Paleoethics is a new protein supplement that is compatible with the Paleo diet. With seven different options, including vegan options and a hot drink option, there is something for everyone. They will be launching their first line within the next few months. Since this is the only product of its kind out there, expect this to fly off the shelves! For a full company profile, watch out for our upcoming issue of IHR.
Integra Sales & Marketing Inc. Hired in Ontario
Integra Sales & Marketing has expanded their team with a talented Ontario native.
Integra Marketing has been servicing the food industry by creating and executing marketing plans since 1990.
Bobbi Krien managing new Nature’s Fare store
Bobbi Krien has been working as a store manager with Nature’s Fare since 1998.
Having been with the Penticton store for a number of years, Krien is now managing the White Rock location.
Capsugel welcomes new Business Development Manager
Capsugel, a manufacturer of drug capsules, has taken on Virginie Dionne-Bourassa as their new Business Development Manager.
Prior to her work with Capsugel, Dionne-Bourassa most recently worked as the Marketing Director of Canadian Operations at Atrium Innovations, an innovative leader in the development, manufacturing, and commercialization of science-based nutritional health products. Before this, she was the Marketing Director for Heel Canada, a pharmaceutical company specializing in the production and development of medicines made from natural ingredients.
Quebec appeals for retailers to add French text to signs
On Tuesday, the Quebec government propositioned an alteration to the province’s sign rules that would require businesses to add French to their outdoor signage.
“Thanks to this change, every person, whether driving on a highway, on a sidewalk, in an industrial area or in a commercial parking lot, will know they are in Quebec, because they will see French on the signs,” said Hélène David, acting minister for the protection and promotion of the French Language, who made this week’s announcement.
Under the proposed guidelines, businesses with a non-French trademark name would be required to add a French word, description or slogan to their outdoor signage. However, this modification would not apply to trademarks that are names, such as Tim Hortons.
According to the province, these changes would also require that the added French words be well lit at night. Moreover, the French words would not have to be bigger than the non-French trademark name. The overarching goal of this motion is to have a “sufficient French presence” at every business in Quebec.
For the next 45 days, the government will be accepting public feedback on this proposition. Subsequently, any necessary adjustments to the sign rules will be made and cabinet will make its decision.
This proposal follows 2014’s court battle between major retailers like Walmart, Costco and Best Buy and The Office Québécois de la Langue Française (OQLF), who wanted these companies to change their signs to generic French names or add French slogans. However, the judge ruled in favour of the retailers, ultimately deciding that businesses that have Non-French trademark names on their storefront signs do not violate the Charter of the French Language. This decision was later upheld by the Quebec Court of Appeal.
Advancing Nutrition Sciences
From May 5 to May 7, the Canadian Nutrition Society –Société canadienne de nutrition (CNS-SCN) hosted its annual conference at the Hilton Lac Leamy in Gatineau (Hull), Quebec. This forum brought together nutrition experts, healthcare professionals, opinion leaders, industry representatives, government officials and student trainees from across Canada, the US and Europe to engage in the presentation of scientific research, including regulatory/policy, clinical and community nutrition research.
“Our Food for Health initiative provides a unique opportunity to bring together key stakeholders spanning the entire food-health continuum, including producers, processors, manufacturers, government, academia and medical professionals,” says Dr. David Ma, CNS VP-Research /president-elect and Associate Professor and director, Health for Life Initiative, University of Guelph. “The ultimate goal is to support greater collaboration and partnerships in order to have the best possible influence on healthy diet and lifestyles for all people.”
“Proper food and nutrition is often just as important as other treatments to a patient’s recovery. In fact, we consider ‘food as medicine,’” says Dr. Sarah Robbins, gastroenterologist and CNS President. “It is critically important for healthcare professionals to understand the importance of screening, monitoring and prescribing proper nutrition as part of a patient’s treatment.”
Saint Elizabeth to invest $4 million in hospice care
Saint Elizabeth Community Enterprise is set to invest $4 million over two years to strengthen end-of-life care. This funding will expand access to residential hospice care and community-based services for patients and their families, as well as support both spiritual care and a selection of education initiatives.
As the Canadian population ages, the national need for hospice palliative care is steadily growing. The vast majority of Canadians—96 per cent—support end-of-life care, yet many continue to die without access to high quality, coordinated options.
“Across the country, there is a groundswell of passionate, committed people who are propelling this issue forward,” says Shirlee Sharkey, CEO of Saint Elizabeth. “By leveraging the unique strengths of our organization and working together with communities, we can escalate impact.”
Saint Elizabeth is currently partnering with a number of local hospices to support innovative models and increase patient access. The not-for-profit social enterprise is also collaborating with Hospice Palliative Care Ontario to increase the availability of online training for thousands of community-based volunteers.
“Death is something that inevitably touches us all,” says Nancy Lefebre, senior vice-president and the executive lead for Saint Elizabeth’s end of life strategy. “There is a huge opportunity to make the end of life journey more meaningful and accessible.”
Ontario research team awarded $2 million from CIHR to study metabolic syndromes
Dr. Philip Awadalla, senior investigator at the Ontario Institute for Cancer Research and principal investigator for the Ontario Health Study, has been awarded $2 million by the Canadian Institutes of Health Research (CIHR). This grant will fund his study on the role of both genetics and the environment on the development of metabolic syndrome.
“There are currently no research projects at this scale looking at the genetic and environmental risk factors of metabolic syndrome or related aging-associated traits, which affects close to one quarter of Canada’s adult population,” says Dr. Awadalla. In order to conduct their research, he and his team will use data and samples from the Ontario Health Study, which is part of the larger Canadian Partnership for Tomorrow Project.
“This funding will allow us to tap into the vast data holdings of the Ontario Health Study to investigate the interplay among varying environmental exposures, aging, and epigenetic factors across Ontario and Canada,” he continues. “Ultimately, we hope to find new ways to better manage these conditions and other linked diseases such as cancer.”
Dr. Awadalla was one of eight recipients of funding from the CIHR. Each of the beneficiaries and their respective teams are working to better understand how genes and environmental factors contribute to the development of chronic conditions. The results could ultimately guide the development of new medical treatments and disease prevention strategies.
Clorox acquired Renew Life
Effective Monday, May 2, 2016, Renew Life has been acquired by The Clorox Company.
Clorox is known by the numerous household brands that you use in your homes on a daily basis, including Glad compostable bags and Brita water pitchers.
Renew Life is a great fit for Clorox. Renew Life helps Clorox reach its goals of developing strong brands in the wellness space—a key element of the Clorox 2020 Strategy.
Canadian pharmacists largest conference in Canada
Over 700 pharmacists and pharmacy stakeholders will be in Calgary, Alberta from June 24-27. The Canadian Pharmacists Conference 2016, jointly hosted by the Canadian Pharmacists Association (CPhA) and the Alberta Pharmacists’ Association (RxA), will have a theme of “The Future is Here”, which highlights Canada’s position as a world leader in advanced pharmacy practice.
“It is fitting that this year’s Canadian Pharmacists Conference is being held in Alberta where prescriptive authority first started and where pharmacists have the broadest scope of practice of anywhere in Canada,” said Jimy Mathews, President, Alberta Pharmacists’ Association. “Alberta pharmacists are leading the charge – the future is here and pharmacists are having a greater impact on the health of Canadians than ever before.”
Visit www.pharmacists.ca/conference for more details about the Canadian Pharmacists Conference, including information on the preliminary program, accommodation and sponsorship and tradeshow opportunities. Register for the Canadian Pharmacists Conference 2016 before May 20, 2016 for great early bird rates.
