Zoomer Week In Review

Lung cancer is the number one cause of cancer death and now there’s a new program that will save lives. Ontario is the first province to start screening people who are at high risk for the disease. Dr. Paul Wheatly Price is an Oncologist, specializing in lung cancer at The Ottawa Hospital Cancer Centre. Libby Znaimer talked with him about how the program works and who is eligible. AND These days we talk a lot about trauma - but rarely mention its antidote - consolation. Music, painting, literature and religion are all places we have turned to through the ages to find comfort in dark times. That’s the subject of former Liberal leader Michael Ignatieff’s latest book: On Consolation.

Mark Schatzker Interview It’s a fascinating new theory on what’s behind the huge increase in  obesity. It turns on the idea that the solution to a different epidemic - 100 years ago - became one of the causes of the obesity epidemic. And it also explains why many Europeans  who eat calorie-rich diets manage to stay thin. I talked with author Mark Schatzker about “The End of Craving - Recovering the Lost Wisdom of Eating Well.”

Born out of an urgent need to help seniors get vaccinated against COVID-19 early in the pandemic, York Region’s PinkCars is still in high gear driving seniors to get their COVID booster shots, and helping them download vaccine QR codes. But PinkCars is providing more than a chauffeur service, it’s helped lift the isolation felt by so many seniors during the pandemic. Shonta Sundarason is the driving force behind Pink Cars. AND Author Sheila VanZile had a seemingly successful and satisfied life. But like many women of her generation, by age 60, she felt disconnected, unhappy and unfulfilled after neglecting her own needs. Her awakening came after her Mother’s death, launching Sheila on a new path where she’s learning to let go of trauma and self loathing. In her book MY WATERFALL OF AWAKENING, VanZile explores forgiveness, grief and invites the reader to share their own feelings through a guided journal.

How do you choose the charities you support and how do you know if your contribution is making an impact? With the holiday giving season about to begin, the non-profit Charity Intelligence is out with its annual analysis and rankings. Libby Znaimer talked with researcher Greg Thomson. AND She was the first female foreign correspondent on network television. Libby Znaimer first met Canadian Hilary Brown when she was a fledgling reporter in the Tel Aviv bureau of the Associated Press and she was a star correspondent for NBC. By that time, she had already covered the Vietnam War and the Yom Kippur War. She came by our studios to talk about her memoir “War Tourist.”

This year marks a century since the poppy became a symbol of remembrance in Canada. We became the first country to adopt it - after the cause was taken up by a French woman inspired by John McCrae’s iconic poem In Flanders’ Field. Libby Znaimer learned about the history of the poppy from Steven Clark National Executive Director of The Royal Canadian Legion. AND The discovery of insulin was one of the greatest medical breakthroughs ever and it remains the only effective treatment for Type 1 diabetes. A hundred years ago this week, the first experiments at the University of Toronto were successful. And while the credit usually goes to Sir Frederick Banting and Charles Best - there were two others who made it all possible. Libby reached Dr. Jacalyn Duffin, to learn more.

Have you helped an adult child buy a home by giving them a large cash gift? With housing prices through the roof, two thirds of first time buyers say the Bank of Mom and Dad was the main source of their down payment. And according to a new report from CIBC , Canadian parents kicked in a total of $10 billion last year - with the average gift here in Toronto topping $130,000. Libby Znaimer talked with CIBC economist Benjamin Tal for the story behind these numbers. AND Like every other medical procedure, the treatment for stroke was set back because of the pandemic with many patients waiting too long to go to the hospital. This week marked World Stroke Day - a good time to go over the signs, symptoms and most of all the timeline for ensuring a good recovery. Libbt talked with Dr. Atif Zafar, Director of the Comprehensive Stroke Program at St. Michael’s Hospital.

Will you have enough income for a comfortable retirement? Have you taken the cost of ageing in place into account - especially if you need extra care? The National institute on Ageing says the answers to these questions is a resounding no. And Bonnie-Jean MacDonald, the director of financial security research has some suggestions. AND Less than two weeks ago a U.S. expert panel said Doctors should no longer routinely prescribe daily low-dose aspirin, for most people who are at high risk of heart disease. That’s because the risk of bleeding outweighs the benefit. But it only applies to people who have not had a cardiac event. That’s why cardiologists here are worried this guideline could cause harm. I talked with Dr. Mike Farkouh Cardiologist at UHN.

