Jennifer Barnable

After some very different summers during the COVID-19 pandemic, many of us are more than ready to start exploring and socializing, making up for those times we were isolated from the people, places and activities that are dear to us. Here are five new things to try this summer, to mix up your summer game plan:

For people who use opioids, a major obstacle on the road to recovery is the harmful stigma they face around them. According to the Canadian Centre on Substance Use and Addiction, one in 10 Canadians currently experience substance use problems and a further eight in 10 people with substance use disorder report facing barriers to recovery, including stigma.

Canada is well known for its stunning and vast wilderness – and the adventurous people who explore it. There’s a certain sense of challenge and satisfaction that comes with backcountry expeditions – relying on yourself and your survival skills while immersed in nature. At the same time, adventuring in the wilderness comes with undeniable risks. Each year, the media reports tragic tales of ill-fated trips to remote areas.

Opioid poisoning can happen any time and to anyone: a loved one, friend, colleague or neighbour. If you found someone in need of help, would you know what to do to help? 

As Canadian Mental Health Association (CMHA) Mental Health Week and Emergency Preparedness Week coincide, we focus on the importance of prioritizing mental health and wellbeing during times of crisis.

In times of humanitarian crisis, finding accurate details and facts can be challenging in a sea of information. Both misinformation and disinformation can put our Red Cross staff, volunteers, and the people we seek to help at risk. Here’s how the Red Cross is helping on the ground in Ukraine and surrounding region.

The conflict in Ukraine is having widespread and devastating humanitarian impacts. Thanks to the generosity of Canadians, the Red Cross can offer humanitarian assistance to people in Ukraine and surrounding countries.
Here are five of the most effective ways you can offer help right now.

Sepideh Alvandi and Vahid Zolfagharimoheb are married physicians from Iran who arrived in July 2021 to make Canada their new home.
The couple wasted no time applying their professional skills and humanitarian drive to help others in need in their new country.