Canadian Government launches the Canadian Employers for Caregivers Plan

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TORONTO, Ontario - June 23, 2014 /Canada NewsWire/ - The Honourable Alice Wong, Minister of State (Seniors), announced the launch of the Canadian Employers for Caregivers Plan (CECP) at the first meeting of its newly-established Employer Panel for Caregivers.

In Economic Action Plan 2014, the Government of Canada committed to work with employers on finding cost-effective workplace practices to help informal caregivers participate as fully as possible in the labour market. The Canadian Employers for Caregivers Plan includes the establishment of the Employer Panel for Caregivers, the development of business cases analyzing the cost-benefit of existing various workplace supports and the exploration of mechanisms for sustained employer engagement in this area. 

"There are currently 6.1 million employed Canadians who are providing care to a family member or friend. Our government will work with employers through the Canadian Employers for Caregivers Plan to help identify cost-effective solutions to support employed caregivers, helping them achieve a better balance of work and caring responsibilities."  - The Honourable Alice Wong, Minister of State (Seniors)

Many employed Canadians also provide informal care to their aging parent, friend, or spouse. Yet, the demands of caregiving can create many challenges in the workplace such as conflicting working hours and flexibility required for emergencies.

"Our government's top priorities are creating jobs, economic growth and long-term prosperity. That's why this initiative builds on existing federal measures that include a range of tax credits for caregivers, the Employment Insurance Compassionate Care Benefit and other federal benefits."  - The Honourable Alice Wong, Minister of State (Seniors)

The Employer Panel for Caregivers is comprised of industry leaders from small, medium and large-sized businesses, as well as expert advisors on caregiving. They will consult with employers across Canada to help identify successful and promising workplace practices that support caregivers who are balancing their work responsibilities with caring for a loved one ensuring a stronger workforce and more prosperous economy.

Quick Facts

• The Panel is chaired by Kim Forgues (Home Depot Canada), and includes Panel members:
• Lucie Chagnon (Median Solutions)
• Rachelle Gagnon (Assumption Life Insurance)
• Sharene Herdman (Johnson & Johnson Inc. Canada)
• Caterina Sanders (Habanero Consulting Group)
• Stephen Shea (Ernst and Young LLP)
• Expert advisors to the Panel are:
• Vickie Cammack (Founder, Tyze Personal Networks)
• Janice Keefe (Nova Scotia Centre on Aging, Mount Saint Vincent University).
• Caregiving refers to unpaid care provided to a family member or friend due to chronic or long-term illness, disability or aging and does not include short-term care for minor illnesses such as colds or flu, or everyday caring for children, etc.

"Having cared for a loved one, I know first-hand how overwhelming it can be to balance the needs of work and family. As Chair of the Employer Panel for Caregivers, I'm looking forward to reporting back to the Government on workplace supports that could help reduce the stress on informal caregivers."  - Kim Forgues, Chair of Employer Panel for Caregivers

Associated Links
Canadian Employers for Caregivers Plan
Information for Caregivers
Budget

Women in Canada Increasingly Influence Billions of Dollars in Charitable Giving Each Year

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TD report finds that women have a unique way of donating

TORONTO, Ontario - June 20, 2014 /Canada NewsWire/ - Women are playing an increasingly important role in charitable giving and philanthropy in Canada, donating more often than men and with more money to give than ever before. This change inCanada's charitable sector is the focus of a new Investor Economics research report commissioned by TD Bank Group (TD), which draws attention to the attitudes and methods of women philanthropists and how this impacts their approach to charitable giving. The report, Time, Treasure and Talent: Canadian Women and Philanthropy, is the first in-depth review of the presence and influence of female philanthropists in Canada and is part of TD's ongoing initiatives to understand the overall financial needs, habits and aspirations of Canadian women.