Cartoonists make a living lampooning the establishment - but now five of them are getting an honour reserved for national icons - their own stamps! The legendary Terry Mosher is also a prolific author and ideaCity alumnus who draws for the Montreal Gazette under the name Aislin. Libby Znaimer reached him in Montreal. AND We usually talk about loneliness in terms of health - but author Noreena Hertz has put an economic lens to it - explaining how the way we live has fragmented our communities and what we can do about it. Libby called her in London to talk about “The Lonely Century.”

It is one of the most beautiful aspects of our northern climate - the changing colours of fall foliage make for dazzling displays all across Ontario. But while most of us concentrate on where to to look at leaves Libby Znaimer asked Dr. Marc Cadotte, of the Department of Biological Sciences at University of Toronto-Scarborough, why their colours change. AND It’s something we should do every day, not just on Thanksgiving. There’s a school of thought which holds that practising gratitude can make us happier. Libby talked with psychologist Dr. Sam Klarridge.

It’s one of the biggest unanswered questions about the pandemic. How and where did it start? Last year, the most commonly accepted explanation was that it originated in the wet market in Wuhan. The thinking on that it changing but it bothered Toronto investigative journalist Elaine Dewar from the start. Libby Znaimer talked with her about her new book: On the Origin of the Deadliest Pandemic in 100 Years: An Investigation. AND CARP convened a huge virtual meeting to mark National Seniors Day on October 1. It was billed an emergency meeting because of their take on the approach or lack thereof to older Canadians by all parties in the recent election. Libby chatted with David Cravit, CARP’s Chief Membership Officer.

Was it a 600 million much ado about nothing? The dust is settling on the federal election that did little to shift the balance of power in Ottawa. Call it groundhog day, or deja vu, but Justin Trudeau returns to power again to form a minority government. No leaders have stepped down, but Trudeau failed to secure a majority, Erin O'Toole and Jagmeet Singh failed to achieve breakthroughs for the Conservatives and N-D-P, and the leaders of the People's Party of Canada and the Green Party failed to win their seats. Zoomer News VP Libby Znaimer assembled a group of political pundits to weigh in. AND Citing air pollution as one of the biggest environmental threats to human health, the World Health Organization has just introduced new guidelines aimed at reducing deaths from key pollutants that cause cancer, cardiovascular and respiratory diseases. The agency believes these new stricter rules could save millions of lives after finding air pollution’s impact on health is far worse than previously thought. We reache

“Oops I forgot to Save Money” - The book title captures a conundrum that many people, especially women, face. It’s a big problem that author, actor and screenwriter Monica Parker owned up to and overcame. We talked about her story. AND When the election was called he was unfamiliar to most Canadians and not especially popular even with Conservatives. But Erin O’Toole has led his Conservative Party to a dead heat with Justin Trudeau’s Liberals. I talked with him earlier this week about his plans for older Canadians.

There are some events, when recalled, that take us back to that day. The assassinations of the Kennedy brothers, John and Robert, or Martin Luther King Jr. And the 9-11 attacks are another such tragedy. Two of the four coordinated terrorist attacks targeted New York's World Trade Center, 20 years ago. Sharing his recollection now, Hans Gerhardt, former general manager of Toronto's Sutton Place, who lost one of his sons, Ralph, who worked at the World Trade Centre. AND As many Canadians and their families know, COVID-19 has exhausted so many healthcare workers, including nurses that many want out. And while the country faces an urgent shortage, nursing schools are having to turn away some of those wishing to make it a career. Bob Komsic spoke with Linda Silas, president of the federation of nurses unions that represents almost 200-thousand unionized nurses and nursing students.

