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WWW.HWSMAG.COM HWS HEALTH, WELLNESS & SAFETY MAGAZINE 1

2 HWS HEALTH, WELLNESS & SAFETY MAGAZINE WWW.HWSMAG.COM

Publisher’s Note 

Well, I don’t know about you but I was so grateful that we recently had 

an amazing stretch of beautiful weather. It came at just the right time 

for me. I totally needed that burst of sunshine and daily dose of crisp fresh 

air. Isn’t it amazing how that type of weather can affect our mood Everyone 

seems happier, kinder and excited to be outside doing the things they love. 

Springtime gives you the ability to rekindle those friendships with your 

friends, family and neighbours and see how much the kids on your street have 

grown. Our communities go through this transformation from ghost town to 

playground with just one flick of the spring switch. Isn’t it great to see 

With the warm weather slowly sneaking around the corner, it’s time for all of 

us to get outside and enjoy all the wonderful things Niagara has to offer—the 

variety of walking/cycling trails, the Welland Canal pathway and the Niagara 

Parkway are just a few of the great options we have here in Niagara. 

Just remember, for those of us who are so excited to get outside and forget we 

are not as limber as we were six months ago, Ginny Paterson and her team 

at St. Catharines Physiotherapy Clinic (last issue’s cover) are there to help us 

stay healthy, doing what we love to do and hopefully free from pain. 

On the cover and centre spread of this issue we are showcasing the St. Catharines 

General Hospital Foundation. This is an amazing organization that has been 

vital to bringing state-of-the-art equipment to Niagarans since 1985. To 

learn more about this organization, please read pages 18 & 19. Or to take 

part in one or more of their events and help with their fundraising efforts, 

visit www.scghfoundation.com. 

Adam Shields 

Co-Publisher 

COMMENTS Please send your comments, editorial suggestions and feedback to: 

HWS Magazine, 13 Secord Dr., Suite 3,St. Catharines, ON L2N 1K9 

Phone: 905-646-9366 Email: adam@businesslinknewspaper.com Website: www.hwsmag.com 



HWS 

Health, Wellness & Safety Magazine 

Locally Owned and Operated 

Publisher 

The Business Link Niagara Ltd. 

13 Secord Dr., Unit #3 

St. Catharines, ON L2N 1K9 

Tel: 905-646-9366 

Fax: 905-646-5486 

info@BusinessLinkNewspaper.com 

www.BusinessLinkNewspaper.com 

Co-Publishers 

Jim Shields, Adam Shields 

Contents 

DOUG GEDDIE 

PROFILE P30 

“Doug is an 

inspiration for all of 

us to keep healthy, 

stay fit and pursue 

our goals.” 

Director of Advertising 

Julie Shields 

Contributing Writers 

B. Fleming, M. Pihura, V. Beyer, K. Patil, 

N. Crawford, G. Screaton Page, B. Bivand, 

K. Stocker, S. Rufl e, N. MacLeod, K. Pummell, 

S. Leslie, M. MacIntosh, J. Christiansen, 

K. Vallier, P. Vicentini 

Circulation 

HWS Magazine is published 6 times per year and 

distributed to health, wellness and safety professionals 

in the Niagara Region. 

Subscription Rates 

$18.99 for 6 issues. Send cheque or money 

order to above address. 

Any reproduction or use of the content within this 

publication without permission is prohibited. Opinions 

and comments within this publication reflect those of 

the writers and not necessarily that of The Business 

Link Niagara Ltd. All advertising accepted is subject 

to the Publishers’ discretion. The Publishers will not 

be responsible for damages arising out of errors in 

advertisements beyond the amount paid for the space 

occupied by that portion of the advertisement in which 

the error occurred. Any design, artwork, copyright or 

typesetting supplied by The Business Link Niagara Ltd. 

is for the exclusive use of the Publishers. Any other use 

not authorized is an infringement of copyright. No part 

of this publication may be reproduced or transmitted 

in any form or by any means, without prior written permission 

of the Publishers. 

The approaches described in this publication are not 

offered as cures, prescriptions, diagnosis, or a means 

of diagnosis to different conditions. The Publishers 

assume no responsibility in the correct or incorrect 

use of this information as a form of treatment without 

the approval of your doctor. 

INSIDE 

9 Twenty Ways To Find 

Time To Exercise 

Those who do not fi nd time to exercise, 

sooner or later, will fi nd time for illness. 

12 Health Benefits of 

Coconut Oil 

The health benefi ts of coconut oil 

are many… 

20 Check Out These Books 

Eat THAT Cookie! and Heal Yourself 

with QiGong. 

23 Six Yummy Super 

Fruits 

Eating fruit is a great way to curb your 

sweet tooth in a healthy way. 

26 Elder Abuse: 

Are you at risk 

It is important to remember that all 

seniors are susceptible to elder abuse, 

however there are specifi c factors 

resulting in greater risk. 

29 Bring On The 

Fiddleheads! 

This funny sounding vegetable can make 

a serious difference with your health. 

32 Bill 168 

Compliance means more than a policy 

35 Healthy Recipes 

Tomato Bruschetta Bread & Grilled Herb 

Chicken with Wild Rice and Mushrooms 

COVER STORY P18 

ALSO INSIDE 

“Over the years, the Foundation 

has launched many successful 

major fundraising events that 

have become the real life blood of 

the organization.” 

Cover Photo: John Bullivant, Founding President and 

Sandra Sabo, Chief Operating Offi cer of the St. Catharines 

General Hospital Foundation. 

Cover photo by Grenadine Photography 

7 

10 

11 

15 

17 

21 

21 

22 

22 

25 

34 

The Healing Powers of Honey 

How’s Your Hearing 

Peer Support 

Maya Abdominal Massage 

Communication Commandments 

Men Living with Cancer 

Fall Prevention Safety 

Breathing Techniques 

Managing Negativity 

Is This a Cure for Cancer 

Patients are in Good Hands 

This magazine is intended as a general information source only, not as a medical manual. The information given is designed to help you make informed decisions about your health. It is not intended as a substitute 

for any treatment that may have been prescribed to you by your doctor. If you suspect that you have a medical problem, or if you are pregnant or nursing, we urge you to seek competent medical care. The supplements 

described in the magazine should not be given to children without the advice of your doctor. If you are taking prescription medications or being treated for a chronic health condition, it is advisable to consult your 

doctor before taking any supplements. 


The Healing 

Powers of 

Honey 

BY KIRAN PATIL 

Natural honey has been used by mankind for the past 

2,500 years, all over the world. While the numerous 

health benefits of honey have made it an important aspect 

of traditional medicines such as Ayurveda, scientists are 

also researching the benefits of honey in modern medicine, 

especially in healing wounds. 

Known as Honig in German, Miele in Italian, Shahad in 

Hindi, Miel in French, Miel in Spanish, Mel in Portuguese, 

and Honing in Dutch, there is hardly any region in the 

world where honey is not cherished. 

What makes honey so popular It is the ease with 

which it can be consumed. One can eat honey directly, put 

it on bread like a jam, mix it with juice or any drink instead 

of sugar, or mix it with warm water, lime juice, cinnamon 

and other herbs to make a medicine. It is savoured by all 

due to its taste as well as health benefits. 

The health benefits of honey include 

the following: 

Sweetener: Sugar can be substituted with honey in many 

foods and drinks. Honey contains about 69% glucose and 

fructose enabling it to be used as a sweetener. 

Energy Source: Honey is also used by many as a source 

of energy as it provides about 64 calories per tablespoon. 

One tablespoon of sugar will give you about 50 calories. 

Further the sugars in honey can be easily converted into 

glucose by even the most sensitive stomachs. Hence it 

is very easy to digest. 

Weight Loss: Though honey has more calories than 

sugar, honey when consumed with warm water helps 

in digesting the fat stored in your body. Similarly honey 

and lemon juice and honey and cinnamon help in 

reducing weight. 

Improving Athletic Performance: Recent research 

has shown that honey is an excellent ergogenic aid and 

helps in boosting the performance of athletes. Honey 

facilitates in maintaining blood sugar levels, muscle 

recuperation and glycogen restoration after a workout. 

Source of Vitamins and Minerals: Honey contains a 

variety of vitamins and minerals. The vitamin and mineral 

content of honey depends on the type of flowers used 

for apiculture. 

Antibacterial and Antifungal Properties: Honey 

has anti-bacterial and anti-fungal properties and hence 

it can be used as a natural antiseptic. 

Antioxidants: Honey contains nutraceuticals, which are 

effective in removing free radicals from our body. As a 

result, our body immunity is improved. 

Skin Care with Milk and Honey: Milk and honey are 

often served together as both these ingredients help in 

getting a smooth soothing skin. Consuming milk and 

honey daily in the morning is a common practice in 

many countries. 

Honey in Wound Management 

Significant research is being carried out to study the 

benefits of honey in treating wounds. Nursing Standard 

provides some of these benefits in the document—The 

benefits of honey in wound management. Some of these 

benefits are: 

• Honey possesses antimicrobial properties. 

• It helps in promoting autolytic debridement. 

• It deodorizes malodorous wounds. 

• It speeds up the healing process by stimulating 

wound tissues. 

• It helps in initiating the healing process in dormant 

wounds. 

• Honey also helps in promoting moist wound healing. 

The healing powers of honey are not hyped. The Waikato 

Honey Research Unit provides details about the worldwide 

research that is being carried out on the benefits 

of honey in medicine. Further, BBC reported in July, 

2006 that doctors at the Christie Hospital in Didsbury, 

Manchester are planning to use honey for faster recovery 

of cancer patients after surgery. Such research will provide 

scientific evidence to the so-called beliefs held by honey 

lovers all over the world and help in propagating benefits 

of honey to more people. 

Now that you know the benefits of honey, how are 

you going to eat it You can eat it raw, add it it in water 

and different beverages and you can add it in several 

recipes. Organic Facts has published an ebook on quick 

and easy honey recipes. HWS 

Courtesy of www.organicfacts.net 



20 Ways To Find Time To Exercise 

“Those who do not find time to exercise, sooner or later, will have to find time for illness.” -Earl of Derby 

BY BRANDT FLEMING 

1. Watch less television: We watch 14 hours of 

television per week. Cut that down to 10 and get 30 

minutes of exercise a day. 

2. Get up 30 minutes earlier: I know, I know, you already 

get up at the crack of dawn and you’re not a morning person. 

Going out for a morning walk or jog will do more to energize 

you for the day than any cup of coffee. 

3. During lunchtime: Go for a 30 minute walk and use 

the remaining time for a quick lunch. 

4. After work: This works for some people, but it’s very 

easy to get sidetracked and not take the time. If it works 

for you, exercise after work. If it doesn’t, there are lots 

of other options. 

5. Ride your bike to work: Obviously, this isn’t an 

option for some people depending on the length of your 

commute, but there are some of you who could ride your 

bike to work or even walk to work. 

6. Have a walking meeting: if you need to have 

a meeting with someone why not do it while walking 

around the building or around the block. 

7. Walk your kids to school instead of driving: this 

is probably an option for lots of people, but getting in 

the car is just a habit and it sets a skill for not only you 

but your children as well. Become a strong role model 

of health for our youth. 

8. If you live and die by your planner, plan your 

exercise time: make your 30 minutes a day a priority 

and schedule it in your day planner. Simple but effective, 

create the vision! 

9. Always carry workout clothes and shoes: only 

have a few minutes to go for a walk Be good and always 

be prepared. Bring a gym bag with workout clothes and 

shoes with you everywhere you go. 

10. Walk to lunch: try walking to lunch instead of 

jumping in your car and driving a mile. 

11. Find a friend to walk with: people are more likely 

to make an “appointment” with a friend a priority since 

someone else will be waiting for you to arrive. 

12. Let the dog take you for a walk: Abbey loves to 

go for a walk. All I have to do is say the word, “Walk”, 

and my dog gets her leash and brings it to me. Don’t 

have a dog Go for a walk anyway. 