"Women in Canada donated about $3 billion to charities in 2012, which is about 50 per cent more than they did just 10 years earlier," said Sandy Cimoroni, Chief Operating Officer, TD Wealth and Executive Sponsor of TD's Women Investor Strategy. "As women's influence over wealth in Canada continues to increase, many of them are adding a charitable giving strategy to their overall wealth management plan and are looking for objective advice on how to develop a strategy and measure the success of their efforts."

The report puts a spotlight on the growing effect women have on the charitable sector, thanks to their influence over wealth and impact as active supporters and volunteers, while also shedding light on their unique approach to giving. According to the research, female philanthropists in Canada are looking to establish long-term, two-way relationships with the charities to which they provide significant financial support. Women donors also make a considerable effort to assess the nature, make-up and financial condition of charities before a gift or pledge is made.

And while all of the women who participated in the research were financially successful, the report revealed that for most women, their primary definition of philanthropy is framed in terms of effort, commitment and a basic desire to help others by sacrificing personal resources and time, rather than in dollars and cents alone. "Our research found that the most important motivators for women philanthropists were a desire to help those in need and a belief in the work undertaken by specific charities," said Cimoroni. "Still, that doesn't mean that women don't want to know where their money is going." According to Cimoroni many women want to establish a close relationship with their chosen charities so they become comfortable with how efficiently a charity is managed and administered, and to understand and monitor the impact of their donations. They're also looking for guidance from financial advisors on the right questions to ask and the right information to obtain, to supplement what is available in annual reports of charitable organizations.

Some of the other key findings in the Time, Treasure and Talent: Canadian Women and Philanthropy report include:

• Canadian women control approximately one-third of household wealth in Canada, or approximately $3.2 trillion in total assets;
• In the past ten years, the increase in the number of female donors in Canada has greatly exceeded that of male donors;
• Between 300,000 and 350,000 women in Canada - or four percent of Canadian female tax filers - have access to both the financial resources and the desire needed to make a major gift to a charity;
• 68 percent of Canadian women support no more than three causes each year;
• Women who are active donors are often motivated by their upbringing, their faith, a life-altering event such as the death of a husband or another family member, or coming face-to-face with a specific need that could be met through the act of giving;
• Female philanthropists tend to give more often to local charities that support health and social causes; and,
• Most women believe that growth in the number of female philanthropists in Canada will be driven by existing donors setting an example to their daughters, friends and colleagues, and other prominent women in their communities.

While the majority of affluent female donors are self-reliant and undertake considerable investigation into the management of a charity before making a funding commitment, the research revealed there is a need for more guidance in fully understanding financial reports and identifying the most appropriate metrics to measure the progress of a charity. 

"This is where philanthropic advisory services can play a role," says Jo-Anne Ryan, Vice President, Philanthropic Advisory Services, TD Wealth. "This type of advice is becoming more and more relevant as clients seek to incorporate philanthropy into their financial and estate plans. Whether it's advice for how philanthropy fits into their overall financial strategy or support establishing a structure to leave a legacy, often as donor advised funds within the Private Giving Foundation, we're seeing a growing need for these types of services."

As well, the report touches on opportunities for charities in Canada to raise their profile with women in their communities and produce outreach materials that meet the needs of female donors. It also recommends that charities take steps to include more women on their Boards of Directors, which still tend to be male dominated despite the rising influence of women philanthropists.

"For charities, there is a tremendous opportunity to engage women donors by encouraging them as supporters, rather than setting their sights more narrowly on building a base of financial donors," adds Ryan. "Women increasingly have the ability to make significant contributions to their communities - and charities in particular stand to benefit from this."

About the Report & Investor Economics

Time, Treasure and Talent: Canadian Women and Philanthropy is a research paper on Canadian women and philanthropy, commissioned by TD as part of an initiative to better understand the financial needs, habits and aspirations of Canadian women.  The research was conducted by Investor Economics, a Canadian research and consulting firm that specializes in the fact-based measurement and analysis of Canada's retail financial services and wealth management industry. Established in 1992, Investor Economics has become a thought leader in financial services by identifying trends and creating benchmarks for the industry to follow. Investor Economics provides frequent commentary on all aspects of the financial services industry including services provided to donors and institutions active in the not-for-profit sector. The report is based on qualitative and quantitative research collected from March through May, 2014, including focus groups held in cities across Canada from March 31 to April 15, 2014. Copies of the research are available by request.

