‘Amazing human being': Dr. Chris Ekong celebrated at Citizen of the Year event in Regina
Dr. Chris Ekong was celebrated at CTV Regina's Citizen of the Year event at the Hotel Saskatchewan on Wednesday. (Jenelle Lippai / CTV News)
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
CBC
35 minutes ago
- CBC
Homelessness and addiction hubs in Sault Ste. Marie and Sudbury face delays opening
Social Sharing Treatment (HART) hubs in northeastern Ontario are still waiting for final approvals from the province to start operating. On the eve of the provincial election, Ontario Health Minister Sylvia Jones announced 19 new HART hubs would be operational by April 1. The hubs would provide access to recovery and treatment systems for people struggling with addictions and mental health issues, but would not provide any safe drug consumption services. Lisa Case is the CEO of the Canadian Mental Health Association (CMHA) Algoma, which was chosen to run the HART hub in Sault Ste. Marie. She said the organization has submitted its budget with the province for the planned hub. Ontario's Ministry of Health and Ontario Health have reviewed that submission, Case said, but now she's waiting for additional feedback. "We have received updated terms and conditions related to that funding that we're reviewing with our partners and responding with some additional questions, but we're still in that holding pattern right now," Case said. She said the province has allocated CMHA Algoma a budget of $6.31 million annually over three years to run its HART hub. Case added the services are especially needed in northern Ontario. "We've been hit harder across the north in spite of the creativity that we've used as community partners and the interventions we're able to provide," she said. "We're seeing just the volumes of individuals seeking help and then often the distance to get help." The City of Greater Sudbury will run a HART Hub in collaboration with the Health Sciences North hospital. The city says it's still finalizing logistical details but should have more concrete information to share by next week. Ema Popovic, a spokesperson for Ontario's health minister, said in an email to CBC News that nine HART hubs in the province that were previously supervised drug consumption sites opened on April 1. That includes the NorWest Community Health Centre in Thunder Bay.
Globe and Mail
an hour ago
- Globe and Mail
Canadian Nuclear Laboratories and the University of Ottawa Accelerate Low Dose Radiation Research and Foster Next Generation of Scientists
CHALK RIVER, Ontario, June 09, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Canadian Nuclear Laboratories (CNL), Canada's premier nuclear science and technology organization, and the University of Ottawa (uOttawa), one of Canada's most innovative universities, are pleased to announce a new partnership to advance knowledge, education, research and innovation in low dose radiation (LDR) exposure health effects. Leveraging the leading research organizations' complementary capabilities, the new partnership builds on CNL's global leadership in LDR research with the establishment of a CNL-led LDR innovation hub, accelerating research critical to public safety and the health of Canadians. It will also serve to increase capabilities, education and training opportunities to graduate students and early career researchers. The partnership will also extend uOttawa researchers' access to Atomic Energy of Canada Limited's world class facilities at Chalk River Laboratories, including the unique Biological Research Facility, associated irradiation facilities and LDR Tissue Bank, and establishes a CNL satellite laboratory within uOttawa's new Advanced Medical Research Centre (AMRC) – set to open in 2026. This physical presence will be co-located with the Ottawa Institute of Systems Biology (OISB) as well as uOttawa state-of-the-art Core Facilities, which altogether will support new research directions in radiation sciences and advanced organoid-based systems biology. These areas are rapidly developing strengths at uOttawa, positioning the university as a national, and potentially international, leader in this field. uOttawa will also offer reciprocal access to key research facilities on campus, in addition to those located at the faculty of medicine and in AMRC. 'As a major player in the global research and development effort to support LDR research, CNL is focused on the prevention or reduction of radiation exposure effects in workers, patients and the larger population,' says Dr. Stephen Bushby, Vice-President, Science & Technology, CNL. 'We are very excited to include uOttawa as a major partner in the work needed to shed light on this complex field of research.' As part of this partnership, CNL will be contributing towards the acquisition of a mass spectrometer, which will be installed in the in the Metabolomics Core Facility at uOttawa. This strategic investment, supporting collaborative initiatives between OISB and CNL, will enable leading-edge single-cell metabolomics and spatial metabolomics, a rapidly advancing field with transformative potential in biomedical research. This will be the only equipment of its kind in eastern Canada, offering unique capabilities for high-resolution chemical imaging at the cellular level. The instrument will not only serve researchers at uOttawa, but also attract national and international collaborators, firmly establishing uOttawa as a leader in metabolomics and precision health research. The mass spectrometer will be a central component of the new Spatial Biology and Single-Cell Suite (3S) within the AMRC. This cutting-edge suite will integrate transformative new technologies into a coordinated workflow that complements and enhances five existing and intensively used Core Facilities: Flow Cytometry, Metabolomics, Gene Editing, Cellular Imaging, and Bioinformatics. By bridging these platforms, 3S will significantly expand research capabilities in some of uOttawa's strongest areas of discovery, particularly brain, heart, and cancer biology—driving breakthroughs in systems biology, precision medicine, and therapeutic development. 