13. After dinner, make an evening walk with the 

family a tradition: instead of crashing on the couch 

in front of the television after dinner, gather up the kids 

and go for a walk around the neighborhood. Everyone 

will feel better for it. 

14. Don’t sit while your kids are playing sports, 

walk around the field: can’t exercise because you need 

to take your kids to soccer Not so fast. Instead of sitting 

around waiting, go for a walk around the neighborhood, 

or around the field during practice or the game. 

15. Get a stationary bike for your home or office. 

16. Go out for 10 minutes at a time: if you can’t 

find 30 minutes, what about getting up and walking 

around the block or your building for 10 minutes a few 

times a day. Gives you a great little break as it also helps 

to refresh your mind. 

17. Do sit-ups, crunches, or pushups during 

commercials: Squeeze in a little exercise when you 

would normally be sitting around. 

18. Write down how you spend your time each day: 

You probably have more extra time in the day than you 

realize. Keep a journal for a few days and find out if there 

is a good time each day to get in your 30 minutes. 

19. Park as far away as possible: on a good day you 

can probably get in 2 miles of extra walking by parking 

as far as possible from stores or the mall. 

20. Instead of emailing or calling a colleague, 

walk to their office to give them the message: 

maybe this isn’t the fastest, most hi-tech way to deliver 

a message, but it’s a way to get you up and it makes the 

message more personal. 

Finally, Stop making excuses!! Someone much busier 

than you is exercising right now! HWS 

Brandt Fleming, LifeStyle Wellness Club. “LIVE~ 

your best life daily! Brandt can be reached at 

brandtfleming@hotmail.com 


1. Does a hearing problem cause you to feel embarrassed 

when meeting new people 

Yes Sometimes No 

2. Does a hearing problem cause you to feel frustrated when 

talking to members of your family 


How’s your 

hearing 

If you feel that you or a loved one has a hearing 

problem, try completing the questionnaire. 

BY DR. MIKE PIHURA 

For most of us, our hearing deteriorates as we age. Hearing loss occurs 

slowly over many years as we get older—it is called Presbycusis. 

Now if your vision changed you would notice it immediately, since 

objects would be blurred or you would have difficulty focusing on small 

print. Hearing loss is more difficult for you to detect objectively because 

you have nothing to compare it to. Only a complete hearing test can 

provide you with that information by comparing it to a set standard. But, 

there is a self assessment questionnaire available for you to try. 

If you feel that you or a loved one has a hearing problem, try completing 

the questionnaire. 

3. Does a hearing problem cause you difficulty hearing or 

understanding coworkers, clients, or customers 


4. Do you feel handicapped by a hearing problem 


5. Does a hearing problem cause you difficulty when 

visiting friends, relatives, or neighbours 


6. Does a hearing problem cause you difficulty in the movies 

or theatre 


7. Does a hearing problem cause you you to have 

arguments with family members 


8. Does a hearing problem cause you difficulty when 

listening to a TV or radio 


9. Do you feel that any difficulty with your hearing limits or 

hampers your personal or social life 


10. Does a hearing problem cause you difficulty when in a 

restaurant with relatives or friends 


Yes = 4 points Sometimes = 2 points No = 0 points My Score = ____ 

Interpreting your score. 

0 To 8 = 13% Probability Of Hearing Impairment 

10 – 24 = 50% Probability Of Hearing Impairment 

26 – 40 = 84% Probability Of Hearing Impairment 

If your score is 50% or more you should have your hearing professionally 

tested, to get definitive results. A properly fitted hearing aid will 

certainly help you answer “NO” to many of the above questions. 

As the saying goes, “If you don’t use it, you lose it.” This is very true with our sense 

of hearing. When your brain receives inadequate stimulus from your ears, it soon 

forgets how to handle and process information, and then gets ‘lazy’. This makes 

adjusting to a hearing aid very difficult. 

If you need a hearing aid, don’t put it off. The sooner you do something about it the 

better, not only for you and your brain, but for those around you as well. HWS 

Mike Pihura, B.Sc, M.S., Au D. is the owner/operator of Family Hearing 

Clinic located at 33 Lakeshore Rd., St. Catharines. For more information 

on hearing loss please contact Mike at 905-938-2479 

Source: Ventry and Weinstein, 1983 HHIE-S (used with permission) 


New Dawn in 

Mental Health Care 

“…many are now finding healing for their emotional wounds 

in a realm of therapy known as Peer Support.” 

BY VINCENT BEYER 

Awave of healing is coming for individuals struggling with anxiety and depression, 

and from a very unlikely source, the individuals themselves. 

Just like peer-driven Alcoholics Anonymous has helped millions of people around 

the world who have struggled with alcohol abuse, many are now finding healing for 

their emotional wounds in a realm of therapy known as Peer Support. 

Eugene Johnson, President of Recovery Innovations, based in Phoenix, Arizona, 

recently gave a stirring presentation that outlined the amazing benefits gained by 

adding the assistance of peer support workers, to the therapy his organization offers 

mental health consumers. You can watch this 5 part presentation on You Tube, by 

typing ‘peer support Gene Johnson’ in the You Tube search bar. 

He began his presentation by sharing that, first, there needed to be a paradigm 

shift in the goals of mental health providers. No longer were agencies to merely just 

bring comfort to those suffering from depression and anxiety, the bar of expectation 

needed to be raised to a new level. He went on to quote a vision statement given 

by the US government to their mental health care providers. The government report 

stated this: “We envision a future when everyone with a mental illness will recover.” 

This statement was perplexing, to say the least. However, it got mental health care 

providers on a new track, a track that focused on recovery, not just stabilization. 

He also talked about some present day methods of treatment that actually 

traumatize consumers, thus, further complicating the recovery process. 

The talk then shifted to one of the key causes of problems, a person’s improper 

belief’s. When we change what we believe, we change how we act, think and feel. 

Johnson then tells how his organization imagined using peer consumers along 

with their professional staff. They decided the peers would need some kind of training, 

so they designed a training module. They also realized they needed to pay these peer 

workers, so they did. This immediately created a sense of purpose for the peer trainees. 

As the self-confidence began to build in these new recruits, they began taking offence 

to any ‘special treatment’ management felt compelled to give these ex-mental health 

sufferers. So management responded. Management even created a career ladder, 

thus, opening a host of opportunities to those gifted at helping others recover from 

mental illness. 

The biggest discoveries were two-fold 

1. The peer workers’ own personal recovery grew with leaps and bounds. 

2. The peer workers gave an immediate sense of hope to new consumers entering 

mental health care treatment. 

Huge benefits. 

Currently, 20 states in America have embraced the work of Peer Support Specialists 

in mental health care. And in the Maricopa County, where Johnson’s clinic is based, a 

whopping 72% of his work force is Peer Support Specialists! 

In a time when the outlook for many appears gloomy, mental health care is one field 

to have high hopes. 

Join me in congratulating Mr. Johnson, and his staff, for their incredible work, and 

together, let’s usher in the dawn of a new age of mental health care, one that is destined 

to improve the quality of life for those who struggle with mental illness. HWS 

Vincent Beyer is a long-time resident of Niagara. He is a consumer 

survivor, and is founder of Peer Support Niagara. Contact him either by 

email: vincentbeyer@ymail.com, or by telephone: 905-346-2318. Contact 

Recovery Innovations by logging onto www.recoveryinnovations.org, or 

call 602-650-1212. 


Health 

Benefits of 

Coconut Oil 

“Coconut oil is very soothing 

and it helps in removing stress. 

Applying coconut oil to the 

head followed with a gentle 

massage helps in removing 

mental fatigue.” 

BY KIRAN PATIL 

The health benefits of coconut oil include hair care, 

skin care, stress relief, maintaining cholesterol 

levels, weight loss, increased immunity, proper digestion 

and metabolism, relief from kidney problems, heart 

diseases, high blood pressure, diabetes, HIV, cancer, 

dental care, and bone strength. These benefits of 

coconut oil can be attributed to the presence of lauric 

acid, capric acid and caprylic acid. It also contains 

properties such as antimicrobial, antioxidant, antifungal 

and antibacterial. 

Let us now explore the benefits of 

coconut oil in detail: 

Hair Care: Coconut oil is one of the best natural nutrition 

for hair. It helps in healthy growth of hair providing a 

shiny complexion. Regular massage of the head with 

coconut oil ensures that your scalp is free of dandruff, 

lice, and lice eggs, even if your scalp is dry. Coconut oil is 

extensively used in the Indian sub-continent for hair care. 

It is an excellent conditioner and helps in the re-growth 

of damaged hair. It also provides the essential proteins 

required for nourishing damaged hair. It is therefore 

used as hair care oil and used in manufacturing various 

conditioners, and dandruff relief creams. Coconut oil is 

normally applied topically for hair care. 

Stress Relief: Coconut oil is very soothing and it helps 

in removing stress. Applying coconut oil to the head 

followed with a gentle massage helps in removing 

mental fatigue. 

Skin Care: Coconut oil is excellent massage oil for the 

skin as well. It acts as an effective moisturizer on all 

types of skins including dry skin. The benefit of coconut 

oil on the skin is comparable to that of mineral oil. 

Further, unlike mineral oil, there is no chance of having 

any adverse side effects on the skin with the application 

of coconut oil. Coconut oil therefore is a safe solution 

for preventing dryness and flaking of skin. It also delays 

wrinkles, and sagging of skin which normally become 

prominent with age. Coconut oil also helps in treating 

various skin problems including psoriasis, dermatitis, 

eczema and other skin infections. Therefore coconut oil 

forms the basic ingredient of various body care products 

such as soaps, lotions and creams used for skin care. 

Premature Aging: Coconut oil helps in preventing 

premature aging and degenerative diseases due to its 

antioxidant properties. 

Heart Diseases: There is a misconception spread 

among many people that coconut oil is not good for 

the heart. This is because it contains a large quantity 

of saturated fats. However, coconut oil is beneficial for 

the heart. It contains about 50% lauric acid, which 

helps in preventing various heart problems including 

high cholesterol levels and high blood pressure. The 

saturated fats present in coconut oil are not harmful 

as it happens in case of other vegetables oils. It does 

not lead to increase in LDL levels. It also reduces the 

incidence of injury in arteries and therefore helps in 

preventing atherosclerosis. 

Weight Loss: Coconut oil is very useful in reducing 

weight. It contains short and medium-chain fatty acids 

that help in taking off excessive weight. It is also easy 

to digest and it helps in healthy functioning of the 

thyroid and enzyme systems. Further, it increases the 

body’s metabolism by removing stress on the pancreas, 

thereby burning out more energy and helping obese and 

overweight people reduce their weight. People living 

in tropical coastal areas, who eat coconut oil daily as 

their primary cooking oil, are normally not fat, obese 

or overweight. 

Pancreatitis: Coconut oil is also believed to be useful 

in treating pancreatitis. 

Digestion: Internal use of coconut oil occurs 

primarily as cooking oil. Coconut oil helps in 

improving the digestive system and thus prevents 

various stomach and digestion related problems 

including irritable bowel syndrome. The saturated fats 

present in coconut oil have anti microbial properties 

and help in dealing with various bacteria, fungi 

and parasites that cause indigestion. Coconut oil 

also helps in absorption of other nutrients such as 

vitamins, minerals and amino acids. 


Coconut Oil 

Coconut oil is extracted 

from the kernel or meat of 

matured coconut harvested 

from the coconut palm (Cocos 

nucifera). Throughout the 

tropical world it has provided 

the primary source of fat in 

the diets of millions of people 

for generations. It has various 

applications in food, medicine, 

and industry. What makes 

coconut oil different from most 

other dietary oils is the basic 

building blocks or fatty acids 

making up the oil. Coconut oil 

is composed predominately 

of glyceryl esters of medium 

chain fatty acids (MCFA). The 

majority of fats in the human 

diet are glyceryl esters of long 

chain fatty acids (LCFA). 