About TD Wealth

TD Wealth represents the products and services of TD Waterhouse Canada Inc., TD Waterhouse Private Investment Counsel Inc., TD Wealth Private Banking (offered by The Toronto-Dominion Bank) and TD Wealth Private Trust (offered by The Canada Trust Company).

About TD Bank Group

The Toronto-Dominion Bank and its subsidiaries are collectively known as TD Bank Group ("TD" or the "Bank"). TD is the sixth largest bank in North America by branches and serves over 22 million customers in three key businesses operating in a number of locations in financial centres around the globe: Canadian Retail, including TD Canada Trust, TD Auto Finance Canada, TD Wealth (Canada), TD Direct Investing, and TD Insurance; U.S. Retail, including TD Bank, America's Most Convenient Bank, TD Auto Finance U.S., TD Wealth (U.S.) and an investment in TD Ameritrade; and Wholesale Banking, including TD Securities. TD also ranks among the world's leading online financial services firms, with approximately 8 million active online and mobile customers. TD had CDN$896 billion in assets on April 30, 2014. The Toronto-Dominion Bank trades under the symbol "TD" on the Toronto and New York Stock Exchanges.

MaRS and Saint Elizabeth accelerate ventures impacting health and well-being

Saint Elizabeth to form new partnerships with graduates of Ontario's first social venture accelerator

TORONTO, Ontario June 18, 2014 /Canada NewsWire/ - Impact8, Ontario's first accelerator for social purpose businesses, is announcing partnerships with Saint Elizabeth following the graduation of its second cohort.

Impact8, an intensive, eight-week program delivered by the MaRS Centre for Impact Investing, targets high-impact ventures with blended value propositions: social enterprises, social purpose businesses and co-operatives with the potential to turn investment into positive social or environmental impact and financial return.

The Spring 2014 cohort focused on innovations that empower individuals to be in control of their health and well-being, enabling them to live and age well at home and in the community.

"We are delighted to work with our partners to support these entrepreneurs, who are implementing market-driven solutions to tackle tough social challenges," said Tim Jackson, Senior Advisor, Capital Solutions at MaRS Discovery District. Impact8 leverages the expertise of MaRS and partners including BDC, RBC, TMX, Miller Thomson, KPMG and Hirefly to deliver workshops and one-to-one advisory services to the cohort.

Moving forward, Saint Elizabeth, a national health care provider and social innovator, will be working with three of the Impact8 ventures. The organization will partner with QoC Health, a health technology company that deploys person-driven care solutions; they will also work with Komodo Open Labs and MyVoice to support their solutions for reaching individuals with mobility and speech conditions. 

"Success for us is about enabling solutions that impact individuals and families in meaningful ways," said Shirlee Sharkey, President and CEO of Saint Elizabeth. "It's been a tremendous opportunity and privilege for us to learn from all the Impact8 ventures, and apply their ideas and wisdom to our own focus on solutions that make a true difference in people's lives. We are so excited by the possibilities."

The second Impact8 cohort included the following ventures:

• Eve Medical Inc. improves health outcomes for women by enabling self-collection of high quality samples to screen for cervical cancer and STIs.
• Good Robot Monitoring Inc. uses networked smart home technologies to support seniors who wish to live independently in their homes.
• Komodo OpenLab Inc. develops inclusive technologies to enable access to mainstream mobile devices for individuals with mobility impairments.
• The Living Kitchen provides a meal delivery service for people living with cancer, nutritionally designed by a collective of holistic nutritionists and personal chefs.
• My Voice Inc. makes technologies that empower people with speech disabilities to communicate and lead richer, more independent lives.
• QoC Health facilitates shifting care to the community by deploying patient-centred solutions. These solutions reduce costs while improving outcomes and user experiences.
• Shift Health Paradigms Ltd. empowers patients by transforming complex medical surveys into simple tools that build better patient-provider relationships.
• Squag Inc. is a safe online platform for kids with autism, ADHD, anxiety and other neurodevelopmental conditions to explore their interests and cultivate strengths through art, photography, video and journaling.

