Archive - Media Notices 2008

December

NOTICE TO THE MEDIA - December 11, 2008

The Honourable Leona Aglukkaq, Minister of Health, with the Honourable Eva Aariak, Premier of Nunavut, will be making an announcement to promote physical activity and healthy eating among children and youth in Nunavut.

Media are invited to attend.

Date
Friday, December 12, 2008

Time
3:00 p.m.

Location
Lobby, Nunavut Legislature
926 Federal Road, Iqaluit, Nunavut

 

Media Inquiries

Josée Bellemare
Office of Leona Aglukkaq
Minister of Health
613-957-0200

Public Health Agency of Canada:
Philippe Brideau
613-948-7970  (Ottawa)

Government of Nunavut:
Karen Kabloona
867-975-5059

NOTE TO EDITORS - December 8, 2008

International public health experts are in Winnipeg this week to discuss the latest advances in diagnosing viral hemorrhagic fevers which have the potential to threaten global public health and to get a hands-on look at mobile laboratory equipment deployed by the Public Health Agency of Canada (PHAC) during an outbreak response. 

These workshops, hosted by PHAC’s National Microbiology Laboratory, are part of Canada’s commitment to the Global Health Security Initiative (GHSI), an informal, international partnership to strengthen public health preparedness and response globally.  The workshops provide a forum for partnering countries to share knowledge and expertise on potential threats to global public health and outbreak response capabilities.  GHSI-member countries include Canada, the European Commission, France, Germany, Italy, Japan, Mexico, the United Kingdom and the United States.

Canada is an active and leading member of the Global Health Security Action Group, an international body of health officials from GHSI-member countries that deals with health and security issues.  PHAC co-chairs the Risk Management and Communications Working Group, the Laboratory Network and the Communicators Network.

The Public Health Agency of Canada was established in 2004 to help Canadians achieve better health and well-being through the prevention of chronic disease and injury, promotion of good health, and protection from infectious diseases and other major health threats. PHAC’s National Microbiology Laboratory is Canada’s leading public health infectious disease laboratory responsible for the identification, control and prevention of infectious diseases. For more information about PHAC, please visit: www.publichealth.gc.ca.

For interview opportunities, media may contact:

Renée Robert
Public Health Agency of Canada Communications
Tel: (204) 784-8094

NOTE TO EDITORS - December 2, 2008

The Public Health Agency of Canada today released a major report on the health of pregnant women, new mothers and their babies.

The Canadian Perinatal Health Report, 2008 Edition details the latest data and trends on 29 topics in this area, including infant mortality, maternal smoking and alcohol use, breastfeeding, premature births, multiple births, and cesarean sections among many others.

A fact sheet detailing the report’s key findings is available.

Visit the Public Health Agency of Canada’s website at www.publichealth.gc.ca/cphr for a copy of the complete report.

Media Inquiries:
Media Relations, Public Health Agency of Canada
613-948-7970 or 613-957-1788

November

NOTE TO EDITORS - November 4, 2008

Scientists at the Public Health Agency of Canada’s National Microbiology Laboratory (NML) have made a significant discovery which will bring researchers one step closer to understanding the triggers which cause the Ebola virus to jump from an infected animal to humans.

This discovery will help scientists develop strategies to prevent the initial spread of the virus from animals to humans, and to help avert outbreaks of Ebola hemorrhagic fever in humans.

The Ebola virus is responsible for causing a highly contagious and often fatal viral hemorrhagic fever in humans. Up to 90% of patients infected with this disease die, and there is no known treatment or vaccine. The Ebola virus is believed to be transmitted to humans through contact with infected animals, and then spread between people by direct contact with blood or bodily fluids of infected persons.

Working alongside researchers from the University of Manitoba and the National Institutes of Health’s Rocky Mountain Laboratories in Montana, Canadian scientists have discovered the Ebola virus will live in an animal host, like a bat, causing a low level infection, until the right conditions occur to replicate and spread to a new animal host, such as a gorilla, monkey or human.

The study “Stimulation of Ebola virus production from persistent infection through activation of the Ras/MAPK Pathway” is published in the Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences of the United States of America and is available on their web site:  www.pnas.org

The Public Health Agency of Canada (PHAC) was established in 2004 to help Canadians achieve better health and well-being through the prevention of chronic disease and injury, promotion of good health, and protection from infectious diseases and other major health threats. PHAC’s National Microbiology Laboratory is Canada’s leading public health infectious disease laboratory responsible for the identification, control and prevention of infectious diseases. For more information about PHAC, please visit: www.publichealth.gc.ca

For an interview, please contact:

Renée Robert
PHAC Communications
Tel: (204) 784-8094

 August

NOTICE TO THE MEDIA- August 7, 2008

The Honourable Tony Clement, Minister of Health, will speak at an event, organized by the Accessibility Advisory Committee and the Rotary Club of Bracebridge, which will provide information about accessibility in Muskoka and about polio.  Minister Clement will speak about federal government policies regarding polio.

Date
Friday, August 8, 2008

Time
2:00 p.m.

