Education and Health Communique #6
Cecile Miller, Chairperson
February 1, 2010

Greetings from North East Margaree as we begin a new year.

February is Heart & Stroke Month
On January 25, 2010, the Heart and Stroke Foundation presented the 2010 Annual Report on Canadians' Health, which begins, “a ‘perfect storm' of risk factors and demographic changes are converging to create an unprecedented burden on Canada's fragmented system of cardiovascular care, and no Canadian young or old will be left unaffected.”

The report continues, “Between 1994 and 2005, rates of high blood pressure among Canadians young and old skyrocketed by 77%, diabetes by 45% and obesity by 18% - all major risk factors for heart disease.” Who are the people at risk? They are young Canadian adults, the aging population, Canada 's Aboriginal peoples, ethnic populations and women. Provinces are compared according to combined health behaviours rank, smoke-free rank, physical activity rank, healthy weight rank and adequate fruit and vegetable consumption rank. The report ends with a “Call to Action” to the federal and provincial governments and Canadians.

The call to action for all: be more physically active and eat a healthy diet. Be aware of risk factors for heart disease.

Canadian Food Safety
In October, Betty Anne Brown, national first vice president and chairperson of communications participated in food safety consultations held by the Canadian Food Inspection Agency. Her report is available from national office.

Three initiatives have been undertaken since then:

• A revised Canadian Food Inspection Agency Consumer Centre Web site was launched on November 16, 2009. The purpose of the revision was to highlight the message that everyone plays an important role in keeping Canadian food safe.
• Changes have been made to the posting of food recall information. Canadians will be able to search all Class II and Class III food recalls through the main page of the CFIA website or through the new consumer centre.
• Food recall outreach continues to expand. Twitter is now used to quickly and effectively communicate food recalls.

A Note To CWL Bursary Recipients
The national bursary criteria and guidelines #4 states: “Upon proof of acceptance into the designated program, national office will forward funds in the decided amount to the institution administering the program. Please ensure that the proof of acceptance is received before September 30th of the year of acceptance into the program; otherwise, the bursary will lapse.” It is the responsibility of the bursary recipient to ensure that the proof of acceptance has been forwarded to national office before September 30th .

Further information about bursaries can be found in the National Manual of Policy and Procedure.

Feast of Our Lady of Good Counsel
The CWL Day of Peace & Hope Activities Kit is a useful aid in planning activities for the Feast of Our Lady of Good Counsel.

Annual Reports
Annual reports are eagerly anticipated in order to note all that has been accomplished under this standing committee.

May our hearts be open during the upcoming Lenten season to the ways in which we are being called to manifest God's love in us. May we be truly Women of Peace and Hope in all that we say and do.