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Should you take more vitamin C if you feel a cold starting? - Toronto

With cold and flu season around the corner, it’s that time of year when many of us start stocking the cupboards with vitamin C supplements.

But if you wait until you feel the tell-tale runny nose and tickly throat before you start taking vitamin C, is that really going to ward off a cold?

“To prevent colds and flus, you should enhance your body’s capacity to deal with it,” says Dino Halikas, a certified naturopath and educator at Garden of Life Canada.

In partnership with Garden of Life Canad
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Planning a vacation close to home? This group wants to help you find authentic experiences - National

If you ask people what they’ve missed most during the pandemic, travel would likely be one of the top items on their list. The urge to vacation has been noticeable, with research by the International Air Transport Association showing that air travel increased over the summer. Varying quarantine requirements, however, mean international trips still pose a hassle.

But taking a holiday doesn’t have to mean going abroad. The Destination Indigenous website aims to point Canadian travellers to one-of
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Women less likely to be aware of deposit insurance when banking: CDIC report - National

In a recent study by the Canada Deposit Insurance Corporation (CDIC), researchers found that overall, women are more than 20 per cent less likely than their male counterparts to be aware of federal deposit protection.

The federal Crown corporation says that in Canada, women are at a 50 per cent awareness rate, compared to 71 per cent of men. That awareness drops in adults aged 18 to 34, with women at a 40 per cent awareness rate compared to men, who surveyed at a 62 per cent awareness rate.

“W
Global News •

The insurer cut off his benefits. Then his lawyer reviewed his medical assessment

A successful case for long-term disability benefits requires strong medical evidence of a disability. But medical evidence is not always the critical factor in determining the final result of a case.

A recent matter involving a client of the disability law practice at Samfiru Tumarkin LLP illustrates how an insurance company tried to avoid paying out a long-term disability claim. The incident resulted in a successful negotiation with the insurance company and full compensation for the client.
Global News •

5 things to know if you’re filing taxes at the last minute - National

This tax year is one of the more complicated ones on the books. Nearly a quarter of Canadians received CERB benefits between March and October 2020, which could complicate their tax situations, and many more experienced working from home, job losses and other life changes due to the COVID-19 pandemic.

If you’ve put off doing your 2020 tax return, it isn’t too late. Canadians still have time to file ahead of the April 30 deadline.

In partnership with Canadian tax-preparation software Tax, we lo
Global News •

The important items that could be missing from your estate plan - National

If there’s one thing the pandemic has taught us, it’s that things can change in an instant. Many Canadians have thought about their health more than ever before. It’s also been a time of reflection on how to plan for the future, leading to everything from career changes and new real estate goals to unexpected retirement plans.

With so many changes to think about, it might be easy to forget to factor in how these events may impact one’s estate plan. “It’s critically important that everyone’s goi
Global News •

Is it safe to drive on all-season tires all year? Why experts say it’s better to swap

It’s getting to be that time of year again. You’ve started digging out your warmer knit sweaters and trying to find last season’s mittens and toques. But what about your car? Is it time to also start thinking about changing over tires?

If you’re feeling secure in thinking you don’t need to consider a tire change, given that your vehicle comes with all-season tires, you may need to think again. All-season tires can be unsafe when driven in Canadian winters, according to Geoff Wiebe, regional sal
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Pets have a higher risk of CO poisoning than people. Here are symptoms to watch for - National

Carbon monoxide (CO) has the potential to exist in up to 88 per cent of all homes, the Ontario Association of Fire Chiefs warns, and more than 65 per cent of CO-related injuries and deaths occur within homes, according to the Technical Standards and Safety Authority.

In fact, more than 300 carbon monoxide (CO)-related deaths and more than 200 hospitalizations are recorded each year in Canada, according to research from the B.C. Injury Research and Prevention Unit and the University of the Frase
Global News •

Rising house values mean estate planning is key to avoiding family drama, expert says

In February 2022, the benchmark price of all residential properties in Metro Vancouver soared 20.7 per cent year-over-year to $1,313,400, according to the Real Estate Board of Greater Vancouver.

