MS Society of Canada, Atlantic Division
1-109 Ilsley Ave. B3B 1S8 Dartmouth, NS, Canada

This weekend, participating restaurants in #savourfestival will help people living with MS by donating a portion of their sales to the MS Society of Canada. If you're in the neighbourhood, visit Louis's Cozy Corner, Bras d'Or Lakes Inn, Vernon's Thunderbird Diner, Agricola Street Brasserie, Boardwalk Taproom and Eatery, or danielsalehouseandeatery. You can also bring a celebrity chef into your kitchen with our Chef at Home experience. Click here to buy tickets: https://bit.ly/34eDbjp .

"My mom was diagnosed with MS while I was still in high school. I watched helplessly as the disease took away her mobility and her livelihood as a cook. But despite how much it took away, it never took her sense of humour or love for food. We are honored to be able to celebrate her and her passion for good food and good company by participating in the MS Society’s #SavourFestival. Since my mom’s passing, we've continued to raise funds and awareness as we fight for a cure for ...all of our friends in the MS community. We will be donating $1 from every piece of specialty cheesecake sold, and $1 from every #4 Chinese Combo sold my mom’s favourite." - Vanessa, Owner of Louie's Cosy Corner, St. Peters, Nova Scotia This October, 30+ restaurants are coming together to put Canada's culinary scene on full display through this exciting new initiative that is sure to satisfy your taste buds. From October 2-4, get ready to indulge in your local restaurants' most delectable dishes. By trying a new cuisine from a business in your community, a portion of all sales or proceeds from a select menu item will be donated to support the tens of thousands of Canadians living with MS. Learn more about #savourfestival: https://bit.ly/2GhMKpr

Foodies, get out your pans and aprons! It's time to learn how to cook a delicious meal that is sure to impress your dinner guests - all while supporting Canadians living with MS. Renowned chef, TV personality, and cookbook author Chef Vikram Vij is stepping into his home kitchen to bring you an exclusive "Chef at Home" experience. Formerly known for his role as a Dragon on Dragon's Den, Vikram is one of Canada's most celebrated and adored chefs and has even cooked for the Roy...als. Vikram, along with his business partner Meeru, are founders and owners of the popular Vij's destination restaurant in Vancouver, BC. On October 2, at 6 pm ET / 3 pm PT, he invites you to cook his family's famous chicken curry with him for #savourfestival and tune into an exclusive Q&A session. The funds raised will support life-changing MS research, programs and services, and advocacy work to improve the quality of life for people affected by MS. Tickets are selling out fast, so register today to learn from the culinary star: https://bit.ly/33U3Rpu

It’s the foodie event of the fall that you won’t want to miss. Savour: A Culinary Festival combines cuisine and cause in the ultimate pairing: the food we love and supporting Canadians affected by MS. From October 2-4, select restaurants across the country are coming together to put Canada's culinary scene on full display through this exciting new initiative that is sure to satisfy your taste buds . By trying a new cuisine from a business in your community, a portion of a...ll sales or proceeds from a select menu item will be donated to support the tens of thousands of Canadians living with multiple sclerosis. The MS Society is also partnering with Canada's most renowned chefs, including Rob Gentile and Vikram Vij, to bring you an exclusive "Chef at Home" experience from the comfort of your own home. Kick your cooking skills up a notch by learning how to master signature dishes from Canada's hottest chefs. See which restaurants and chefs are taking part in #savourfestival by visiting: https://bit.ly/32WQ16w. See more

The MS Society of Canada is launching a free online, weekly exercise program beginning September 23 and running for eight weeks thanks to a partnership with Toronto Rehab’s Together in Movement and Exercise (TIME). With many recreation programs and fitness centres closed due to COVID-19, people with movement challenges are facing greater risk of becoming less active. The TIME team at the University Health Network have developed an online version of their exercise program, ...designed to encourage people with movement issues to keep fit and stay active while remaining at home. This online program is curated for people with mobility challenges who want to: - Be more confident in their balance - Feel stronger and more active - Move with more ease in their home and community - Enjoy the many benefits of regular exercise The program will take place via the online platform, Zoom. Sessions include various fitness and wellness exercises developed to strengthen muscles in the legs and core, and improve coordination, agility, and overall fitness. For more information and to register, visit www.mssociety.ca/virtualtime. See more

HEAR from the EXPERTS WEBINAR TOMORROW: With several different treatments for managing MS, do you feel overwhelmed when deciding the right options for you? Assessing all the information can be difficult, but it is vital to helping you take charge of your MS. September 23 at 8 pm AT/8:30 pm NT, join pharmacist Catherine Savard for an informative webinar that can positively impact your symptom management. Catherine will distinguish between available treatments, assess the importance and identifying the right time for vaccination, options for natural products and their limitations, and more. Register today: bit.ly/3i86qK8.