-wikipedia.com 

Immunity: Coconut oil is also good for the immune 

system. It strengthens the immune system as it contains 

antimicrobial lipids, lauric acid, capric acid and caprylic 

acid which have antifungal, antibacterial and antiviral 

properties. The human body converts lauric acid into 

monolaurin which is claimed to help in dealing with viruses 

and bacteria causing diseases such as herpes, influenza, 

cytomegalovirus, and even HIV. It helps in fighting harmful 

bacteria such as listeria monocytogenes and heliobacter 

pylori, and harmful protozoa such as giardia lamblia. 

Healing: When applied on infections, it forms a chemical 

layer which protects the infected body part from external 

dust, air, fungi, bacteria and viruses. Coconut oil is most 

effective on bruises as it speeds up the healing process 

by repairing damaged tissues. 

Infections: Coconut oil is very effective against a 

variety of infections due to its antifungal, antiviral, 

and antibacterial properties. According to the Coconut 

Research Center, coconut oil kills viruses that cause 

infl uenza, measles, hepatitis, herpes, SARS, etc. It 

also kills bacteria that cause ulcers, throat infections, 

urinary tract infections, pneumonia, and gonorrhea, 

etc. Coconut oil is also effective on fungi and yeast 

that cause candidiasis, ringworm, athlete’s foot, thrush 

and diaper rash. 

Liver: The presence of medium chain triglycerides and 

fatty acids helps in preventing liver diseases as the 

substances are easily converted into energy when they 

reach the liver, thus reducing work load on the liver and 

also preventing accumulation of fat. 

Kidney: Coconut oil helps in preventing kidney and gall 

bladder diseases. It also helps in dissolving kidney stones. 

Diabetes: Coconut oil helps in controlling blood sugar, 

and improves the secretion of insulin. It also helps in 

effective utilization of blood glucose, thereby preventing 

and treating diabetes. 

Bones: As mentioned earlier, coconut oil improves the 

ability of our body to absorb important minerals. These 

include calcium and magnesium which are necessary for 

development of bones. Coconut oil is very useful to women 

who are prone to osteoporosis after middle age. 

Dental Care: Calcium is an important element present 

in teeth. Since coconut oil facilitates absorption of calcium 

by the body, it helps in getting strong teeth. Coconut oil 

also helps to prevent tooth decay. 

HIV and Cancer: It is believed that coconut oil plays 

an instrumental role in reducing viral susceptibility of HIV 

and cancer patients. 

Finally, coconut oil is often preferred by athletes and 

body builders and by those who are dieting. The reason 

is that coconut oil contains lesser calories than other oils, 

its fat content is easily converted into energy and it does 

not lead to accumulation of fat in the heart and arteries. 

Coconut oil helps in boosting energy and endurance, and 

enhances the performance of athletes. 

Now with all the health benefi ts of coconut oil, if 

you are wondering on how you should use coconut oil, 

there is a coconut oil recipe ebook from Organic Facts 

at www.organicfacts.net! HWS 

Courtesy of www.organicfacts.net 

The approaches described in this publication are not 

offered as cures, prescriptions, diagnosis, or a means of 

diagnosis to different conditions. The Publishers assume 

no responsibility in the correct or incorrect use of this 

information as a form of treatment without the approval 

of your doctor. 



Maya Abdominal Massage: 

Ancient Healing for Modern Lives 

“I am excited to offer people in my community a way to gain optimum health 

and well being that treats the body holistically.” 

BY NANCY CRAWFORD, RN, CMAMP, RM 

After decades of working in the healing arts, I 

accompanied a friend to a seminar in Belize 

on Maya Abdominal Massage (MAM). Once in Belize, 

my healing took a whole new direction. It didn’t take 

me long to realize the tremendous power this ancient 

healing form has and the myriad of ways it could benefit 

my clients—whether they’re seeking relief from pain, 

looking to conceive, going through pregnancy, dealing 

with digestive disorders, or wanting to address or prevent 

prostate problems. 

An ancient tradition lives 

Touch therapy has been used for millennia to heal and 

vitalize the body. Throughout the world, hundreds of 

massage modalities have evolved and Maya Abdominal 

Massage is one of them. This ancient healing form is 

passed down to us from the healers, midwives, and 

shamans of Belize and Guatemala. Modern practitioners 

have learned this form of massage technique mainly 

through Dr. Rosita Arvigo who has worked for decades 

studying and learning the methods. 

I was fortunate and honoured to train under Dr. 

Arvigo, and to meet the Mayan healers who work with 

her. She herself apprenticed for 12 years under renowned 

healer and shaman Don Elijio Panti, one of the last Maya 

shamans in Central America. The story goes that he 

agreed to train her in MAM and the healing herbs of 

the rainforest only if she promised to keep his knowledge 

alive by passing it on to others. 

It was a truly powerful experience for me to enter into 

this amazingly effective ancient Mayan healing tradition. 

We worked with Dr. Arvigo in her home and we slept in 

casitas in the jungle where we were introduced to the 

spiritual nature of Mayan healing, which is governed by Ix 

Chel, Maya Goddess of healing. We absorbed information 

about the many healing herbs of the rainforest and we 

learned to burn the sacred incense copal. 

Healing is my passion; I first discovered it working 

as a community health nurse. Since then, I’ve trained in 

several forms of energy healing, but I have to say that I 

was hooked on the energy of MAM like no other. I was 

amazed by how pure it is as a method of healing and 

after the seminar in Belize I was inspired to continue my 

training with The Arvigo Institute (Massechettes and New 

Hampshire, USA.) 

The Power of Maya Abdominal Massage 

Mayan Abdominal Massage is a non-invasive form of 

massage that focuses on the position and health of the 

pelvic and abdominal organs. MAM repositions and 

aligns organs in order to maximize the flow of blood, 

lymph, nerves, and energy in the body. Displaced organs 

can restrict the flow of these elements and the resulting 

congestion is the cause of many ailments for both men 

and women. 

Misalignment of organs occurs for many reasons. Often 

the demands of our everyday lives require us to do things 

that cause our organs to shift, for example, standing 

for long periods of time, sitting for long periods of time, 

pregnancy and childbirth, falls, injuries, or car collisions. 

MAM is a holistic method based on the premise that 

the body can heal itself but may require help to do so. A 

MAM practitioner will gently work to realign the organs 

and once the organs are gently repositioned, the body 

can get to work on its own! 

My first experience receiving a Maya Abdominal 

Massage (from a 78 year old Mayan mid-wife) was so 

invigorating, I felt as if I wanted to jump off the table. After 

their sessions, my clients have told me how wonderful 

they feel-balanced and pain-free. 

MAM also goes hand in hand with recommended 

dietary and lifestyle changes, so practitioners are 

educated in many areas including massage, anatomy 

and physiology, herbology, nutrition, and emotional and 

spiritual healing. This aspect is very important to me. As a 

healer, I like to provide my clients with tools that they can 

use for their own empowerment. Clients are encouraged 

to take an active part in their own healing by learning 

simple, safe, and easy-to-learn self-care techniques that 

can be used at home. 

MAM and Women’s Reproductive Health 

MAM has a positive effect on numerous conditions for 

both men and women; however, it is best known for the 

benefits it has for women’s reproductive health. 

Dr. Rosita Arvigo refers to the uterus as a “powerhouse 

of energy transformation”; Don Elijio Panti considered 

the uterus to be a woman’s center and maintained that 

“if a woman’s uterus is out of balance, so is she.” The 

uterus has a huge job to do, and it is held in place just 

by ten different ligaments. It shifts easily, which can have 

a negative impact on a woman’s health. MAM works to 

correct its position and the result can be an elimination 

of many disorders including PMS, painful periods, and 

fertility. MAM also has a positive impact on conception, 

pregnancy, and childbirth. 

MAM—Not Only for Women’s Issues 

While the majority of my clients are women age 34-58, 

people of any age, gender, or walk of life can benefit from 

MAM. For instance, MAM has provided relief for clients 

suffering from hip and back pain. It can also help relieve 

many common digestive disorders. 

MAM is especially beneficial for the prevention 

and treatment of benign prostatic hyperplasia (BPH). 

Several of my clients have sought out MAM as a last 

resort; they have been told that their condition is chronic 

but they’re not willing to live with it. MAM is a simple, 

effective, non-surgical way to find relief. 

Visiting a MAM Practitioner 

Typically, the first session will be a couple of hours. MAM 

practitioners require extensive detail about their clients’ 

health before they begin. Follow-up sessions are usually 

an hour and their frequency will depend on the individual 

client’s goals and treatment results. 

During a session with a Maya Abdominal Massage 

practitioner, (see www.arvigomassage.com for a list of 

practitioners) work will be done on the mid and lower 

back muscles, sacrum, lower and upper abdomen as well 

as pelvic bone structure and alignment. The pubic area is 

the focal point for MAM so it is important that individuals 

feel comfortable with their practitioner. 

The treatment sessions I conduct are very interactive— 

my client and I talk through the session, especially 

because I’m working in very sensitive areas of the body 

and I need to let them know what I’m doing. I explain 

the entire massage so my clients feel comfortable and 

open to the work. I also want to know what my client is 

feeling as I touch her or him because that will determine 

some of the treatment choices that I make. 

There can be an emotional component to this massage 

as well. Like any deep tissue massage, we release issues. 

Especially, say, around issues of reproductive health, 

massage can prompt an emotional breakthrough. 

I am excited to offer people in my community a way 

to gain optimum health and well being that treats 

the body holistically. At the same time, I am able to 

tap into an ancient healing tradition and participate 

in keeping it alive. HWS 

Nancy Crawford is a registered nurse, reiki 

master, spiritual healer and advanced dowser 

who has trained as a Certified Maya Abdominal 

Massage Practitioner in Belize, Massachusetts 

and New Hampshire. She practices outside 

of Port Colborne, Ontario. To learn more, 

contact Nancy at (905) 834-8545, e-mail: 

mayanancycrawford@gmail.com or visit her 

website at www.mayanancy.com. 



The Ten 

Commandments of 

Good Conversation 

PROVIDED BY GARY SCREATON PAGE, PH.D. 

Here are ten useful guidelines for becoming an effective and welcomed 

companion. They can help you become a more effective conversationalist: 

1. Talk about what matters; avoid trivialities. 

2. For a profitable interchange of ideas, choose your company wisely. The best 

companions, like the best books, uplift, inform, and entertain. 

3. Study the character of your companions. If they are your superiors, learn from 

them. Ask them questions. Then, be an attentive listener. If they are your subordinates, 

render them the best service you can. Always be respectful of others regardless of 

their station in life. 

4. Fill you mind with suitable topics for use when the conversation wanes. 

5. When you hear something especially new, valuable, or instructive, make note of it. 

Enter it as soon as you can into a notebook you keep for such conversational jewels. 

6. Always aim to be pleasing in what you say. Never ridicule! 

7. Avoid making hasty statements or drawing conclusions too quickly. Take time to 

weigh the different sides of a subject. Take a broad view of things. 

8. Let the conversation drift naturally from one subject to another. Do not hold too 

tenaciously to one subject. Your companions may wish to talk about other things of 

greater interest to them. 

9. Make yourself inconspicuous in conversation. Never display superiority. Keep a 

modest manner. Doing so will be to your credit. 

10. Bear patiently with those holding opposite views to your own. You just might be 

wrong. Don’t miss an opportunity to learn from them. HWS 

Gary Screaton Page, Ph.D. is a Registered Psychotherapist and Director of 

GENESIS Online Counselling Services at https://genesis.privacemail.com. 

Help is just a click away! 


A Cause for Celebration 

A Cause for Celebration 

The St. Catharines General Hospital Foundation marks 25 years of Fundraising Success. 

Founding President John Bullivant and Chief Operating Offi cer 

Sandra Sabo of the St. Catharines General Hospital Foundation. 

