Health & Wellness
 

Get the Flu Shot see www.gettheflushot.ca You and Your Family Each year, thousands of Ontarians fall ill with influenza. Some get severely ill, missing days of work, school or vacation. Some even die. But much of the illness caused by the flu can be prevented with the flu shot. So, protect yourself and the ones you love. Get the flu shot today. Visit your doctor or find a flu shot clinic near you.

Housing Costs Pushing Out `Key Workers,' Report Warns TheStar.com - News - http://www.thestar.com/printArticle/ November 07, 2007 Donovan Vincent http://www.toronto.ca/affordablehousing/news-framework.htm#6 A draft report calling for strategies to house everyone from the homeless to those barely able to buy a Toronto house is to be released today. Called Housing Opportunities Toronto: An Affordable Housing Framework, and endorsed by Mayor David Miller, the report takes a broad new approach: Besides aiming to put a roof over the poorest of the poor, its goal is to make it easier for "key workers" – those employed in modestly paid fields such as the service industry, hospitals, retail and clerical work – to find housing they can actually afford. The city's white-hot real estate market is making it difficult for many working people to find affordable rent, or make payments to buy their first homes. Yet it's vital to the local economy that they find housing here, the report says. "These people are being pushed out of the city by the rising costs of real estate,'' a source familiar with the report said yesterday. If the city is to succeed, it needs to help 200,000 families and individuals who either have no home, live in substandard conditions, can't afford their rent, can't afford to buy a home or are in danger of losing the home they own, it says. The report is intended to spark discussion and form the starting point for a comprehensive 10-year housing "blueprint'' that would be ready next year. It suggests that up to $469 million needs to be invested each year in Toronto housing, and calls for a series of measures to address the need, including: Ongoing support to help the homeless find housing New long-term rent subsidies Selling certain Toronto Community Housing properties to build new affordable housing and repair existing stock. The plan would help people with incomes ranging to up to $61,000 for a family of five. "Those folks are struggling paying average market rent in Toronto. You tend to think of a housing crisis as only those folks on social assistance,'' said the source. "If the population of the city is just under a million households, you're basically looking at 20 per cent of residents where there isn't a match between what the market provides them for housing and what they need,'' the source added. With the average resale home price in the city now above $390,000, many people simply can't afford to buy.

Majority Of Canadians Looking For Snacks That Pack A Nutritional Punch A new Ipsos Reid survey suggests many Canadians feel they aren't getting enough nutrition on a daily basis and may be turning to snacks with multi-nutritional benefits to fill the gap Healthy eating is top-of-mind with many Canadians, especially since the release of the new Canada's Food Guide earlier this year. Canada's Food Guide suggests that snacks can keep people energized and provide important nutrients if chosen wisely. However, a recent Ipsos Reid survey reveals that while Canadians say they are looking to supplement their diets with more wholesome foods, they don't feel they're able to everyday. Canadians appear to want it all from their snacks: nutrition, great-taste and convenience. Nature Valley has recently introduced FibreSource, a multi-nutritional addition to its line of granola bars. This tasty snack contains 20 per cent of the daily value of fibre, 300 mg of Omega-3, whole grains, as well as being low in saturated fat with zero trans fat; all in a bar that has less than 130 calories per serving for consumers seeking more from their snacks.

Introducing The Must-Have Gift For Dogs This Holiday Season Launch of the world's first scientifically-based dog companion DVD collection will revolutionize the pet industry. TORONTO, Nov. 7 /CNW/ - This holiday season dog owners finally have a defence against "the look" - that dejected stare dogs give just before the front door closes. Introducing Your Dog Companion, the first scientifically-based DVD collection designed to allow dogs to watch and listen from their own perspective. This new collection, produced by The Pet Network via Pet Entertainment Products Inc. (PEPI), and created by world-renowned dog behaviourist Dr. Stanley Coren, was designed to entertain and amuse dogs while their owners carry on with their daily lives. Additionally, owners will appreciate that the DVDs can actually relieve and even eliminate the problematic behaviours that are associated with leaving dogs at home alone. "Much like people, dogs want to be entertained in their daily lives," says Dr. Coren, "and Your Dog Companion does just that, keeping dogs engaged and stimulated when their owners aren't available to play." Each of the four titles in the DVD series is filled with exciting visuals that resonate with dogs, and the soundtracks are designed to help reduce hypersensitivity to noises such as thunder, doorbells and knocking, sirens, and fireworks. Owners will notice after just a couple of days that their dog will react more calmly to their everyday surroundings. The four-disc Your Dog Companion series makes for the perfect gift or stocking stuffer this Holiday season, and can be purchased separately or as a collection, exclusively online at www.thedogdvd.com. Individual DVDs start at $19.95, or shoppers can take advantage of the special introductory offer and get the full collection for only $39.95. A portion of every sale is donated to the Ontario SPCA.

Canadians Say Reducing Energy Use A Big Priority, But Many Could Be Missing Out On Huge Savings This Winter Average homeowner claims annual heating/cooling bill of nearly $5,000 http://www.newswire.ca TORONTO, Nov. 7 /CNW/ - A recent poll of more than 1,200 Canadian homeowners conducted by Ipsos Reid on behalf of Icynene has found nearly all (97%) agree with the idea that reducing energy use at home is important to save money, yet many could still be missing out on opportunities to lower their energy bills this winter. The poll found Canadian homeowners claim to have paid an average of $394 per month for heating and cooling over the last year, while one in ten Canadians spent an average of more than $1,000 per month for heating and cooling. Leaking opportunities and energy Many homeowners, who haven't already taken the step within the last two years, are planning to seal air leaks (52%), turn down the heat (31%) or add insulation (20%) for winter. According to Jon Eakes, Canada's longest standing TV home improvement expert, a large number of homeowners might still be missing an opportunity to realize significant energy cost savings this winter, especially by sealing air leaks. The poll found nearly one in five (19%) homeowners haven't sealed air leaks within the last two years and have no intention of doing so for winter. "Reducing air leakage, which can cause up to 40% of a home's energy loss, can produce noticeable savings for an average homeowner who spends nearly $5,000 per year on heating and cooling," says Eakes. Eakes suggests there's an opportunity for homeowners to look specifically at insulating to reduce air leaks, considering half of those polled have not added insulation within the past two years and don't plan to for winter. Even homeowners, who have recently purchased or who plan to purchase insulation, say they're more likely to consider a product's R-value rating (60%) when making their choice, than its ability to seal air leaks (21%). "An R-value rating provides a measure for how well an insulation material resists heat from moving through the material itself," says Eakes. "However, it tells you nothing about how well the insulation will prevent air leaks and resulting energy loss through walls and ceilings and around windows and doors." Canadians could be missing out on huge energy savings Jon Eakes is one of television's longest standing home improvement experts. His practical consumer-friendly tips and real-life solutions have connected with consumers through programs such as House Hot Line (Life Network), Just Ask Jon Eakes (HGTV and the Do-It-Yourself Network) and on The Weather Network.