Peace can mean many different things to many different people. Peace without wars, without hatred, or discrimination based on a person’s race, culture, way of life or religion. Peace with living each day focusing on people’s abilities, not disabilities and recognizing the ways to help others when we have the capacity to do so. Celebrate today by spreading compassion, kindness and hope. #PeaceDay

What I miss most are the simple things. I miss the walks we would take hand in hand, leaning on his shoulder. I miss the slow dancing with my head buried in his chest. I miss getting lost in his embrace. Until you can't do these things anymore, you have no idea how beautiful something so simple is. When Leilanie Marianetti got engaged to Michael 22 years ago, she never imagined that the love of her life would be diagnosed with an incurable disease. Today, she turns to faith... in MS research that one day, life may look different for her and her family. Finding a cure would be life-changing for millions of families affected by MS. We need to support the MS Society so we can get closer to a cure, says Leilanie. Your time, your donation, it matters it’s what will ultimately impact tens of thousands of Canadians affected by MS. The September 17 edition of Maclean's (supplement by Mediaplanet Canada) features the Marianetti family’s resilient journey with MS. While there's been incredible progress in MS research in the past two decades, there's still much to be done in getting closer to a cure. Learn more about how you can help Canadians affected by MS, like the Marianetti family: https://bit.ly/32KdmIt. Pick up your copy to read more.

With several different treatments for managing MS, do you feel overwhelmed when deciding the right options for you? Assessing all the information can be difficu...lt, but it is vital to helping you take charge of your MS. On September 23 at 7 pm ET/4 pm PT, join pharmacist Catherine Savard for an informative webinar that can positively impact your symptom management. Catherine will distinguish between available treatments, assess the importance and identifying the right time for vaccination, options for natural products and their limitations, and more. Register today and join us to Hear from the Experts: bit.ly/3i86qK8. Press get reminder to be notified when we go live.

Check out the latest MS Society Atlantic E-Newsletter... https://bit.ly/3hD5i0k If you're not regularly receiving these in your inbox, subscribe at the bottom of the newsletter. E-News disponible en français, aussi.

Happy #WellnessWednesday! What are your best wellness tips for living with MS?

We know our world looks different right now and things continue to change every day, but one thing that remains the same is our commitment to the MS community and to a world free of MS. Ensuring the health and safety of our entire community people affected by MS, volunteers, fundraisers, donors, staff remains our top priority. We have been monitoring restart plans in our communities across the country and have been working on our own plans. Given the nature and the risk o...f COVID-19 in relation to our MS community, we have made the decision to continue delivering on our mission within a remote working environment. We feel this decision will support our efforts to put the health and well-being of those we serve at the forefront of our work. This also means we will continue to deliver programs and events virtually until at least the end of this year. During this time, our work to support Canadians affected by MS will not stop. We are encouraging virtual ways to connect members of the MS community especially through this time period. While we cannot gather in person, we encourage you to take advantage of our digital platforms to continue to connect with each other. You can also visit mssociety.ca to learn more about our upcoming nationwide webinars, NeuroSask a virtual program that offers both physiotherapy-guided movement and an opportunity for social connection, as well as other wellness resources that may be beneficial during COVID-19. We are committed to updating you on any changes to in-person activities as they arise. We're also only a phone call away. Our MS Society staff from across Canada are working remotely to deliver on the promise of our mission. For general office questions or local fundraising or programs and services inquiries, please contact 1-800-268-7582. Additionally, our MS Navigators will continue to provide support to people affected by MS. For information and supports on navigating your MS journey, please contact an MS Navigator by calling 1-844-859-6789, emailing [email protected] or by live chat on mssociety.ca. Thank you for your continued support!

Atlantic Volunteer Awards - NOMINATIONS - The MS Society of Canada is an organization founded by volunteers and continually fueled by the initiative and dedication of hundreds of volunteers across the country. Our amazing volunteers are our most important resource! They continue to further our mission to connect and empower the MS community to create positive change. Nominate a volunteer for one of the following awards. -Caregivers Award -MS Champion Award -Volunteer Impac...t in Programs & Services Award -Volunteer Impact in Fundraising Award -Volunteer Impact in Local Community Award -Volunteer Impact in Advocacy/Awareness Award Nominators are responsible for completing and submitting nomination forms using this survey by Friday, September 18, 2020. English: https://www.surveymonkey.com/r/VOL_AWARDS_EN French: https://fr.surveymonkey.com/r/VOL_AWARDS_FR See more

Accessibility Standards Canada creates standards for federally regulated organizations and supports research to identify and eliminate barriers, and to prevent them in the first place. Accessibility Standards Canada has launched an online consultation in the form of a survey that closes September 18, 2020. The results of this survey will inform the research priorities for the next research funding call and the focus of the next set of accessibility standards. Find the online survey here: https://bit.ly/32ckVaq. You can also participate by email, mail, phone, and in American Sign Language or Langue des signes Québécoise! Phone 1-833-8547628 or visit https://bit.ly/2Zlp4a6 to take advantage of these formats.