If you are living in the Niagara North Region including 

Niagara-on-the-Lake, Thorold, St. Catharines, 

Vineland, Jordan and Beamsville, chances are you or 

someone you love has used the St. Catharines General 

Hospital site of the Niagara Health System. It is a facility 

that has touched thousands of lives over the 145 years 

it has been in existence. 

The History of the St. Catharines General 

Hospital Foundation 

The St. Catharines General Hospital Foundation was 

established as the charitable agency for the General Hospital 

in 1985. It was originally created and based on a concept 

shared by Bud McLaughlin, Bill Thompson and Joe West. 

The Foundation’s mission statement has not 

changed from its original objective which is: “The 

St. Catharines General Hospital Foundation is a nonprofi 

t fundraising organization that supports the St. 

Catharines General Hospital site of the Niagara Health 

System in securing innovative health care equipment 

and state-of-the-art technology in modern facilities.” 

It’s not a well known fact that hospitals in Ontario 

rely on their foundations to secure donations to help 

pay for the purchase of patient care equipment and 

furnishings. While the Provincial Government provides 

funding for the operation of local hospitals and most 

of the cost of construction and renovation, Hospital 

Foundations and their donors have long been a key 

source to pay for equipment and buildings. 

This year, the St. Catharines General Hospital 

Foundation (SCGHF) celebrates its 25th anniversary. 

The Foundation board was established in 1985 by many 

volunteers, and is comprised of several leading experts in 

the medical, scientifi c, academic and business community. 

The Foundation’s team of four full-time employees also 

works in partnership with many volunteers and supporters 

inside and outside of the offi ce depending on the duties 

involved.The St. Catharines General Foundation has been 

fortunate to have been guided by community leaders 

who served as President including: Founding President 

John Bullivant; Bud McLaughlin; John Boychuk; George 

Darte; Alex Christie; Peter Stoutenberg; Mark Sherk; 

Trevor Cooper; and current President Ameer Wakil. 

Teamwork is Vital to the Foundation’s 25 

year Success 

The staff of the St. Catharines General Hospital Foundation, 

Board of Directors, and their dedicated volunteers 

understand the importance of their role within the 

community. Together, they work tirelessly to ensure their 

efforts are making a difference in Niagara’s health care. 

“We are passionate about serving our community’s 

needs,” says Sandra Sabo, Chief Operating Offi cer of the 

St. Catharines General Hospital Foundation. “Our health 

care facility serves more than 160,000 people each year, 

proving there is no question we need to maintain a strong 

community hospital here in Niagara.” 

In 1994, Sandra started volunteering her time to the 

Foundation by organizing and hosting the fi rst-time 

“Friend-Raiser of the Foundation.” After successfully 

raising more than $58,000, she was asked by the board 

to join the staff as a special projects co-ordinator. 

Sandra is passionate when she speaks of the 

Foundation’s dedicated volunteers: “In our world of selfindulgence, 

the sacrifice our volunteers make is very rare. If 

it was an easy task, then everyone would be volunteering. 

I congratulate our many volunteers who assist with the 

campaign initiatives, participate in our signature events 

and organize third party events. Our volunteers, no matter 

how they spend their time with us, are part of history in 

the making and they should be very proud.” 

Over the years, the Foundation has launched 

The Region’s First “Variable Geometry—Dual Detector Gamma Camera” 

arrived at the General in June, 2000. Pictured from left: Dr. Jerry Wilk, Radiologist 

and Medical Leader Nuclear Medicine; John Monaghan, Chief Technologist, 

Nuclear Medicine; Freddie Schmitt, Interim Site Administrator, SCG Site; Archie 

Katzman, Special Advisor, Breakthrough Health Care Campaign; Mark Sherk, 

past President, SCGH Foundation and Sandra Sabo, Chief Operating Offi cer, 

SCGH Foundation. 

many successful major fundraising events that have 

become the real life blood of the organization. These 

include: (see chart below) 

The St. Catharines General Hospital Foundation 

team has always been committed to doing their part for 

the community and overcoming each new fundraising 

challenge that comes their way. 

Here are a few of the many successful 

campaigns the Foundation has launched in 

recent years: 

•The Foundation completed fundraising for Niagara’s 

first CAT scan; the self-referral Evangelista/Adams Centre 

Events/Campaigns # of Years Net Revenue 

Run/Walk for the General 10 $ 355,000 

Spin for the General 6 $ 65,000 

Golf Tournament 14 $ 500,000 

Concerts: Bryan Adams (x2), Johnny Reid & Smooth Jazz 6 $ 277,000 

Concert Series 

Tree of Lights Campaign 24 $ 1.2 million 

Coins for Kids 19 $ 77,780 

Gala 11 $ 1.14 million 

H.E.L.P.P Lottery 21 $ 1.8 million 

for Breast Screening and 7.2 million for state-of-the-art 

Diagnostic equipment for the “Breakthrough Health Care” 

Campaign including: Niagara’s first MRI; Dual Head Gamma 

Camera and a Cardiac Investigative Unit. 

•The NHS re-developed Emergency Rooms, making 

the St. Catharines General site the only 24-hour 

ER to handle ambulance calls from Niagara-onthe-Lake, 

St. Catharines, Thorold and surrounding 

areas. With patient visits increasing from 47,000 to 

67,000 annually, the Foundation successfully raised 

$1.1-million for the new equipment needed for the 

community hospital. Following a very generous gift, 

the Department was re-named the Robert E. Redmond 

Emergency Department. 


2010 will mark the 25th 

Anniversary of the Tree of Lights 

Campaign. This Annual Holiday 

Giving Campaign, taking place at 

City hall in St. Catharines and the Fire 

Hall in Thorold, has become a well 

known tradition for our community. 

Throughout the Campaigns 24 

years, 1.2 million has been raised 

to support the purchase of patient 

care equipment for the General. 

In 2003, community members, staff and the Redmond family celebrate the improvements 

made to the Emergency Department at the St. Catharines General site—re-named Robert E. 

Redmond Emergency Department. Seated: Robert E. Redmond. Left to Right: Trevor Cooper, 

past President, SCGH Foundation; Leo Bruzzeese; daughters Erin Redmond and Diane Redmond- 

Lockett; Dr. Ashok Sharma, Site Chief of Medical Staff; Debbie Sevenpifer, President and CEO, 

Niagara Health System; and Sandra Sabo, Chief Operating Offi cer, SCGH Foundation. 

• The Foundation launched their “Heartbeat” campaign 

to raise $500,000 for the purchase of a new Echo- 

Doppler Machine to aid cardiologists in the diagnosis 

of their patients. Included in the campaign’s successful 

completion, three new GE Vivid-7 cardiovascular 

ultrasound systems were installed the following year 

along with two new Echo PAC workstations. With these 

purchases, the facility was transformed into a state-ofthe-art 

fully Digital Echo Lab. 

• A state-of-the-art Digital Mammography Unit, the 

fi rst of its kind in Niagara, was installed at the St. 

Catharines General site in December 2009. This unit 

works like a digital camera taking images within seven 

seconds; this offers a clearer, instant image and results 

in a quicker more accurate diagnosis. The campaign 

to raise the $800,000 needed to purchase this unit 

was secured through the Bryan Adams and Johnny 

Reid benefi t concerts and generous support from our 

caring community. 

has had a long successful track record when it comes to 

fundraising, these are still busy days for Sandra and her 

Foundation team—in more ways than one. 

“Due to the lack of funding in our healthcare system 

today, our work is constantly challenged. Understanding 

how important the needs are for our patients and staff 

allows me to stay motivated and committed to the 

cause. I always look forward to meeting our donors and 

discussing the current needs of our hospital—it is only 

because of their support and understanding that has 

allowed our Foundation to grow,” states Sandra. 

The new 970,000 square foot state-of-the art Health 

monitors, ventilators, electric beds, BiPAP machines and 

many other items totalling $3.2-million for both the St. 

Catharines and the Ontario Street sites of the NHS.” 

It’s Time to Celebrate 

“It’s a real achievement to mark our quarter century 

milestone having achieved so much that has and will 

continue to help so very many. We are blessed to 

have a wonderful and dedicated circle of donors and 

supporters,” adds Sandra. 

A celebratory 25th Anniversary Donor Reception will 

take place Wednesday, September 29th, 2010 from 5:00 

“It has been an honour to serve on the Board of Directors and currently 

as President of The St. Catharines General Hospital Foundation. Being 

involved over the years with the Foundation Team, volunteers and donors 

has been a real inspiration to my family and I. We are thankful for the 

overwhelming generosity of our donors.” stated Ameer Wakil. 

“If you want a local example of the well-known 

expression ‘Big Trees from Little Acorns Grow’ one has 

only to look at the growth in profi le and the donor base 

of the SCGH Foundation since its inception in 1985,” 

states John Bullivant, Founding President. “In the last 

10 years, the Foundation has raised over $30.1-million 

which has been used to purchase much needed medical 

equipment in order to meet the health and medical needs 

of the community.” 

In recent years, the Big Move for Cancer Ride has 

become a key note event, friend and fund raiser. The 

associates of the SCGH Foundation in partnership with 

their volunteers and supporters created, organized 

and executed the 1st Annual Big Move Cancer Ride 

benefi ting the future Walker Family Cancer Centre. 

Congratulations to 235 participants who raised net 

revenue of $278,000. The 2nd Annual Big Move Cancer 

Ride will take place Sunday, September 12, 2010 and 

once again the host will be Club Roma. 

Current Challenges 

While the St. Catharines General Hospital Foundation 

Care Facility will replace the St. Catharines General 

Hospital for Niagara North and will house new regional 

services including radiation treatment for cancer patients 

at the new Walker Family Cancer Centre, Cardiac 

Catheterization and Tertiary Mental Health. 

Sandra says: “It is very important for people to realize 

that our patients today at the St. Catharines General have 

urgent needs—and it is our responsibility to make sure 

those needs are met.” 

The Foundation is currently focusing on raising 

$600,000 to complete the payment of two pieces 

of equipment—a Digital Fluoroscopy Unit (a noninvasive 

x-ray exam) and a 128 Slice CT Scanner for 

Diagnostic Imaging. 

What’s Ahead 

“We all take a great deal of pride in what we’ve 

accomplished to date,” Sandra says of the Foundation. 

“But when it comes to our community hospital, there’s no 

time for us to rest on our laurels. The need never ends. Our 

current capital equipment needs list includes transport 

pm – 7:00 pm at White Oaks Conference Resort and Spa. 

Further information will be available at a later date. 

Sandra often states that “Your support today will 

support our patients tomorrow because the equipment 

purchased today will be moved to the new Health Care 

Facility upon completion.” HWS 

“Health is the second blessing that we mortals are 

capable of—a blessing that money cannot buy.” 

~ Izauk Walton 

142 Queenston Street, St. Catharines 

tel: 905-323-FUND(3863) 

Email: info@scghfoundation.com 

www.scghfoundation.com 


Book Reviews 

Is it possible to create a positive 

workforce in negative times 

Heal Yourself with QiGong 

“I highly recommend QiGong to all of my patients…” 

Yes, it is. And considering the very real, bottom-line results a positive culture 

creates, it’s a pretty darn good idea. (Now more than ever, in fact.) But fi rst you 

have to get real: About the problems you face. About how tough your job really is. 

About the negative things you and your colleagues do—c’mon, admit it!—to make 

it even tougher. 

In Eat THAT Cookie! Make Workplace Positivity Pay Off…For Individuals, 

Teams and Organizations, speaker, strategist, and consultant Liz Jazwiec, RN, 

gets real about all that and more. In her darkly humorous, ever-so-slightly sarcastic 

style—after all, she was an ER nurse—she builds a case for the powerful benefi ts of 

a positive workplace. (Hint: Better customer service, improved effi ciencies, and lower 

employee turnover all make the list.) 

Funny, inspiring, and relatable, Eat THAT Cookie! is packed with realistic, down-toearth 

tactics leaders can use right now to infuse positivity into their culture. Readers 

will learn: 

• Why hokeyness—in the form of giant smiley face cookies and no-negativity 

days—actually works. 