MaRS also announced that Eve Medical has been selected by the cohort as the recipient of a $15,000 prize. The Impact8 ventures opened the TSX this morning to mark the successful completion of the cohort.

About MaRS
MaRS Discovery District (@MaRSDD) is a mission-driven innovation centre located in Toronto. MaRS works with partners to catalyze, accelerate and amplify innovation. MaRS supports entrepreneurs building Canada's next generation of growth companies. MaRS' ventures have created over 4,000 jobs and, in the last three years alone, they have raised over $750 million in capital and earned over $375 million in revenue.

About MaRS Centre for Impact InvestingThe MaRS Centre for Impact Investing is a national hub designed to increase the awareness and effectiveness of social finance to catalyze new capital, talent and initiatives dedicated to tackling social and environmental problems inCanada. The Centre builds on the foundational work of MaRS and Social Innovation Generation (SiG), including the landmark report by the Canadian Task Force on Social Finance.

About Saint Elizabeth
Saint Elizabeth is a national health care provider, pioneer and social innovator with a century of experience and a powerful vision for the future. As an award-winning and diversified not-for-profit, Saint Elizabeth delivers more than six million health care visits annually and employs 7,000 people. Throughout its history, Saint Elizabeth has been firmly fixed on impacting people, their health, their communities, and the health system.

Balancing work and caregiving obligations: new CHRC guide walks you through it

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OTTAWA, Ontario June 11, 2014 /Canada NewsWire/ - The Canadian Human Rights Commission (CHRC) has released its Guide to Balancing Work and Caregiving Obligations: Collaborative Approaches for a Supportive and Well-performing Workplace.

The rights of family caregivers are an issue of increasing importance, as highlighted in the 2013 Speech from the Throne and more recently in two landmark court rulings. The CHRC's online guide offers employers and employees practical tips on what to do when an employee's family caregiving and work responsibilities come into conflict.

"More and more Canadian employees are trying to balance work with care for children, aging parents or other loved ones. This guide should help employees and employers approach this issue productively, ensuring that caregivers can continue to participate fully and meaningfully in the workforce." - David Langtry, Acting Chief Commission of the Canadian Human Rights Commission

The guide was developed in consultation with key CHRC stakeholder groups and was launched at a national human rights conference in Ottawa this week. The CASHRA 2014 conference is hosted by the CHRC together with the Canadian Association of Statutory Human Rights Agencies (CASHRA), and with generous support from the Mental Health Commission of Canada and the Canadian Commission for UNESCO.

Quick Facts

...At some point in their lives, nearly half (46%) of Canadians aged 15 and older have provided care to a family member or friend with a long-term health condition, a disability or aging needs. This is in addition to the caregiving provided to raise children.

...Approximately one in ten caregivers provide more than 30 hours/week of caregiving.

...Canada's courts recently reaffirmed in Johnstone v. Canada Border Services Agency and Seeley v. Canadian National Railway Company that providing care to a family member is protected under the ground of family status in the Canadian Human Rights Act.

''Family caregivers can play an extremely important role in the recovery journey of those with mental illness, but they can face many challenges when balancing caregiving with workplace obligations. This Guide offers concrete guidance for managers to help employees meet these challenges. I congratulate the CHRC for advancing recommendations from the Mental Health Commission of Canada's family caregiver guidelines, Mental Health Strategy for Canada, and national workplace standard." - Louise Bradley, CEO, Mental Health Commission of Canada

Associated Links

• Guide to Balancing Work and Caregiving Obligations
• CASHRA 2014
• Mental Health Commission of Canada

Stay Connected

Follow us on Twitter @CdnHumanRights and Facebook.