Currently, every five minutes, someone, somewhere in the world is diagnosed with MS. There are now 2.8 million people worldwide who have multiple sclerosis, according to the most extensive global study to date. The Multiple Sclerosis International Federation’s most accurate estimate yet shows that there are at least 1 in 3,000 people living with the disease. The Atlas of MS reveals that the number of people living with MS has increased in every world region since 2013. Althou...gh better counting methods, more accurate diagnosis rates and population growth are just some of the factors behind the rise, an increased risk of developing MS cannot be ruled out. The neurological condition, which on a global scale touches at least twice as many women as men, affects the brain and spinal cord. Symptoms vary widely from person to person, but can include blurred vision, tingling sensations, dizziness and fatigue. Despite common misconceptions, MS is not just a disease that affects adults. The global study reveals that there are at least 30,000 under-18s living with MS. Although this is the most extensive worldwide study that maps and counts MS, there are still gaps in the global evidence. The MSIF calls on governments, health professionals, patient organisations and others to improve collection of data on MS. Only by doing this will the true global burden of MS be visible. Read the full report: https://bit.ly/3bMYjAq. For information on Canadian MS stats, visit: https://bit.ly/3izLHzv

NB Provincial Election is today, Monday, September 14. We asked the leaders of the five registered political parties 3 questions about chronic disease in NB and how they would address issues facing the thousands of New Brunswickers living with one or more chronic diseases. None of them responded to our request. For info on casting your vote, accessibility and COVID-19 protocols, click here: https://www.electionsnb.ca/content/enb/en.html #voteNB2020 #YourVoiceYourVote @nbla.alnb @PCNBca @nbndp.npdnb @GPNB.PVNB @AGNBPANB

International Progressive MS Alliance (the ‘Alliance’) expert panel provides recommendations for a promising biological marker to help predict MS disease course and develop treatment options for progressive MS patients. The American Academy of Neurology published the recommendations on a potential biomarker for progressive MS, serum neurofilament light chain (sNfL). The recommendations will help advance the Alliance's goal of accelerating new treatments for people with progr...essive MS. These recommendations outline specific research that needs to be done to overcome the current challenges of sNfL as a biomarker, some of which are already underway. The Alliance is also seeking to have drug regulators recognize sNfL as a measure of treatment response so it can be used in clinical trials evaluating the effectiveness of new treatments for progressive MS. For more information, read the MS Update: https://bit.ly/35kI0d9 See more

If you like cars and giving back, check out this event! The Sackville Kinmen are hosting their annual Rods to Wheels Automotive Show this Saturday, September 12 from 10 3 pm at 85 Temple Terrace in Lower Sackville, NS. Admission is $5 (free for children under 12) - a portion of the proceeds in support of the MS Society of Canada. Go to www.sackvillekinsmen.ca for more info.

Taking care of your mental health - Fall is usually a season of changes and this year, even more so. It is normal to feel sad, stressed, or worried when things change and the future is not known. Remember to take care of yourself. If it’s becoming too much, reach out to your primary health care provider or a mental health professional. You can find more on MS and stress here https://bit.ly/32aNTHD or contact our Knowledge Network and speak to an MS Navigator at 1-844-859-6789 or by email at [email protected].

For me, running is a symbol of health and freedom. It has quite literally changed my life. It makes me feel humbled that I can run, as so many with MS cannot. Running gave me the challenge I needed when I was recovering from my MS therapy. It taught me that hard work, discipline, and a great mindset can change your life. Running led me to discovering who I am and who I strive to be. It opened my eyes to what real freedom feels like. After being diagnosed with MS in 2007, ...Melanie’s mobility declined, she walked with a cane, barely able to walk up and down her apartment hallway. She tried several MS therapies and as part of her recovery from one, her doctor encouraged her to increase her daily movement. She started off slowly, walking each day, then moved to power-walking. She then challenged herself to run her first 5K and then eventually, all the way to completing a half-marathon and then a virtual full marathon on December 1, 2019. With each new challenge she gave herself, she found her fight. ‘I have met some of the best people in my world since I began running. We have dubbed ourselves the ‘Running Tribe’ and support each other unconditionally, no matter what life throws our way. I believe that my MS is managed so well because I am as healthy as I can be right now. It helps me keep my mindset and emotions in check. Running helps me sort out what is going on in my world.’ You can join Melanie on September 12 for MS Run presented by Running Room and unite with runners from across Canada towards the ultimate finish line a world free of MS. Register at https://bit.ly/31wqb7m. If you are already registered for MS Run, you can take part in our exclusive MS Run x Running Room shop week until September 10 and receive 15% off your purchases with discount code MSRUN15. Restrictions apply: https://bit.ly/2QJPxts.

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