• How to decree and enforce “mandatory fun” so that it’s really, well, fun. 

• Guidelines for doing celebrations the right way. 

• Strategies for dealing with queens, poisoners, complainers, and other problem 

people. 

• How not to succumb to “process paralysis”. 

• Why victim thinking is so destructive and how to eliminate it from the organization. 

For the fi rst 18 years of her career, Liz says she used to think that if the hospitals 

where she worked could just get some decent patients, she would love her work! But 

the perfect clientele doesn’t exist. And guess what With the help of Eat that Cookie, 

you can still have a good day anyway, no matter what industry you’re in. In it, Liz 

illustrates a lesson she fi nally realized: Happiness is a decision—anywhere, anytime, 

in any economy. 

Put the tips in Eat THAT Cookie! into practice and you’ll be amazed by the rapid 

improvements you see in your organization—in terms of energy, focus, productivity, 

and, yes, happiness. HWS 

Liz Jazwiec is a nationally renowned speaker, strategist, and consultant 

who has shared her passion for leadership, engagement, and service with 

audiences across the country. 

Anew book has been published in St. Catharines by local QiGong and Tai Chi Master 

George Picard. Sifu Picard has students throughout North America who are teaching 

an ancient healing modality called QiGong. Many of these students, including Medical 

Doctors and other health care professionals, have experienced firsthand the healing power 

of “QiGong” as taught by Sifu Picard. His new book “Heal Yourself with QiGong” has 

simplified Chinese Medicine concepts so that anyone can understand why QiGong is so 

effective in healing illness. The first printing was sold out to Qigong instructors and schools 

in Canada and the United States. It is currently in its second printing. 

Reviews 

“I’ve practiced many forms of ‘body mind exercise’ and for reasons I am not completely 

aware of, the 24 Posture Therapeutic QiGong creates a different kind of energy for me, 

in body and mind. It’s a daily practice for me. If I can’t take it to nature, nature comes 

to me with this revitalizing and grounding fl ow of movements. Guests at our cleansing 

renewal center spend a week learning about health, nutrition, and movements. One 

thing most want to take home is the 24 Posture Therapeutic QiGong practice!” 

– Catherine Garceau 

Olympic Bronze Medalist, Sydney 2000 

www.catherinegarceau.com 

“Over the past year, we have been having a national debate in the United States 

about universal health care and the economic impact such a program could have on 

our economy. It’s becoming obvious that we as individuals are going to have to take 

more personal responsibility for our overall health and wellbeing in order to protect 

ourselves and keep costs down…This book describes a method of maintaining health, 

reducing stress, and decreasing our dependence on drugs, which is both effective and 

economical and has withstood the test of time. I highly recommend QiGong to all of 

my patients and to everyone who reads this book.” 

– Roger G. Schneider, MD, FACOG 

“QiGong holds the key to healthful living. George Picard has true passion for this art 

and its potential to improve lives. His written words convey a wealth of knowledge 

and experience offered in plain language that demystifi es 4000 years of wisdom. 

There is a message here for everyone from the elite athlete to those living with chronic 

illness. Reading this book should make you want to make daily practice of QiGong as 

much a part of your life as eating well, exercising and brushing your teeth.” 

– P.J. Klein, PT, EdD HWS 


New Program At Wellspring Niagara 

Supporting Men Living With Cancer 

PRESS RELEASE 

Wellspring Niagara is offering a new program with the aim of supporting men. The Men’s 

Room is a series that will be offered at Wellspring Niagara, and developed especially for 

men who are living with cancer in their lives. 

Offered in a casual setting, this free program will help men navigate their way through the 

recovery process by sharing in a friendly, non-judgmental and healing setting. The only requirement 

to attend is that you are a man and affected by cancer in your life, either through your own 

illness or by someone close to you. This group is for those who are looking for tools, direction, 

and support as a result of his experience. 

Facilitated by Robert Tisi, SSW, a young man who personally understands the devastating effects 

and complications brought on by cancer. Robert was diagnosed with Laryngeal Cancer in May 2008 

and under-went radiation and chemotherapy treatments. He returned to work in January 2009 

but soon experienced complications from the treatment. In April he was admitted to hospital for 

pneumonia and suffered cardiopulmonary arrest when his throat closed and he could no longer 

breathe. He has made a full recovery from this stressful ordeal and is now cancer-free. HWS 

To register or to learn more about The Men’s Room and other programs, contact 

Wellspring Niagara at 905-684-7619 or visit www.wellspringniagara.ca 

About Wellspring Niagara: Wellspring Niagara is a local organization that provides 

free supportive care programming to people who are coping with any type of cancer, at any stage. 

The mission of Wellspring is to provide free social, emotional, psychological, informational and 

spiritual support to individuals living with cancer, their families and close supporters. 

Since opening its doors, Wellspring Niagara has registered over 23,000 program attendances 

from men, women and children who are living with cancer in Niagara. The free programs and 

services include individual and group support, coping skills, expressive therapies, energy work, 

educational workshops, presentations and a lending resource library. With minimal staff, Wellspring 

Niagara relies on the skills, expertise and generosity of over 150 trained volunteers who 

graciously offer their time, talents and personal experiences to provide our members with comfort, 

support and encouragement at a very diffi cult and traumatic time in their lives. 

As a not-for-profi t, charitable organization, Wellspring Niagara does not receive government 

funding and is not supported by other cancer-related charities. Wellspring Niagara solely relies 

on the charitable support of the community it serves, the Niagara region. Every dollar is needed 

to help us continue to meet the needs of our growing membership and ensure that our programs 

and services remain free of charge. 

Research continues to be the hope for the future, but for many, living with cancer today is 

the challenge. Your support will help us with the resources we need to deliver on our promise 

of compassion and care. Every dollar raised in Niagara, stays to support the residents of Niagara 

who are living with cancer. HWS 

For more information on Wellspring please contact Ann Mantini-Celima, Executive 

Director at ann@wellspringniagara.ca, 905-684-7619 or 1-888-707-1277. Wellspring 

Niagara...A Lifeline to Cancer Support 

“The Positive Step 

has done work for 

The Pen Centre, 

Fallsview Casino 

Resort, Great Wolf 

Lodge, Ripley’s 

Believe It Not 

Museum, John 

Michaels Banquet 

Hall, Antipasto’s, 

and many more wellknown 

businesses…” 

Fall Prevention Safety 

The Positive Step is a St. Catharines business that has been treating 

surfaces for non-slip for the past five years. Their professional crews 

can treat any concrete, ceramic tile, marble, granite and terrazzo surface to 

make them three times safer than normal. Their coatings can also be used on 

bathtubs, showers, stairs, porches, floors or any other dangerous areas that 

can become slippery when wet. This allows infants, children and even adults 

to feel more secure knowing they’re safe from potential falls at all times. 

Another great benefit of their coatings is that it doesn’t change the look of 

the treated area. Their coating has a lifetime warranty in tubs and showers 

and is very affordable. 

The Positive Step also specializes in matting for wheelchair ramps which 

many clients claim to be the best product they’ve ever seen. This matting 

has been installed to many ramps in both homes and businesses across the 

Niagara Region. One particular group has applied this matting to over 20 

wheelchair ramps and has found that staff complaints about slippery ramps 

are down significantly. Their staff has also become pro-active with other 

uses such as van ramps and stairs. As a result of this matting application, 

there have been fewer accidents, not to mention fewer sick days taken and 

Workers Compensation claims made. 

In addition to treating a wide range of home tubs and fl oors, The 

Positive Step has done work for The Pen Centre, Fallsview Casino Resort, 

Great Wolf Lodge, Ripley’s Believe It Not Museum, John Michaels 

Banquet Hall, Antipasto’s, and many more well-known businesses that 

are concerned about fall prevention safety. The Positive Step is also 

approved by the Department of Veterans Affairs—and has been able to 

help many veterans stay safe in their homes. HWS 

If you’d like to learn more about safety in your home or 

business, please contact The Positive Step today at 

905-680-1832 or thepositivestep@sympatico.ca. 


Breathing Techniques: 

How important is it really 

BY BETTY BIVAND 

As women, we were at some point in our lives 

told to remember to suck in our guts to have that 

slender flat stomach appearance. I remember a professional 

fitness instructor telling me as a teenager that if I sucked 

in my stomach while walking it would build 

strong stomach muscles. I did this until my late 

30’s. My guide then said, “Betty you do not 

breathe properly and must learn immediately.” 

Because of all the hormonal changes women 

go through, weight gain or loss is nature’s way 

of our bodies responding to the stresses of 

every day life. I try to be the healthiest I can be with the 

body I have chosen. I am not 18 years old with a firm young 

body that responds quickly; instead I am a mother of three 

who is dealing with hormonal changes these days. Since 

learning how to breathe, I have a new appreciation for this 

life-sustaining reflex we take for granted called breathing. 

Because it is automatic, we just assume that we are doing it 

correctly. Breathing properly can help with pain, menstrual 

cramps, headaches, high blood pressure, asthma, insomnia 

and stress. If you want professional help with learning how 

to breathe, I would recommend a holistic doctor or Yoga 

instructor. Most Yoga instructors have a real appreciation for 

breath work and have extensive training in this field. They 

understand how important breath work really is to our over 

all health. Doing this quick but effective test will show you 

if you may need help with breath work. 

To train yourself to breathe properly you can lie down 

and place a small book on your stomach. Start to inhale, 

watching your stomach closely. You should be breathing 

from deep down in your abdomen; the book should rise 

with your stomach, falling back down as you exhale. This 

is the proper way to breathe. It may feel foreign at first 

but as you do this regularly, your body will start to do it 

automatically. Watch an infant breathe while they are 

sleeping. We all began breathing correctly as newborns. 

Rapid, shallow breathing leaves your body starving for 

oxygen, which contributes to constriction of blood vessels; 

it can raise blood pressure, which can lead to anxiety, panic 

attacks, phobias, stress, depression and insomnia. 

For insomnia use this easy technique and see if it can 

help, you sleep. Lying flat on your back as you inhale let 

your head tilt slightly upward, and when you exhale, drop 

your head slightly downward. This movement stimulates 

the reflexes in the brain that control sleep. 

Also breathing in colour is one of the most powerful ways 

to do self-healing without having the holistic knowledge about 

chakras and acupressure points of the body. 

You can start with the colour blue seeing it as a 

cloud of vapor in front of your face. See yourself deeply 

breathing this colour through your nose, and then exhale 

the colour yellow out of your mouth, repeating this three 

times. The next colours may be to inhale green and 

exhale yellow, and then inhale red and exhale pink. I 

have found that you will be moved to use specific colours 

for this exercise because your inner self (Your Soul) always 

knows exactly what colours your body needs for healing. 

I want those who have no knowledge of alternative 

therapies to know that you do not have to be an expert 

to self heal, you just have to listen closely to your inner 

voice that is telling you everything you need to know. 

You will be pleasantly surprised at the benefits of this 

colour breathing technique, which will directly improve 

the movement of your chakras. I will be talking about our 

chakras in the next issue. Until then, I wish for you all to 

pay closer attention to each breath you take! HWS 

Betty Bivand is the owner of Ghost Eliminators 

of Niagara located in St. Catharines. Betty can be 

reached at lostsoulsonearth@msn 

Managing Negative People 

“We cannot change other people, we can only influence them through shifting them from what they don’t want to 

what they actually do want. This can be achieved by asking them ‘So, what do you want’” 

BY KAREN LEE STOCKER 

We all at some point have negative people around 

us. How do you know You can tell by how you 

feel when you are with them. You are not matching. 