New report highlights potential pitfalls couples face when transferring assets to the next generation

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RBC Wealth Management offers tips to make estate planning process a smooth one

TORONTO, Ontario June 10, 2014 /Canada NewsWire/ - An estimated $1 trillion, or more, is positioned to change hands in Canada over the coming years as baby boomers age and assets begin to transfer to younger generations. The country's high-net-worth population alone held close to $900 billion in investable assets in 2013, according to RBC Wealth Management, and with improving economic conditions that figure is likely to grow. This impending transfer of wealth is putting the onus on baby boomers to ensure that their estate plans are crystal clear about how a lifetime of hard-earned assets are to be managed upon their passing.

"No one likes to think about death, let alone build an actual plan around that fateful day," says Tony Maiorino, vice-president and head, RBC Wealth Management Services at RBC Wealth Management. "But one of the most important financial decisions you can make during your lifetime is to take the time to develop a well-thought-out estate plan to ensure assets are seamlessly transferred according to your wishes."

A new report by RBC Wealth Management - Until Death Do Us Part … Then Everything Can Change - explores a key aspect of estate planning for married couples, in particular, and that's the critical role a surviving spouse plays in managing and maintaining family wealth for future generations.

"We find that when we talk to couples about estate planning, most of them naturally focus on their kids," Maiorino says. "Children are an important part of the decision-making process, no doubt, but a comprehensive estate plan needs to consider an important step before the kids, and that's the surviving spouse."

Until Death Do Us Part … Then Everything Can Change provides a comprehensive, plain-language look at estate planning essentials for married couples in Canada, including the various ways to leave assets to a spouse, while allowing the estate to seamlessly flow through to the next generation.

The report also offers practical tips for estate planning first-timers, including:

Take a Family Inventory - A good first step in developing an estate plan. Compile a list of information pertaining to your family's banking and investment accounts, advisors, assets, pension information and insurance policies. Don't forget about your digital legacy - e-mail accounts and passwords, social media profiles, domain names, etc. Share and discuss this information with your spouse.

Introduce Your Spouse to Your Advisors - If your wealth, legal, tax and other advisors only have a relationship with you, consider an informal meet-and-greet with your spouse, and possibly other family members. This will allow your surviving spouse and other family members to continue working with advisors who know your history.

Create/Update Your Financial Plan - A current financial plan is critical and helps ensure that life goals will be met. Involving the family in the financial planning process can mean that they are more likely to understand each other's needs, goals and concerns. A financial plan is not a one-time exercise, however - as circumstances change, it is important to review and adjust your financial plan as necessary.

Choose the Right Executor - An executor is the individual or institution appointed to administer the estate. A common practice is for each spouse to consider the other as their respective executor. Alternatives include family members, including children, professionals such as a family lawyer, or a trust company.

Build a Business Succession Plan - Business owners have additional planning requirements and should consider having a succession plan in place that addresses the needs of the business and the surviving spouse if they are involved in the business.

Communicate, Communicate, Communicate - If your spouse will be the first heir of your estate, and potentially your executor, it is important that you have open and regular discussions about your intentions, goals and plans.

"It's important that your spouse is familiar and comfortable with the tasks they will face," Maiorino says. "And, just as important, ensure you communicate your plans to your children."

Maiorino adds that many couples also revert to the common estate planning approach of simply leaving everything to the surviving spouse, without taking other family members into consideration, which isn't always the best course of action either.

"The suggestion isn't that the surviving spouse won't do their best in honouring your legacy," Maiorino explains. "Rather, the surviving spouse may simply not be experienced enough in managing finances, they may become ill, they may develop solvency or creditor issues, or they may re-marry, while other family members might contest the estate in court believing they were entitled to certain assets."