Detached properties in Vancouver were also up to a benchmark of $2,044,800 (up 25 per cent year-over-year), while apartments climbed to $807,900 (a 15.9 per cent year-over-year increase).

The board’s report cited an overall lack of inventory as the main reason for the jarring increase in value. For tho
Global News •

5 employment law red flags to watch for at a job — and what to do if you see them

My team at Samfiru Tumarkin LLP gets thousands of questions about employment law every week, whether through our Employment Law Show on radio and TV, our weekly livestreams or direct calls.

Many of these queries concern terminations that have already happened, but may need a closer look to ensure that proper severance packages have been provided.

Other questions, though, revolve around situations that have developed in someone’s workplace that serve as an indication that an employer is up to s
Global News •

This year’s ParticipACTION challenge is kicking off. Here’s why you should get involved - National

Warmer weather is upon us, inviting people across Canada to play outside for longer and make the most of this favourite time of year. And what better way to do that than by participating in a nationwide physical activity initiative that comes with some perks and prizes.

This year marks the third edition of the ParticipACTION Community Better Challenge, a program that encourages Canadians to be more physically active both individually and with their communities. In partnership with ParticipACTIO
Global News •

App helps Canadians access mental health support from their smartphones

Since the onset of COVID-19, Canadians have faced more mental health challenges than ever. In a Statistics Canada study, the number of Canadians reporting excellent or very good mental health dropped from 68 to 55 per cent between 2019 and 2020, while those who were experiencing poor mental health before the pandemic have been even further affected.

Not knowing where to start looking for the right mental health support and ongoing stigmas have created barriers to obtaining professional help. Th
Global News •

‘They get total traceability’: Fishery aims to change how Canadians buy seafood - National

Lots of Canadians are familiar with community-supported agriculture, often in the form of boxes of produce fresh from the farm. Now it’s possible to get seafood in a similar way.

Skipper Otto is a Vancouver-based community-supported fishery (CSF) that ensures members across the country are receiving fish right out of Canadian waters.

The concept was growing pre-pandemic, and business has tripled since March 2020, according to Sonia Strobel, co-founder and CEO of Skipper Otto. “People’s habits
Global News •

‘It doesn’t just impact the individual’: How a Vancouver family faced prostate cancer

By the end of 2021, more than 30,270 British Columbians — or more than 82 people per day — are expected to have been diagnosed with cancer this year, according to estimates from BC Cancer.

Many Canadians don’t think a diagnosis can happen to them. But as some people know all too well, cancer doesn’t discriminate.

Rod Senft found himself in that situation in 2007. Life was going pretty well, he recalls, and he wasn’t thinking about his mortality. Until he learned, at age 61, that he had prostat
Global News •

‘It has to speak to your heart’: Donors share why charity is a priority for them - National

Joan Kelley Walker’s interest in charitable work came about with a new romance. “My first exposure to World Vision was through my husband,” she says. “Back when we first started dating, he was fostering kids, and I was curious as to what all that was about.”

Today Walker, a Toronto-based model, actress and journalist, has been involved with the organization for more than 20 years. “I’ve been to many countries with them to see the work first-hand and when I come back, I can tell people that the
Global News •

Campaign turns landmarks blue this November to shed light on what it’s like to live with eczema - National

For years, Mike Lanigan couldn’t sleep through the night. He was incessantly itchy and suffered poor mental health because of his appearance. As a child he was diagnosed with atopic dermatitis, a common but chronic condition also known as eczema. Despite trying everything from diet changes to creams, he didn’t find anything that helped.

He also never “grew out of it,” as many doctors and specialists had assured his parents he could.