Let’s say on a scale of 1-100, you are pretty positive 

person and attract good things into your life, so we’ll 

call you a 90 on this scale. When we are a 90 we feel 

great, life is good, it’s smooth and things happen with 

ease. Wouldn’t it be great if everyone in our life was a 

90 But sometimes we have a negative Betty around 

us and we’ll call her a 30 on this scale. She complains 

all the time, doesn’t like her job and complains about 

her co-workers. When you are around her the difference 

between her 30 and your 90 is the resistance you feel 

when you are with her. Resistance is a negative feeling 

or negative vibration. Can she pull you down Yes! Can 

you pull her up to your 90 Usually not. 

Your job is to mind your positive vibration. 

In order to raise her vibration to match yours, simply 

everytime you catch her complaining about what she 

doesn’t want and what’s not working in her life, simply 

ask,” So, What DO you want” She will start giving 

attention to what she does want instead of what she 

doesn’t want, which will raise her vibration. If you do 

this each time you are around her you are managing 

your own vibration. She will either be more positive when 

she is around you or she will disapate from your life 

and find someone else to complain to. It’s better to let 

negative people disapate from your life because they will 

contaminate you. 

Remember, people will treat you the way you allow 

them to. 

We cannot change other people, we can only 

influence them through shifting them from what they 

don’t want to what they actually do want. This can 

be achieved by asking them “So, what do you want” 

However we do have the power in all relationships 

to change ourselves. We all have relationships that are 

less than ideal. If you start to feel annoyed or resentful 

in these relationships you can: 

• Be the parent you always wanted. 

• Be the spouse you want to share your life with. 

• Be the friend you cherish. 

• Be the mentor you wish you had. 

• Be the co-worker you would like to work with. 

• Be the manager you have respect for. 

• Be the brother, sister, aunt or uncle you always 

wanted. 

• Be the son or daughter you’d be proud of. 

• Be the stranger you’d like to run into. 

Keeping your vibration positive will automatically send 

it into the universe and what will be returned to you will 

be positive reactions within your relationships. 

You’ll be amazed when: 

• your son takes out the garbage without being asked. 

• your co-worker asks if you need some help. 

• your boss compliments you and tells you that you 

are being considered for a promotion. 

• your friend buys you lunch. 

• a stranger opens the door for you. 

The Law of Attractions job is to match the vibration 

it finds and it is always responding. “Like attracts 

Like” HWS 

For more information on the Law of Attraction visit 

our website at: lawofattractionworkbooks.com 


Six Yummy 

Super Fruits 

BY SAMANTHA RUFLE 

Eating more fruit is an easy way to pack a healthy diet in antioxidants, fiber, and 

other nutrients without all the calories. 

Eating fruit is also a great way to curb your sweet tooth in a healthy way. Here is a 

short list of some fruit super stars and ideas on how to get more of them in the diet. 

Fact: Phytochemicals or phytonutrients are known to slow the aging process, and 

prevent many diseases. Phytochemicals and phytonutrients are chemical compounds 

that aid in the absorbtion of nutrients inside the body. Vitamins, antioxidants, and 

flavonoids are all types of phytochemicals. 

Bananas are well known for being a great source for potassium. Potassium 

has been shown to lower high blood pressure and prevent muscle spasms. 

Bananas are also high in vitamin B6 and the antioxidant lutein. Lutein lowers 

the risk of cataracts, and macular degeneration. Try dipping a peeled banana in 

yogurt and crushed pecans. Freeze on wax paper for a couple of hours. Yum! 

Berries: Strawberries, raspberries, blueberries, and boysenberries are 

high in vitamin C, folate, fiber and phytocemicals. Dip strawberries in low 

fat sour cream and raw sugar for a yummy dessert. Mix raspberries or 

blueberries into wholegrain pancake batter and top pancakes with vanilla 

yogurt. Make a delicious fruit salad with a mix of your favourite berries. 

Pomegranates are probably one of most popular super fruits out there right 

now and for good reason. Pomegranates are extremely high in antioxidants. 

They also have anti-inflammatory properties. Pomegranates have been shown 

to reduce the growth of prostate cancer. Drink pomegranate juice to avoid 

having to deal with all the seeds in the fruit. 

Citrus fruits like oranges, lemons, limes, and tangerines, are known for having 

a full day’s worth of vitamin C. Citrus fruit is full of fiber. Vitamin C has been 

shown to boost the immune system, fight cancer and lower the risk of heart 

disease. Stick to eating the fruit and skip the calorie laden juice. An easy way to 

eat oranges is to slice them up, rind and all and make orange “smiles”. 

Apples are filled with soluble fiber and insoluble fiber. Apples also contain 

vitamin C and beta carotene. Eat apples raw and take advantage of the enzymes 

that aid in digestion. Also eating a raw apple after a meal is a great way to clean 

the teeth. Try this yummy dessert. Core the apple and fill with a little brown sugar 

and pecans. Bake for twenty minutes. Serve with frozen yogurt. 

Grapes are a great source of some B vitamins, and vitamin C. Red grapes 

are especially healthy because they contain a phytochemical called resveratrol. 

Resveratrol is linked to the prevention of cancer and heart disease. Resvertrol 

is present in even larger amounts in red wine. When reaching for a snack go 

for the red grapes. 

What about Acai berries 

This fruit is recommended as a super food by many experts for good reason. 

Acai Berries are loaded with antioxidants, essential fatty acids that aid in the 

absorption of omega threes. Just beware, it is nearly impossible to find Acai 

berries fresh in the United States and Canada. So, food companies are adding 

these berries to everything and not necessarily doing it in a healthy way. Only 

drink the pure juice or better yet buy the unsweetened pulp. 

Just adding a little extra fruit in the diet can make a huge difference. Eat fruit 

as snacks, a side dish and even dessert! HWS 

Read more at Suite101: Six Yummy Super Fruits: A Sweet Way to Eat Healthier 

http://food-facts.suite101.com/article.cfm/six_yummy_super_fruits#ixzz0iAVauqSy 



Is this a cure for 

Cancer 

“Louise Hay was diagnosed with cancer, which she claims 

to have healed through her ideologies.” 

BY DR. NANCE MACLEOD, PHD 

Ijust returned home from assisting at a Mastery of Self Expression workshop in 

Kitchener/Waterloo. This workshop is an intensive workshop that helps you release 

emotional blocks that can hold you back in life. The leader of the workshop made a 

comment, “I believe this work is the cure for cancer”. 

I thought to myself wow that is quite a big thing to say, and then I realized that she 

has made a good point. Many of us already know that disease begins in the emotional 

body or you can say energy field. Louise Hay has several books on the subject. The 

theory is that when you are holding on to anger, frustrations, hate, and resentments 

these negative emotions will manifest into a disease in the physical body. So is the 

cure for cancer just getting rid of these negative emotions that plague our lives 

Louise Hay was diagnosed with cancer, which she claims to have healed through 

her ideologies. She went on to be an author, teacher, lecturer, and founder of Hay 

House Publishing. She contends that disease is caused by mental thought patterns, 

especially patterns of criticism, anger, resentment, and guilt. Festering resentments 

eat away at the self and can ultimately lead to tumors and cancers. Anger turns into 

things that burn, boil, or infect the body. A pattern of criticism can turn into diseases 

like arthritis, and guilt seeks punishment and leads to pain. 

Psychologists and neurologists now agree mind and body, aren’t that different. The 

brain is just another organ, even though more intricate than the rest. 

More and more doctors—and patients—recognize that mental states and physical 

well-being are intimately connected. An unhealthy mind can lead to an unhealthy 

body, and an illness of the mind can trigger or worsen diseases in the body. 

Way back in 1952, the Department of Medicine at New York Hospital-Cornell 

Medical Center found that diseases and conditions ranging from eczema and cold 

hands to migraine and hypertension were correlated to particular attitudes and 

emotions. Specifically, the researchers defined emotions as being “an attitude with its 

associated physiological changes.” Thinking about carrying a certain weight actually 

increases electrical activity in appropriate muscles for carrying heavy loads. And, 

“sustained contraction of the skeletal muscles can be painful.” Here are some more of 

the findings from interviews with 128 patients: 

• Eczema, with associated vasodilation, is associated with frustration 

and may possibly represent heat loss by an organism which has abandoned its 

readiness for action. 

• Arterial hypertension occurred with a sense of vigilance, when an individual felt 

he must be constantly prepared to meet all possible threats. 

• Vasomotor rhinitis & asthma are both associated with feelings of wanting 

to have nothing to do with something (the desire to exclude, similar to how the 

respiratory mucous membrane reacts to noxious agents). 

Mind and emotions affecting our physical body is not exactly new age, in fact, not new 

at all. And, at the cellular level, it’s similar to proving Newton’s Third Law of Motion 

(the law of reciprocal actions). So paying close attention to our moment-to-moment 

thoughts, our unrelenting attitudes, and our seemingly-mysterious emotions can give 

way to important insights to the root of our diseases and the path to healing these 

diseases including cancer. HWS 

Dr Nance MacLeod owns the Niagara-on-the-Lake Natural Health Clinic and 

the Southampton Centre for Wellness. Email her at drnancemacleod@gmail. 

com or call 905-468-9041 or 519-483-1888 www.schoolofnewmedicine.com 


Elder Abuse: 

Are you at risk 

“It is important to remember that all seniors are 

susceptible to elder abuse, however there are specific 

factors resulting in greater risk.” 

BY KATHRYN PUMMELL, R.S.W 

Imagine the overwhelmed wife screaming at her 

husband after he repeats the same question for 

tenth time due to dementia. Or picture the adult son 

who justifies a decision to keep his suffering father at 

home with minimal support because he could not bear 

the emotional and financial impact of long-term care. 

Unfortunately, these situations are common in our 

community and any one of us could find ourselves 

involved in these scenarios, either as the vulnerable 

senior, a witness or even the abuser. So, what is the 

risk that you might find yourself in 

Vulnerable Seniors 

It is important to remember that all seniors are 

susceptible to elder abuse, however there are specific 

factors resulting in greater risk. A person’s gender, 

class, race and sexual orientation compounded with 

being older can greatly determine the likelihood for 

abuse. Also consider physical, mental and cognitive 

health as this increases dependence on others for 

essential daily activities and critical decisions. Isolation, 

relationship dynamics and caregiver characteristics can 

also determine the risk for abuse. 

There are certain actions that can be taken to protect 

oneself from abuse. Completing legal documents when 

mentally capable is crucial. Appoint a trusted person(s) 

to manage financial affairs and make health decisions 

when required through a power of attorney for finances 

and a power of attorney for personal care. Have frequent, 

detailed and consistent conversations with appointed 

individuals and other significant people regarding all 

future wishes. Also develop a support system of trusted 

family, friends and community supports to support overall 

emotional well-being and safety. Be aware of community 

options and learn about how these services will go about 

intervening—most times, an abusive situation does not 

require legal or confrontational action. These services will 

often look at all factors and help to relieve the areas that 

contribute to the abuse. 

Unsuspecting Abusers 

There are certainly obvious cases where there is 

deliberate abuse and neglect, however, more often 

the situation is less obvious. Caregivers are at most 

risk of becoming an unintentional abuser, especially 

when isolated, financially dependent on the senior or 

they lack knowledge of the medical condition or care 

providing. The caregiver’s own mental health must be 

considered, where caring for an ailing loved one is 

exceptionally stressful. Burnout, frustration, grief, fear, 

guilt and overall high anxiety are common emotions. 

These emotional states can alter perception and ability 

to make objective decisions in the best interests of 

a loved one. Another issue may be the caregiver’s 

own cognitive and physical decline reducing their 

capacity to make decisions and ability to provide care. 

External considerations such as lack of social support, 

environmental influences and other family/personal 

issues add to mix. This can all result in a caregiver 

lashing out physically or psychologically, neglecting 

the senior or justifying financial abuse. 