Location
Bracebridge Sportsplex
Auditorium
110 Clearbrook Trail
Bracebridge, Ontario

Media Inquiries
Laryssa Waler
Press Secretary
Office of the Honorable Tony Clement
(613) 957-0200

Philippe Brideau
Media Relations Officer
Public Health Agency of Canada
(613) 948-7970

 June

NOTICE TO THE MEDIA - Friday June 6, 2008

Jeff Watson, Member of Parliament for Essex, on behalf of the Honourable Tony Clement, Minister of Health, will speak at the 31st Annual General Meeting of L'Union culturelle des Franco-Ontariennes.

Date:
Friday June 6, 2008

Time:
7:30 p.m.

Location:
Hilton Windsor
277 Riverside Drive West
Windsor, Ontario

Media Inquiries:

Nancy Jahn
Office of MP Jeff Watson
613-818-2221

Philippe Brideau
Public Health Agency of Canada
(613) 948-7970

NOTICE TO THE MEDIA - Tuesday June 3, 2008

On behalf of the Minister of Health, MP Joy Smith will speak at the Canadian Diabetes Association’s National Policy Summit on Serious Complications of Diabetes.

Ms. Smith will be available for a Questions and Answers session following her remarks.

Date:
Tuesday June 3, 2008

Time:
3:15 p.m.

Location:
Marriott Hotel, Cartier I-II
100 Kent Street
Ottawa, Ontario

Media Inquiries:

Jane Tsai
Canadian Diabetes Association
416-408-7091

Public Health Agency of Canada:
Philippe Brideau
613-948-7970

 April

NOTICE TO THE MEDIA - Friday, April 25, 2008

The Parliamentary Secretary to the Minister of Health and Member of Parliament for Charleswood – St. James – Assiniboia, Steven Fletcher, will deliver the keynote address at the International Symposium on Emerging Resistant Infections.

Mr. Fletcher will be available for a photo opportunity and to answer questions from media following his speech.

Date:
Monday, April 28, 2008

Time:
7:30 a.m.

Location:
University of Manitoba
Faculty of Medicine (Bannatyne Campus)
730 William Avenue, Theatre A
Winnipeg, Manitoba

Media Inquiries:

James White
Office of Steven Fletcher, MP
(204) 984-6432

Jana Lerner
Public Health Agency of Canada
(204) 789-5046

 March

NOTICE TO THE MEDIA - Friday, March 7, 2008

Media are invited to attend the 3rd Annual Public Health Agency of Canada (PHAC) Research Forum. The cutting edge research showcased at this event highlights the vital work being undertaken at the PHAC to improve the health of Canadians.

Media will want to attend the following key features of the Research Forum:

• Exhibit of over 100 scientific posters describing the latest research in vaccine development, maternal and youth health, chronic and infectious disease prevention, public health technologies, and much more
• Plenary Sessions on Social Determinants of Health and Health Effects of Climate Change
• Open House with the opportunity to speak directly with Agency scientists about their research

Please see the attached agenda for times of scheduled events.

Date:
Monday, March 17, 2008

Location:

Ottawa Marriott
100 Kent Street
Ottawa, Ontario

Media Inquiries:

Renée Robert
Public Health Agency of Canada
Ph: (204) 789-8094

Philippe Brideau
Public Health Agency of Canada
Phone : (613) 948-4532

  January

NOTICE TO THE MEDIA - Monday, January 21, 2008

Mr. Rick Dykstra, Member of Parliament for St. Catharines, on behalf of the Honourable Tony Clement, Minister of Health, will announce funding from the Government of Canada to support diabetes prevention and control projects in Ontario and Atlantic Canada.

Media are invited to attend.

Date:
Tuesday, January 22, 2008

Location:
Niagara Peninsula Children's Centre
567 Glenridge Avenue
St. Catharines, Ontario

Time: 10:00 a.m.

Media Inquiries:

Jacinthe Perras
Public Health Agency of Canada
(613) 941-8189

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NOTICE TO THE MEDIA - Monday, January 21, 2008

The Honourable Tony Clement, Minister of Health, will launch this year's WinterActive initiative in Huntsville, Ontario.

The Minister will be joined by the President & CEO of ParticipACTION, Ms. Kelly Murumets, and the President of the Métis Nation of Ontario, Mr. Tony Belcourt.

The event will begin with a news conference followed by a demonstration of traditional snowshoeing by Mr. Belcourt. To conclude, the Minister and his guests will participate in a snowshoe relay race with local elementary students. 

WinterActive is a national initiative that encourages Canadians to adopt healthier lifestyles, including participating in physical and sport activities, making healthier food choices and living tobacco-free.

http://www.winteractive.org/en/

Date:
Tuesday, January 22, 2008

Location:
Deerhurst Resort
1235 Deerhurst Drive
Huntsville, Ontario

Time: 10:30 a.m.

Media Inquiries:

Laryssa Waler
Office of the Honourable Tony Clement
Minister of Health
(613) 957-0200

Jacinthe Perras
Public Health Agency of Canada
(613) 941-8189