This time of year marks an annual rite of passage for many as parents send their kids off to university for the first time. Heading back to school no matter the age, often brings its own challenges and one of them this time is anxiety about being separated from families after months of togetherness. Now add into the mix, a pandemic with worries about distancing, vaccines and new ways to socialize. It can all seem overwhelming for parents and students. Dr. Sam Klarreich is a Toronto psychologist with some advice on how to mitigate these extra challenges. AND Bird watching? Or cooking? Just two popular courses offered for older adults this year thru the Toronto District School Board’s Learn 4 life program that serves older adults. Register now for not only credit programs but general interest courses and it seems the pandemic has boosted the number of older adults wanting to learn something new. Belkis Romero is a continuing education program manager with the Toronto District School Board.

Canada has ended its airlift mission from Afghanistan but Ehsan Saadat, his wife, and four children are among the lucky ones who got out in time. Their escape to Canada had to be kept a secret even from immediate family members because the mission was just too dangerous. The 33-year-old researcher on women's rights put him at risk, but just days after applying to come to Canada the family of six boarded a plane just seven days before the country fell to the Taliban and are starting their new lives in Kitchener. AND Once told he would never graduate high school, Dr. Alika Lafontaine is set to become the first ever indigenous president of the Canadian Medical Association next year. He struggled in school but credits his success to mentors along the way, including his parents and siblings. After witnessing systemic racism in Canadian health, the Grande Prairie Alberta anesthesiologist created an app where patients can anonymously report racism.

More mail-in ballots, delayed results, and different polling places. These are just some of the changes to expect during this pandemic election. Libby got the details from Elections Canada’s Dugald Maudsley AND It may be high summer but this is usually the time when snowbirds start sorting out their insurance for the winter trip. Last year, most of the one million Canadians who usually go south stayed home. But surveys show that this year, the vast majority intend to spend winter in warmer climates. Libby talked with Travel Insurance expert Martin Firestone of Travel Secure about what you need to know

It’s Finals day at the National Bank Open, one of the first large events to resume in the wake of COVID-19. The week-long tennis tournament in Toronto and Montreal was a very different experience for both players and fans. Libby talked with managing director Gavin Ziv about the demands of pandemic planning. AND Unlike the tennis tournament, many charities will be holding their big events virtually for the second time. That’s why, this week, the Terry Fox Foundation unveiled a star-studded show it produced called Terry Fox - the Power of One. It began with Tom Cochrane on stage while images of Terry’s run 41 years ago were projected behind him. We thought it was a good time to revisit our interview with Terry’s brother Darryl Fox, recorded a year ago to mark the 40th anniversary of the Marathon of Hope.

We know him as a leading geriatrician and member of Ontario’s COVID-19 Science Advisory Table - and he’s also a frequent guest on this radio station. So what is making Dr. Nathan Stall turn to politics? Libby talked with him shortly after he announced that he is seeking the Ontario Liberal nomination in Toronto-St. Paul’s. AND Beekeeping has been booming because of the pandemic. With people spending more time at home;  an increased focus on the natural world; and local, sustainable food has made this a big covid-era hobby. Libby chatted with Michelle Wolfson of the Ontario Beekeepers’ Association.

Vaccine hesitancy is declining in Canada. But recent polling shows that between 17 and 20% of Canadians still need to be convinced to get their shots. Why are they fearful and what makes them come around? Libby talked with Peta-Gay Batten - executive assistant at the RNAO who recently rolled up her sleeves. Last week, museums re-opened their doors to the public, You can already go to the movies and theatre are preparing to welcome back audiences in house. Are you ready? And Is this enough to help our battered cultural sector recover. Libby talked with Claire Hopkinson, Director and CEO of Toronto Arts Council and Toronto Arts Foundation

This week the government convened two summits to combat hate: one on Islamophobia, one on Antisemitism. The circumstances of the latter gathering were dictated by the alarming rise in hate against the Jewish community. It was mostly closed to the public to ensure the safety of those participating. Former federal justice minister Irwin Cotler, now Canada's special envoy for preserving Holocaust remembrance and combating antisemitism, was front and centre. Libby reached him in Montreal. AND The pandemic has changed the way we see ageing and our priorities for healthcare as the virus fades. According to the National Institute on Ageing, older Ontarians want adequate homecare while the government is focused on building new LTC homes. And the homecare system is dysfunctional - with the public agency the PC’s promised to abolish still in place while private companies deliver the care. Libby talked to leading geriatrician Dr. Samir Sinha, who is the NIA’s Director of health policy research