With these risk factors identified, caregivers have 

a responsibility to access all available resources to 

ease these areas. As previously discussed, frequent 

communication with the capable senior about their 

desires and values is essential. This allows confident 

decision-making, relieving guilt and anxiety. Also 

realize that most seniors will eventually need a team 

of caregivers including personal and professional 

supports. Many supplementary services are free, up to 

a specified amount, including nursing care and hygiene 

assistance. There are also organizations that help with 

respite, equipment and education regarding specific 


What is elder abuse 

Elder abuse is a single or 

repeated act, or failure to act, 

causing harm or distress to an 

older adult. This abouse may 

occur within any relationship in 

which there is an expectation 

of trust. Such abuse is generally 

divided into the following 

categories: physical/sexual 

abuse, psychological/emotional 

abuse, financial/material abuse 

and neglect. (2) 

conditions. These organizations often have access to 

counseling professionals and advocates to help with 

emotional and practical solutions. And remember the 

old saying—you can’t take care of others unless you 

take care of yourself. 

Witnesses 

One in fi ve Canadians believe they know of a senior 

who might be experiencing some type of abuse (1) . It 

can be heart wrenching to witness abuse, evoking 

strong feelings, opinions and judgment. Listen to 

the senior and ensure that they are informed of their 

options for personal and professional assistance. Try 

to educate and reassure the senior rather than making 

decisions on their behalf. Focus on problem-solving 

and safety planning. If mental capacity is in question, 

you may want to consult with an agency if the senior’s 

ability to understand and appreciate is compromised. 

A trained professional, such as a social worker, may be 

able to assess the risk. If the situation is an emergency, 

arrange for immediate intervention with the consent 

of the senior whenever possible. 

It can be especially diffi cult when a capable senior 

does not want admit to abuse or refuses to seek 

help. Understand that identifying abuse and reaching 

“…frequent 

communication 

with the capable 

senior about their 

desires and values 

is essential. This 

allows confi dent 

decision-making, 

relieving guilt and 

anxiety.” 

out for help can be terrifying. This is a result of the 

abuse itself where a senior may feel intimidated, 

ashamed or guilty about the situation. The possibility 

of abandonment or retaliation can be petrifying. 

Often times, an abuser may convince the senior that 

no one will take them seriously. As well, loyalty to the 

abuser is also very common, especially if the abuse 

is unintentional. If a capable senior decides not to 

seek help, it is their right to make this decision. In 

this case, your most important role is to continue to 

offer support during their experience, and to seek 

your own support to help cope with what you are 

witnessing and to learn effective communication 

with all those involved. HWS 

Kathryn L. Pummell, R.S.W., is a Medical Social 

Worker in Niagara. 

REFERENCES 

1. Federal Elder Abuse Initiative, “Elder Abuse—It’s Time 

to Face the Reality”, June 2009 

2. Ontario Association of Social Workers, “Elder Abuse— 

a practical handbook for service providers”, 2009, p.5. 

What are indicators of 

abuse and neglect (1) 

• Fear, anxiety, depression or 

passiveness in relation to a 

family member, friend or care 

provider. 

• Unexplained physical injuries. 

• Dehydration, poor nutrition or 

poor hygiene. 

• Improper use of medication. 

• Confusion about new legal 

documents, such as a new 

will or new mortgage. 

• Sudden drop in cash flow or 

financial holdings. 

• Reluctance to speak about the 

situation. 

Where to go for help: 

• Seniors Safety Line 

1-866-299-1011 

• Ontario Network for the 

Prevention of Elder Abuse 

416-916-6728 

• Long-term care ACTION Line 

1-866-434-0144 

• Retirement Home Complaints 

Response and Information 

Service 1-800-361-7254 



Bring On The Fiddleheads! 

This funny sounding vegetable can make a serious difference with your health. 

Fiddlehead ferns cleaned and ready for cooking. 

BY SCOTT LESLIE 

When we were young, one of the last things we 

looked forward to as kids was having to “eat our 

greens.” Broccoli Brussel sprouts Vegetables like these 

have been the bane of many a childhood. But times have 

changed. Now we’re all grown up and eating the same 

old veggies isn’t such a bad prospect anymore, particularly 

if we want to feel better and eat healthier. 

But there’s a relatively new vegetable on the block you 

might not have tried before. It’s called a “fiddlehead.” 

Fiddleheads might have a funny-sounding name. But 

there’s nothing funny about how good they taste—or 

how good they are for you. 

Fiddlehead Origins Revealed 

Let’s take a step back for a minute…just what are 

fiddleheads To put it simply, fiddleheads are the 

unfurled leaves of the ostrich fern (otherwise known 

as Matteuccia struthiopteris) and take their name from 

their resemblance to the neck of a fiddle. They’re deep 

green in colour and are normally about two inches long 

when harvested. 

This unique vegetable is often found growing wild 

along many fresh waterways in eastern North America. 

Over the years, fiddleheads have become a traditional 

dish in New England, Quebec and the Maritimes—and 

have been a staple of the native diet for centuries. 

Like all vegetables, Fiddleheads are seasonal in nature. 

(They’re normally available from April to June.) In fact, the 

harvesting period for fiddleheads only lasts about two 

weeks because they’re only coiled for a few days. But 

despite their relative anonymity, fiddleheads are quickly 

becoming a popular choice for better health and the 

dinner table. 

A Healthy Substitute 

One of the big attractions to fiddleheads health-wise 

is that they’re all-natural. For a start, fiddleheads are 

chemical-free because they’re grown in a wild setting and 

aren’t sprayed with pesticides, herbicides or fertilizers. 

And fiddleheads are normally packaged without any 

artificial colours, additives or preservatives. 

But fiddleheads can provide a host of other healthy 

benefits. For instance, fiddleheads are a good source of 

protein, iron, magnesium, phosphorus, potassium and zinc. 

They also have several nutrients including vitamin A, vitamin 

B, vitamin C, niacin, copper and manganese. Fiddleheads are 

extremely low in cholesterol and sodium. 

Studies indicate that eating five daily servings of 

fiddleheads (along with other vegetables) can help reduce 

the chance of developing certain cancers. Fiddleheads also 

contain a variety of carotenoids and phenol compounds, 

making fiddleheads one of the most antioxidant-rich 

vegetables available in the supermarket these days. 

Fiddleheads are the perfect choice if you’re looking 

for a change of pace from your typical vegetables. They 

can be used in all sorts of vegetable recipes whether it’s 

casseroles, pastas or stir-frys and act as a substitute for 

broccoli, cauliflower, spinach and asparagus. 

One precaution when eating fiddleheads, however. 

They can be mildly toxic if eaten raw so it’s important to 

cook them properly. Start by removing the skins and boil 

them at least twice, making sure the water is replaced 

between boilings. (The boiled water will turn dark due 

to the fiddleheads’ high iron content.) This will reduce 

any bitterness and possible toxins. As a rule, fiddleheads 

should be boiled for up to ten minutes—or steamed 

for twenty minutes—to ensure they’re fully cooked. 

Fiddleheads will have a strong or mild taste depending 

on how long you cook them. After cooking fiddleheads, 

drain them thoroughly and feel free to add lemon, vinegar 

or grated cheese before serving. 

With the increasing demand for healthier, more 

nutritious choices in the produce aisle, unique items like 

fiddleheads are becoming a popular delicacy. Why not 

try them with your next vegetable recipe You might be 

surprised how much a vegetable with a funny name can 

spice up the average family dinner. Just don’t tell your 

kids they’re good for them. You might have an uprising 

on your hands. HWS 


The Interview 

“The first marathon I 

got involved in was the 

Marine Corp Marathon 

in Washington, and 

I’ve competed in eight 

marathons and 17 

duathlons since. It gives 

you a great feeling of 

accomplishment.”

BY SCOTT LESLIE 

Doug Geddie is a busy man these 

days—and it’s easy to see why. 

Whether it’s marathon running, cycling, 

golfing or curling, Doug is an inspiration 

for all of us to keep healthy, stay fit and 

pursue our goals. 

Four years ago, he began attending 

running clinics at Runners’ Edge—an athletic 

footwear store in St. Catharines—and 

since that time, Doug hasn’t looked back. 

He has qualified and competed in several 

prominent competitions including the 

Ottawa National Capital Marathon, the 

Toronto International Marathon and the 

fabled Boston Marathon. 

Doug has also had a lifelong love for 

curling, playing the game as well as coaching 

juniors. In 2002, he was even named 

Sportsperson of the Year by the City of 

St. Catharines for his role in bringing the 

Canadian Junior Curling Championships 

to the Niagara Region. 

When he’s not busy training for competition, 

Doug is the owner and operator 

of Geddie & Associates—a full-service 

adverting agency he formed in 2004. His 

clients include everything from universities, 

hospitals and government agencies 

to law firms, owner-managed companies 

and social service agencies. 

DOUG GEDDIE 

T H E R U N N I N G M A N 

How did you first get involved in running 

When you’re a business person, you’re sitting at a desk all day and fitness just 

goes out the window. A few years ago, I was really feeling out of shape and 

looking for a change when I heard about the clinics at Runners’ Edge. When 

you lead an active lifestyle, the benefits are enormous, and I started to notice 

the difference right away. I began to lose weight. I started to sleep and eat 

better—it was very satisfying for me. 

You’ve had a lot of success in the sport in a relatively short span 

of time. 

One of the advantages as you get older is you have a better chance of qualifying. 

The first marathon I got involved in was the Marine Corp Marathon in Washington, 

and I’ve competed in eight marathons and 17 duathlons since. It gives you a great 

feeling of accomplishment. The duathlons are a lot of fun because you get to run 

and cycle at the same event so there’s a lot of variety. 

Do you do anything special to prepare for a competition 

Before an event, we normally go on a 20-week cycle with our training clinics. During 

our weekend clinics, we go on a 20 to 30 kilometre run. It might take two or three 

hours out of your Saturday morning but the benefits are worth it. 

What advice would you give someone thinking about becoming a 

marathon runner 

I’d recommend they start by getting involved with a running group. That way they’ll 

meet like-minded people with similar goals—and they’ll give you the incentive 

to push yourself even further. Running is really a great sport to get involved with 

because anyone can do it. It doesn’t take a big investment...and it’s a milestone 

many people can achieve. But it does take incredible dedication. In my case, I try 

to sneak in a run whenever I can. You just have to make time for it. Once you’re 

involved with running, it becomes an important part of your life. HWS 

Diet & 

Fitness 

“Overall I try to 

avoid things like 

alcohol, caffeine 

and sugars. I found 

it’s a great way to 

improve your diet 

and feel better 

about yourself. I 

also stay away 

from processed 

foods whenever I 

can, particularly 

when I’m training. 

For my exercise 

regimen, I run four 

days a week and 

cycle two days a 

week with a day 

off to rest and 

recharge.” 

“Running is really a great sport to get involved with because anyone can do it. It doesn’t take a big investment... 

and it’s a milestone many people can achieve. But it does take incredible dedication.” 


Dealing 

with disgruntled 

employees 

When an employee is angry with an 

organization, organizational policies, or 

coworkers, it is important for the issue to be 

taken seriously before the issue escalates into 

aggression or violence. Workplace aggressors 

and those who are likely to commit an act 

of violence are more than likely to verbalize 

their frustrations, so personnel should be 

trained to recognize these cues and apt to 

deal with them. The following are tactics to 

use when dealing with an angry employee: 

• Maintain eye contact. 

• Give the employee full attention. Stop 

what you were doing and show that you 

are taking the conversation seriously. 

• Speak and move calmly and slowly. 

• Sit, and encourage the employee to sit 

also. Arrange seating you so are 

situated closest to the door. 

• Try to create a relaxed environment. 

• Be aware of cultural differences. Don’t 

make assumptions based on your own 

background. Be aware of personal space 

and appropriate eye contact. 

• Encourage the employee to tell you why 

they are upset. 

• Do not interrupt. If you do not 

understand, ask them to clarify. 

• Acknowledge the employee’s feelings. 

• Ask for specific examples. 

• If their complaint is valid, accept 

responsibility and criticism. 

• Try to define the true problem. 

• Ask open-ended questions. 

• Be open and honest. 

