontario. As part of their Community Meals program, volunteers from the Kerr Street Mission help with the nightly delivery of COBS end-of-day bread, which serves over 25,000 meals every year.

“COBS Lakeshore has been a community supporter of Kerr Street Mission for many years. COBS Lakeshore donates $325,000 in baked goods and support to KSM each year… the bread provides families with healthy, fresh bread daily and also supports our meal programs.”

– Kerr Street Mission COBS Bread also hosts national fundraisers each year for community partners, like Big Brothers Big Sisters and Breakfast Club of Canada.

Every June since 2016, COBS Bread in Stamford, CT, has raised money for Swim Across America, a non-profit dedicated to raising awareness for cancer research, prevention, and treatment. As part of their commitment to the community, COBS is always looking for new opportunities to give back to charitable organizations. Since 2003, COBS has donated over $250 million of fresh-baked goods to charitable organizations across Canada and the United States.

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Raspberry Ricotta Stuffed French Toast

DIRECTIONS Divide the ricotta cheese between each slice of bread and spread evenly. Place raspberries on one slice of bread.

Close the sandwich with the other slice of bread. Place beaten egg and milk in a shallow bowl or plate with high sides. Dip the entire sandwich in the egg milk mixture and let it soak for about a minute. Flip the sandwich over to coat the other side with egg.

SERVES: 1 Ingredients • • • • • •

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2 slices of COBS Bread Country Grain Loaf 120g Ricotta Cheese 1/2 pint raspberries, plus extra to serve 1 egg lightly beaten 2 Tbsp milk 1 Tbsp vegetable oil icing sugar, to serve Maple syrup, to serve

Heat the oil in a large pan over medium low heat. Cook the sandwiches slowly on one side for about five minutes until egg is golden brown and set. Turn and cook the other side.

Remove French toast sandwich from the pan and place on a serving plate. Cut into half, drizzle with maple syrup, dust with powdered sugar, and add fresh raspberries if desired.

Optional: Try this recipe with our Cinnamon Loaf for an extra elevated breakfast!

Gourmet Bbq Burger Ingredients TIME: 30 - 45 MINUTES SERVES: 4

BEEF PATTIES

DIRECTIONS GOURMET BBQ BURGER INSTRUCTIONS 1.

• • • • • • • •

2lb ground beef, medium fat 2 Tbsp Worcestershire sauce 2 Tbsp soy sauce 3 Tbsp fresh breadcrumbs 1/4 cup flat leaf parsley, chopped 1 onion, finely diced 1 egg, beaten Salt and pepper

HARISSA MAYO • • • • •

¼ cup mayonnaise ¼ cup sour cream 4 tsp harissa paste Juice of ½ lemon Salt and pepper

PICKLED VEGETABLES • • • • • • • • • •

2 wide-mouth mason jars ½ cup rice vinegar 1 tbsp sugar 1 tbsp salt 2 cucumbers, thinly sliced 2 cups cabbage, shredded thinly 2 sprigs dill, chopped 2 sprigs thyme, chopped 4 garlic, smashed Red pepper flakes

Assemble the beef patties, harissa mayo and pickled vegetables ahead of time.

2.

Pre-heat the BBQ to 375°F.

3.

Place the patties on the grill over indirect heat, close the lid and grill for 15 minutes or until desired colour.

4.

Toast the Gourmet Hamburger Buns for minutes or until slightly browned on the edges.

5.

Assemble your burger with the harissa mayo, pickled vegetables, butter lettuce and sliced watercress – enjoy!

BEEF PATTIES INSTRUCTIONS

PICKLED VEGETABLE INSTRUCTIONS 1.

Wash 2 mason jars and rings in warm soapy water and rinse well.

2.

Set aside to dry completely. Wash, dry and cut the vegetables into desired shapes and sizes.

3.

Pack the cucumbers into 1 jar adding 2 garlic, dill and red pepper flakes and cabbage adding 2 garlic and thyme into the other jar and make sure there is ½ inch of space at the top in each jar.

4.

Pack them as tightly as you can without squishing the vegetables.

5.

Combine the vinegar, water, salt and sugar in a small saucepan over high heat.

6.

Bring to a boil stirring until the sugar and salt are dissolved. Pour the brine over the vegetables in each jar filling until within ½ inch from the top.

7.

Gently tap the jars against the counter a few times removing all air bubbles.

Place the lid over the jars and screw the rings until tight.

8.

Let jars cool to room temperature and then place in refrigerator for at least 48 hours. The pickled vegetables can be stored up to 2 months in the refrigerator.

Combine all ingredients and mix together (hand mixing is best!). Shape into 4 even balls and flatten slightly.

HARISSA MAYO INSTRUCTIONS Combine all ingredients and refrigerate until needed.

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© Rowan Chestnut

HIGH-FIBER DIET LINKED TO LOWER BREAST CANCER RISK

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© Emilio Ereza

Soluble fiber has been associated with lower risks of breast cancer, researchers have reported.

Eating a diet high in fiber has been associated with a lower risk of breast cancer, according to a new study.

Previous results investigating the potential relationship between fiber intake and breast cancer have generated inconsistent results.

Researchers from the Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health analyzed all relevant prospective studies published up until July 2019, and they concluded high fiber consumption was linked to a reduced incidence of breast cancer.