“What makes it such a complex condition is there’s a lot of p
Global News •

Staying protected from online criminals: Why we all need to step up our ‘cyber-hygiene’ - National

With cyber criminals evolving into sophisticated new territory and Canadians exposing themselves more than ever with online shopping and delivery services, social media, phones and computers, anyone is vulnerable to having their personal information compromised.

In fact, nearly half of Canadians—47 per cent—are worried about becoming a victim of cybercrime in the coming year, according to a recent poll from RBC, despite 71 per cent saying they feel knowledgeable when it comes to personal cybers
Global News •

City calls on Toronto residents, businesses to help reduce emissions to net zero by 2040

The goal may be an ambitious one: the City of Toronto’s target is to reduce community-wide greenhouse gas emissions to net zero by 2040.

The adoption of this target follows Toronto City Council’s vote in 2019 to declare a climate emergency. In late 2021, Council adopted an accelerated climate action strategy, known as the TransformTO Net Zero strategy, with an overall target of net zero by 2040 and an interim target of 65 per cent emissions reduction by 2030.

City officials say there are ways
Global News •

Paid enough? What to know about severance packages in mass layoffs

Major layoffs are continuing to take place in the tech sector. Shopify recently announced that it is cutting 10 per cent of its staff, approximately 1,000 employees, after misjudging the growth of e-commerce.

Shopify said it will provide those being let go with 16 weeks of severance pay, plus one week for every year an employee has spent working for the company. In some cases, however, workers could be owed more than this initial offer.

READ MORE: 5 vital facts about severance pay you might no
Global News •

Hamilton charity to hold fundraiser and butterfly release for World Suicide Prevention Day - Hamilton

Suicide, thoughts of suicide and suicide-related behaviours impact people of all ages and backgrounds in Canada. Yet suicide is preventable through awareness, training and education, and healthy help-seeking.

That’s where the Suicide Prevention Community Council of Hamilton (SPCCH) is making a difference. The non-profit organization consists of volunteers and agency representatives who have worked for the past 42 years providing help and hope for those touched by the issue of suicide.

In partn
Global News •

What an eye doctor wishes Canadians knew about cataract surgery - National

Three weeks. For three weeks after having cataract surgery on both of his eyes, 66-year-old Eric Sunstrum of Ottawa was still reaching for his glasses at his bedside.

“But then,” he says, “I realized I didn’t need them. I could see crystal clear when driving or reading. I’ve worn glasses for 50 years, so that surgery was a life-changer.”

More than 2.5 million Canadians live with cataracts, according to the Canadian Journal of Ophthalmology. Over 500,000 people have cataract procedures performe
Global News •

This year’s ParticipACTION challenge is kicking off. Here’s why you should get involved - National

Warmer weather is upon us, inviting people across Canada to play outside for longer and make the most of this favourite time of year. And what better way to do that than by participating in a nationwide physical activity initiative that comes with some perks and prizes.

This year marks the third edition of the ParticipACTION Community Better Challenge, a program that encourages Canadians to be more physically active both individually and with their communities. In partnership with ParticipACTIO
Global News •

How to deal with a real estate market in flux? Mortgage broker explains - National

After two years of ultra-low, pandemic-induced core lending rates, inflation in Canada is now the highest it has been in 30 years. To accommodate, the Bank of Canada is hiking those rates back up.

For mortgage seekers and current borrowers, payments could be on the rise. Add in record-high home prices and a constantly changing real estate market, and it can be a tough field to navigate.

There’s help for potential homeowners or those with existing mortgages coming up for renewal, though. Accord
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Gorgeous gorges and a museum of play: What Canadians can find in Rochester this summer - Toronto

When Canadians think of New York State, they likely think of the hubbub of New York City, big-box shopping in Buffalo and the touristy Niagara Falls.

Yet across the border, just a few hours from Toronto and 90 minutes from the Falls, lies Rochester, a lesser-known gem with attractions to entertain families, couples, friends and solo travellers of all ages.

In partnership with Visit Rochester, we look at what Canadian visitors can do in and around the city this summer.

READ MORE: Travel writer

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