'This new equipment, the only one of its kind in Eastern Canada, positions the University of Ottawa as a leader in metabolomics and precision health research, while attracting national and international collaborations,' says Julie St-Pierre, Interim Vice-President, Research and Innovation, uOttawa. This new partnership builds on over a decade of collaborative research involving CNL and multiple uOttawa faculties, including Engineering, Science and Medicine. These collaborations have advanced understanding of the biomedical impacts of LDR, including studies on DNA damage and repair, protein synthesis, epigenetics, mitochondrial biology, metabolism, immunity, and stem cell functions. As part of this partnership, CNL has also provided funding support for postdoctoral fellow stipends, further enabling high-impact research and talent development. With the field of LDR research growing and Canadian leadership in LDR research well-recognized, both organizations will continue to explore additional opportunities to further strengthen this partnership. About CNL As Canada's premier nuclear science and technology laboratory and working under the direction of Atomic Energy of Canada Limited (AECL), CNL is a world leader in the development of innovative nuclear science and technology products and services. Guided by an ambitious corporate strategy known as Vision 2030, CNL fulfills three strategic priorities of national importance – restoring and protecting the environment, advancing clean energy technologies, and contributing to the health of Canadians. By leveraging the assets owned by AECL, CNL also serves as the nexus between government, the nuclear industry, the broader private sector and the academic community. CNL works in collaboration with these sectors to advance innovative Canadian products and services towards real-world use, including carbon-free energy, cancer treatments and other therapies, non-proliferation technologies and waste management solutions. To learn more about CNL, please visit The University of Ottawa is powered by research. Located in Canada's capital, we bring together energetic and creative scholars to tackle urgent global challenges and to respond to emerging opportunities. As one of Canada's most innovative universities, we generate breakthroughs and discoveries that make a real difference in communities across Ontario, Canada and the world. Our thought leaders provide evidence-based insights that inform policy and support industry. Our influence keeps growing due to our vast range of international partnerships, including our membership in the U7+ Alliance. As the world's largest French-English university, we are a driving force in the Francophonie. To learn more about uOttawa, please visit uOttawa contact: media@ A photo accompanying this announcement is available at
CTV News
an hour ago
- CTV News
Cochrane curling club shares concerns over YMCA's proposed takeover of rec centre
The Spray Lakes Sawmills Centre could soon be operated by YMCA Calgary next year, if the town and county approves a plan for the organization to takeover the facility this month. (File/Google Maps) A local group in a community west of Calgary is sharing their concerns about a proposed takeover of a recreation centre it says it invested heavily in for many years. The Cochrane Curling Club Society (CCC) says YMCA Calgary is seeking permission to takeover operation of the Spray Lakes Sawmills Centre (SLSC), a facility owned by both the Town of Cochrane and Rocky View County. The CCC says the shift 'will have widespread implications for the thousands of residents and user groups who rely on SLSC.' Some of the concerns include a loss of control, given that the operator is headquartered in Calgary, potential increases in fees, loss of jobs, redirection of revenue and the possible closure of the On-The-Rocks Lounge. The CCC is also worried about an 'erosion of public trust' and the lack of public consultation about the decision. 'We are not opposed to evolution or new partnerships,' said Kendall Waiting, CCC president, in a news release. 'But the people of Cochrane built this centre together — and their voices must be heard before it is handed over to an external operator with no local governance, no curling experience and no direct community accountability.' According to YMCA Calgary, the town and county issued a request for proposals last year for a new operating model for the SLSC. It says this was done in response to Cochrane's continued growth to ensure the facility remains sustainable, responsive and offers good service to residents. YMCA Calgary says it was chosen because of its wealth of experience. 'YMCA Calgary has over 123 years of experience delivering health, wellness and recreation services across the region including in the City of Calgary and in Kananaskis Country,' it said. YMCA Calgary says it plans to retain as many of the SLSC staff as possible and will honour agreements with existing sports groups, including the CCC. However, the organization suggested that the fate of the On the Rocks Lounge is a little more unclear. 'The YMCA understands that the lounge is a beloved space for social connection, activity viewing and community-building. We also understand the importance of predictability and operational continuity for members, user groups, and the broader community. 'While YMCA employees will not be involved in serving alcohol on an operational basis, we look forward to working through an open and collaborative process to find a solution that enables the continued responsible enjoyment of the lounge.' A public hearing about the proposal is scheduled to take place at the Cochrane Ranchehouse at 5:30 p.m. on June 11. At that meeting, the CCC says residents will be able to speak with town council before a final decision is made. The agreement is expected to be finalized later this spring, with a full operational transition expected to occur by early 2026.