Maiorino says clients today are looking for an increased level of support around how to achieve their life goals, including how and where they will retire, how will they manage their business, how they can ensure their children are taken care of, having the right amount of insurance, and how they can contribute to philanthropic causes.

"Having these discussions during your lifetime may help alleviate any misunderstanding and problems that arise in settling your estate," says Maiorino, whose team of more than 200 RBC Wealth Management Services specialists has conducted close to 8,000 wealth planning discussions with clients of RBC Wealth Management Canada's investment professionals over the past year. "Most importantly, it will provide peace of mind that your goals and objectives will be met."

To read Until Death Do Us Part … Then Everything Can Change, click here.

As always, you should obtain professional advice from a lawyer or accountant, as applicable, to ensure your own circumstances have been properly considered.

Canadian Study Identifies New Approach To Improving Care For Millions of People Living with Type 2 Diabetes

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MONTREAL, Quebec June 4, 2014 /Canada NewsWire Telbec/ - A Canadian study has identified a new strategy for improving the care of patients living with Type 2 Diabetes (T2D) by empowering them to manage their own insulin therapy.

The START study (Self-Titration with Apidra® to Reach Target)¹, the first research of its kind, found that T2D patients adjusting their own insulin doses can control the disease and achieve blood sugar targets just as safely and effectively as patients whose treatment is being conventionally managed by their physicians.

"This is a significant finding because it offers a new approach to addressing a long-standing gap in the care of T2D patients," says Dr. Stewart Harris, lead investigator of the study and professor of family medicine at Western University in London, Ontario.

"Many family doctors feel they lack the skills to manage what can be complex and challenging issues. In the past 10 years, family doctors have become more comfortable initiating insulin therapy, but continue to be reluctant to move to the next step and so they delay intensifying insulin," Dr. Harris explains.

The START study, a Canadian 'real world' study that involved more than 300 patients and 47 primary care physician sites nationally, found that patients managing their own treatment were less afraid and more aggressive about increasing insulin than the physician-managed group.

Based on the results, the study identifies a strategy to overcome the T2D care gap. It centers on engaging patients in making decisions about their own treatment and gives family physicians greater confidence to move to the next step by adding mealtime insulin when appropriate.

This study provides a simple and easy protocol for family physicians and their patients to manage insulin therapy and thus achieve blood sugar goals. "Our approach demystifies insulin intensification, and it can be adopted anywhere. It has the potential to change physician practices and improve care for millions of people," notes Dr. Harris.

More than 300 million people worldwide², and more than 2 million in Canada³, have Type 2 Diabetes.

The START strategy involves:

• T2D patients for whom long-acting (basal) insulin is not enough.
• These patients add rapid -acting insulin at breakfast time and are empowered to make their own dosage adjustments until they reach their goal blood sugar levels. In the START study, this took an average of about two weeks.
• This approach maximizes convenience as most patients routinely test their blood sugar at breakfast time, and the additional dose requires only one extra self-monitoring test later the same morning.

The START study was initiated by investigators at Western University, McGill University, McMaster University, and the Winnipeg Regional Health Authority. Sanofi Canada, which has a long history of innovation and discovery in the field of diabetes, sponsored the study.

"As one of Canada's leaders in diabetes education and management, we're pleased to have supported this study which will enhance care for so many people around the world," said Mélanie Groleau, Medical Advisor with Sanofi Canada. "Millions with Type 2 Diabetes stand to benefit from the work of this dedicated team of Canadian investigators."

About Sanofi

Sanofi, a global healthcare leader, discovers, develops and distributes therapeutic solutions focused on patients' needs. Sanofi has core strengths in the field of healthcare with seven growth platforms: diabetes solutions, human vaccines, innovative drugs, consumer healthcare, emerging markets, animal health and the new Genzyme. Sanofi is listed in Paris (EURONEXT: SAN) and in New York (NYSE: SNY).