• Encourage the employee that you will 

investigate the problem and search 

for a solution. Assure them that you 

will be following up with them as soon 

as possible. Thank them for bringing the 

problem to your attention. 

wikipedia.com 

Bill 168: Compliance means 

more than a policy 

“The key to being compliant is understanding what is happening in your 

workplace and coming up with an ongoing plan to make it free from violence.” 

BY MICHELLE MACINTOSH 

Over the past few months there has been a lot of talk 

about how to be Bill 168 compliant. My corporate 

clients are asking what makes compliance with Bill 168 

different than what they have done in the past when there 

were changes to the Act. My answer has two parts. 

The first is that meeting compliance with Bill 168 will 

reduce your costs long term. Think about it... if you eliminate 

gossiping, workplace bullying, and violence you will increase 

the bottom line of your business by reducing: 

• Workplace accidents 

• Sick leave and time off 

• Employee turnover 

• Employee Assistance Program costs 

• Stress-related lawsuits 

• Drug costs 

• Short term and long term disability 

The second point is the one that my corporate clients hear the 

loudest- Bill 168 is different because of the importance and 

relevance that the Ministry of Labour is placing on enforcing 

the Act! The Ministry of Labour has hired just under 200 

new Enforcement Officers to manage the projected increase 

in the number of workplace inspections. 

The Ministry of Labour views compliance as more than 

simply having a policy that sits on a bookshelf. To be viewed 

as compliant, workplaces need to have a program in place 

that covers policies, trains employees and demonstrates the 

knowledge that the employer has on the risks of violence 

in their workplace. To do this, managers, owners and 

supervisors have to be educated on the policy. They need 

to understand that the Act covers guests, suppliers, off-site 

workplaces, cars, travel and all of the potential violence 

involved with those situations. 

As well, there are two key pieces of information that are 

potential land mines within the Bill. First is that the Bill now 

covers domestic violence and managers and employers need 

to know the signs of this. Second, there are parts of Bill 168 

that challenge privacy issues set out by the Human Rights 

Commission and employers must understand both to know 

when to disclose information about potential violence and 

what information they are allowed to share. 

While Bill 168 appears overwhelming, good employers 

are eager to understand how violence is impacting their 

employees and their bottom line. The key to being compliant 

is understanding what is happening in your workplace and 

coming up with an ongoing plan to make it free from violence. 

Putting a policy on the shelf will not be enough! 

The Bill 168 changes are more in line with changes 

made to the OHSA creating Certification Part Two for the 

danger in the workplace. 

• Harm to image, reputation 

• Difficulty in employee recruitment, training and 

retention 

• Reduced morale and productivity 

• Strained management-employee relations 

• Harm to the Bottom Line 

The Ministry of Labour’s health and safety inspectors are 

trained to assess workplace health and safety issues, 

including whether an employer has: 

• Properly assessed the risk of workplace violence; 

• Implemented appropriate prevention strategies and 

training; and 

• Addressed workplace violence incidents. HWS 

Michelle MacIntosh is the owner of Symmetries— 

Balance for Work, Balance for Life. For more 

information on Bill 168 and how you can ensure 

your company is compliant please contact Michelle 

at 905-941-0000, michelle@symmetries.ca or visit 

www.symmetries.ca 


Create the outcomes you desire 

“It can’t hurt to be periodically reminded that we must carefully choose the outcomes we want, and then 

make choices that will lead us in the direction we want to go.” 

BY JULIE CHRISTIANSEN 

While on my most recent road trip from Niagara 

back to my home town of Ottawa, I was listening 

to some personal development CDs to pass the time. In 

the past, I have referred to personal growth as the peeling 

back of the layers of an onion—sometimes it’s a little 

painful, and you cry a bit, but then you get to the center 

where it’s really sweet. Another layer of the onion peeled 

back for me while I was on the road, and I’d like to share 

with you what I learned. 

Sometimes when I listen to tapes and CDs about 

personal growth, I tend to fall into the mindset of 

listening to them on behalf of the other people in my 

life (because I am so much more enlightened than they 

are). Now, I know that none of you have ever had this 

experience—where you have thought to yourself, “I 

know somebody who really needs to listen to this...” 

The truth is—it’s easier to transfer problems on to 

others than it is to admit that we may need help in a 

specific area of our lives. So, on this journey, somewhere 

into the first CD, I made a conscious decision to STOP 

doing that, and to think only about how the lessons I 

was listening to could help ME. 

An amazing thing happened: two statements in 

particular jumped out at me and had a profound effect 

on my thinking. The first was this: “Nothing in life 

has any meaning except the meaning we give it.” In 

other words, the only reason I feel sad, or upset, or 

disappointed in a person or event is because of the 

“meaning” I attach to it. This simple statement has far 

reaching implications for every aspect of my life! Now, 

when someone I love comes home in a bad mood, I 

no longer choose to believe that s/he is angry at me; 

I attach a different meaning based on the facts rather 

than my imagination. The fact is s/he is in a bad mood 

and needs some space. Another person’s bad mood 

no longer needs to affect my mood! Think about your 

own life—in what areas could you apply this concept 

in order to relieve pressure and stress and negativity 

in your life 

The second statement that has previously impacted 

my life in many ways, but affected me more deeply on 

this trip was this: “Everything that you have in your life 

right now is a result of your choices and responses.” In 

effect, we create our own outcomes! The challenge for 

most of us is that we really don’t define our outcomes; 

therefore, we are frequently upset by the outcomes 

we achieve! 

It can’t hurt to be periodically reminded that we 

must carefully choose the outcomes we want, and 

then make choices that will lead us in the direction we 

want to go. If we don’t do that—we aren’t justified in 

being upset when we end up with less than what we 

wanted. Ask yourself this: What are your outcomes Do 

you know what you want and how you plan to achieve 

it Something to think about over the next few weeks: 

Define your outcomes and make conscious choices to get 

yourself there! HWS 

Julie Christiansen is an international speaker, 

author and coach. To learn more about how Julie 

can help you create the outcomes you desire, visit 

her website at www.juliechristiansen.com. 

Marketplace 


Hand therapy specialist Andrea Hebert works with patient Pascal Limoges at the Hotel Dieu Shaver Health and Rehabilitation Centre. 

Patients Are in Good Hands with Hotel 

Dieu Shaver Program 

PROVIDED BY KEVIN VALLIER 

In a split second Pascal Limoges’ thoughts went 

from the home renovation project he was working 

on to fear and shock. With an accidental slip of the 

hand, the utility knife he was working with cut deep 

through his index finger, slicing the joint, tendon and 

nerve. Fortunately, the finger was still intact and after 

surgery to repair the extensive damage, extensive therapy 

to regain function and mobility would begin. That road 

to recovery would lead Pascal to the Hotel Dieu Shaver 

Health and Rehabilitation Centre, the Niagara Region’s 

centre of excellence for rehabilitation, complex continuing 

care and geriatric services. 

The physical pain was one thing. Pascal could deal 

with that, but the frustration of losing the use of his 

hand was another. No more playing guitar, no more home 

renovations and most importantly it made taking care of 

and playing with his children far more difficult. The 35 

year old St. Catharines resident was happy when he was 

referred to the Hotel Dieu Shaver and felt confident he 

was going to make good progress after his first meeting 

with certified hand therapist Andrea Hebert. 

Hotel Dieu Shaver’s Hand and Upper Extremity 

Program is well known throughout the Niagara Region 

and beyond for their quality of work and patient success 

stories. A multi-disciplinary team that incorporates the 

expertise of physio and occupational therapists, plastic 

surgeons, kinesiologists, rehab assistants and social 

workers, the team deals with a wide variety of hand and 

upper extremity disease, dysfunction and trauma from 

simple to complex. 

“We feel it’s important to care for the body, mind 

and spirit so that’s why the social worker plays a key 

role in the program as well,” says Ms. Hebert. “For many 

people there is a lot of stress and anxiety with a severe 

hand injury as well as some significant pain so not only 

is it important for therapists to treat the physical aspect 

but in order for the patient to get the most out of their 

therapy they need to have a strong, positive mental focus 

as well,” she added. 

The team also makes their own custom splints as 

well as incorporating adaptive equipment like golf clubs 

and fishing rods to help patients get back to enjoying 

their hobbies. 

The most common injuries that the team treats are 

fractures, joint replacements, soft tissue and tendon 

injuries, and many work and home related injuries like 

the crushing of the hand, table saw accidents and falls. 

Pascal had a second surgery this past December and 

was once again back to his home away from home at 

Hotel Dieu Shaver seeing Andrea to continue his therapy. 

With the second surgery and another round of therapy, 

he has seen even more improvement. 

As Pascal found out there is a lot of homework 

involved in his therapy in addition to the three visits a 

week to Hotel Dieu Shaver. “I know I need to do my 

stretches and exercises at home to get the most out of 

my rehab,” said Pascal. “I am seeing steady improvement 

so that is all the motivation I need. “I’m in good hands 

here,” he said with a smile. HWS 

Kevin Vallier is the Director, Development & 

Communications at Hotel Dieu Shaver. For more 

information on the programs available at Hotel 

Dieu Shaver please contact Kevin at 905-685-1381 

ext. 4826, kevin.vallier@hoteldieushaver.org or visit 

www.hoteldieushaver.org 


Ingredients 

• 8 slices french or italian bread 

• 2 cloves garlic, halved 

• 1 tsp canola oil 

• 2 tbsp onion, minced 

• 1 

large tomato, diced 

• 1/8 tsp dried oregano 

• 2 tsp parmesan cheese, grated 

• 4 

basil leaves 

Healthy Recipes 

Tomato Bruschetta Bread 

4 Servings 

Method 

Toast bread on both sides until brown under boiler in toaster oven, rub one side of hot 

toast with cut side of garlic half. 

Heat oil in non-stick skillet over medium-high heat, add onion and cook, stirring, until 

tender. Add tomato, oregano and pepper, stir to mix. 

Spoon tomato mixture over garlic side of hot toast and serve or sprinkle with parmesan 

and broil for 1 minute. Garnish with basil. 

Per serving 

Protein 7.6g 

Total fat 4.2g 

Carbohydrates 37g 

Calories 218 

Sodium 476 

Cholesterol 2mg 

This recipe and many others can be found in Heart Niagara’s “Cooking with Heart: 30th Anniversary 

Cookbook”. Visit www.heartniagara.com for more information. 

Grilled Herb 

Chicken with 

Wild Rice and 

Mushrooms 

4 Servings 

Ingredients 

• 3 table spoons of extra-virgin 

olive oil 

• 2 table spoons of fresh lemon juice 

• 1 table spoon of fresh minced 

thyme 

• 1/2 table spoon of fresh minced 

rosemary 

• 3/4 teaspoon of coarse salt 

• 1/2 teaspoon of fresh ground 

pepper 

• 2 whole skinned and debonned 

chicken breasts 

• 1 cup of wild rice 

• 4 cups of chicken broth 

• 1/2 pound of fresh portobello 

mushrooms with cleaned caps 

Method 

Wild Rice and Mushrooms: 

Grill mushroom caps, chop and set 

aside. In a heavy sauce pan combine 

the rice and broth and bring to a boil. 

Reduce heat and simmer for 40 to 50 

minutes or until rice is tender and liquid 

is absorbed. Add mushrooms and mix. 

Let it stand for 5 minutes and serve. 

Grilled Herb Chicken: 

Combine the first six ingredients 

on a tray and place chicken on top. 

Marinate by turning over and coating 

chicken. Marinate for 30 minutes, 

cook chicken on hot grill until done, 

serve on top of wild rice. 

Chef Paul has over 13 

years of experience cooking 

fine Italian cuisine, over 

15 years of weight lifting 

experience. If you have a 

question for Paul or would 

enjoy a personal trainer to 

motivate and stimulate your workouts, take the 

next step and contact Paul at 289-362-1279 or 

email at vinjeeper@live.ca.

therunningman - The Business Link Niagara

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