The team analyzed data from 20 observational studies and discovered that individuals with the highest consumption of fiber had an eight percent lower risk of breast cancer. Also, soluble fiber, found in oat bran, barley, nuts, seeds, beans, lentils, peas, and some fruits and vegetables, was associated with the lower risks of breast cancer. Higher total fiber intake was linked with a lower risk in both premenopausal and postmenopausal women.

“Our study contributes to the evidence that lifestyle factors, such as modifiable dietary practices, may affect breast cancer risk,” said Dr.

Maryam Farvid. “Our findings provide research evidence supporting the American Cancer Society dietary guidelines, emphasizing the importance of a diet rich in fiber, including fruits, vegetables, and whole grains.”

The authors note that the findings do not demonstrate that dietary fiber directly reduces breast cancer risk, and a randomized clinical trial is required to test a cause and effect relationship.

British guidelines recommend adults should eat 30 grams of fiber a day. Good sources of fiber include barley, oatmeal, beans, nuts, and fruits such as apples, berries, citrus fruits, and pears.

The findings were published in CANCER, a peer-reviewed journal of the American Cancer Society.

—Reuters •••

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BY FRANCESCO GUARASCIO AND CLEMENT ROSSIGNOL

ALL PHOTOS ©REUTERS/YVES HERMAN

Locked down shoppers turn to vegetables, shun ready meals

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Shoppers cut spending on readymade meals and bought more fruit and vegetables, turning to healthier eating during coronavirus lockdowns, preliminary results of a research project showed.

People forced to stay home also tried new recipes, and threw away less food, found the survey of nearly 11,000 shoppers in 11 countries.

"Amid lockdowns, people are eating healthier, are cooking their own food and are consuming more fruit and vegetables," said Charlotte De Backer, who coordinated the study at the University of Antwerp in Belgium.

As they deserted offices and cooked at home, shoppers cut purchases of microwaveable food in all the countries surveyed - Australia, Belgium, Chile, Uganda, the Netherlands, France, Austria, Greece, Canada, Brazil, and Ireland.

"We switched from snacks, restaurant food, online delivery orders to home cooking," Firene, an Azerbaijan national who lives in Brussels, said, describing changes in his household during the pandemic. "I lost four kilos, so I'm proud of that."

In nearly half of the countries surveyed, shoppers bought fewer salty or sweet snacks, although overall sales remained stable.

Consumption of salty, fat, and sweet products usually goes up when people are under stress. During the pandemic, this heightened craving has been fulfilled in many countries with home-baked delicacies, said De Backer, who chairs FOOMS, a research group on food and media at the University of Antwerp.

Chile, for instance, saw a large drop in sales of snacks, but also the biggest rise in purchases of flour and yeast.

HEALTH CONCERNS De Backer said the preliminary findings showed clear trends that were unlikely to be modified by new data, as the pandemic has strengthened people's attention to food and healthier options.

Muriel Bernard, the founder of Belgium-based organic food online retailer eFarmz, had to nearly double her workforce to 25 to meet the demand for her fresh products. "After a few days of confinement, we have seen a big increase in sales," she said.

In all surveyed countries, people bought more fresh, canned, or frozen fruit and vegetables throughout lockdowns, a change De Backer said could be explained by heightened health concerns.

Careful planning to cut time spent in supermarkets could also have contributed, De Backer said. "If you make a shopping list, you plan your meals ahead, and you are less likely to add unhealthy food."

Respondents to the survey, who were mostly women, also tried new recipes during the pandemic and used more left-overs, reducing food waste.

De Backer said this attitude is linked to fears of food shortages and is likely to recede once consumers see no more empty shelves in supermarkets, which have suffered some supply disruptions during the pandemic.

But some of the eating habits are likely to outlast the epidemic, De Backer added, because in many countries lockdowns lasted longer than the six weeks it takes to form a new habit.

Also, as people grow more confident in the kitchen, trying new recipes, one of the key barriers to home cooking, may be torn down, De Backer said.

Consumption of meat, fish, and alcoholic drinks remained stable throughout the pandemic.

Some farmers lost out. The closure of restaurants cut demand for products like mushrooms, lettuce, and micro-vegetables, according to Freshfel Europe, an association representing the European sector for fresh produce whose annual turnover is estimated at 200 billion euros ($216 billion).

The survey, based on voluntary online responses from April 17 to May 7, of which 6,700 were from Belgium, will be extended to consumers in about 25 countries with final results due by the end of June.

And some shoppers bucked the trend. "We eat a little worse. We go on food binges with more sweets," said Salvatore, who is looking for a job in the catering industry in Belgium.

—Reuters

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Marriott Hotels and Resorts Marriott has committed to providing $10 million worth of hotel stays for healthcare workers on the frontline of the COVID-19 battle in the United States. The program, called Rooms for Responders, will provide free rooms for healthcare workers in cities like New York, New Orleans, Detroit, Los Angeles, Las Vegas, Chicago, and more,

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where the spread of the virus is at its worst.

As well, Marriott has launched the Community Caregiver Program, in collaboration with its hotel owners and franchisee partners. This initiative will provide significantly discounted rates for first responders and healthcare workers who need

rooms close to the hospitals where they are needed. This program is available at nearly 2,500 hotels in the United States, Canada, Latin American, and the Caribbean.

“With both initiatives, our goal is simple – we want to support the frontline heroes who are selflessly supporting us.”

A Program of the Ontario SPCA and Humane Society

The Animal North Network Partners united in supporting healthy communities for animals and people in the North.

animalnorthnetwork.ca

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