Sanofi entities in Canada include Sanofi Canada (pharmaceuticals), Sanofi Pasteur (vaccines), Sanofi Consumer Health (cosmeceuticals, over-the-counter products and specialty care), Genzyme (rare diseases) and Merial (animal health). Together they employ close to 1,700 people across the country. In 2013 Sanofi companies invested$125 million in R&D in Canada, creating jobs, business and opportunity throughout the country.

New Canadian Men's Health Foundation launches national campaign - Don't Change Much

"Make small, healthy lifestyle changes that will have a big impact on your life. Don't Change Much."

OTTAWA, Ontario June 3, 2014 /Canada NewsWire/ - Olympic medalist Simon Whitfield and Hockey legend Trevor Linden are helping the new Canadian Men's Health Foundation (CMHF) let men know they don't need to change much to feel better and live healthier.

CMHF officially launched today on Parliament Hill with senior federal and provincial government officials, national health organizations, sports celebrities and leaders from corporate Canada in attendance.

"Guys have a lot on their plates with careers and families, and not a lot of time." says four-time Olympian Simon Whitfield, "We want to give them information they can understand and use. Small changes that will help them step up and stay with us."

CMHF unveiled its national awareness campaign encouraging men to change - but not too much. The campaign inspires men to make small, healthy lifestyle changes that will have a big impact on their lives. The campaign's website - www.DontChangeMuch.ca - is populated with simple, healthy lifestyle tips and messages from CMHF's National Champions: Trevor Linden, Simon Whitfield, Alain Vigneault, Shea Emry, Adam Kreek, Ned Bell and Jim Hughson.

"Every year too many Canadian men go missing from our daily lives not because they die, but because they have become very unhealthy or sick," says Trevor Linden, President, Hockey Operations, Vancouver Canucks. "We want men to know they can change that by making small changes now."

CMHF is pilot testing You Check, the world's first health awareness tool built specifically for men. Sponsored in part by Sun Life Financial, You Check takes 10 minutes, is free, anonymous and 100% confidential. You Check is unique because it assesses seven different diseases to provide a customized report and lifestyle advice to help men establish healthy habits.

CMHF also unveiled plans for the first ever Canadian Men's Health Week (CMHW). From June 9^th to 15^th—Father's Day—CMHF will partner with the Canadian Medical Association, the Dietitians of Canada, and the Canadian Mental Health Association to raise awareness of men's health. Simon Whitfield will launch the Stand Up Paddle for Men's Health, powered by Duracell, that same week.

Dr. Larry Goldenberg, CMHF Founder and Chairman of the Board, has been working towards this day for five years. 

"Canada and its families would be a better place if more men lived more active and healthier lives," says Goldenberg. "CMHF will create a new social movement that will serve to motivate men with health information and lifestyle programs in a way they can truly hear, absorb and act on. In time, men's attention to health will become second nature, like seatbelts."

The Don't Change Much campaign focuses on five core areas to improve men's health: Nutrition, Activity, Sleep, Mental Health and Smoking & Drinking.

Joining Dr. Goldenberg for the official launch was the founder of the Men's Health Caucus MP Dr. Colin Carrie and representatives from Sun Life Financial - a National Sponsor of CMHF.

"We can't do this on our own," says CMHF President Wayne Hartrick. "We need to trigger the involvement of organizations across the country—from community centres to health care organizations and NGOs—to start this conversation with men."

www.DontChangeMuch.ca

Canadian Men's Health Foundation (CMHF) is a national, non-profit organization founded by Order of Canadarecipient Dr. Larry Goldenberg.  The mission of CMHF is to inspire Canadian men to live healthier lives. 70 % of men's health problems can be prevented by adopting healthy lifestyles. CMHF will create a new social awareness and motivate men and their families using health information and lifestyle programs in ways they can hear, absorb, and act on.  Funding for CMHF has been provided by private donors, grants from the British Columbia Provincial Government, and Sun Life Financial.